"Such a disgraceful way to win. That is not the Uchiha way!" shouted a red-eyed Uchiha, Sharingan blazing with indignation.
Kurumi Uchiha, Akira's mother, did not reply. She stood still, hands clenched, relief quietly settling in her chest. Her son was uninjured. That was enough.
"Kurumi, you should be ashamed of yourself for producing such a brat," another Uchiha sneered. "Those are his father's genes, I'm telling you."
Kurumi turned.
Her three-tomoe Sharingan bloomed open, sharp and cold. The air thickened.
"Care to say that again?" she asked softly.
Her killing intent washed over the speaker like a blade drawn halfway from its sheath. The Uchiha stumbled back, pale.
"Enough."
The Patriarch's voice cut through the tension like a gavel striking stone.
"This is neither the time nor the place for internal strife." His gaze shifted to Kurumi. "Kurumi, I expect your son at the Naka Shrine today."
Kurumi inclined her head once. No words. She turned and left to find Akira.
---
Akira smiled the moment she entered.
"Mother. It's so good to see you."
He wrapped his arms around her without hesitation. Kurumi froze for half a heartbeat, then melted, holding him tightly.
She kissed his forehead. "You fought like a shinobi."
Akira chuckled. "I know. But not like an Uchiha. The old timers must have given you hell. So, what did they say?"
"There's a meeting at the Naka Shrine," Kurumi replied. "The Patriarch wishes to see you." She paused. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."
Akira smiled, softer this time. "No. I'll go. I don't want to cause more trouble for my only mother. Can I?"
Kurumi sighed, helpless, and nodded.
---
Orochimaru, the Hokage, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the rest of Konoha's inner circle soon joined them.
"I'm not intruding, am I?" the Hokage asked mildly.
"No, Hokage-sama. Not at all," Akira replied. "It seems the Uchiha Patriarch is troubled that I've trampled upon Uchiha dignity yet again. Probably wants to educate me in a group meeting. I was thinking of telling them to stick their dignity where the sun doesn't shine."
Kurumi slapped his shoulder.
Jiraiya burst out laughing.
"I apologize for my son's behavior, Hokage-sama," Kurumi said, bowing deeply.
The Hokage waved it off. "I didn't mind at all. He's a child, after all. An… unusually intelligent one."
He turned to Kurumi. "As you know, Akira is now my grand-disciple. I hope you won't mind if I borrow him for a few minutes."
"Of course not, Hokage-sama," Kurumi said quickly. "It's an honor, for him and for me." She pinched Akira's cheek. "Behave."
She kissed his forehead once more and left.
---
Akira grinned. "Orochimaru-sensei. As you wanted, I won. Minato was tough. Stronger. Faster. I had to use some… unsavory methods."
Orochimaru smiled thinly. "I will give you your gift shortly. You never fail to amaze me, Akira-kun."
He continued, "We're here regarding the bombs you created. They are… unique."
"I told you," Akira said. "They were experimental. Your lab equipment helped me refine the designs. Very effective if the opponent is caught unaware."
"Indeed," Orochimaru agreed. "The Hokage wishes to negotiate for the formulas."
"No problem." Akira shrugged. "I've written everything down. I'll give it to you, Orochimaru-sama. Do with it as you see fit. Just one thing," he added seriously. "Use Shadow Clones during production. The process is unstable. I learned that the hard way."
He shivered slightly at the memory.
"I'm impressed by your Will of Fire," the Hokage said.
Akira snorted. "Hokage-sama, it's not Will of Fire or fart or anything. I just like my teacher. He's knowledgeable, and I want to cause him the least trouble possible. Also," he grinned, "my clan is full of stuck-ups. I might need you to cover my backside if I blow something up."
The Hokage laughed heartily. "Your straightforwardness is refreshing. I also heard you became friends with Minato."
"Yes. He's a good guy. Talented too. To grow stronger and survive, one needs a rival who's also a friend. I think I'm that person for Minato. And Minato is that person for me."
A sharp glint appeared in Hiruzen's eyes.
"Very well," he said. "I'll leave you with your sensei. Before I go… your idea of commercialization was a success."
