'There's a third option,' Naruto thought, weighing the Uchiha's grim prospects. 'Beyond fighting a losing battle or surrendering to slaughter.'
"Leave Konoha," he murmured aloud.
It seemed simple. If they couldn't win and wouldn't bow, why not just run? Given their compound's location on the village outskirts, the Uchiha clan could likely break through Konoha's defenses if they committed to fleeing.
Some civilians might not make it far, true, but surely a few skilled shinobi with the Sharingan could escape and survive. Find a quiet corner of the world, live out their days in peace. The Uchiha bloodline would endure, perhaps even rise again someday.
Unfortunately, there was a catch. That's straight-up defection. Could the proud Uchiha truly stomach running like stray dogs, abandoning their history and position? Giving up all their efforts and sacrifices they've made for Konoha over the years? Their infamous arrogance wouldn't allow it.
'They'd rather die,' Naruto considered grimly. 'Just like those warmongering fools of Kaguya clan from Kirigakure, not just eager to fight, they would shift circumstances in a manner that they will have no choice but to fight.' They were blinded by their own pride, unable to see the bigger picture. For the sake of 'honor', a flimsy concept for shinobi, who weren't samurai, they'd choose annihilation over retreat.
Minato had seen this fatal flaw in them. He and Fugaku had even worked out a potential solution, a way forward. But before they could act, Minato died during the Nine-Tails attack.
With the Fourth Hokage gone, Fugaku hesitated. The village elders clamped down, isolating the Uchiha, forcing them into the corner they were in now.
Barring some miracle, like every Uchiha suddenly awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan with strong abilities and manifesting Susanoo capable of leveling the village, their fate seemed sealed. The odds of that were practically zero.
That left only one painful choice: cut off a limb to save the body.
"Sacrifice some to save the rest," Naruto explained. Abandon those too blinded by pride to see reason, and transfer the others, the future of the clan, somewhere safe.
It sounded like fleeing, but it was different. One path meant letting Konoha dictate terms, the other meant the Uchiha retained some control over their destiny.
Minato listened intently, nodding slowly. It was, tragically, the only viable path he could see. "So, Naruto," he asked, his voice echoing slightly in the seal space, "do you have a way to transfer that part of the clan? To get them out?"
Naruto gave a wry shake of his head. "Me? How would I manage that?" He still hadn't learned Instant Transmission from Goku, and besides, the Goku he met didn't even know it back as he had just finished training with King Kai. Leading a mass escape wasn't exactly his forte. Fighting was one thing, but this... 'It's not like I can just Kamehameha Konoha out of existence the way I am now,' though the thought held a certain dark appeal. But blowing it up just didn't feel like enough sometimes.
Minato just stared at him, a spectral eyebrow raised. 'Then why bring it up?' his expression seemed to say.
"I don't have a way," Naruto clarified. "But you do, Fourth Hokage."
The Fourth Hokage had the power of the fastest speed in the Shinobi World, capable of freely traversing space. "Flying Thunder God?"
"Exactly."
The Fourth Hokage's ethereal eyes dimmed. He shook his head decisively. "Me? That's impossible. I'm dead, Naruto."
"Maybe," Naruto countered, "but that doesn't mean you can't still use the Flying Thunder God."
Minato paused. "How about you learning it?"
"I want to learn this technique," Naruto nodded, not hiding his desire for the Flying Thunder God, "but not now. There isn't enough time."
"Then..."
"I have an idea," Naruto said quietly, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Theoretically, it could work. But it depends on whether you're willing, Fourth."
Minato's expression grew serious. "What is it?"
Naruto lowered his voice, explaining his plan. Behind the massive seal gate, the Nine-Tails, curiosity piqued, strained its massive ears to listen. He could only faintly make out three words: Ki... chakra... Shadow Clone.
The principle was simple, really. A fusion of Naruto's unique energy and Minato's chakra. Naruto would create a Shadow Clone. Minato would then infuse a portion of his own spectral chakra into it.
Since a Shadow Clone was essentially a projection of the user's consciousness manifested as chakra, Minato's infusion could, theoretically, allow him to control the clone remotely, provided Naruto didn't actively wrest control back.
Minato mulled it over, analyzing the mechanics. 'It's feasible,' he conceded internally. 'Almost like... a Puppetry? But without the chakra threads.' The main drawback was proximity, the clone couldn't stray too far from Naruto himself.
*--*
Later that night, the wind picked up under a dark, moonless sky. Perfect conditions for infiltration... or murder.
Inside the Uchiha compound, Fugaku sat alone in his study, cross-legged, nursing a cup of bitter tea.
'The clan's position grows weaker by the day,' he thought, the lines on his face deepening. Today's clan meeting had been particularly tense. The war hawks were gaining ground, their calls for action growing louder, fiercer.
Nearly seventy percent of the clan now favored confrontation, and even he, the clan head, could barely keep them in check. He'd heard whispers they held another, smaller gathering after the official one adjourned. Plotting? Probably. The resentment towards Konoha felt thick enough to choke on.
That wasn't his only worry. His eldest son, the supposed bridge between the Uchiha and the village leadership, had been distant lately, secretive. 'He's hiding something.' Fugaku sighed inwardly. He supposed it was natural for sons to keep secrets as they grew older, but the timing felt ominous.
Just as the weight pressed down on him, a familiar, faint scent reached him. A warm presence pressed against his back, and slender fingers gently began to massage his temples.
"Mikoto," he murmured, reaching back to grasp her hand. "Thank you." A rare softness touched his eyes.
Mikoto simply shook her head, her gaze filled with concern as she noted the new streaks of white in her husband's hair. Worry was aging him prematurely. Suddenly, she spoke, her voice soft but firm. "Fugaku... why don't we leave? Leave Konoha."
Since Fugaku had become clan head, smiles had become rare on his face. The oppressive atmosphere in the clan, the cold shoulders from the villagers... even Mikoto, who tried to stay out of politics, felt the mounting tension acutely. The pressure on her husband was immense.
Fugaku sighed again, a wry, tired smile touching his lips. "Leave? And go where, Mikoto? Can we even leave?" Konoha wouldn't simply let the Uchiha walk away. And most of the clan wouldn't agree to go, anyway. "I am the Clan Head," he started, the familiar weight settling back onto his shoulders, "there are responsibilities I must uphold..."
He trailed off. The air in the room shifted, subtly charged with an unfamiliar presence. Fugaku stiffened, his eyes narrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "Who's there?"
His gaze snapped towards the window. Where there had been only empty night moments before, two figures now stood silhouetted against the darkness, one tall, one noticeably shorter, both cloaked and hooded.
'Intruder?' Fugaku rose smoothly to his feet, his expression hardening. His Sharingan flared to life, three tomoe spinning within the crimson irises. 'They bypassed the patrols... didn't even sense them until they were right here. Skilled.' He assessed their attire. 'Not ANBU. Not Root. Friend or foe?'
*Shink.*
A glint of steel appeared between Mikoto's fingers, moonlight catching the edge of a kunai she'd produced seemingly from nowhere. She might be a homemaker now, but her instincts as a skilled kunoichi remained sharp.
"Forgive the intrusion," the taller figure said, their voice calm. Slowly, they reached up and lowered their hood.
Fugaku's breath caught. Mikoto gasped beside him, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The visitor offered a somber smile.
"Fugaku... Mikoto... It's been a long time."
-------------------
Dear Readers and Fans,
For those eager to dive into next chapters earlier before others, I invite you to join us on Patreon. By becoming our Patron, you not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also help us continue this endeavour and expand it further.
https://www.pat reon.com/8Ashes8
(no space)
You can read upto 7 Chapters in advance.