A large crowd had gathered in the courtyard of the Sarutobi family. Present were Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Fugaku and Hiashi representing the two great dōjutsu clans, as well as the mid-generation successors of the Inuzuka and Aburame families. Every one of them was a clan patriarch, and they stood behind the newly inaugurated Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
They had all come together to pay a formal visit to the retired Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
After a Sarutobi clan servant led Minato into the house, the others waited outside, idly chatting.
"Old Sarutobi really is getting senile," someone said coldly. "He's already lost his power, yet he dares to try intimidating everyone."
The courtyard fell silent. All heads turned toward the source of the voice—Orochimaru, dressed casually, was leaning against a wall in the corner.
As his gaze swept over them, the heads of each major clan instinctively lowered their eyes. Despite being stripped of his candidacy for Hokage, Orochimaru was still one of the three Sannin—and none of them dared provoke him.
They were powerful men in front of the villagers, but before Orochimaru, they were nothing.
The more someone values their life, the more they fear a dangerous, unpredictable man with no attachments.
That was a large part of why they supported Minato—he had restraint. Orochimaru didn't.
Orochimaru, unfazed by their silence, kept his gaze on Uchiha Fugaku. "Fugaku, how did your surgery go?"
Fugaku's heart skipped a beat. "Haha, it went fine."
He hadn't told anyone about the operation. He had arranged for it secretly, through a trusted doctor, and only stayed in the hospital for a day. If not for the lack of advanced medical equipment in the Uchiha compound, he would've done it there to avoid even the smallest risk of discovery.
Yet Orochimaru knew.
Either there was a traitor among the Uchiha, or the doctor was one of Orochimaru's men.
"That's good," Orochimaru said, eyes narrowed in a smile that seemed to hold something more.
Fugaku forced a polite tone. "Lord Orochimaru, do you have something to say?"
Orochimaru replied softly, "Be wary of that yellow-haired boy you brought back with you into the village."
Fugaku's face went blank.
Orochimaru chuckled. "And tell your wife to be careful, too. You'll thank me later."
Fugaku's expression turned cold. "Lord Orochimaru, I'd prefer it if you stayed out of my family's business."
"Believe it or don't, it's up to you," Orochimaru said with a low laugh as he turned and walked away.
Fugaku glared at his retreating back. That bastard—trying to sow discord between him and Mikoto.
He wasn't afraid of Orochimaru. With the Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku had the strength to stand his ground. But with the Third Hokage and Danzo still lingering around, he didn't dare make a move.
They might tolerate the Uchiha Clan's existence—but not their power.
"Just wait. Once those old fossils are gone and Minato fully takes control, once we have more Mangekyō awakenings, I won't have to bow my head anymore."
He had heard rumors Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō—but the boy was too kind-hearted to fully back the Uchiha.
What a waste.
Laughter came from inside the house and grew closer. The door opened, and Minato emerged with the Third Hokage on his arm, both smiling warmly like father and son.
"Minato, if you ever have questions in the future, don't hesitate to come to me," Hiruzen said.
"I may be an old man, but I can still be useful."
Minato nodded sincerely. "You're more than just an old man, Third Hokage-sama. You're one of the greatest shinobi ever. I'll need your guidance."
The old master was gracious. The young successor was humble. Their relationship, it seemed, had been handled perfectly.
Fugaku sighed. On the way here, he had hoped that if the old man resisted stepping down, he could play the vanguard for Minato—maybe even take him out.
Now it seemed that plan was no longer needed. He'd have to keep his head down in front of Hiruzen a while longer.
Minato soon said his goodbyes and left, while the other clan leaders took turns offering their respects to the Third Hokage before departing.
Knowing Hiruzen disliked him, Fugaku offered only a few polite words before leaving with Shikaku and the others.
On the walk back, Shikaku approached him quietly. "Has anything strange happened at your house recently?"
Fugaku frowned. "Strange? What do you mean?"
"There's something wrong in my home, and it's serious. That's why I came to you—I think both our families are involved."
"…You think something happened in my house, too?"
"Yes. I think it's connected to that person Yoshino and Mikoto met."
Fugaku froze.
Orochimaru had also warned him earlier—watch out for Menma. Be careful with Mikoto.
Now Shikaku was saying the same.
Fugaku stayed composed. "Can you be more specific?"
Shikaku stared ahead, eyes filled with worry. "Hard to explain. But my home… every part of it feels wrong."
