Naruto: Sukuna's Jinchuriki, I am Uchiha

Chapter 104: The True Heirs of Konoha

"He—his true dream… It will overturn everything we know…"

"The current Konoha is in a good state. The children are happy, and I don't want to see this peace destroyed…"

"For the sake of my Konoha!"

Uchiha Kagami silently observed Senju Hashirama. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his tone calm and cutting.

"You're wrong."

"It's not your Konoha. It's our Konoha."

---

Swish! Swish!

A flash of golden hair appeared as Namikaze Minato arrived, accompanied by the silver-haired Hatake Sakumo.

"I believed in the First Hokage's vision, and I believe in your strength, Kagami. That's why I dealt with matters before coming here. It seems I arrived just in time," Minato said, offering a gentle smile.

Kagami's gaze shifted to Hashirama. Following Minato, several more figures appeared: Senju Tobirama, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Orochimaru.

A faint smile crept onto Kagami's lips, but his sharp eyes ignored both Tobirama and Orochimaru. Instead, they locked onto Hiruzen.

"Third Hokage… You had such a grand and dignified death. Why bother returning?"

---

The battlefield lay in ruins, yet the oppressive atmosphere felt heavier than before. The living and dead Hokage stood opposite the current ruler of the Fire Nation, Uchiha Kagami.

Hiruzen's expression darkened as he looked at Kagami, his eyes clouded with guilt and regret.

"Kagami…"

His voice trembled as he addressed him.

"Have I… Have I ever wronged you?"

---

Hiruzen's thoughts raced, tormenting him.

"I had Jiraiya take you on as his disciple to teach you ninjutsu… You wanted to understand the nature transformation of the Rasengan, so Jiraiya and I worked tirelessly to help you figure it out.

"You killed the Eight-Tails, and I recorded the feat, giving you credit despite Danzo's objections. You wanted the Shadow Walk Technique, so I handed it over to you.

"Even though the Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails, I still trusted you enough to assign you to a team with Kushina and Minato.

"I even instructed Maruboshi Kosuke to guide you and teach you the principles of being a true ninja.

"When the Uchiha clan staged their rebellion, I negotiated to bring you back rather than wage war. I planned to personally guide you and show you how to forge bonds with the village."

Hiruzen's expression grew pained as he continued.

"I doubted you at times, Kagami, but I always gave you the benefit of the doubt, even until my dying day.

"I wanted to groom you to become the Hokage one day.

"So tell me…"

"Where did I go wrong? Why do you deny everything I've worked for? Why…"

---

Kagami listened in silence, his expression unreadable.

On the surface, Hiruzen Sarutobi had done nothing to harm Kagami. In fact, his actions towards Kagami personally had been more nurturing than antagonistic.

Kagami's feelings toward the Third Hokage were complicated.

The Hiruzen of this moment was not yet the despised figure Kagami had remembered from before. His death had been too well-timed—he had died while still upholding his ideals, leaving behind a legacy unmarred by corruption or doubt.

Kagami finally broke the silence.

"You haven't wronged me. Nor do I feel I've wronged you."

"Our views differ. In the end, one of us had to emerge as the victor, and the other as the loser.

"This world is built on that principle. Surely you understand that by now, don't you, Third Hokage?"

---

Clink.

The sound of armor shifting echoed as Senju Tobirama stepped forward.

"Kagami, with your immense strength, you had countless options to resolve things peacefully."

"You had the power to become a great Hokage—someone who could change the perception of the Uchiha clan within the village."

"Your grandfather was my subordinate, and he fought tirelessly to bridge the gap between our clans."

---

A thunderous heartbeat reverberated across the battlefield.

Suddenly, a massive black spear materialized, moving faster than the eye could follow.

Boom!

The spear plunged down, pinning Tobirama to the ground.

"Tobirama!"

"Second Hokage!"

As Hashirama moved to free his brother, more black spears descended from above, anchoring him in place as well.

The black spears disrupted their chakra flow, making it impossible for Hashirama to escape immediately.

Minato and Sakumo instinctively drew their weapons, prepared to act at a moment's notice.

---

No one had expected Kagami to attack so suddenly and decisively.

Hashirama had assumed that Kagami's civility toward Hiruzen meant there was room for discussion.

Only Orochimaru, who had already moved a safe distance away, had anticipated this outcome.

Dark, menacing chakra surged around Kagami as his Sharingan glowed crimson.

"Tobirama…"

His voice was icy, each word cutting like a blade.

"You are the one who perpetuated hatred."

"You are the last person who has the right to speak to me."

Kagami marched forward, seizing Tobirama by his hair and forcing him to meet his gaze.

"In deference to my grandfather's memory, I've spared you. You should've stayed hidden like a rat."

Tobirama's cold eyes burned with defiance.

He didn't care what Kagami thought of him. To Tobirama, Kagami represented everything dangerous and uncontrollable about the Uchiha.

He would never recognize him.

---

"Let go of the Second Hokage!"

Hiruzen summoned Enma's Adamantine Staff, his posture tense and ready to intervene.

Kagami cast a disinterested glance at Hiruzen before releasing Tobirama.

"This will be the last time I call you the Third Hokage."

"From this moment on, all grievances between us are settled."

"What you choose to do from now on is up to you. Cling to your Edo Tensei bodies, return to the Pure Land—it doesn't matter to me.

"But stay out of the Land of Fire."

Kagami's gaze sharpened.

"Believe me, you wouldn't like the consequences of crossing me."

---

The tension eased slightly as Kagami retracted his killing intent, but it was clear the conversation was over.

Minato and Sakumo exchanged wary glances, then followed Kagami as he turned to leave.

As they passed Orochimaru, the snake-like man suddenly spoke.

"Kagami-kun."

His golden eyes glinted with curiosity.

"You once told me, 'No matter how many times one is reborn, some truths must not be forgotten.'

"After seeing your actions and hearing your words today, I've come to a startling realization…"

Orochimaru's smile was serpentine, his tone almost reverent.

"Kagami-kun… Can you see the future?"

---

Kagami smirked, his tone laced with amusement.

"Yes, I can."

"I've seen a future where, without me, the Uchiha are annihilated, Minato and Sakumo die, and Kushina as well."

"You, Orochimaru, would flee the village and become a monster, neither man nor snake."

"And as for you, Third Hokage…" Kagami's voice darkened.

"You would die years later at Orochimaru's hands."

---

The weight of Kagami's words left the group stunned.

Sakumo and Minato both paled, the implications hitting them hard.

Hiruzen and Hashirama were silent, their expressions conflicted.

---

Orochimaru's smile widened, his voice almost a whisper.

"Then… this world is different, isn't it?

"I must thank you, Kagami-kun, for changing the course of fate."

Kagami's smirk deepened.

"You don't need to thank me. Just remember—stay out of the Land of Fire."

With that, Kagami and his allies departed.

For better or worse, it was now clear to all present:

The Uchiha had become the rightful heirs to Konoha.

End of Chapter

---

Read up to 20 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin

[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]

*Thank you*