Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou

By the Lake.

"Nagato, Konan, although the war is over, the turmoil in the Land of Rain hasn't ceased. Would you be willing to join me? Together, we can establish peace in the Land of Rain…"

Yahiko's radiant smile exuded a unique charisma as he extended an invitation to the two fellow war orphans of the Land of Rain.

However, Konan responded with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Yahiko. I will be following Lord Shirou back."

Her words stunned Yahiko, leaving his smile momentarily frozen.

Konan's gaze, apologetic yet distant, passed through him, landing on the figure dressed in white leaning against a tree in the distance. To her, that figure seemed to embody her entire world.

When Yahiko saw the look in Konan's eyes, he seemed to understand something and couldn't help but show a bitter smile. The budding emotions he hadn't yet expressed were already buried in the dust.

Turning to Nagato for solace, Yahiko was met with the same apologetic smile.

"I plan to stay here in the village and train under Lord Uchiha Yashiro. After all, I'm still too weak."

Shirou had left someone in charge of the village—Uchiha Yashiro—who had also taken Nagato under his wing.

Two consecutive rejections left Yahiko scratching his head awkwardly, unsure of what had just happened. He could understand Konan's choice, as her loyalty had been clear from the start. But Nagato? If he wasn't going back, then why…?

Faced with Yahiko's puzzled look, Nagato gave a faint, practiced smile. "Because the Land of Rain is my home."

Nagato's answer seemed to enlighten Yahiko, but Yahiko remained unaware of the guarded thoughts within Nagato's heart.

Lord Shirou said it: I mustn't reveal my eyes to anyone!

Under Shirou's influence, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato were set on diverging paths in life.

Konan and Nagato had not built deep bonds with Yahiko. Especially after learning about the secrets of his Rinnegan, Nagato had developed a sense of caution toward others.

More importantly, Nagato had begun to wield power. He was no longer the weak, starving boy who could be won over with a simple piece of bread.

"Haha, it's fine. We're all in the Land of Rain, and Konan will visit whenever she has time."

Yahiko's confident grin, radiating his natural charm, managed to ease the awkward atmosphere.

However, despite appearances, the relationships between the three had already shifted. Shirou's intervention had irreversibly altered their destinies.

When people are at their weakest, it's easiest to reach their hearts. But once they gain strength, even someone as kind-hearted as Nagato instinctively views Yahiko as a companion only because of his newfound ninja abilities.

Such is human nature!

The three gazed toward one of the rare sunrises in the Land of Rain, their faces lit with smiles of hope for the future.

Yahiko, now a student of Jiraiya, believed he would one day become a powerful ninja.

Konan, while saddened by the parting, found solace in returning to the village alongside the person she admired most.

Nagato, too, smiled, feeling the warmth of care and protection. Though still unsure of the full picture, he knew one thing: he had killed Konoha ninjas. Yet Lord Shirou hadn't blamed him. Instead, Shirou had protected him because of his legendary eyes and even arranged for someone to guide him.

This familial care filled Nagato with longing.

...

Beneath the tree, Jiraiya looked at Shirou with his usual playful grin before tossing him a scroll, laughing aloud:

"No need to thank this great sage. This is one of my secret techniques."

Looking at the scroll in his hand, Shirou was surprised. It was Needle Jizō.

Jiraiya's secret defensive ninjutsu hardened his hair into needle-like spikes, enveloping his entire body in a protective layer.

It was a B-rank technique, and there was also an offensive variant.

"Haha! I've long noticed your reckless fighting style, Shirou. You're lacking in defensive ninjutsu."

Jiraiya laughed heartily, but amidst his laughter, Shirou caught a hint of awkwardness.

While Jiraiya was a good man, he wasn't the type to casually give away his secret techniques—especially not one of his signature jutsu.

"Jiraiya-san, is this because of the Sannin title that's been circulating?"

Shirou's meaningful smile made Jiraiya scratch his head awkwardly.

He knew the situation wasn't exactly honorable, but it wasn't something he could control. The title had already spread.

To suppress the fame of Sakumo Hatake (Konoha's White Fang), the third Hokage and his advisors had deliberately publicized the exploits of Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya on the battlefield of the Land of Rain, branding them as the Legendary Sannin.

