It was Six Paths Sage Mode. Truly befitting the Child of Prophecy. But why not Baryon Mode? Kawasaki thought greedily. After all, the jutsu he obtained came at no cost.
[Ding! Naruto Uzumaki successfully recruited.]
[Reward to Host: Uzumaki Clan Constitution.]
Kawasaki immediately pushed his previous thoughts aside. The most prominent trait of the Uzumaki clan was their chakra. No, not just chakra—chakra by the ton! Naruto's ability to suppress the Nine-Tails while still creating countless Shadow Clones and using his power recklessly was all thanks to the unparalleled chakra reserves of his lineage. Nagato's reserves were even more absurd, single-handedly sustaining two Rinnegan. Even with the Gedo Statue constantly draining his chakra, he still had enough power left to use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique and revive so many of Konoha's shinobi.
Just as he had guessed, the reward was a specialization! The System had finally come through for him, but its stinginess meant this was a one-time reward, which didn't change the grand scheme of things much. Still, it was no use complaining. Kawasaki was shameless enough not to care.
He carefully sensed the chakra within his body. It had already surged when he achieved the Eternal Mangekyo, and now it was continuing to grow. From this day forward, he would likely never have to worry about running out of chakra again.
At that moment, Kawasaki released his control over the Nine-Tails. The beast let out a roar but seemed slightly more composed. It had already sensed that the man before it was not Madara Uchiha, but another powerful member of the Uchiha clan.
Kawasaki lifted his chin slightly. "Let me introduce myself properly. I am the Vice-Head of the Uchiha Clan, Kawasaki Uchiha."
"Kawasaki Uchiha." The Nine-Tails mulled over the not-so-unfamiliar name. From within Naruto's seal, it could perceive the outside world. However, Naruto's daily routine was simple, consisting of little more than traveling between the Ninja Academy and his home, with the rest of his time spent wandering the streets of Konoha. From this, the Nine-Tails' greatest impression was that the Uchiha had a Vice-Head who was skilled at business, but his combat prowess was a complete unknown. It never expected him to be a master of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
"I know you! Kawasaki Uchiha! What are you doing here?!" the Nine-Tails asked, its tone surprisingly civil, devoid of its usual arrogance.
Kawasaki pulled the stunned Naruto to his side. "Nothing major. I just wanted to tell you that this boy, Naruto Uzumaki, is now my disciple. I'll be looking out for him from now on. When he tries to draw on his chakra, you'd best not get in his way."
"Hahaha!" The Nine-Tails let out a grating laugh. "It's not that I intentionally interfere with his chakra flow. It's just that when he gets nervous, my leaking chakra inadvertently affects him. That's his problem, not mine. You shouldn't be talking to me about it."
The Nine-Tails narrowed its pupils, partially hiding behind the gate. While it maintained a level of respect for Kawasaki, it had no intention of indulging this brat, Naruto. After all, its chakra leakage was unintentional. It could control it, of course, but why should it bother?
"Oh?" Though the Nine-Tails had a point, its blatant disregard for Kawasaki's authority displeased him. Just as Kawasaki was about to say something, Naruto tugged on his hand. "Master, let me try!"
Naruto looked at Kawasaki and said, "Master, this is something I have to face as a Jinchuriki."
"Alright." Kawasaki nodded, curious to see how Naruto planned to deal with the Nine-Tails.
"What do you want, brat?" the Nine-Tails snorted, feeling no goodwill toward the landlord who kept it imprisoned.
Naruto, braving the immense pressure, walked up to the gate. He looked at the fox whose head was larger than a house and mustered his courage. "Nine-Tails! I want to be your friend!"
Kawasaki winced. It was the same old routine. He watched as Naruto began recounting the pain of his past. As he saw the Nine-Tails' attitude gradually soften, Kawasaki found it hard to believe. Was this the power of his words? Although Naruto talked for a long time and the Nine-Tails ultimately ignored him, Naruto didn't give up, his mouth running nonstop.
"You'll have plenty of time to talk with the Nine-Tails later. I have to send you out now," Kawasaki said with a slight smile.
"Oh, okay!" Naruto scratched his head.
Kawasaki gave him a final instruction. "When you leave here, you'll go back to calling me Kawasaki-senpai, understand?"
"Why? Why can't I call you Master?" Naruto's little head was filled with questions.
Kawasaki ruffled his hair. "It's just a title. Just do as I say."
Naruto pouted but agreed, albeit reluctantly. Kawasaki gently patted his head, and Naruto's form began to fade.
Kawasaki then looked up at the colossal cage. "Kurama!" he called out.
The Nine-Tails had been planning to ignore him, but it was shocked to hear Kawasaki speak its true name. A torrent of ferocious chakra slammed against the gate with a deafening boom. "How do you know my name?!"
"Because I have seen the future," Kawasaki replied calmly.
"Seen the future?" The Nine-Tails' first instinct was to disbelieve him, but the fact that Kawasaki knew its name was undeniable.
