Uchiha An Appears

Hokage's Office

For now, only Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other village leaders were meeting there.

Minato Namikaze had long feared that something would go wrong when his wife gave birth.

Kushina was due in about a month.

Ever since Minato suspected that his wife and child might die that day, he had barely left Kushina's side.

As far as Minato was concerned, no one mattered more than his wife and child. Until Kushina and the baby came through this safely,

he had no heart to attend to village affairs.

Hiruzen Sarutobi understood what was on Minato's mind.

For the time being, all village affairs had been left to Hiruzen.

It was as if he had returned to the Hokage's seat.

Looking at young Naruto on the Light Screen, Hiruzen said in bewilderment, "I truly don't understand. That child is so remarkable."

"How could the villagers treat a child like that?"

Utatane Koharu spoke up. "That boy named Naruto...

"He's remarkable, and he has a kind heart. Even I can't bear to watch. The villagers have gone too far."

Mitokado Homura looked at Shikaku Nara, who had been sitting lost in thought. "Hiruzen, if you can't figure it out, why not ask Shikaku?"

"Don't forget, Hiruzen. The Nara clan is known for its intelligence."

Only then did Hiruzen remember.

Konoha had been so chaotic lately, with so much to handle, that he had forgotten about the Nara clan.

Hiruzen called to Shikaku, who was still deep in thought.

Hearing his name, Shikaku quickly came back to himself.

Irritated at having his thoughts interrupted, he asked, "What is it, Third Hokage?"

Hiruzen got straight to the point. "Shikaku, what do you make of that child Naruto in the future?"

Shikaku began his analysis. "Judging from the future, there's a seventy percent chance the Fourth Hokage and Kushina really were killed in an attack by an enemy nation on the day she gave birth.

"I considered whether the Nine-Tails might have gone on a rampage, but after thinking it through, I don't believe that was possible."

The village leaders listened quietly to Shikaku's analysis.

"The Fourth Hokage and Kushina were both highly skilled in sealing techniques.

"So the Nine-Tails should never have had a chance to break loose.

"That leaves only one possibility!

"The Fourth Hokage and Kushina died that day, causing the Nine-Tails to go out of control.

"Then, by sheer coincidence, they found a survivor of the Uzumaki clan.

"That survivor was likely the child named Naruto, and Kushina sealed the Nine-Tails inside him.

"The villagers then mistook Naruto for the Nine-Tails itself.

"Information about the Jinchūriki may have leaked, causing many villagers to hate him."

Shikaku said solemnly, "That's the only explanation I can think of."

Hearing this, Hiruzen realized something. Danzo, was it you again?

A Jinchūriki's identity was one of any village's greatest secrets. Other than Danzo, who could have leaked it?

Hiruzen could think of no one else with the means.

Danzo, do you want the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki that badly?

To get your hands on him, you'd stoop to something this cruel?

His anger rising, Hiruzen said, "Listen carefully. If we find that child,

"and Danzo dares try anything, tell him I won't show him mercy.

"Find an opportunity to make it known that a Jinchūriki is not the Nine-Tails incarnate.

"Starting now, make sure the villagers understand what a Jinchūriki actually is.

"We can't let those foolish villagers keep making the same mistake.

"Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous."

Hiruzen turned to Fugaku Uchiha. "Fugaku, I'm counting on you to find Naruto. Send people to search among the Uzumaki for the child.

"If you find him, bring him safely back to Konoha, whatever it takes.

"And if he's seen what the Light Screen showed of his future,

"make it clear to him that none of those things will happen."

Fugaku nodded. "I'll send people to look for him. But...

"Judging by the future shown on the Light Screen, I'm afraid Naruto hasn't been born yet."

Hiruzen answered earnestly, "Hinata of the Hyuga clan has already been born. Naruto may have been born too.

"Please, Fugaku."

"I'll do everything I can," Fugaku promised. "I'll go back now and have my clan search with all their strength.

"You can count on me, Third Hokage."

Hiruzen stepped over and gently patted Fugaku's shoulder. "Thanks for the effort, Fugaku."

The Light Screen in the sky

changed once more.

"The false world ends here."

This time, the future video in the sky was only a four-minute montage.

A sorrowful song began to play.

The blurred image gradually came into focus.

The face of a cold-eyed, long-haired young man dressed entirely in black slowly appeared.

His left eye held a purple nine-tomoe Rinnegan; his right held an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

Once his face came into focus, the image froze on the Light Screen.

Captions began to introduce him.

Five hundred years ago, he had been one of the Uchiha survivors from another planet.

His name was Uchiha An, and he had died at the hands of the Ōtsutsuki.

His soul had unexpectedly arrived in the present-day Shinobi World, where he met Madara Uchiha and the others in the Pure Land.

With the introduction over,

the video resumed.

Uchiha An walked coldly into a cave to meet a mysterious masked man.

Inside the dark cave sat an Uchiha wearing a black mask.

The mask exposed one Three Tomoe Sharingan; his other eye was concealed.

The man lounged in the seat at the head of the chamber, one leg crossed over the other. "What are you doing here?"

"My elder brother sent me to make peace with you," Uchiha An replied coldly.

At the words "make peace," the masked man burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

Uchiha An stared at him, plainly displeased. "So what's your answer?"

The masked man replied coldly, "Isn't this what your elder brother has wanted all along?

"A world of illusion is the best place for people to live."

Uchiha An's icy voice came again. "I don't care who lives or dies. Release my second, third, and fourth younger siblings."

"Oh?" the masked man said provocatively. "And if I refuse?"

Black Chakra seething with killing intent erupted from Uchiha An. "Just because my elder brother owes you something and keeps yielding to you, don't think I won't kill you."

Holding back his anger, Uchiha An said coldly, "I'll say this only once. Release my three younger siblings, and Shadow Village will cooperate with you."

The masked man sounded uninterested. "Your three younger siblings are fine. But there's one thing I'd like to know."

"Speak," Uchiha An said.

The masked man took his time. "That fool Izuna Uchiha, and that good-for-nothing Kagami Uchiha...

"Neither of them is worth a second glance.

"So tell me, why did your younger sister Uchiha Hikari join up with them?"

Uchiha An drew the Samurai Sword from his back. "That's none of your business."

After that, his tone changed completely.

His eyes filled with murderous intent. "Izuna often told me how full of yourself you were.

"Now that I've met you, I see he didn't go far enough.

"You're just a fool who can't even see the difference in our strength.

"Am I wrong?"

Still lounging with his legs crossed, the masked man laughed and applauded. "Hahaha! Wonderful. Just wonderful."

Note: Uchiha An's and Uchiha Hikari's identities will be revealed later.

Some longtime readers may have seen them before, so I won't explain too much here.

Uchiha An and Uchiha Hikari are Madara Uchiha's subordinates.

The man in the black mask is Obito Uchiha. Later on, Obito becomes extremely powerful.

Madara's personality also changes a great deal later.

He witnessed his younger brother's death and founded Shadow Village.

No one can remain the same forever, not even the arrogant Madara Uchiha.

That's just a little explanation for those of you who have only recently started reading this book.

Longtime readers who've read my other book will recognize both of these Uchiha.

And once Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha are born, the story will only get better.

So don't worry too much about your questions. Just remember these two names; everything will be answered later.