He smiled and departed.
---
Orochimaru stepped forward, unfurling a scroll.
"Snake Summoning Contract. Along with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Bringer of Darkness Technique. You can learn the latter two later." His eyes gleamed. "Sign it, if you want it."
Akira's grin widened. "Of course. Ever since I saw snakes being summoned, I wanted them as my summons. Though," he added thoughtfully, "can I also have crows? I'll raise them myself."
Orochimaru chuckled. "That's not a hindrance."
Without hesitation, Akira bit his thumb and signed the scroll in blood.
__________________________
Hokage Office
"The brat seemed strangely compliant," Hiruzen said, exhaling a thin trail of smoke as he settled behind his desk. "Still… I must admit, his ideas and creativity are unique. Who would have thought to use chili powder and dung bombs, prank items, in a shinobi battle?"
"Hmph." Danzo folded his arms. "The brat merely needs backing to deal with the Uchiha. They've likely already begun stirring."
"And they will be reminded of their limits," Hiruzen replied calmly. "Sakumo."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Inform the Uchiha Patriarch that while we will not interfere in internal clan matters, Akira remains my grand-disciple."
Sakumo vanished in a flicker of movement.
Hiruzen turned back to Danzo. "Now. What have you uncovered among the merchants? Was the boy's theory about spies correct?"
Danzo nodded. "It appears several merchants were compromised. Even esteemed Dynamo of Fire sent his agents. All spies have been identified. I will deal with them accordingly. Tonight."
"It seems the boy was right yet again," Hiruzen murmured.
The door slid open.
Orochimaru entered, eyes gleaming faintly.
"My disciple suggested we alter the approach," he said smoothly. "Rather than eliminate the spies, we reshape them. A known spy is far more useful than an unknown one. We can feed curated information through them."
He smiled thinly. "Villages will always send spies, regardless of how many we kill. This way, we control the narrative."
Danzo's gaze hardened. "That child is dangerous, Hiruzen. I suggest he be transferred to Root."
Hiruzen looked at him steadily. "We have had this discussion before. He will not go to Root. Not now."
Danzo hmmped.
Hiruzen continued, "The spy proposal is sound. Did your disciple suggest anything else?"
"Yes," Orochimaru replied. "He advised that we exaggerate the effectiveness of the bombs. Then sell downgraded versions to other villages at double the price. We drain their finances while enriching ourselves, all while keeping the real technology exclusive to Konoha."
"My goodness," Tsunade said, staring. "Danzo, tell me honestly. Did you secretly hook up with Kagami's sister, Kurumi? Or is the boy's father from the Shimura clan? Those are vicious ideas."
Jiraiya burst into laughter.
Danzo's face remained cold. "I don't waste time on frivolities, Princess. Everything I do is for the village. Unlike squandering money in casinos."
Tsunade bristled, but Hiruzen raised a hand.
"Enough you two. The boy's idea has merit. Koharu, Homura, review the logistics."
Both elders nodded.
"Now," Hiruzen said, turning to Orochimaru, "your thoughts on team composition? Aside from Nawaki and Akira."
"I have selected a medical genin," Orochimaru replied. "Nono Yakushi. Same class as the others. I intend to mirror my own former team structure. Nawaki as the assaulter. Akira for control and ranged support. Nono as medical and close-combat support."
"A civilian?" Koharu asked. "I thought you would take a Hyūga."
"There are no Hyūga who specialize in medical ninjutsu," Orochimaru replied evenly. "Despite the Byakugan's advantages, they rarely pursue the path of medics."
Hiruzen nodded. "Then they can be assigned to the tracking and pursuit unit. Inuzuka, Aburame, and one of the Hyūga twins."
"Another team could be Minato, Mikoto, and the other Hyūga twin," Orochimaru added.
"And the last remains Ino–Shika–Chō."
Hiruzen leaned back. "You've thought this through. Jiraiya's squad is yet to be finalized, but the concept of a dedicated tracking unit is sound. Sakumo will lead that team. Tsunade—"
She groaned. "Do I have to take students?"
"Yes," Hiruzen replied calmly.
