New World, a New Beginning

"Alright, I understand."

Fugaku did not ask another question.

From the moment he decided to leave Konoha with Natsu, he had already placed the Uchiha Clan's future entirely in this young man's hands. Naturally, he no longer had the slightest hesitation.

Natsu then raised his eyes and swept his gaze across the clan's elite, assigning tasks in an orderly manner:

"Uncle Kei, Uncle Tekka, take ten clan members at Jonin level and scout the surrounding area. Get a clear picture of the terrain and eliminate any potential threats along the way."

"Uncle Taoho, Elder Setsuna, take the clan members at Chunin level and above. You'll be responsible for guarding and fortifying the area around the camp. Set up warning barriers. We absolutely cannot let any accidents harm the clan's elderly, women, or children."

"Everyone else, follow the clan head and build a temporary base."

The instant the orders were given, every clansman sprang into action without the slightest delay.

The young adult ninja carried their tools and gripped their kunai as they followed Fugaku into the depths of the forest.

Their Sharingan swept over one towering ancient tree after another, precisely selecting suitable timber for the camp. With swift, decisive strikes, tree trunks thick enough to require several people to encircle them crashed down, and not even stray wood chips splashed onto anyone nearby.

The women carried children as they cleared level patches of land in the forest, erected simple tents, built windbreak stoves, and carefully organized the dry rations, cooking utensils, and medicine they had brought with them. Before long, the once-empty, silent woods were filled with the faint signs of life.

Uchiha Kei and Tekka led ten Jonin, their figures instantly turning into several blurs as they raced in the four cardinal directions. In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the depths of the forest, leaving behind only the faint rustling of branches and leaves.

Taoho and Uchiha Setsuna also led their people out in different directions. Their Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turned as immense sensory power spread outward, bringing everything within several kilometers of the camp under surveillance.

The Barrier Team ninja had already crouched down, chakra flowing from their fingertips to leave dense markings across the ground as they began inscribing a warning barrier. Every node fit together seamlessly, leaving no room for even the slightest mistake.

Natsu did not join the others in their work. With a leap, he landed atop a massive boulder several dozen meters high.

Facing the sea breeze laden with the salty scent of the ocean, he looked toward the depths of the island.

Indra's Eye in his gaze turned faintly as overwhelming sensory power spread in all directions like a tide, passing over layers of towering ancient trees and rolling hills until it reached the white waves churning at the island's far end.

This island was far more vast than he had expected.

The area his senses could reliably cover alone was already more than a hundred times larger than the entire Konoha ninja village, not to mention the deeper parts of the island still hidden within the mist.

Natsu made a rough calculation in his mind. The entire island had fertile soil and ample water. It could easily support their more than thirteen thousand clansmen; even if their numbers increased tenfold to a hundred thousand people, there would still be more than enough.

Back in Konoha, they had been confined within that clan compound surrounded by walls. Above them was the omnipresent surveillance of Konoha's higher-ups, while Danzo's fangs lurked in the shadows around them. Even leaving the village required layers of reports and approval. At the slightest disturbance, they would be branded rebels. They had lived every step on edge, enduring everything in silence.

But now, this boundless land beneath their feet had no schemes, no wariness, no ever-present spies. It belonged wholly and completely to the Uchiha Clan.

Natsu lightly rubbed his fingertips against his palm, and a relieved smile curved across his lips.

Ever since the day he began planning their withdrawal from Konoha, what he wanted had never been mere survival after escaping death. He wanted to find soil where the Uchiha, cursed for centuries, could truly take root and grow freely.

This isolated island was their new beginning.

Next, they had to build an impregnable camp, learn the rules of this world, break the blindness curse in their bloodline, and ensure that the name Uchiha would no longer be synonymous with the "evil clan" feared by everyone in the Ninja World, but instead become a giant that could truly gain a foothold on these magnificent seas.

He raised his eyes toward the place where sea and sky met. The ocean wind lifted the hem of his clothes, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

Whether it was the sea or the New World, the so-called Four Emperors, the Marines, and the World Government could not stop the Uchiha Clan's rise.

From the moment they set foot on this land, a new era belonging to the Uchiha had already begun.

"Uncle-in-law, I'll leave things here to you. I'm planning to head out for a while."

A moment later, Natsu found Fugaku, who was planning the temporary base.

Fugaku was crouching on the ground, holding a flattened branch and carefully drawing the camp's layout on the smooth dirt --

where the clan residences would be built, where permanent sentry posts would be placed, where supplies would be stored, even the barrier nodes were marked with perfect clarity.

Hearing him, Fugaku looked up and stopped what he was doing.

"What is it? Did you find something?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Nothing in particular." Natsu shook his head. "This world mainly relies on sea routes. I want to take a look at the shore and see whether I can encounter any passing ships. I can also get a sense of the nearby waters while I'm at it."

Fugaku fell silent for several seconds before nodding. "I see... That works. Take Yakumi and Yashiro with you. They're both Elite Jonin from the clan. You'll have someone to watch your back on the road, and I'll be more at ease."

"Alright." Natsu agreed, then added, "By the way, Uncle-in-law, this island is enough for us to settle down and recover.

Use the supplies we brought sparingly. They'll easily last us a year.

Once the camp is built, have the clan's ninja clear the surrounding wasteland and let the ordinary clansmen farm it. We need to establish our foundation first.

After we've recovered for a while and learned this world's rules, we can make plans for the next step."

"Mm, I know what to do." Fugaku looked at him, his tone steady. "Go on. Be careful in everything."

"Alright."

Watching Natsu's figure vanish among the branches and leaves of the forest, Fugaku slowly lowered the branch in his hand. He let out a soft sigh, his eyes churning with hesitation and thought.

He was wondering whether he should hand the position of Uchiha Clan head over to Natsu completely.