"Do you want to know when you'll be able to get out of here?" Kawasaki asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Faced with Kawasaki's mischievous grin, the Nine-Tails couldn't suppress its curiosity. "When?!"
"It would take too long to explain. Let me show you with Genjutsu instead." Having advanced to the Eternal Mangekyo, Kawasaki could now project images within his illusions. He then showed the Nine-Tails scenes from the Fourth Great Ninja War—specifically, the moment it was ripped from Naruto's body and swallowed by the Gedo Statue.
"The Ten-Tails!" Kurama roared, its voice filled with unwillingness, fury, and fear. If being sealed within a Jinchuriki meant losing its freedom, then being absorbed by the Ten-Tails meant being erased from the world entirely.
"Are you saying the Fourth Great Ninja War will happen in ten years?"
Kawasaki nodded. "Do you remember the man who controlled you to destroy Konoha back then?"
Kurama exhaled a massive gust of air, a sign of its rage. "That Uchiha bastard!"
"Correct. That man from the Uchiha clan is the one who will start the Fourth Great Ninja War. The ultimate goal of the war is to sacrifice all of you Tailed Beasts to the Ten-Tails, then activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi, give birth to the Divine Tree, and destroy the world."
Kawasaki sat down cross-legged and explained the entire sequence of events leading up to the war in detail. Kurama listened, captivated, without a shred of doubt about the information's authenticity. It had been born from the Ten-Tails' division; it knew the truth about its origins. These were secrets from a thousand years ago, unknown to anyone. Yet, the man before it, Kawasaki Uchiha, could recount them with perfect accuracy.
"As for Naruto, he is the reincarnation of Asura's chakra, destined to become the savior of the world," Kawasaki continued. "The sooner you two cooperate, the stronger he'll become, and the more secure your future will be. Don't you agree?"
"Hmph, and what about my score to settle with the Fourth Hokage?" Kurama was still bitter. Minato had not only sealed it but had also taken half of its body, leaving it with only half its chakra.
Kawasaki rolled his eyes. "The Fourth Hokage sealed you as part of his duty. Right now, your survival is tied to Naruto's." With that, Kawasaki's form began to fade.
In the shadows, Kurama whispered to itself, "The Ten-Tails…"
No matter how long one spent in the mindscape, only an instant passed in the outside world. Naruto opened his eyes just as Kawasaki did. A new depth, something not seen before, now lingered in Naruto's gaze. From Sasuke's perspective, it seemed as though Kawasaki-sensei had given Naruto something profound to think about. Naruto blinked, and when he opened his eyes again, he seemed like a different person.
"Have you made your decision, Naruto?" Kawasaki smiled. As long as the fox didn't cause trouble, Naruto's growth would be rapid.
Naruto looked at Kawasaki and flashed a brilliant smile. "I've decided! Kawasaki-sen… senpai."
Sasuke glanced back and forth between them, feeling like they were hiding something from him.
Afterward, Kawasaki led Naruto and Sasuke on a stroll through the streets before sending Sasuke home. Finally, he walked Naruto to his front door, ruffled his hair, and told him to go inside. The Anbu agent watching them saw no unusual actions and heard only ordinary words, so he relaxed his guard and watched Kawasaki depart.
The first thing Naruto did upon entering his apartment was retrieve a small note from his hair. Kawasaki had left it for him. Entering the mindscape wasn't something that could be done at will; it consumed a great deal of mental energy. Naruto wouldn't be able to withstand frequent trips. After reading the note carefully, Naruto let out a soft "Ah," then swallowed the piece of paper.
By the time Kawasaki returned to the Uchiha compound, dinner was already over. But he had already eaten, so it wasn't a concern. The moment he arrived, Fugaku sought him out.
"Kawasaki, the vehicle you wanted is finished."
Hearing this, Kawasaki's spirits lifted. "Quick, take me to see it."
He was led to a workshop where a low-chassis vehicle sat waiting. The vehicle was open on all four sides, constructed mostly from wood, and based on Kawasaki's memories of a sightseeing car. The world of shinobi was not technologically backward, but because of differing conditions among the nations and a lack of proper roads, vehicles were not widespread. The reparations from the Hidden Cloud Village had included a chakra-powered engine.
Kawasaki had this vehicle built to make it easier for Uchiha civilians to travel between the village and the clan compound. It served both as a convenience for his people and as a stepping stone for his future plans.
Kawasaki stepped onto the vehicle and channeled chakra into the front, bringing it to life. It had a steering wheel and a brake, and acceleration was controlled by increasing chakra output. It brought back a familiar feeling of driving. The vehicle was built by Uchiha Akira, who had a keen interest in such creations. Though its practical use was limited to the road between Konoha and the compound, the Uchiha weren't short on money. And when you have money, you should spend it.