"…Tch."
"And you will oversee Ino–Shika–Chō." Hiruzen concluded.
Jiraiya smirked. "Looks like everyone's working."
___________________________
Naka Shrine
"Do you have anything to say for yourself, boy?"
The Uchiha Patriarch's voice echoed softly against the ancient stone, heavy with the authority of generations.
"No," Akira replied calmly. "Nothing."
A ripple of anger moved through the elders.
"After dragging the dignity of the Uchiha clan through the dirt just to defeat a commoner, you have nothing to say?" one elder barked, Sharingan flaring. "No remorse at all?"
Akira lifted his gaze.
"Remind me, Elders," he said evenly, "when exactly did I become the bearer of Uchiha dignity?"
Silence fell.
"I neither volunteered for that role nor was I informed of it. There are far more capable members within this clan. Sons and daughters with impeccable bloodlines, refined techniques, and spotless reputations. They would carry this so-called dignity far better than I ever could."
His tone remained respectful. Almost humble.
That made it worse.
"I am weak. Insignificant. And the clan has never once helped me overcome that weakness. So why is it suddenly concerned about whether I upheld its dignity?"
Murmurs spread through the chamber.
"If dignity truly matters," Akira continued, "then I humbly suggest you ask those capable heirs to challenge Minato Namikaze themselves. Defeat him. Prove that they are worthy bearers of Uchiha honor."
He inclined his head slightly.
"As for me, I am far too insignificant for such a prestigious responsibility."
A cold laugh cut through the tension.
"That you indeed are," sneered an elder of the Hawk faction. "Your impure blood says it all. When your mother spread herself for outsiders, this outcome was inevitable."
The air snapped.
Akira stood.
His lips curved into a faint smile, but his eyes had gone utterly cold.
"In that case," he said softly, "I will not further contaminate this sacred place. I have no interest in remaining among people who speak of my mother with such filth."
He turned toward the exit.
"I refuse to sit in the same room as someone who insults my mother."
"Elder!" the Patriarch thundered. "Mind your tongue! Sit down, Akira."
Akira paused. Then he turned back.
His eyes blazed crimson now, two tomoe spinning in each iris, tears glistening against the red.
"I apologize, Patriarch," he said flatly. "But the Uchiha clan no longer interests me."
A sharp intake of breath rippled through the shrine.
"If you want my eyes, take them," Akira continued. "I have no use for them. The clan did not help me grow strong. It did not protect me. The Uchiha name has brought me nothing but trouble and scrutiny."
His voice hardened.
"That name has never been a privilege to me. Only a burden. And as of today, it is a burden I refuse to carry any longer."
He straightened.
"I acted as a shinobi should. I won. By any means necessary. If that offends you, then perhaps the Uchiha wish to be samurai instead."
Outrage erupted.
"As I said before," Akira finished, "challenge Minato Namikaze. Defeat him the Uchiha way. Until then, do not lecture me on dignity."
He turned his back on the shrine.
"If an identity brings only trouble and offers no protection, no guidance, no loyalty, and no benefit… then it is better discarded."
And he walked away.
---
Minutes Later — Naka Shrine
"How dare he walk away like that!" fumed a Hawk faction elder.
A Dove elder rose slowly.
"I must ask," he said coldly, "was it truly necessary to use such colorful words about his mother? It is almost as if you wanted him to sever ties with the clan."
He swept his gaze across the room.
"We finally had another Uchiha aligned with the Hokage's faction after Kagami Uchiha. And we destroyed that opportunity with our own mouths."
With that, he and his faction turned and left.
The Patriarch remained standing, his face carved from stone.
"There is no reason to continue this meeting," another elder said bitterly. "We summoned a child and then insulted his mother to his face. That child could have been our voice among the Hokage's allies. Instead, we slammed that door shut ourselves."
He looked directly at the Patriarch.
"If this was the intention, then congratulations. You succeeded."
The Patriarch's gaze shifted to the Hawk elder who had spoken earlier.
"For the callous words you used today," the Patriarch said quietly, dangerously, "you will arrange compensation sufficient for both the boy and his mother."
