"It worked! "
Upon receiving the report from his first spore clone confirming the sabotage of Uchiha Obito's scheme in Kirigakure, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help but smile.
Leaving the Hokage building, Fugaku walked toward a residence near the Uchiha compound.
This was where Karin and her mother had been settled.
Seeing Fugaku arrive, a red-haired girl and a red-haired woman hurriedly greeted him.
"Lord Hokage."
The girl was Karin.The woman was Uzumaki Kaori, Karin's mother—a woman who had suffered greatly.
Because Fugaku had saved them in time, Kaori had avoided the tragic fate she suffered in the original timeline—being used as a "living medical tool," drained of her chakra until death.
"How is it? Are you getting used to living here? " Fugaku asked with a warm smile.
"This place is so much better than where we lived before… I don't even know how to thank you, Lord Hokage."
Gratitude filled Uzumaki Kaori's expression. To her, Fugaku had rescued them from the depths of despair. She bowed deeply.
"There's no need for such formality. The Uzumaki clan has long been an ally of Konoha. Since we crossed paths, I couldn't just turn a blind eye." Fugaku shook his head with a smile.
"I've decided Karin will enter the Konoha Academy to study. As for you, I intend to appoint you as a teacher at the Academy. What do you think? "
"I will follow whatever arrangements Lord Hokage makes," Kaori replied joyfully.
It was indeed the best path: Karin was still young and perfectly suited to study at the Academy, while Kaori could live a safe life as a teacher—earning a stable income to support herself and her daughter.
"That's good. If you ever need anything, come to the Hokage's office." Fugaku nodded.
He regarded the mother and daughter with great importance.
Like the Senju, the Uzumaki clan carried the bloodline of Asura, the Sage of Six Paths' younger son. Their potential was immense.
After a short stay, Fugaku departed.
"It's about time I bring Yuki no Natsu back to Konoha."
Seeing Karin reminded him of Yuki no Natsu, the girl he had taken in.
Now that he controlled Konoha, it was time to bring her back, nurture her at his side, and deepen her loyalty.
After all, she was a bloodline ninja with Ice Release and the potential to reach Kage level. If she grew strong, she could become one of his most powerful subordinates.
Leaving behind a spore clone in his place, Fugaku traveled to the Uchiha clan's secret outpost.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi's faction had already been eliminated and no longer posed a threat, Fugaku had no intention of disbanding the outpost.
The Uchiha may have swept away their enemies within Konoha, but there were still threats outside.
Most dangerous of all was Akatsuki.
This secret base would remain as a fallback, just in case.
"Congratulations, Clan Head, on becoming Hokage! At last, the Uchiha has produced a Hokage! "
Upon seeing Fugaku, the Uchiha stationed there rushed to greet him with excitement.
Leading them was Uchiha Arata, an elite jōnin holding command in place of Uchiha Hoshi.
Though he had been away from the village for some time, he had kept in contact and already knew Fugaku had ascended as Hokage.
"Becoming Hokage was thanks to the efforts of the entire clan—you all share in this achievement," Fugaku said with a satisfied smile.
Together, they walked deeper into the outpost and soon arrived at a training ground where orphans adopted by the Uchiha from across the shinobi world were being raised.
Some trained alone; others sparred against each other.
One particular match drew everyone's attention.
A sharp-eyed boy in black was facing off against a girl of only seven or eight.
Despite the clear age and size gap, the smaller girl was the one holding the advantage.
She was none other than Yuki no Natsu.
"Ice Release: Ice Drizzle! "
Forming hand seals, countless ice spears materialized in the air and shot toward the boy.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall! "
Knowing how dangerous her technique was, the boy quickly formed a hand seal. A stone wall surged up to shield him.
Thud, thud, thud!
Ice spears slammed into the wall, cracking it until it collapsed under the barrage.
The boy blocked the remaining ice with two kunai, his taijutsu skill keeping him unharmed. He exhaled in relief.
But then—he felt a sudden chill at his neck.
Yuki no Natsu was already behind him; an icy blade extended from her hand and pressed against his throat.
The figure he thought he had been fighting melted away—just a clone.
"I admit defeat," the boy said reluctantly.
Though unwilling to lose to someone so much younger, he had no choice. The girl gave him no chance to resist.
When he surrendered, the icy blade dissipated. Natsu turned and respectfully walked toward Fugaku.
"Lord Fugaku."
"Very good. Your strength is already comparable to a tokubetsu jōnin. Clearly, you haven't been slacking during this time." Fugaku's eyes gleamed with approval.
Natsu's natural talent was exceptional, but her rapid growth also showed her dedication and relentless training.
"Because I want to become Lord Fugaku's strength," Natsu answered earnestly.
"I believe that day will come," Fugaku replied with a smile.
After staying at the outpost for a while longer, Fugaku returned to Konoha with Natsu.
Unlike Karin and Kaori, whom he housed separately, Fugaku chose to bring Natsu directly into the Uchiha compound—into his own household.
She was still far too young to live alone.
And with her Kage-level potential, she needed to stay close, both to receive guidance and to strengthen her bond of loyalty.
"Fugaku, who is this little girl? "
Upon seeing her husband return with a child, Mikoto Uchiha's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Her look seemed to ask if Fugaku had fathered a child outside.
"She's an orphan of the Yuki clan. I adopted her—her name is Yuki no Natsu…"
Understanding his wife's suspicion, Fugaku hurriedly explained.
After much explanation, he finally convinced Mikoto that Natsu was an adopted orphan and not his illegitimate daughter—ensuring he wouldn't be barred from the bedroom that night.
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