In doing so, they overshadowed the contributions of Uchiha Shirou, Uzumaki Kushina, and, to some extent, Uchiha Mikoto, who had also played significant roles in the latter half of the battle against Hanzō of the Salamander.

After all, two of them were Uchiha, and the third was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.

The official excuse?

"We were protecting the jinchūriki."

Accepting this, Shirou smiled. "In that case, thank you, Jiraiya-san."

Without hesitation, Shirou accepted the defensive technique.

Jiraiya was simply compensating him out of guilt. After all, during their fight against Hanzō, Jiraiya felt he had dragged Shirou down. Claiming credit afterward only made him feel worse.

"Looks like the Uchiha clan leader has tacitly agreed to the Third Hokage's suppression tactics. After all, the young clan head hasn't taken over yet."

Squinting, Shirou thought about how unusual this situation was.

Would the Uchiha normally allow the village leadership to suppress their clan? Not likely. Unless… the clan leader himself had agreed to it.

This would explain the discontent brewing among the Uchiha on the front lines.

Thinking this through, Shirou gazed at the rising sun, a smile forming on his lips.

"I can understand paving the way for your son's future. Unfortunately, your vision is too narrow. You only see the surface but fail to notice how many of the Uchiha's elites are now rallying behind me."

Ironically, the suppression had worked in his favor. The Uchiha elites on the front lines were beginning to align with him, growing dissatisfied with the clan leader's decisions.

"Take your time. The clan leader's body won't hold out for much longer."

Shirou squinted, realizing that he might not even need to act. The Uchiha clan was delivering itself into his hands.

As for Fugaku Uchiha? Shirou smiled again. He believed this overly loyal and conflict-averse young heir would eventually crumble under the mounting pressure.

...

Konoha, Uchiha Clan.

"Father! Why? Why would you do this? You're trampling on the honor of the Uchiha clan!"

Inside the room, the normally composed Fugaku Uchiha was enraged, confronting his father—the current Uchiha clan leader.

Looking at his son, the elder Uchiha leader's face showed guilt, but his voice remained firm.

"Fugaku! Your steady nature reassures me that the clan will be safe in your hands. As for Shirou-kun, I admit he is a genius. But he is also more stubborn and fanatical than Elder Setsuna ever was!"

"He's too dangerous, there's no denying it. If he succeeds, he could indeed lead the Uchiha clan to greater heights. But if he fails? It would spell utter catastrophe!"

The elder patriarch of the Uchiha clan spoke calmly, though his tone carried an undeniable weight. He had his own selfish considerations, but he also took into account the personalities of the two men involved.

"Fugaku! You must understand, Uchiha Shirou is an even more domineering and obsessive person than Elder Setsuna. If the position of clan leader were to fall into his hands in the future, do you think you could restrain him with his personality!?"

Faced with his father's interrogation, Fugaku flushed red with frustration and indignation. Finally, in a hoarse voice, he replied:

"But Father, when the position of deputy head was offered to him before, Shirou outright refused it. Instead, he hid away in the Land of Rain and didn't return until recently, when the medical corps was established in the village. Only then did he choose to come back, and he even voluntarily applied to join the medical unit!"

As he said this, Fugaku's face reflected a deep sense of shame.

The boy he had once always regarded as a younger brother had grown to such heights without him noticing, and yet his father had now begun to harbor fears toward him.

This wasn't fair! This wasn't the Uchiha way!

Facing his son's rebuke, the elder patriarch fell silent. After a long moment, he let out a melancholic sigh.

"Fugaku, perhaps this is my selfishness. But after all I've been through, I've come to realize that the Uchiha clan is already a sensitive presence within the village. If Shirou wants to change the clan, I won't stand in his way.

However, as a clan leader, I cannot gamble the entire clan on one person. That's why you are needed, Fugaku. A Uchiha with differing views, just as I once had with Elder Setsuna. In the future, the clan will depend on both of you!"

Fugaku understood his father's reasoning, but as a proud Uchiha, he was filled with anger. He slammed his palm down hard, shattering the table in front of him.

"Father, I accept your love for the clan, but I absolutely cannot accept this method that tramples on the honor of the Uchiha!"

Fugaku roared in fury. He realized that a divided Uchiha clan might be safer, but he couldn't bring himself to agree with such an approach.

