"…and we will become legends!" Kaede proclaimed fervently.
"So this really is another world…" said Rinku, a boy with typically red hair, like all members of his clan.
"Legends!" Kaede repeated, striking the same pose.
"We can't return to our world?" Rinku asked, skeptical.
They belonged to the same clan, but as the young princess of the Uzumaki clan, Kaede had not had much contact with children her own age.As a result, the young Uzumaki were not aware of the… special mindset of their young princess.
"No," Kaede replied. "And in any case, we wouldn't have the strength to break the chains of destiny!Our fate was fulfilled in our world, and we died. Now, the only way to save our clan is this world—this second chance, a new beginning."
"You are the young princess of the clan, and we are all loyal to it. But what about our family? I love our village. I have parents, I love my brothers. None of that exists here…" said an Uzumaki, sadness filling his voice.
Akeno, who had been listening, understood. They were trained to kill from a very young age, but they were still just children around ten years old. It was only natural that some of them felt sorrow.
He stepped forward. "I am truly sorry. But in your world, you died. That was your destiny. Today, I am certain your family is mourning you. I won't lie to you—the chances of seeing your brothers again are extremely slim.The only thing you can do now is live. Live in a new world, and one day you will realize that this moment marked the survival of the Uzumaki clan."
"Survival?" Rinku asked.
Akeno nodded. "Let's start with the origin of your clan."
…
Meanwhile, in another room of the building, the atmosphere was not one of reunion or surprise, but of fear.
"How is this possible? What is that madman doing here?!" muttered a member of the Yuki clan, huddled in a corner of the room with the others.
Pacing back and forth in front of them with a wide smile, Fubuki looked delighted. "Aren't you happy to see me again?"
"Psycho! We thought you were finally dead!" cried a Yuki through tears.
Among their generation, one member had stood out, capable of fighting even adults.A battle-crazed psychopath who lived only for the thrill of speed and exchanges in combat.
Fubuki Yuki.
How many times had they been beaten by him just for fun?
Although the adults considered his death a great loss, it had been a liberation for the children, who hadn't shed a single tear for him.
"Come now! What kind of attitude is that! Aren't you proud members of the Yuki clan?" Fubuki spat, pretending to be angry at their timidity.
From the back, Akeno could clearly see that Fubuki was enjoying himself.
"Stop using our clan's honor against us!" the Yuki shouted, a mix of fear and anger in their voices.
"This time, it's for a good cause. You all died because of your weakness, and now you're here in this world! We must reshape our clan, and you will help me!"
"What?!"
"No need to thank me! Kneel before your new leader!" Fubuki cut in before any further protest or questions could be voiced. He clearly had no desire to spend time explaining.
And just like that, through fear and authority, Fubuki became the new patriarch of the Yuki clan.
In the background, Akeno was both impressed and despairing. "I suppose that's a form of leadership…"
…
On Chikara's side, all the Uchiha had awakened. After the initial shock and a few joyful reunions, they gathered around Chikara with curiosity.
"So it's really you, Chikara!?" Sayuri asked.
"You know me?" Chikara replied, slightly skeptical. "I didn't think I was that popular back then…"
"Ino told us about you. She was the one leading our team during the last battle," said Arashi, interrupting Chikara's thoughts. "She told us about her childhood friend who fell during the confrontation with the Hije clan more than four months ago."
"And how is she?!" Chikara asked eagerly, his face lighting up at the mention of Ino. "Is she doing well?"
"She's strong," Sayuri said. "She awakened her Sharingan."
"They say she awakened it directly with three tomoe," Arashi added with admiration. "The clan has great expectations for her. Some think she might reach the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"But she's sad…" Sayuri murmured. "She misses you. A lot."
Chikara fell silent for a moment, his gaze distant.
"I'll see her again, I'm sure of it!" he finally said, half to convince himself. "And my grandmother? I imagine she must feel lonely since I'm gone…"
A heavy silence settled in. The looks around him changed. No one dared meet his eyes.
"…I'm sorry," Arashi said heavily. "Ino told us once. Your grandmother died of grief. She couldn't bear losing the last member of her family…"
Chikara lowered his head. A lump formed in his throat.
Tears welled up in his eyes. His heart pounded, trapped in an invisible vice.
The clone of Akeno, who had remained stoic until now, slowly approached and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye to her…"
Pulling him into an embrace, Akeno felt pain for him. "I'm sorry."
In Akeno's arms, Chikara let his tears flow, grief overwhelming him as memories resurfaced.The breakfasts she prepared, the warnings she gave him to stay safe, the bedtime stories, her wrinkled but reassuring hands resting on his forehead when he was sick…
His dormant Sharingan activated unconsciously, spinning faster and faster. A third tomoe slowly appeared.
"Grandmother…!!" Chikara screamed, his heart shattered, his voice breaking into sobs…
…
A few hours later, after further explanations about this world and the different levels of power that existed, the youths exited their respective rooms, following their new leaders.
Gathering in the courtyard, Akeno and the young patriarchs carefully observed the new recruits, ready to react in case of conflict between them.
Just because they had accepted their deaths did not mean the hatred toward their former enemies had disappeared.
The Uchiha clan and the Senju clan in particular stared at each other with eyes that hid none of their mutual aversion. Even if their ancestors had been brothers, they could not forget the friends and parents who had died in wars between their clans.
The Yuki, Hyuga, and Uzumaki were calmer, merely observing.
The surprising ones were the Kaguya clan. The young Kaguya, usually uncontrollable, stood quietly, their gazes focused straight ahead.
Chikara and the others were impressed by such calm behavior from a clan most likely to cause chaos. But upon closer inspection, it became clear that their gazes were not fixed on Maiko, but on the young boy to her right—Daigo Kaguya.
Having promised Maiko and Akeno that he would keep the clan members in check, Daigo had become the right hand of Maiko's future administration.
Until Maiko matured, he would help her maintain her authority.
Standing off to the side, Akeno smiled faintly. As expected, the white-haired Kaguya were calmer than the other lunatics.
Stepping forward before the groups assembled in the courtyard, Akeno felt increasingly pleased. Before him stood the Kaguya, Uchiha, Uzumaki, Senju, Hyuga, and Yuki clans, lined up in rows.
Six members per clan, for a total of thirty-six ninjas.
It seemed that Akeno was beginning to build himself a small army. He was certain that if this world allowed these children to grow to their full potential, they could become beings capable of overturning the world itself.
Opening his arms, Akeno offered his brightest smile and spoke:
"Once again, I welcome you to the world of immortals!"