The next day, the mist over Crow Mountain dispersed. Every member of the Uchiha Clan wore black as they buried their clansmen's bodies in a clearing deliberately left behind the village. To ensure the bodies would not be disturbed by outsiders, the Uchiha buried numerous Explosive Tags inside their coffins.
"If anyone dares desecrate their bodies, then they can be buried alongside them!" Fugaku Uchiha's words showed the Uchiha Clan his resolve as their clan head.
Those coveting the Sharingan must never be allowed to disturb their clansmen's eternal rest!
If greed drove someone to disturb their clansmen's slumber, then rather than letting them desecrate the bodies, it would be better to let those greedy people vanish from this world together with the corpses!
With his wife's body missing, Fugaku Uchiha had prepared himself for the worst. At the same time, his temperament had changed drastically. Especially after learning that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan upon his wife's death, his heart endured torment day and night.
His wife's death filled him with guilt, and his physical condition worsened by the day.
Fugaku Uchiha could feel his body growing weaker. Though the decline was slow, he might not be able to hold on for another two years.
Mikoto... I'll be with you soon... Wait for me...
It was only after his wife's death that Fugaku Uchiha realized how deeply he loved her.
His love for Mikoto Uchiha ran deeper than even he had imagined.
Though immersed in the agony of losing Mikoto Uchiha, Fugaku Uchiha did not collapse. He would use what little time remained to him to lead the Uchiha Clan back to its former prosperity. The Uchiha Clan could not decline in his hands.
While eating in a restaurant, Naruto saw Mikoto Uchiha sneeze several times in a row.
"Are you sick?"
"Nonō, take a look at Mikoto. If she's sick, she can stay here for a couple of days."
"No, maybe someone is thinking about me..."
Mikoto Uchiha rubbed her nose. Noticing that the restaurant patrons were all looking at her, she lowered her head, her cheeks faintly red.
The Uchiha Clan, Where Everyone Was a Goldfish Guy (Revised) (1/2)
"Come here!"
Sasuke Uchiha held out his hand. A snow-white crow landed on his arm, its red eyes staring at Sasuke without blinking as though asking:
What did you call me for?
"Snow! Your name is Snow!"
Upon hearing the name Sasuke Uchiha had given it, the crow tilted its head and affectionately rubbed against his hand.
This was a crow that had been driven out by its flock. Because its feathers were entirely white, it had been treated as an outcast. Unable to survive on its own after losing its flock, it quickly grew very weak. If Sasuke Uchiha had not encountered it while studying Crow Ninjutsu under Shisui Uchiha and brought it home to raise, it would not have survived.
"Snow! Are you ready?"
The crow on Sasuke Uchiha's shoulder gave a cry. Sasuke formed hand seals, and his body instantly transformed into countless white crows that swirled through the air before gathering together again nearby.
Watching Sasuke practice the ninjutsu he had taught him, Shisui Uchiha patted Itachi Uchiha on the shoulder.
"Sasuke is very gifted. He's no less talented than you, Itachi!"
"That's because he's my younger brother."
"A genius's younger brother is also a genius, huh... Not a bad answer."
The Uchiha Clan lived on Crow Mountain and developed slowly. Naturally, the black market became an important source of bounty income for the clan.
At the same time, stories began spreading through the underground world about the Uchiha Clan killing people everywhere for bounties. The Uchiha specifically targeted those with high bounties, disdaining to act against anyone worth too little.
One day, the Uchiha Clan held a meeting. Aside from those away from the village, everyone was present.
"I have already sent Shisui to the Artisan Ninja Village to order a batch of ninja tools. We cannot simply remain on Crow Mountain and do nothing. We must establish our own ninja village and widely take in children who have the potential to become ninjas. Those children displaced by war are precisely the ones we should adopt. The village needs residents, and it also needs children capable of becoming ninjas."
"Next, I plan to expand the village and establish a Ninja Academy. If anyone has any thoughts, speak up freely. This concerns our village's future development, and I hope you can all offer your opinions. Who agrees? Who objects?"
Encouraged by Fugaku Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, who had his own thoughts, stood up. Snow, perched on his shoulder, stood up as well, its ruby-like eyes looking at Fugaku Uchiha alongside Sasuke.
"If we expand the village, what will happen to the crows on Crow Mountain? This was originally their home. We can't drive them away, can we?"
"We will not drive them away. While expanding the village, we will coexist peacefully with the crows. Leave that matter to Shisui."
"That's good!"
Sasuke Uchiha nodded in satisfaction and sat back down. With Sasuke taking the lead, everyone else began voicing their thoughts as well.
"Clan head, if a Rogue Ninja wishes to join our ninja village, do you think we should accept them?"
"I believe no one can deceive our Sharingan. If their character is acceptable, I will welcome them into the village."
Fugaku Uchiha answered seriously. This was one of the most important issues a newly established village had to face, so naturally he would not be vague about it.
After a round of discussion, the expansion of the Uchiha village was quickly placed on the agenda. At the same time, many Uchiha clansmen left the village to seek out children who had lost their homes to war.
Fugaku Uchiha concealed things well, showing no signs of illness before the villagers. In truth, he was not sick at all; Susanoo had simply drained too much of his life force. With the village newly established, everyone was busy. Even Fugaku Uchiha's youngest son was no exception, doing his best to contribute to the village's construction.
As a result, with Fugaku Uchiha's deliberate concealment, no one realized that his body was weakening. They had always believed there was nothing wrong with him and that he was still in his prime. Some even boldly suggested that Fugaku Uchiha remarry, but he sternly rejected the idea.
Standing atop the mountain and looking down at the Uchiha village below, Fugaku Uchiha seemed able to see its future—the prosperity of the village founded by the Uchiha Clan.
Once the ninja village is established, perhaps Shisui should become its First Hokage?
With Shisui's strength, he was more than capable of shouldering the responsibilities of a Hokage.
Shisui, who was currently exhausting himself on the road to the Artisan Ninja Village, suddenly let out a loud sneeze. She had no idea that once she returned to the village, countless troublesome matters would be waiting for her to handle.
She knew even less that Fugaku Uchiha intended to make her the First Hokage of the newly established ninja village. If she found out, she might flee far away and die outside rather than return to the village.
The wandering children in the village had no choice but to risk stealing for a mouthful of food, struggling to eat and struggling to survive.
"Brat! If you dare steal again, I'll beat you to death!"
He viciously kicked the child curled into a ball. Seeing the filthy food in the child's hands, he cursed his bad luck and turned away.
This sort of thing happened in the village
every day. War had robbed many people of their homes, leaving behind more orphans and displaced people. They were all pitiful souls who had fled here, yet the villagers had no spare compassion to help them.
"Cough, cough—!"
Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, she ignored the pain in her body and hurriedly looked at the filthy food in her hands. She took a hard bite, her wolf-like eyes fixed on the people nearby as she guarded the food tightly.
"Hey! Brat!"
Before you continue