Yet, as he glared at his father, the elder patriarch raised his head and solemnly said:

"Fugaku, when you bear the weight of the clan on your shoulders, you'll no longer be able to act so freely. This pressure will suffocate you, forcing you to take actions that go against your heart.

The medical corps has already been formally established. The head is Lady Tsunade, and the deputy head is Shirou. And you, my son! You are now the deputy head of the police force! It's time for you to take responsibility for the clan!"

Upon hearing his father's words, Fugaku's anger gave way to guilt—guilt toward Shirou.

Uchiha Shirou, much younger than him, had avoided creating a rift between them by retreating into the Land of Rain. And when he returned, he applied to join the medical unit instead of competing for power.

This made Fugaku, who had always seen himself as the older brother, feel deeply remorseful. It was as though he had stolen the glory that rightfully belonged to his younger brother, Uchiha Shirou.

...

Meanwhile, the Senju clan's territory:

"Tsunade, the medical corps has already been formally established. It's time for you to focus on what you need to do."

Uzumaki Mito sighed and shook her head as she spoke. However, in the secret chamber, Tsunade was deeply engrossed in reading the clan's secret scrolls. She frowned, her attention fully absorbed in the texts, and waved dismissively at her grandmother's words.

"These old geezers. I proposed formalizing medical-nin long ago, and now they've finally seized the opportunity. What is this? Turning my contributions into a mere title of Head of the Medical Corps? They're trying to pigeonhole me as just a medical-nin so that all the shinobi in Konoha see me only for my achievements in medicine, not for my feats on the battlefield, right?"

By now, Tsunade had seen through such political maneuvering and scoffed coldly.

"As for the tedious work of the medical corps, Shirou is back now, and he's prepared to take charge."

Uzumaki Mito felt a sense of relief as she watched her granddaughter mature. At least she could rest easy after she was gone. However, she couldn't help but feel concerned about Tsunade's recent changes since returning to the clan.

After her return, Tsunade immersed herself in the clan's secret scrolls, especially those written by the Second Hokage, Tobirama, and others detailing forbidden techniques.

From a young age, Tsunade had either gambled or drank. Now, she had taken an intense interest in the clan's secret scrolls, which shocked Uzumaki Mito. She had never seen Tsunade so obsessed with power.

"Tsunade, the village is already prepared."

After a long pause, Uzumaki Mito spoke softly from a chair in the chamber. Her words startled Tsunade, who was deep in her studies. Tsunade raised her head, her expression cold.

"Outsiders are one thing, but some people within the clan can't seem to wait, can they?"

"Everyone says the Uchiha are madmen in their pursuit of power, but compared to the current Senju, the Uchiha are a joke."

Researching the First Hokage's Wood Release techniques would inevitably require opening his grave and extracting tissue from her grandfather, Uzumaki Mito's husband.

To others, this was merely the source of a tantalizing power. But to the two of them, it was family. One was her husband, the other her grandfather.

Only the two of them felt the pain of this. For the rest of the clan, who had become obsessed with reviving their former glory, there was no hesitation or sorrow.

"Grandmother!"

Tsunade exhaled deeply, then smiled lightly.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I've got this under control. I'll handle it myself, and I'm sure Grandpa won't blame me."

Her teasing words made Uzumaki Mito laugh. She was reminded of when Tsunade had first practiced medical ninjutsu, often using her grandfather as a test subject.

But when she thought about the current state of the clan, Uzumaki Mito could only sigh.

"Tsunade, many of our clansmen witnessed the Senju's former glory. That's why they're so desperate to revive the clan."

As the Senju declined, the clan's members channeled their frustrations into a single goal: restoring their former splendor. When the idea of researching Wood Release was proposed, they seized on it as their outlet, becoming utterly fanatical.

If they hadn't seen the Senju's golden age, they wouldn't have been so fixated. The psychological gap was simply too vast.

Seeing her grandmother's sadness, Tsunade suddenly slapped her forehead as if she had remembered something.

"Grandma! There's something I need your help with. I've had some ideas about derivative techniques for the Yin Seal. Recently, after studying Uzumaki clan records and Second Grandpa's scrolls, I've refined my concept even further…"

Tsunade excitedly explained her thoughts, which would later evolve into the Hundred Healings Technique.

Uzumaki Mito, though aware that her granddaughter was trying to distract her and give her something to focus on, couldn't help but smile warmly.