Uchiha's Number One

Although Naruto chattered nonstop along the way, Kenichi remained quiet, only nodding occasionally.

It was not that he was aloof. Most of the hot-tempered Uchiha had already left Konoha with Itachi.

Kenichi was actually one of the mild-mannered Dove Faction Uchiha.

The reason he did not speak was that Anbu were watching them from all around, and he did not want to bring any trouble to the Uchiha Clan.

After all, Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Only after confirming that Naruto had made it home did Kenichi Uchiha leave Naruto's house under Anbu surveillance.

"Goodbye, Uncle Kenichi!" Naruto waved from behind Kenichi. Although Kenichi Uchiha had not spoken on the way,

he had not looked at him with discrimination either.

That alone made the lonely, sensitive Naruto very happy.

Kenichi Uchiha did not look back. Naruto waited until Kenichi had gone far away before entering his home.

But when he reached the entryway, Naruto turned on the light.

Dirty clothes were scattered everywhere in the house, unwashed bowls filled the sink, and the floor was a mess, piled with trash.

Naruto looked around his home, then at the clothes and shoes in their brand-new packaging.

The place he had once been used to suddenly seemed so dirty.

Naruto carefully hung the things, packaging and all, on the hooks.

Then he rolled up his sleeves, fetched some water, and began cleaning the house.

Late at night, the house was brightly lit, and Naruto was full of energy.

The Anbu outside exchanged glances, unable to understand what had gotten into Naruto in the middle of the night.

Still, as long as Naruto did not run around, they were not worried about what he was doing. They only needed to report it.

Children's moods changed quickly. Sasuke, who had been in a good mood earlier,

lost his smile again when he followed Natsuki to the site of the old clan compound.

The new compound was still several miles away, past this place.

Sasuke's little head was filled with questions he wanted to ask his father.

Without realizing it, he quickened his pace.

Meanwhile, Natsuki was considering Kakashi. Kakashi was undeniably exceptionally gifted.

But he had also been brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire.

Born into a distinguished family, he had remained despondent after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge and squandered his talent.

Having a Sharingan implanted had rapidly raised his Combat Power, but it had also limited the heights he could reach.

The constant chakra drain from being unable to turn it off was bad enough.

Since he could copy everything along the way, of course he would slack off whenever he could.

He had played a supporting role from beginning to end, and in the end, he had only gotten to experience Obito's Dual Kamui.

At all other times, he had been practically dispensable.

His temperament could also be called indecisive.

Obito had killed countless people—his teacher, his teacher's wife, and nearly destroyed the ninja world, leaving countless families shattered.

The first time Kakashi entered the Kamui Dimension, he had held back too. He had actually just landed two punches on Obito's stomach.

One's position determined one's perspective. Because it was Obito, he could not bring himself to strike decisively.

If he had been able to be ruthless, the whole story might have gone differently.

Being kind to Naruto was an investment for Natsuki, but he truly felt that Naruto's childhood had been unbearably miserable.

There was much pain Naruto should not have suffered, much hardship he never needed to endure.

The filthy politics between the Third Hokage and Danzo had to spill over onto a child.

And praising suffering was even more vicious than suffering itself. If Naruto had been surrounded by love, why would there have been any issue of the Nine-Tails losing control?

Hadn't that kid next door who played with sand been driven mad?

Naruto's childhood had been no easier than Gaara's. Though he had not suffered assassination attempts,

every villager's discrimination was still a merciless blade.

Good thing Naruto was Asura's reincarnation. Otherwise, he might have turned dark and wiped out Konoha first.

"Father Lord, I'm back." Natsuki brought Sasuke back to the new clan compound.

Unfinished buildings stood everywhere in the new compound.

But Natsuki had no habit of exploiting workers. He always let them leave work on time.

After all, overtime cost extra money, and for now, the Uchiha Clan only needed somewhere livable.

Fugaku had long since received news that Sasuke had returned and was sitting inside drinking tea.

When he saw Sasuke enter, a rare smile appeared on his face.

"You're back. How about that? Did you get along well with your Teacher Natsuki?"

