Three Years Later

At the very center of the Akatsuki hideout, a towering figure with a terrifying presence stood silently.

It was Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki.

A suffocating pressure that could crush anyone radiated from him. His Rinnegan, which looked down upon the shinobi world, were cold and somber as they fixed on Itachi Uchiha, who had come to join them.

The instant their eyes met!

Whoosh!

Scarlet erupted in Itachi Uchiha's eyes, and his Mangekyō Sharingan activated at full power!

An eerie crimson wave of ocular power surged outward, crashing against Pain's dark, fathomless Rinnegan!

Two of the shinobi world's greatest ocular techniques confronted each other across the distance, each striving to suppress the other.

The air froze in an instant, falling deathly silent.

Every Akatsuki member remaining nearby turned to look.

Kisame Hoshigaki, Zetsu, and Konan quietly studied the newcomer, their eyes filled with scrutiny and astonishment.

White Zetsu chuckled softly. "It seems another extraordinary figure has joined our Akatsuki."

Everyone knew full well!

Across the entire shinobi world, few young ninja could face Pain directly and dare pit their Mangekyo Sharingan against his Rinnegan without the slightest fear.

The image flashed, and the view on the Light Screen abruptly shifted.

The night was deep, and a fine rain pattered down.

In an unknown graveyard in the mountain woods, Itachi Uchiha stood alone before the graves of Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha, always restrained and cold, always keeping everything buried in his heart, finally shed every last pretense.

He dropped heavily to his knees, his back trembling as silent tears mingled with the cold rain. "Father, Mother... I'm sorry."

"The sins I bear can never be washed away."

"I gave everything I had just to protect Sasuke."

"When he has truly grown, I'll give him both of these eyes."

"In the end, I'll make sure Sasuke kills me, freeing me at last from all these sins."

The bleak, cold drizzle fell from the sky, washing over the gravestones and his heart, which had long since been riddled with wounds.

Nothing remained between heaven and earth but endless sorrow.

A short while later, the Light Screen in the sky slowly dimmed and went completely black, bringing this cruel glimpse of the future to an end.

The Uchiha Clan Compound.

Having watched the entire future unfold, Fugaku Uchiha stood rigid, his heart already filled with conflicting emotions.

He finally understood!

His eldest son, Itachi Uchiha, the son he was proudest of, had never been a bloodthirsty, heartless demon.

His ruthlessness, his defection, and his slaughter of the clan had all been desperate acts forced upon him by the Konoha Higher-ups, who had cornered him step by step.

Yet even knowing his reasons, those bloody scenes of the future still stabbed at Fugaku's heart.

Itachi had slaughtered the entire clan with his own hands, killed his clansmen, and murdered his own parents...

No reason could ever fully absolve such monstrous crimes.

Fugaku Uchiha clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his eyes churning with utter coldness, grief, and fury.

"For generations, we Uchiha have been sincere and loyal, devoted to Konoha and determined to become part of it."

"But the Konoha Higher-ups have never truly accepted us!"

"For the sake of the village's so-called stability, they would force a child of only thirteen to wipe out his entire clan!"

The Uchiha elders gathered around him, their faces filled with grief and outrage, their eyes burning with cold anger. "To think Konoha would become so rotten in the future!"

"How cruel! Forcing a child to bear the blood debt of his entire clan and fall into darkness forever!"

Everyone was deeply conflicted.

They knew Itachi had been left with no choice, yet when they thought of themselves, their clansmen, and their families all dying horribly at his hands in the future, they could neither let go nor forgive him.

Seeing his clansmen torn between pain and hatred, their hearts full of sorrow, Fugaku Uchiha felt an immense weight settle upon him.

He knew all too well that the sins Itachi had committed were real and could not be erased.

Fugaku Uchiha slowly turned, bowed deeply to the assembled elders, then sank to his knees.

Fugaku's voice was hoarse and solemn. "Elders."

"In the future, Itachi commits unforgivable crimes."

"As his father, I cannot escape responsibility. I have no face to stand before our clan."

"From this day forward, I willingly step down as the Uchiha Clan Head. Please choose a new clan head among yourselves."

"I will no longer involve myself in clan affairs. I will devote myself entirely to raising my two children."

"I beg the clan to give the young Itachi a chance to start again."

At this, Fugaku Uchiha raised his eyes, his gaze firm and solemn. "If Itachi takes that same hopeless path in this life and commits the crime of slaughtering our clan again..."

"None of you will need to act. I, Fugaku Uchiha, will end his life myself."

The elders looked at their exhausted, helpless clan head, their hearts awash with conflicting emotions.

The chief elder hurried forward and bent down to help Fugaku to his feet, offering reassurance in a grave voice. "Clan Head, we understand."

"After seeing the future, everyone knows that child is good at heart and cares for his clansmen."

