One Piece: Take the Uchiha Clan to the Grand Line

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"Eh—?!!"

The others widened their eyes in shock at Orochimaru's words. This was Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin! How could he submit so easily? Shouldn't he at least put up some resistance?

Orochimaru chuckled and said, "With so much untapped power right in front of me, why would I miss out? Why not take it all?"

"Besides," he continued, "I don't think this is everything Kitaro has to offer. There's bound to be more in the future—limitless possibilities. By staying at his side, I can gain all of this power effortlessly. How could I pass up such an opportunity?"

The others nodded in agreement.

Shisui and Itachi understood this best. Uchiha Kitaro had helped them awaken their Mangekyo Sharingan, taught them a powerful breathing technique, and granted Shisui the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit). Shisui had even mastered Haki, significantly increasing his strength.

They could grow even stronger in the future, and there was even the promise of immortality—something most people could only dream of.

— — —

Konoha Village

At the home of the Third Hokage.

After a long day, Sarutobi Hiruzen returned home. It had not been a good day—Uchiha Kitaro had disappeared from his radar again, eluding the ANBU assigned to track him.

Hiruzen hated individuals who couldn't be controlled. "If only the Fourth Hokage were still alive," he thought. "Then I wouldn't have to exhaust myself like this, and I could maintain control over Konoha effortlessly."

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence:

"Sarutobi Hiruzen..."

Hiruzen froze at the sound. He spun around, only to see Namikaze Minato—the very person he had just been thinking about—standing before him.

"Minato, you…"

Hiruzen immediately noticed the darkness in Minato's eyes and realized he had been brought back through the Edo Tensei (Reanimation Jutsu). His guard instantly went up.

"Edo Tensei... Minato, who brought you back? And why are you here in Konoha?"

Minato replied calmly, "Orochimaru resurrected me, but he didn't force me to do anything. I have control over my will, so you don't need to worry."

Hiruzen felt a slight relief. The way Minato spoke sounded like his usual self—a bit naïve and overly straightforward. It didn't seem like he was being manipulated.

But then he remembered his ANBU guards. They didn't notice anything? No... they must have been taken out by Minato.

This realization made Hiruzen uneasy. Minato, someone who was supposed to be dead, had eliminated his guards.

"Orochimaru... how dare he mock the dead so recklessly!" Hiruzen growled.

Minato's voice turned cold. "Hiruzen, why has my child been treated the way he has?"

Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat. Over the years, he had done little to care for Naruto. Mostly, he had been wary of the boy, afraid that the legacy of the Fourth Hokage might one day threaten the Sarutobi clan's dominance.

At the same time, Hiruzen believed that a Jinchuriki should remain isolated. "Minato, you know as well as I do—Jinchuriki are vital secrets for every village."

"I didn't give Naruto special treatment to prevent anyone from discovering his identity, which would have put him in danger."

"Danger?" Minato's voice turned sharper. "You think his status as a Jinchuriki hasn't already been exposed? Many knew this seven years ago, didn't they?"

"Yes, but they haven't spread the information. As long as it stays that way, no one else will know. Minato, you killed a lot of people in your time. If those families learned your bloodline still exists, they'd target Naruto for revenge."

"Maybe that's true," Minato admitted. "But that doesn't justify my son living such a painful life! If his identity was supposed to be a secret, why does every adult in the village know he's the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki? Who spread those rumors?"

Hiruzen hesitated. "Minato... it was my failure to supervise the situation properly. Some of those present at the time let the secret slip, but I've already punished them."

"Punished them?" Minato's chakra flared dangerously. "Is punishment supposed to fix my son's ruined life?!"

For the first time, Minato showed genuine killing intent, making Hiruzen shudder. This wasn't the gentle Minato he knew. If Minato went on a rampage in the village, he could be as destructive as the Nine-Tails.

"Minato! You were a Hokage! You can't act selfishly! Think of Konoha!"

Minato's voice turned icy. "Hokage? The day I died, I stopped being Hokage. Now, I'm just a father. I gave my life for Konoha, and yet my son has suffered endlessly. I've failed as a father."

"Still, I'll let this go—only for now. But I don't want to see my son face any more discrimination or suffering. He deserves to live in peace, to have a normal childhood."

"This is my warning! When I leave, I'll ask Orochimaru to resurrect me every two years. If I return and find my son still suffering, don't blame me for being ruthless. I protected Konoha once. If necessary, I can destroy it, too."

As Minato spoke, golden chakra burst from his body, making the entire house tremble violently. The overwhelming chakra pressure left Hiruzen on edge.

How is his chakra even stronger now that he's dead?

But just as suddenly as it appeared, the chakra receded. Minato's figure vanished without a trace.

Hiruzen collapsed into his chair, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Minato's change in personality was shocking. What was Orochimaru's goal in resurrecting him? Was it revenge or simply a warning?

Wait—Orochimaru wouldn't do such a meaningless thing?!

Hiruzen suddenly recalled someone else with a growing headache recently: Uchiha Kitaro!

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