Natsuki followed Sasuke inside.

"Teacher?" Sasuke looked utterly confused.

Natsuki had never mentioned anything about taking Sasuke as his disciple.

Fugaku frowned. "Natsuki, you didn't tell Sasuke?"

Natsuki laughed. "It's getting late. I brought him back first. We can talk about the apprenticeship tomorrow. I'm off."

After handing Sasuke over to Fugaku, Natsuki strolled away.

After getting familiar with Fugaku, Natsuki had become increasingly casual and no longer cared much about etiquette.

Because he knew Fugaku only kept a stern face because of work. In truth, Fugaku was also a pragmatist.

"Father, why have Older Brother and Brother Shisui both left Konoha? Some people say they betrayed the village."

"Why was our Uchiha Clan compound destroyed? Why did you resign from being captain of the Police Force?"

The moment Sasuke sat down, he impatiently questioned his father, one question after another like a string of firecrackers.

He had only been out of the village for half a month, yet when he returned, the entire Uchiha Clan had changed.

Fugaku had always been used to keeping a stern face before his son to maintain his authority.

But Natsuki had said before that it was useless. It would only make Itachi and Sasuke grow distant from him.

Thinking that they were at home, his expression softened somewhat.

"Your Older Brother and Shisui merely went to seek a better future for our Uchiha Clan. Do not believe everything others say."

"If Itachi and Shisui had betrayed the village, why would Konoha not arrest us?"

"If the compound was destroyed, we can simply rebuild it. As long as there are Uchiha alive, we can build as many compounds as we want."

Seeing Sasuke nod as if he only half understood,

Fugaku smiled.

"As for being captain of the Police Force, it kept me too busy. Didn't you always say that no one was there to train ninjutsu with you?"

"Your Older Brother will not be back anytime soon, so I will train with you instead."

Sasuke was somewhat stunned by this. His father had always been a man of few words and great authority.

He had suffered greatly trying to earn his father's recognition.

And now his father was saying that he would train ninjutsu with him.

Sasuke pinched himself to make sure he was not under a genjutsu.

"Ow!" Sasuke pinched himself hard.

Even Fugaku burst out laughing.

It was the first time Sasuke had seen his father being so easy to talk to.

A smile unconsciously appeared on his face as well.

"Then, Father, when will Older Brother and Brother Shisui come back?"

"When you graduate from the Ninja Academy, your Older Brother will return."

"Huh? That'll take so long." Sasuke looked unhappy. The Ninja Academy took six years.

That meant he would not see his Older Brother for six years. That was far too long.

Seeing his son somewhat dejected, Fugaku said, "You are an Uchiha. Would such a small matter make you depressed? It isn't as though you will never see him again."

"Hmm!" Sasuke perked up at once.

"Then what was that about becoming someone's disciple?"

Fugaku said, "I intend for you to become Natsuki's disciple."

"Become his disciple?" Sasuke tilted his head. He did not dislike Natsuki. "Is Senior Natsuki strong?"

"Strong?" Fugaku savored the word.

"Very strong!" Fugaku nodded with certainty.

"Then is he stronger than Older Brother? Stronger than Brother Shisui?" In Sasuke's eyes, his Older Brother Itachi and Shisui were the strongest in the Uchiha Clan.

"Natsuki is currently Uchiha's Top Master." In Fugaku's view, Natsuki was already the strongest Uchiha in terms of intellect.

As for combat ability, Natsuki had not been weak even before. After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, he would enter a period of rapid growth.

Even though Shisui also possessed the Mangekyo, he was much younger than Natsuki and definitely could not defeat him.

"Uchiha's Number One?" In Sasuke's mind, the kind Senior Natsuki suddenly gained a halo.

"I think Senior Natsuki should be Uchiha's Number Two."

"Oh?" Fugaku asked curiously. "Then who is number one?"

Sasuke answered as though it were only natural.

"Of course it's Father Lord. Otherwise, why are you the clan head while Senior Natsuki is the Vice Clan Head?"

Fugaku froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

His laughter carried far into the distance.