Shadow Clone

Not until Mikoto Uchiha had truly packed her belongings, walked into the courtyard, and gently taken his hand did Naruto Uzumaki still find it hard to believe.

He had really managed to take Mikoto Uchiha out of the Uchiha Clan today.

This was all thanks to Lord Fugaku!

Looking at Fugaku Uchiha, who was still sitting there calmly, Naruto Uzumaki took a deep breath and bowed sincerely to him.

Great Lord Fugaku Uchiha, your follower, Konoha's single man Naruto Uzumaki, salutes you.

"I admire the Uchiha Clan. Uncle Fugaku, rest assured, I'll definitely take good care of Mama Mikoto."

"Heh, talk about taking care of her once you can keep her!" Fugaku Uchiha's expression was cold.

Naruto had expected that reaction. After all, who could be happy after losing his wife? Unless he really wanted to find a single man.

Likewise, Mikoto Uchiha was not in a good mood either. On one side was the husband who had persuaded her to leave; on the other was little Naruto, who was thrilled to have won her.

Comparing the two, Naruto naturally seemed much more pleasing to her.

"Naruto-kun, let's go!"

"Oh, Mama Mikoto, let's go home!"

Naruto flashed a wide, toothy grin and led Mikoto Uchiha forward by her soft hand. "Starting today, Mama Mikoto can wash my clothes, cook for me, and put me to sleep."

Seeing how excited little Naruto was, Mikoto Uchiha's figure beneath the moonlight relaxed a little.

Forget it...

She would just treat it as going out to clear her head, while helping Kushina take care of her child.

With that thought, Mikoto Uchiha smiled as well and said gently to Naruto:

"Alright, alright. From now on, I'll wash your clothes, cook for you, and put you to sleep. But you'd better be careful. Sasuke might win me back someday."

Heh!

He lost and still wanted to win her back?

To be fair, after several rounds of actual combat, Naruto was getting a little cocky. Unless his opponent was Itachi Uchiha, he would not even panic.

But Sasuke Uchiha?

Sorry!

If Sasuke wanted to win, he would have to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan tomorrow.

But "Sasuke," the legendary Uchiha king of taking pressure, had not awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan even after his entire clan was slaughtered. How could something as minor as having his mother taken away possibly trigger it?

"Don't worry, Mama Mikoto. No one will ever be able to win you away from my side."

The boy's words were firm and confident.

Having just experienced being abandoned once, Mikoto Uchiha felt cherished by someone. Smiling, she asked, "Oh? You're that confident? Does Naruto-kun have some foolproof secret?"

"Mm-hmm!" Naruto let go of her hand, walked ahead of Mikoto Uchiha, and said proudly, "I have the Great Winning Scripture, so Mama Mikoto can live with me for the rest of her life without worry. I'll never lose."

[666!]

[The evil Naruto Uzumaki usually claims the system is perverted and even tries to shift the blame onto it. Now his true colors have been exposed, haven't they!]

None of your business!

Hurry up and give me my reward. I brought Mikoto Uchiha out already, so that definitely counts as changing her life trajectory, right?

[ Ding! ]

[The life trajectory of A-rank mother "Mikoto Uchiha" has changed.]

[Changes are as follows!]

[Mikoto Uchiha, died at age 35. Before her death, she no longer toiled over clan affairs or worried over the conflicts erupting within the clan.]

[Obtained 10 additional Mom Coins!]

[Current remaining Mom Coins: 18!]

Mm, just as Naruto had expected, even though he had brought Mikoto Uchiha out, changing the outcome of her death would not be so simple.

However, now that he had brought her out, there was much more room to work with.

"System, draw!"

[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the B-rank reward "Shadow Clone Jutsu." Current remaining Mom Coins: 8. You can no longer continue drawing.]

[62 draws remain until the guaranteed A-rank reward!]

Not bad luck!

He had actually gotten the Shadow Clone Jutsu. This was Naruto's signature ninjutsu from the original story, and it was incredibly practical.

It had physical form, could help with training, and could assist in battle.

Moreover, because Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, had specifically developed it to counter the Uchiha Clan, even the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan could not see through Shadow Clones.

If he had to rank it from awesome to trash, Naruto would rate this jutsu as awesome!

