Naruto Uzumaki Is a Rogue Ninja

The next day, the mist on Crow Mountain dispersed. The Uchiha clan, all dressed in black, buried their kin in a clearing deliberately left behind the village. To ensure their departed would not be disturbed by outsiders, the Uchiha buried many explosive tags within their coffins.

"If anyone dares to desecrate their bodies, they will be buried with them!" Fugaku Uchiha's declaration showed the Uchiha clan his resolve as their leader.

They absolutely could not allow those coveting the Sharingan to disturb the eternal slumber of their kin!

If, out of greed, someone insisted on disturbing their kin's long rest, it would be better to let those greedy individuals vanish from this world along with the bodies of their kin, rather than have the bodies desecrated!

Fugaku Uchiha, whose wife's body had gone missing, had already prepared for the worst. At the same time, his temper had changed drastically. Especially after learning that he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan upon his wife's death, his heart had been tormented day and night.

His wife's death filled him with immense self-blame, and his physical condition deteriorated.

Fugaku Uchiha could feel his body weakening. Although this decline was slow, if it continued for two years, he might not be able to hold on.

Mikoto… I'll be with you soon… Wait for me…

It wasn't until his wife's death that Fugaku Uchiha realized how deeply he loved her.

His love for Mikoto Uchiha ran so deep that even he had never imagined it.

Immersed in the pain of losing Mikoto Uchiha, Fugaku Uchiha did not fall into despair. He intended to use his remaining time to lead the Uchiha clan back to its former prosperity. The Uchiha clan could not decline under his watch.

Naruto Uzumaki, eating at a restaurant, 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's thinking of me..."

Mikoto Uchiha rubbed her nose. Noticing the other diners looking at her, she lowered her head, her cheeks flushing.

Chapter 35: Uchiha, Everyone's a Goldfish Owner (Revised) (1/2)

"Come here!"

Sasuke Uchiha extended his hand. A crow with pure white feathers landed on Sasuke's arm, its red eyes blinking as if asking.

Why did you call me?

"Snow! Your name is Snow!"

Upon hearing the name Sasuke Uchiha gave her, the crow tilted its head and affectionately nuzzled Sasuke's hand.

This was a crow that had been cast out by its flock. Because its feathers were pure white, it was considered an anomaly by its kin. Unable to fend for itself after losing its flock, it quickly grew weak. If Sasuke Uchiha, who was learning Crow Ninjutsu from Shisui Uchiha, hadn't found it and taken the weakened crow home to raise, it would have perished.

"Snow! Ready?"

The crow on Sasuke Uchiha's shoulder cawed. Sasuke formed hand seals, and his body instantly transformed into countless white crows, flying in the air before gathering together not far away.

Shisui Uchiha, watching Sasuke practice the ninjutsu he had taught him, patted Itachi Uchiha's shoulder.

"Sasuke's talent is excellent; he's no less than you, Itachi!"

"That's because he's my brother."

"Is a genius's brother also a genius... A good answer."

The Uchiha clan resided on Crow Mountain, developing slowly. The black market naturally became an important place for the Uchiha clan to earn bounties.

Simultaneously, whispers began to circulate in the underworld about the Uchiha clan, who killed indiscriminately for bounties. The Uchiha clan specifically targeted those with high bounties; they disdained taking on jobs with low rewards.

One day, the Uchiha clan held a meeting. All members, except those who were out on missions, were present.

"I've already sent Shisui to Artisan Ninja Village to order a batch of ninja tools. We can't just stay on Crow Mountain doing nothing. We need to establish our own ninja village and widely recruit children with the potential to become ninja. Those displaced children suffering from war are precisely who we should be taking in. The village needs villagers, and it needs children who can become ninja."

"Next, I plan to expand the village's territory and establish a Ninja Academy. Does anyone present have any thoughts? Feel free to express them boldly. This concerns the future development of our village. I hope you will offer your opinions. Who agrees? Who opposes?"

Encouraged by Fugaku Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, who had his own ideas, stood up. Seeing Sasuke stand, Snow, perched on his shoulder, also stood up, its ruby-like eyes looking at Fugaku Uchiha along with Sasuke's.

"If we expand the village's territory, what will happen to the crows on Crow Mountain? This is their home. We can't just drive them away, can we?"

"We won't drive them away. We will coexist peacefully with the crows as we expand the village's territory. We'll leave that matter to Shisui."

"That's good!"

Sasuke Uchiha nodded in satisfaction and sat back down. With Sasuke initiating the discussion, others began to voice their thoughts.

"Clan Head, if a rogue ninja wants 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 accept them into the village."

Fugaku Uchiha answered earnestly. This was a crucial issue the newly established village would face, and Fugaku Uchiha would not be careless about it.

After much discussion, the expansion of the Uchiha village was quickly put on the agenda. Simultaneously, many Uchiha clan members left the village to search for children who had lost their homes due to the war.

Fugaku Uchiha maintained his disguise well, showing no signs of illness in front of the villagers. In reality, he wasn't sick; he was simply being drained of too much life force by the Susanoo. Furthermore, the village had just been built, and everyone was busy, not even Fugaku Uchiha's youngest son was an exception, doing his best to contribute to the village's construction.

This led to Fugaku Uchiha's body weakening unnoticed due to his deliberate deception. Everyone believed his health was perfectly fine, that he was in his prime. Some even dared to suggest that Fugaku Uchiha remarry, but he sternly rejected the idea.

Looking down at the Uchiha village from the mountaintop, Fugaku Uchiha seemed to see the future, the prosperity of the village founded by the Uchiha clan.

Once the ninja village is established, perhaps Shisui should be the first Kage?

Shisui's strength is sufficient to bear the responsibility of a Kage.

Shisui, who was working himself to death on his way to Artisan Ninja Village, suddenly let out a loud sneeze. He had no idea that many troublesome matters would await him upon his return.

He also didn't know that Fugaku Uchiha intended for him to become the first Kage of the newly established ninja village. If he knew, he might run far away and die somewhere else rather than return to the village.

The orphaned children in the village had to resort to stealing for a mouthful of food, struggling to survive just to eat.

"Brat! Steal again and I'll beat you to death!"

He fiercely kicked the child, who had curled into a ball, and looked at the dirty food in the child's hand. Muttering a curse under his breath, he turned and left.

This kind of scene happened every day in this village. The war had left many homeless, increasing the number of orphans and displaced people. They were all pitiable souls who had fled to this place, but the villagers had no extra love to spare for them.

"Cough, cough—!"

Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, she ignored the pain in her body and quickly looked at the dirty food in her hand. She took a fierce bite, her eyes like a wolf's, scanning the people nearby, fiercely guarding the food in her grasp.

"Hey! Kid!"