Izumi Uchiha Levels Up (Please Follow)

Two days later.

Konoha's weather was clear, and the scent of cherry blossoms drifted through every street and alley.

Naruto sat up from his hospital bed. He was actually perfectly fine, but because his previous blood-covered appearance had been so terrifying, neither the Third Hokage nor Mikoto Uchiha would allow him to leave the hospital.

They insisted that he get a thorough checkup before returning to the Ninja Academy.

As for Sasuke Uchiha...

Sorry...

He still had not woken up. He had been lying there for days, constantly having nightmares and crying things like, "Big brother, don't kill me!"

After a while, there was a knock on the ward door. After Naruto said, "Come in," Ino Yamanaka was the first to rush inside.

Her eyes brimmed with tears. Looking heartbroken, she threw herself into Naruto's arms and sobbed.

"Bad Dad!"

"..." Inoichi Yamanaka, who had followed her in, darkened. He snorted and silently retreated outside.

Lino Yamanaka covered her mouth and chuckled. She waved at Naruto before hurrying out to comfort her even more upset husband.

Naruto felt a little awkward. After all, having someone else's daughter call him Dad right in front of him was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

[The hypocritical, wicked Naruto Uzumaki was already over the moon inside. He had even imagined whether Inoichi Yamanaka would break down even more if Lino Mom also called him Dad like Ino Mom did!]

Damn it!

Am I really that perverted?

Don't spout nonsense. Be careful, or I'll sue you for slander!

The idea of making Lino Yamanaka call him Dad was, of course, complete nonsense. Still, when Ino held him with teary eyes and called him Dad, Naruto truly did feel a fatherly sort of joy.

He gently reached out and rubbed Ino's head, asking, "What's wrong, Mom? Why are you crying?"

"Dad is bad! Why didn't you tell me when you got hurt? I've been training so hard because I want to help you!"

Ino Yamanaka sniffled and spoke dejectedly.

If it had been anyone else, they would probably have said something like, "I was protecting you, so that's why..."

But Naruto was different. He was a man who had thoroughly read A Girl's Heart.

Rather than denying Ino Yamanaka and saying she could not help, he said, "The situation was urgent. I didn't expect a fight to suddenly break out, so I couldn't tell Mom in time. I'm really sorry!"

"Hmph. If anything happens in the future, call for Mom. Mom will protect Dad, got it?"

The petite and adorable Ino Yamanaka pouted and spoke in a coquettish voice.

"Mom will beat anyone who bullies Dad into the sky!"

That conversation was far too much for the brain. Outside the ward, Lino Yamanaka felt like her KFC was about to burn dry.

Still, she held back her laughter and tried her best to comfort her even more distressed husband, Inoichi Yamanaka.

She heard Inoichi Yamanaka mutter through gritted teeth, "Damn Naruto Uzumaki. Just you wait. One day, I'll definitely teach you a lesson!"

"Haah..."

Lino Yamanaka sighed helplessly. She looked at her husband, then turned toward the ward, toward the little husband her daughter had found for herself...

Um...

Something seemed a little off. Naruto seemed to call Ino Mom too.

Then was he her grandson-in-law?

That did not seem right either, because Naruto had already acknowledged her as his mom before this.

Hiss!

What a complicated relationship. Kids' pretend-family games were really impossible to understand!

She could not make sense of it.

She was going to faint...

Once the two little ones in the ward had sorted out their emotions, Lino Yamanaka knocked on the door and entered. "Naruto, Lady Mikoto asked us to pick you up for the funeral. She wanted to know whether you wanted to go."

Upon hearing that, Naruto's doubts were finally cleared up.

That was what he had thought. It was strange that only Ino had come to see him.

Thinking about it now, everyone else had probably gone to attend the Uchiha funeral.

"Of course I'm going!"

Naruto leaped out of bed and took Ino's hand as they headed out of the hospital together.

As they neared the Uchiha Clan compound, more and more people dressed in black came into view.

It was a collective funeral.

The Konoha Military Police Force, formed from the Uchiha Clan's power, had been completely slaughtered overnight. Only the elderly, women, children, and young people who had not joined the Konoha Military Police Force and had chosen non-ninja professions remained.

Though it was a bright, sunny day, everyone's faces carried gloom and sorrow, making the atmosphere especially oppressive.

Among the mourners, Naruto saw Hinata Hyuga. She wore a black kimono and followed her father, Hyuga Hiashi, as they offered flowers.

There were also Inuzuka Hana and Kiba Inuzuka, the sister and brother following behind their mother, Tsume Inuzuka, as they waited in line.

After them, the children of every major clan were present as well.

"Naruto."

Suddenly, a hand landed on Naruto's shoulder.

It was Izumi Uchiha. Her eyes were red—not because she had activated her Sharingan, but red in the literal sense. She looked like she had cried for a long time.

Because they had eaten together last time, Ino Yamanaka and Izumi Uchiha already knew each other. But when Izumi Uchiha pulled Naruto away, Ino Yamanaka still stepped forward, intending to push her aside.