The elder stiffened.
"Our intention was to pressure him, then bind him with rewards and benefits," the Patriarch continued. "Your single statement destroyed that possibility."
The elder bowed, pale.
"I… did not think he would react so strongly."
The Patriarch's eyes gleamed with restrained fury.
"That boy has only his mother," he said coldly. "His only living parent. His entire world. What did you think would happen when you insulted her?"
He turned away.
"You will seclude yourself and reflect on your actions."
---
Fugaku Uchiha stood at the edge of the chamber, silent.
"Fugaku" he asked carefully, "did Akira have the Sharingan before today?"
The Patriarch did not look at him, he asked while looking at the steele.
"No. Not to my knowledge."
Fugaku replied his fingers tightened slightly.
"Then he either awakened it today… or he hid it. And if he awakened it today, it means those words cut deeper than we realized. If he hid it… then he fought without the Sharingan until now." Patriarch said.
Fugaku swallowed."He is nine years old."
The implication settled heavily over the room.
Fugaku said nothing more.
He had warned them about Akira's temperament. His pride. His quiet resentment.
None of it had mattered.
Now, he had no idea how he would ever face Akira again.
His expression remained impassive.
But inside, frustration churned.
And beneath it, an unsettling certainty took root.
Today's mistake would echo far into the future.
______
The Uchiha had reacted better than Akira expected.
Too well.
His rage-baiting had worked exactly as intended. The elders snapped, pride overriding caution, and one of them crossed the line. That single rash comment gave Akira the opening he needed.
At that moment, the anger was real.
Not manufactured. Not strategic. Pure.
But he was still weak.
He did not have the strength to strike the elder down. That helpless fury, the instinct to protest without the power to do so, twisted deep inside him. Chakra surged violently through his coils.
And his eyes answered.
The Sharingan evolved.
Two tomoe in each eye, spinning slowly, born not from battle, but from restraint.
From injustice and insult swallowed rather than unleashed.
---
He returned home quietly.
The familiar scent of food greeted him as he stepped inside. Kurumi Uchiha stood at the stove, stirring dinner, humming softly. She turned at the sound of his footsteps.
Her spoon froze.
"Akira…" her voice wavered slightly as she took in his eyes.
Then she steadied herself, walked over, and gently cupped his face, studying the crimson tomoe.
"…How was the meeting?"
Akira looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said, calmly, almost casually,
"Mother, if you have a secret lover outside the clan… someone who wouldn't mind having a stepson… I think it's time you act on that love."
Kurumi blinked. Once. Twice.
"What?" she asked faintly.
"I wouldn't mind," Akira continued seriously. "In fact, I'd be happy for you."
Kurumi Uchiha was utterly flabbergasted.
Her son was summoned by the clan, he returned with a pair of sharingan.
And now he was encouraging her to remarry.
"…Tell me honestly," she said slowly. "What happened?"
Akira exhaled.
"Mother," he said quietly, "please see it from my memories. I don't wish to speak the words aloud."
Kurumi hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
Akira nodded.
Her eyes shifted.
Three tomoe bloomed in her Sharingan, and she placed a hand against his temple.
The memories flowed.
The shrine.
The accusations.
The insult.
Her expression changed as she watched. Shock. Hurt. Rage. And then… something softer. Something painfully proud.
When it ended, she pulled him into her arms and kissed his forehead.
"You didn't have to stand up for me," she whispered.
Akira hugged her back tightly.
"What kind of son would I be if I didn't?" he said firmly.
"You could be the devil incarnate for all I care. You are my mother. It's my duty, and my love for you, that compels me to defend your rights and your self-respect."
Kurumi laughed softly through unshed tears.
"My strong son," she said, holding him close.
"I am the luckiest mother alive."
Akira did not know whether the warmth flooding his chest came from the lingering emotions of this body or from a hunger for maternal affection he had carried all the way from his original world and the base world. Perhaps it was both. But in that moment, wrapped in his mother's embrace, he found a quiet, unfamiliar peace. The worries of this world and the one he had left behind faded into insignificance, as if, for once, they no longer had any claim on him