"The root of every tragedy was never Itachi. It was the Konoha Higher-ups!"

"Especially that venomous, cunning Shimura Danzō, who would stop at nothing!"

At that name, murderous intent erupted in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes!

Today, he would demand justice from Konoha!

The Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat quietly at his desk, the scenes from the Light Screen replaying over and over in his mind.

The cold, merciless Danzo of the future, Itachi Uchiha forced to bear everything, the child's tearful face as he endured his despair...

Each scene lashed viciously at his heart.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were filled with desolation, his heart consumed by regret. "My future self... what on earth did I do...?"

"I actually accepted and indulged such darkness..."

"I stood by and watched a thirteen-year-old child be forced to slaughter his own clan, bear eternal condemnation, and fall into darkness alone..."

At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally saw everything clearly. Not a trace of uncertainty remained.

He gritted his teeth and made his decision!

Today, no matter what, he would take Danzo down!

He would give the Uchiha a proper reckoning!

Beside him, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were deathly pale, shaken to their cores.

They had never imagined that Danzo, who normally kept his ambitions hidden, would become so deranged and vicious in the future.

After everything the Light Screen had revealed, both had cast aside their old, hidebound conservatism.

Only guilt and remorse remained. All they wanted now was to support the Third and make amends for every past mistake.

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade, and issued a grave command:

"Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu!"

"Come with me to Root! We will arrest Shimura Danzō!"

"And hand him over to the Uchiha to deal with themselves!"

The two exchanged a glance, instantly gathered their thoughts, and nodded firmly before following Hiruzen Sarutobi toward Root!

The Pure Land.

Hashirama Senju was furious, chakra raging and surging wildly around him.

He turned to glare at Tobirama Senju beside him, his voice thundering:

"Tobirama! Look at these students you raised!"

"Everything Madara said back then was true! Konoha never truly accepted the Uchiha!"

"I warned you countless times not to target the Uchiha or treat them with prejudice!"

"Is this how you taught the next generation after becoming the Second?!"

Feeling deeply wronged and unable to defend himself, Tobirama Senju hurried to explain. "Brother! I admit I was wary of the Uchiha and disliked their emotional extremes!"

"But I never taught anyone to persecute and slaughter the Uchiha at will!"

"I respected Kagami Uchiha throughout my life and considered him a dear friend!"

"I never imagined that bastard Danzo would twist my beliefs and use them to commit evil!"

But in his fury, Hashirama Senju would not hear a word of it. "Enough!"

"If you hadn't spent years suppressing the Uchiha out of prejudice and deliberately keeping them down, how would the younger generation have become so brazen?!"

Faced with his elder brother's harsh rebuke, Tobirama Senju lowered his head in silence, not daring to argue.

Yet inwardly, he swore an oath!

If he ever returned to life, he would discipline these juniors properly!

Monkey, Danzo, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu...

Those bastards! If they were allowed to keep this up, Konoha would sooner or later be destroyed completely!

Elsewhere in the Pure Land.

After witnessing the Uchiha's future destruction, Izuna Uchiha was livid, his teeth clenched in fury.

Izuna sneered coldly. "Those useless descendants! They deserved it!"

"If they'd all followed my brother back then, how could they have ended up being wiped out?!"

"Clinging to that hypocritical Konoha, dreaming of peace through groveling, only to have the entire clan slaughtered. Utter fools!"

Murderous intent surged in Izuna's eyes, his malice towering. "Just wait! When I return to life!"

"I'll personally slaughter every one of those bastards in Konoha's leadership!"

"Especially Shimura Danzō! I'll tear him into pieces!"

Beside him, Madara Uchiha stood with his arms crossed, his expression cold. He gave a faint scoff. "Hmph. Those cowardly descendants brought that fate upon themselves."

"But that wretch Danzo does deserve to die."

"He repeatedly coveted our Uchiha bloodline and schemed against our clansmen."

"I've never cared whether those traitors lived or died."

"But the bloodline of the Uchiha is not something any worthless nobody can covet and trample at will!"

The Root Base.

After a thorough purge and suppression.

Hiruzen Sarutobi personally crushed the rebellion and captured Shimura Danzō, who was gravely wounded and barely clinging to life.

The group took the dying Danzo straight to the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Every Uchiha in the compound emerged, their eyes cold and their killing intent palpable as they stared fixedly at Hiruzen Sarutobi and his approaching companions.

But when they saw the captured Danzo, bedraggled and near death, they suppressed their urge to attack at once and waited to hear what would follow.

Fugaku Uchiha slowly stepped out of the crowd, his face cold and his voice distant. "To what do we owe the honor of the Third's visit to our Uchiha Clan Compound?"

Without offering any unnecessary explanation, Hiruzen Sarutobi dropped straight to his knees before the entire Uchiha clan.

