"So this is what I looked like as a baby."
Looking at "himself" lying beside Mikoto-san and sucking on his tiny hand, Sasuke could not help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
"This really is a strange feeling."
It was now July 23rd, Konoha Year 51.
The day Sasuke was born in this timeline.
Fugaku patted his "eldest son's" shoulder and smiled.
"You're probably the first person in the shinobi world to see what you looked like as a baby with your own eyes."
He then looked at the infant Sasuke and sighed.
"I never expected such a tiny child to grow into someone so powerful and even awaken the Rinnegan."
Although this was a different timeline, it was still enough to prove Sasuke's talent.
He would have to make sure this Sasuke was properly trained in the future!
"Is this my little brother? He's so cute."
Standing nearby was another small child, Itachi, who looked only five or six years old.
He reached out and played with Sasuke, making the baby giggle continuously.
Itachi gave his little brother a gentle smile before pointing toward the older Sasuke.
"Sasuke, you're going to grow up to become an incredible shinobi. Look, that's you."
He naturally knew Sasuke's identity.
His little brother from another timeline.
Even though the other Sasuke was more than twenty years older than him, he was still his little brother.
To think his little brother would grow this powerful in the future.
As expected of his brother!
Sasuke fell silent.
That was a very strange thing to hear!
"Gugu."
The infant Sasuke blinked curiously at his older self.
Then, for some unknown reason, his tiny mouth puckered and he suddenly began crying.
"Don't cry, don't cry."
Mikoto-san picked up the crying baby and gently soothed him.
Then she glared at the three members of her family.
"All right, all right. Little Sasuke is hungry, so all of you should leave."
She was also a shinobi with excellent physical fitness.
Although she had only just given birth, she merely looked somewhat tired.
At that moment, she began shooing them out.
"You've worked hard, Mother."
"Then get some rest, Mother."
"I already had food prepared for you. Eat something later and rest properly."
The three of them left the room, no longer disturbing the mother and child.
After leaving the hospital room, Fugaku walked alongside Sasuke and asked, "How are you adapting to Hashirama cells?"
"I've completely adapted to them. They've been extremely helpful. I won't run out of Chakra nearly as easily anymore."
The tomoe Rinnegan hidden beneath Sasuke's bangs rotated slightly as he spoke calmly.
"My strength has improved as well. Given enough time, I may even be able to reach the Six Paths level."
After receiving Tsunade's approval and undergoing surgery performed by Seiryū, Sasuke had successfully received a transplant of Hashirama cells.
His strength had increased considerably.
He could faintly sense that, given enough time, he had a real chance of reaching the level of a Sage without relying on the power of a Tailed Beast!
Of course.
That might take a very long time.
Even so, the Hashirama cell transplant had already provided him with a significant increase in strength!
Hearing this, Fugaku was overjoyed.
"Good, good! A Six Paths-level Sage? As expected of my son!"
The feeling was the same as before.
Even though this Sasuke came from another timeline, he was still his son.
The Six Paths level.
A Sage!
How many people in the entire shinobi world could ever reach such a level?
Sasuke's talent was truly extraordinary, probably surpassed only by Seiryū!
Sasuke merely smiled.
"It was also thanks to Father's guidance when I was younger."
"Don't flatter me. The 'me' from your timeline may already be dead, but I know perfectly well what I'm capable of."
As he spoke, Fugaku glanced at Itachi beside him.
He also knew about the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
The fact that events in the other timeline had deteriorated to such an extent was closely connected to the decisions made by the version of himself who had led the Uchiha Clan there.
However, nothing like that would happen in this timeline.
Putting aside the Hokage faction, the Uchiha Clan no longer had any major conflict with Konoha's leadership.
The two sides now got along quite well, unlike before.
As for the position of Hokage that the clan had desired for so long, Fugaku himself no longer had much hope of obtaining it, and the Uchiha Clan had little chance in the short term.
But the future could be different.
As long as Itachi or Sasuke were raised properly, either of them could someday compete for the position of Hokage.
After all, the current Hokage was Tsunade, and Seiryū would most likely succeed her.
Neither of them held any prejudice against the Uchiha Clan as it currently existed.
Judging by how long previous Hokage had remained in office, Seiryū might not retire for another ten or twenty years.
By then, both of Fugaku's sons would have grown up.
They would be able to compete fairly with anyone else for the position of Hokage!
Sasuke did not continue discussing the subject.
Instead, he changed the topic.
"By the way, Father, I've been meaning to ask you something. Why did you refuse to have Hashirama cells transplanted? You have the Mangekyō Sharingan now as well."
Fugaku waved a hand and interrupted him.
"Forget about me. I don't have the same pressure you do."
"Besides, as the head of the Uchiha Clan, I want to preserve the purity of our bloodline."
"And most importantly, I intend to give my eyes to either you or Itachi in the future. The two of you are the future of the Uchiha Clan."
As the head of the Uchiha Clan, Fugaku had his own pride.
Receiving Hashirama cells was not something he wanted for himself.
Furthermore, Konoha already had several top-tier powerhouses.
The enemies they were facing had also become absurdly powerful.
Even if Fugaku transplanted Hashirama cells, the increase in his strength would not make much difference against opponents of that level.
More importantly, once Itachi or Sasuke grew older, Fugaku intended to transplant his Mangekyō Sharingan into one of them.
That would allow them to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and compete for the position of Hokage in the future!
"I see."
Sasuke was briefly stunned.
Hearing the determination in Fugaku's voice, he did not try to persuade him any further.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
"This timeline really is wonderful. I'll do what I can to help as well."
Fugaku patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't place too much pressure on yourself. Just protect the things that matter to you."
Sasuke nodded.
"I know."
He had already been in this timeline for more than two months.
To be honest, he missed his wife, his daughter, and everyone else back home.
However, he would not return to his own timeline until Urashiki was dealt with.
After all, Urashiki had come from their timeline in the first place.
Urashiki had already caused enough trouble in this era.
Sasuke could not simply stand by and ignore it.
He had to do his part!
More importantly, the pink turtle, "Karasuki," had still not finished recharging.
It needed the Chakra of an Ōtsutsuki to fully restore its power.
(To be continued.)