"What are you doing?!"

"Sorry, I need to ask Naruto something. I'm borrowing him for a moment. I'll return him soon!"

With that, Izumi Uchiha forcibly dragged Naruto away right in front of Ino Yamanaka.

Naruto did not resist. Feeling the softness of Izumi Uchiha's palm, some thoughts surfaced in his mind.

[Using hands hurts the body!]

[Normal positions are better. Normal positions are better.]

Can you stop being so lewd all the time?!

Disgusting!

After cursing the system a few times, Naruto followed Izumi Uchiha into an alley. She tightly gripped his arm, her tears nearly falling.

"I heard someone say that you transformed into me that day and sent Sasuke to the Uchiha Clan. When Itachi saw my face, he didn't hesitate at all and immediately tried to kill me. Is that true?"

"Yeah!" Naruto nodded. Although he had spread that information himself, it had been true in the first place. Why should he lie for Itachi Uchiha?

"I don't believe it. How could Itachi want to kill me? I don't believe it!" Izumi Uchiha nearly broke down, tears streaming down her face. "How could Itachi want to kill me?"

"Then you'll have to ask him." Naruto spread his hands helplessly. "I had your face at the time, but he directly used the Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular technique on me."

Having gotten her answer, Izumi Uchiha clutched her chest and crouched on the ground, weeping.

Naruto did not pay any more attention to her. He turned and left the alley, arriving before Fugaku Uchiha's grave.

There, he found Mikoto Uchiha, whom he had not seen for an entire day.

Actually, Naruto had a favorable impression of Fugaku Uchiha. If it had not been for him back then, Naruto would not have been able to bring Mikoto Uchiha home so easily.

Damn Itachi Uchiha.

He had made the single man of Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki, permanently lose his good companion, Uncle Fugaku.

[Teacher Uchiha, I still remember you, word by word, pulling me out of the fog...]

Don't sing. This had originally been something serious and sad.

Once you started singing, I almost could not stop myself from laughing out loud.

Naruto slowly walked over and reached out to take Mikoto Uchiha's hand. Mikoto Uchiha looked back at him and smiled.

"You're here."

"Yeah."

"Have you eaten breakfast?"

"Not yet."

"Alright. I'll take you home later and cook for you."

"Which home?"

Naruto timidly raised his head and asked, looking frightened as though he were afraid of hearing a certain answer.

Mikoto Uchiha smiled gently. Before Fugaku Uchiha's grave, she bent down and lightly hugged him. "Our home, of course, you silly boy!"

That day...

Mikoto Uchiha had received Fugaku Uchiha's letter telling her to return. She was not foolish. She could figure it out. Fugaku Uchiha had probably already known what would happen.

So, Fugaku Uchiha had called her back to die.

But Naruto had disregarded everything and pulled her back from death.

Mikoto Uchiha said nothing. She did not want to slander Fugaku Uchiha. She merely lowered her head slowly and gently kissed Naruto on the forehead.

"Thank you, Naruto."

Feeling the soft touch on his forehead,

Naruto's heartbeat sped up slightly.

Then he turned to Fugaku Uchiha's tombstone and gripped Mikoto Uchiha's hand even tighter.

"Uncle Fugaku, don't worry. I'll definitely protect Mom Mikoto well. Rest in peace!"

[Do not worry!]

[Ding!]

Just as Naruto was about to trade some barbs with the system, its voice rang out again.

[Ding!]

[An unexpected situation has occurred!]

[B-rank Mom "Izumi Uchiha" has had an important part of her original life trajectory altered. Her emotions have undergone intense upheaval, and she has unexpectedly awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, gaining the ocular technique "Magatsuhi no Mikoto."]

[Magatsuhi no Mikoto: Curses the target, causing "cognitive confusion" for a short period, making them regard enemies as allies or allies as enemies.]

["Izumi Uchiha" has greatly increased in strength and now initially possesses Kage Level strength.]

[Obtained an additional 200 Mom Coins!]

[Current remaining Mom Coins: 231.]

Just as expected.

Naruto smiled with his eyes. He had anticipated Izumi Uchiha's change.

Other than Sasuke Uchiha, that legendary king of enduring pressure, nearly every Uchiha could awaken further after suffering a tremendous blow.

That was why, when Naruto had provoked Izumi Uchiha just now, he had been thirty percent confident that she could awaken.

But before Naruto's excitement could fade, the system's voice rang out again.

[Ding!]

[An unexpected situation has occurred!]

[B-rank Mom "Izumi Uchiha" has had her original life trajectory altered and has been upgraded to an A-rank Mom.]

[Mother's Protection +1!]

[Current remaining Mother's Protection: 11 layers.]

[Obtained an additional 100 Mom Coins!]

[Current remaining Mom Coins: 331.]

PS: Dear handsome, suave, and dashing readers, this little author kneels to beg for all kinds of votes. Please!

→Recommendation Votes←→Monthly Votes←