His heart filled with guilt, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke heavily. "Fugaku, I was wrong."

"For years, I indulged Danzo's evil and ignored the darkness taking root."

"It was only when I fought Danzo just now that I learned..."

"He had even dared to cruelly steal the eyes of Kagami Uchiha, the dear friend who once fought at his side!"

"Every tragedy in the future stemmed from my indulgence."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his eyes filled with remorse and sincerity. "I beg the forgiveness of the entire Uchiha clan."

"I apologize to every clansman who lost their life."

"I will never allow that future tragedy to happen in this life."

"Danzo, the chief culprit, is yours to deal with as you see fit."

"If that is still not enough to quell your hatred..."

"You may take this old man's life at any time."

"The Uchiha may choose the next Fourth Hokage themselves. Konoha will not interfere."

Seeing this, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu knelt behind him and lowered their heads, their voices choked with boundless guilt. "Hiruzen does not bear sole responsibility for this."

"We were foolish and hidebound. We knew what was happening but kept silent, tacitly allowing and indulging it."

"The ones who truly deserve to die are us two old fools!"

Every Uchiha stared at the three Konoha Higher-ups kneeling in repentance. The resentment, hurt, and hatred that had built up in their hearts for years slowly began to dissipate.

They were, after all, a clan born of love, one that cherished affection and loyalty.

All they had ever yearned for was fairness, respect, and acceptance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in a grief-stricken voice, every word solemn. "After Minato and Kushina's sacrifice, Konoha was already gravely weakened. It cannot endure more internal strife and division."

"Konoha must not lose the Uchiha."

"I already issued an order today."

"From now on, anyone within Konoha who dares disparage, slander, or target the Uchiha will be killed without exception!"

Seeing the Third's resolute attitude and sincere remorse, Fugaku Uchiha could no longer keep his heart hardened.

He bent down and personally helped the kneeling Hiruzen Sarutobi to his feet.

Turning to the clansmen behind him and seeing relief and acceptance in all their eyes, he finally spoke. "Everything we saw belongs to an unrealized future. That tragedy has not happened in this life."

"Danzo will be handled by the Uchiha."

"The Hokage Position remains yours to fulfill."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu lowered their heads in shame, their eye sockets reddening as tears silently slid down.

At this moment, they truly and completely woke up.

For many years, it was always they who were narrow-minded, paranoid, and suspicious.

The Uchiha had been utterly sincere from beginning to end, wanting only to peacefully integrate into Konoha and protect it.

Time flew by.

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Following the thorough reshuffle and rectification of the Danzo incident, today's Konoha had a brand-new look.

There was no longer any atmosphere of ostracism, prejudice, or targeting against the Uchiha within the village.

All the villagers lived together in harmony and joy, universally respecting and treating the Uchiha clansmen kindly.

Konoha's situation was completely stable, thriving and growing more prosperous by the day.

The years were peaceful, and all beings achieved fulfillment.

A little over two years old, Hinata was gentle, soft, and endearingly cute.

The young Neji completely shook off the gloom of his destined fate, possessing a mild disposition and protecting Hinata everywhere, becoming the gentlest and most reliable older brother.

Eight-year-old Shisui Uchiha possessed peerless talent and a pure temperament, having long since broken the rules to be promoted to Jonin, making his name ring throughout the village.

Eight-year-old Itachi Uchiha possessed a steady temperament, gentle and pure, growing up in peace and carefree.

Three-year-old Sasuke Uchiha was lively and cute, deeply cherished by his family.

Konoha's new generation of that same period all grew up safely.

Sakura Haruno, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka—a crowd of children—grew up carefree and in each other's company.

Meanwhile, far away from Konoha at the Undersea Secret Realm Underground Palace of Uzushiogakure.

In the deep and magnificent undersea basement, flowers bloomed in all four seasons amid a rich fragrance, creating an exquisitely beautiful scenery.

Dressed in an exquisite red gown, Kushina Uzumaki was playing and laughing with a three-year-old child.

That child was none other than Naruto Uzumaki, who had grown up safely and never suffered the slightest bit of hardship.

At this moment, Naruto was completely different from the cruel original timeline.

His cheeks lacked the whisker-like marks representing the bond of the Nine-Tails, and a thick, brilliant cascade of long blonde hair hung soft and flowing, far surpassing his original appearance.

Standing nearby, Minato Namikaze gazed on with gentle adoration, patiently demonstrating basic ninjutsu for his child, his brows and eyes brimming with the gentle peace of passing years.

At this very moment of peaceful years and complete fulfillment for everyone!

Suspended high in the sky, the Heaven and Earth Light Screen that had continuously broadcasted for three years suddenly rippled with brand-new flowing light fluctuations once again!

A brand-new Future Chapter was about to begin!