He exhaled sharply.
"Yoshino's not asking for a divorce anymore."
"That sounds like good news."
"Except now, none of the elders talk. They just avoid everyone. Even my father… he looks afraid when he sees Yoshino."
"What? Why?"
"I don't know. I asked him, but he always drives me away."
His father—a seasoned jonin and clan leader—afraid of a special jonin daughter-in-law?
That made no sense.
Shikaku looked to him again. "Didn't you say the man they met was extremely powerful?"
Fugaku said nothing. Orochimaru's words echoed in his head. Be careful of Menma. Be careful of Mikoto.
Now Shikaku—a man who rarely spoke without reason—was suggesting the same.
Fugaku remembered how he'd been oddly tired lately… and how Mikoto often avoided his touch.
Shikaku gave his shoulder a pat. "We're home. If you find anything… let me know."
Only then did Fugaku realize he had reached the Nara compound.
"I will," he said, voice low. Then turned and walked toward the Uchiha district.
The fog was unusually thick today. He couldn't even see the road ahead.
Will there be blood?
…I hope not.
Uchiha Clan District
Sunlight filtered through green leaves and into the courtyard. The breeze rustled the foliage gently.
Inside the house, a child sat under a wind chime, watching television.
"Mom, I'm sleepy. I wanna nap," little Uchiha Itachi mumbled as he chewed on a slice of watermelon. His eyelids drooped as he fought to stay awake.
Mikoto came from the kitchen, picked him up gently. "Then sleep, sweetheart. Sleep helps you grow taller. Grow tall and handsome, and all the girls will love you."
She wasn't worried about the sleep meds' effects. She used special pills that actually promoted child growth. Just this week, Itachi had grown three centimeters taller—faster than even Naruto.
"But I don't want girls to like me, I want Mr. Watermelon to like me…" Itachi murmured, eyes closing. He meant the watermelon itself.
Mikoto chuckled, stroking his hair. "Sleep now, baby. I'll get you all the watermelon you want when you wake up."
"Okay… but don't lie…" Itachi yawned and dozed off in her arms.
Mikoto rocked him gently, singing a lullaby. Once he was deeply asleep, she smiled.
"Naruto-kun, Yoshino—you can come out now."
From the kitchen came rustling noises.
Mikoto laid a blanket over her son and looked toward the door.
Bang!
The kitchen door burst open—and the scene beyond was enough to shock any observer.
Nara Yoshino, wearing a white miniskirt and stockings, crawled out of the kitchen wearing bull horns. Behind her followed a yellow-haired young man—Naruto—carrying a pair of rabbit ears.
Mikoto threw off her apron, revealing a black bunny girl outfit with sheer stockings underneath.
"Master, please return Rabbit's ears to Rabbit," Mikoto said seductively, crawling on all fours.
Even Naruto—who had seen many beautiful women—was stunned.
He walked to the sofa and sat, as Yoshino hugged his leg. "Don't give me back my ears—just play with me," she purred.
Mikoto growled, shoved Yoshino aside, and rested her face on Naruto's knees.
"Master, help Rabbit wear her ears… she's incomplete without them…"
"Don't fight!" Naruto laughed. "Everyone gets a turn."
"Hmph, those who don't fight don't win," Yoshino grumbled, nibbling his leg.
She hadn't intended to sink to this level—but Mikoto played dirty and always stole Naruto's attention.
So she adapted. Use the enemy's tactics to defeat the enemy.
Uchiha Izumi, who was watching from the roof, rolled her eyes.
"…Shameless," she muttered.
Beside her, Uzumaki Chiname held a camera, recording the scene.
"They're just serving Naruto-kun," Izumi defended, though inside, she looked down on them.
"A real wife is a virtuous woman who manages the household—not a pet who begs for attention."
That was her belief. She wouldn't stoop to these tricks—unless Naruto asked for it directly.
Suddenly, she frowned. "Sister Chiname… why are you recording?"
Chiname laughed awkwardly. She just wanted leverage—blackmail, just in case.
A gust of wind blew through.
"Someone's coming—from the southeast. Hurry, check it out," Chiname ordered. "I'll go warn Naruto."
Izumi nodded and vanished, racing to the southeast edge of Mikoto's property.
There—Uchiha Fugaku and over a dozen elite Uchiha jonin were sprinting straight toward the house.