Naruto: In the future world

#Turning_the_Tide (3)

Knock Knock

After two knocks on the door, the man seated in the chair lifted his head calmly, his cold eyes fixed on the door.

"Come in."

He set aside the book he was holding as the words escaped his lips, as cold as ice.

The door opened slowly, and the one outside stepped in at a deliberate pace. He had striking red hair that covered one of his eyes in a very handsome way.

"What is it that you want, Oshino?"

Standing before the desk inside Oshino Uzumaki's office, Mikael — Oshino's younger brother — spoke with curiosity.

"Have a seat, Mikael," Oshino gestured calmly to the chair beside the desk.

"Yes, sir."

Mikael walked over, placed his hand on the desk, and sat comfortably.

"How are things going with your work lately?"

The elder brother gazed at his younger sibling with composure.

"Nothing major. Our business is growing at a decent pace, but it's not particularly noteworthy — just like any other day." Mikael moved his hand slightly while explaining, a hint of laziness in his tone.

"As long as we maintain this pace, it's certainly good," Oshino closed his eyes, nodding slightly downward.

"We need to find a way to dominate the market. What do you suggest?"

As he continued the conversation, Oshino raised his gaze to meet his younger brother's, who was waiting for the question to finish.

"Our field is centered around entertainment. We have plenty of artists and singers. So maybe it would be best to take over the fashion and accessories market — by having actors and singers promote our products, we'll rise to fame quickly."

"That's a good idea. We'll proceed with it," Oshino agreed calmly.

"Don't you think it would be better to inform Mother about it too?" Mikael asked, slightly surprised — was his older brother trying to act like the clan head?

"Don't worry. Leave that to me."

Oshino sighed before continuing, "Now, onto what's more important." His expression sharpened as he leaned forward, eyes darkening as he said coldly:

"How are we going to get rid of that illegitimate brat?"

"He was supposed to be dead a month ago! The plan to poison him in the car on his way to the Namikaze Clan was flawless. How did he survive?! And what's even stranger is that he returned the next night as if nothing had happened!!"

Oshino Uzumaki's greatest concern was, without doubt, that child Naruto — born at the worst possible time!

His scheme to remove Kushina Uzumaki from the clan's leadership had been perfect that year, but who would have thought that the one backing her was none other than the head of the Namikaze Clan himself — the father of her son, and the likely next leader of the Uzumaki Clan.

Oshino scratched his head impatiently, speaking with clear irritation:

"His Excellency will never be satisfied unless I eliminate this obstacle!!"

(His Excellency? What does he mean by that?)

Mikael wondered in confusion but brushed it aside when Oshino's next question broke his thoughts.

"Anyway, do you have any plans to kill Uzumaki Naruto?"

"I'll think about it later. I have to leave now. See you later," Mikael said as he left the room.

Shhh... Shhhhhh...

A noise of static echoed as the scene dissolved into waves — it had all been footage recorded by a smart camera!

"How do you explain this, Uzumaki Oshino?!"

Oshino's mouth hung open in shock, cold sweat pouring from his forehead — he could hardly believe what he was seeing!

In that semi-secret room, standing before him was his mother, displaying the footage on a large television screen. Flanking Oshino was Uzumaki Yukiteru.

"How could you do something like this?"

Yukiteru's voice was heavy with anger, his clenched fists trembling, his gaze conflicted and filled with pain despite the rage.

Oshino clenched his teeth as he looked at the child standing beside Uzumaki Mito with pride and dignity, as if silently declaring, Your psychological war has become my game now!

He struggled, but it was in vain — he had been bound in chains as a precaution in case he tried something reckless.

"This is how I'm repaid for putting the clan's interests first? For the sake of a mutt like him?"

"Silence!!"

Mito snapped impatiently, slamming her palm against the table.

"What kind of clan interest are you talking about? Are you really saying you're okay with murdering your younger sister's child in cold blood?! This isn't the Oshino I once knew."

Despite her heavy breathing, the grandmother forced herself to say all of it.

"And just because he's the grandson of your favorite daughter, that makes him qualified to lead the clan? You've grown old, Mother," Oshino said with scorn as he stared coldly at her.

"Don't speak to our mother like that, Oshino! Have you gone mad?!" Yukiteru shouted furiously.

"You, the spoiled one, have no right to call me mad!!" Oshino snapped, turning his gaze coldly toward Yukiteru.

"The clan — is that all you think about? What is a clan, really? The people you rule? Or the ones you live beside? Ruling people doesn't make them your family or your clan!"

Naruto, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up.

Oshino looked at Naruto with a cold stare, waiting for him to finish.

"Just because you want to lead the clan doesn't mean you're fit to do so."

"Only the weak say that to comfort themselves," Oshino scoffed, his gaze lowering slightly as if recalling an old memory.

"The weak have no right to criticize the strong."

"Who is the weak one here!!" Naruto replied calmly, standing firm before Oshino.

"Tch..."

"Uncle Oshino, I understand that you resent the idea of me being the next heir. But have you really opened your eyes to the clan? Have you truly looked around you?"

Oshino continued to stare at the floor in silence.

"We all work together, helping each other for the sake of everyone. Wanting to take everything for yourself is pure selfishness — nothing else."

"What a cruel irony — to be lectured by a child..." Oshino chuckled bitterly.

"Go on, just kill me already..." he said coldly, glaring at Naruto.

Naruto looked between Oshino, Yukiteru, and Mito. Their hesitation was written all over their faces — how could anyone so easily order the death of a family member?

"Why would I kill you?"

That question stunned all three, leaving them speechless as Naruto stood proudly, smiling.

"Killing you won't solve anything. What I want is your apology. And your apology will be to take care of this clan properly — now and forever. That's the apology I want!"

Oshino stood frozen in utter disbelief.

"Cut the nonsense. Are you trying to say you forgave me just like that?! I never apologized to you — I'm not even sorry for trying to kill you! I don't want your kindness or your pity!"

His words rendered both Yukiteru and Mito speechless.

Oshino then looked directly at Naruto — and what he saw shocked him to his core.

That dark, fearsome gaze — like a sinister fox ready to devour him whole!

Naruto sighed, turned aside, clenched his fist, and said:

"I won't kill you. I won't sink to your level."

Naruto left the semi-secret room, leaving Oshino in the custody of Mito and Yukiteru, who both remained staring silently at the door through which Naruto had disappeared.

For a moment, they felt he wasn't a child at all — his way of thinking, his responses, even his presence — everything belonged to a grown man.

After leaving the room, Naruto continued walking down the corridor, tears streaming down his face as he covered half of it with his hand in unbearable pain.

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#Scene_Nine

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#Turning_the_Tide (End)

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Within the enormous walls protecting the Uchiha Clan — a fully independent nation in itself — the most powerful clan had established its presence with undeniable arrogance.

In the main palace, resided the head family of the clan and its leader.

The clan consisted of the grandfather, Uchiha Indra.

The eldest among them was Uchiha Kizuna, who had two younger brothers: Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Shisui.

Next in line was Fugaku Uchiha — father of Itachi and Sasuke...

And the youngest uncle among them was the prodigy: Uchiha Madara!!

The age difference between the three uncles wasn't that vast, so one could say they were all old men by now, perhaps~

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#To_Be_Continued