He wondered whether, after using a Shadow Clone to turn into Naruko, he could recognize his own Shadow Clone as his mother.

[666!]

[And now we have the Japanese person segment!]

[But unfortunately, I cannot serve as a mother. Even a clone with a physical body cannot do that~!]

Hey, damn it, if it can't, it can't. What do you mean, Japanese person?

I never even thought of that, okay!

Disgusting.

Distracted by his argument with the system, Naruto unconsciously quickened his pace.

Mikoto Uchiha, following behind him, hurriedly called out:

"Naruto, slow down."

"Got it, I'll listen to Mama Mikoto."

Naruto slowed down, walked beside Mikoto Uchiha, took her hand again, and led her forward step by step.

Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched long behind them, and their backs gradually disappeared into the distance.

Watching them leave, Itachi Uchiha, who had been silent for a long time, heard his younger brother Sasuke Uchiha sobbing from inside the house.

"Mom... Aunt Mikoto... did she... really leave?"

When Sasuke Uchiha came out again, his eyes were red, each bearing two tomoe.

Two-Tomoe Sharingan!

Itachi Uchiha understood his father's intentions. Just as Fugaku had taken him to the battlefield when he was only four years old, it was meant to temper both him and his younger brother.

But was it not a little too cruel?

Itachi Uchiha wanted to poke his younger brother's forehead and comfort him, but given how things had turned out, it was better not to.

"Sasuke, did you hear that? Naruto Uzumaki just said he would never lose."

"I heard."

"So?"

"He'll definitely lose!"

Sasuke Uchiha roared, "I'll definitely make him lose!"

Itachi Uchiha nodded. "Come on, Sasuke. I'll take you to train."

"Mm..."

Sasuke Uchiha nodded heavily and said resolutely:

"I will definitely, definitely, definitely, definitely defeat Naruto Uzumaki completely! I'll definitely take Aunt Mikoto back!"

After saying that, Sasuke Uchiha wiped away his tears and ran out after Itachi Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha could not help but watch his two sons leave together, praising sincerely, "Itachi, you understood my intentions immediately. You truly are my son!"

Sasuke's talent was not bad either. If he was stimulated a few more times, perhaps he might awaken the Three Tomoe, or even the Mangekyō Sharingan.

As for Naruto Uzumaki taking Mikoto Uchiha away, Fugaku Uchiha did not take it to heart.

He was only a child, after all. What could he possibly do to Mikoto?

Besides, this was also an excellent opportunity to test the current attitude of Konoha's higher-ups toward the Uchiha Clan. Could they tolerate the Uchiha clan head's wife remaining by the Jinchūriki's side?

Was there still room for reconciliation between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha?

If there was not even the slightest chance of reconciliation, then they could only make preparations early. The Uchiha Clan's dissatisfaction with Konoha had already reached its critical point.

That night.

Inside the Hokage's Office, Uzuki Yugao truthfully reported every detail of what had happened to Naruto that day to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

When she mentioned that Naruto Uzumaki had consecutively recognized Lino Yamanaka and Ino Yamanaka as his mothers, Uzuki Yugao's voice carried a trace of almost imperceptible emotion.

"This is a good thing!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Regarding Naruto, what I hope most is that he can form deep bonds with more people in the village."

"But..." Uzuki Yugao pressed her lips together. "Bringing someone else's mother back to his own home... no matter how I think about it, that doesn't seem right, does it?"

"Hehe!" Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "Yugao, don't tell me you're jealous?"

"No... no!"

"I understand. You were Naruto's mother for a while and took care of him for so many days, but then he turned around and found a new mother to bring home. It's natural that you'd feel uncomfortable."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he took a deep breath.

"But you should try to understand Naruto too!"

"He's just been too repressed."

"Alright, go back quickly. If that boy Naruto can't find you in a while, he'll start worrying."

"..."

After Uzuki Yugao left, a figure emerged from the darkness.

Shimura Danzō said:

"The Uchiha Clan is far too bold. They actually dared to place someone beside the Jinchūriki. I think they clearly have ulterior motives."

"..."

"For Konoha's peace, we must make a decision soon, Hiruzen!"

PS: To all you handsome, dashing, suave, and elegant readers, this little author kneels and begs for your votes~!

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