Most of the clan's funds were being channeled to Orochimaru, but even the smaller expenditures made Fugaku, who was used to being frugal, feel uneasy. After inspecting the vehicle, he quickly pulled Kawasaki into the meeting room. It turned out that since the Uchiha had implemented the pro-birth incentive policy over a year ago, many new babies had been born. As promised, Fugaku had distributed 200,000 Ryo to the parents of each newborn. But with the baby boom in full swing, the clan's treasury was hemorrhaging funds.
Fugaku was starting to panic and rushed to consult with Kawasaki. "Kawasaki, about that pro-birth policy you proposed… many in the clan have already met the goal. Should we continue the subsidies? The treasury is running low."
Kawasaki clenched his fist with certainty. "Of course! How can the Clan Head go back on his word? In fact, besides the 200,000 Ryo, we'll add another 400,000 for every child who graduates from the Academy, and an additional 500,000 for any child who awakens their Sharingan!"
"As for the lack of funds in the treasury," he continued, "I forgot to tell you about the franchise stores."
"Franchise stores? What kind of stores?" Fugaku was puzzled. Ever since Itachi and Shisui had established a foothold in the Land of Rice Paddies, Kawasaki's business plans had been a massive success, bringing in a fortune for the Uchiha. If not for his fear that the clansmen would lose their drive, Fugaku would have started paying everyone a salary. But with rewards like the ones Kawasaki was proposing, each child could potentially earn over a million Ryo. Not even the largest fortune could sustain that kind of spending.
Instead of explaining, Kawasaki simply formed a hand seal. With a puff of smoke, a storage scroll unfurled, revealing stacks of boxes.
Fugaku stared at them in surprise. "Don't tell me…?"
Kawasaki gestured for Fugaku to open one himself. Fugaku lifted the lid and, sure enough, it was packed with cash. Each box contained fifty million Ryo. There were eight boxes in total—a sum of 400 million Ryo! To put it in perspective, Konoha's entire annual revenue was only about one billion.
Fugaku's eyes went wide as he gasped for air, the only way he could express his shock. Kawasaki, fearing his clan head might have a heart attack, slapped him on the back, causing Fugaku to stumble. But having been tempered by the battlefield, Fugaku quickly composed himself. "How could the franchise fees be so high?"
"This is just the initial boom. It won't be this much later on," Kawasaki explained, then detailed how the franchise model worked.
Fugaku could only manage a wry smile amidst his shock. "Kawasaki, I have no idea how your mind works. Will this truly be the future of business?"
"This franchise model is indeed an innovation from a later era. In the future, any successful business empire will adopt this kind of system."
"But won't this method leak your secret recipes?" Fugaku saw Kawasaki as a living money tree. The delicious foods he invented had taken the shinobi world by storm. Now, with the franchise model, "Continental Cuisine" shops were popping up like mushrooms after rain. He worried that once such stores were everywhere, their clan's advantage would slowly disappear.
"You don't need to worry, Clan Head," Kawasaki reassured him. "First, franchisees can only choose a single type of food to license. Furthermore, the secret recipe is given to only one person, and I place a secrecy seal in their mind to prevent leaks. The possibility of it getting out is minuscule. Even if it does leak, it will be long in the future, by which time people will already be accustomed to coming to our stores." It was like fried chicken and fries in his old world—anyone could make them, but people still preferred to eat at the big chain restaurants.
Looking at the piles of money, Fugaku's confidence surged. "Then we'll do as you say! From now on, the Uchiha will no longer be at the mercy of others."
Fugaku stared at Kawasaki, his eyes shining. "Kawasaki, when do you plan on accepting the position of Clan Head?"
It wasn't the first time Fugaku had asked this question, but Kawasaki had always artfully dodged it. Now, however, he had other plans. "The clan is stable now. I need to take a trip."
"How long will you be gone?" Fugaku didn't ask where he was going. Kawasaki had always been thorough in his planning and had his own reasons.
Kawasaki shook his head. "I'm not sure. If things go smoothly, maybe a year or two. If not, it could be two or three years."
"Do you have to go?" Fugaku was very content with the clan's current way of life.
Seeing this, Kawasaki knew he had to remind him of the stakes. His expression turned serious as he pointed to the sky. "Clan Head, don't be fooled by our current prosperity. Some dangers are always lurking, just waiting for the right moment to strike. If we don't have the strength to resist, the Uchiha will still end in ruin!"
"I understand," Fugaku nodded. "Be careful, and come back soon."
Kawasaki nodded in return. He brought his hands together above his head, and a torrent of ocular power coalesced into a sealing gesture.
"A Transcription Seal?!" Fugaku was surprised by Kawasaki's proficiency in sealing jutsu.
Kawasaki pressed the seal onto Fugaku's eyes. The mark was branded directly onto them before fading away. A familiar power filled Fugaku's eyes, and for the first time in a long while, he could see things clearly, even if it was only temporary.
"Kawasaki, you've given me so much of your ocular power. What will you do if you encounter danger?" Kawasaki's Dojutsu was immense; even if this Transcription Seal contained only a third of his power, it was equivalent to a complete Mangekyo Sharingan.
He waved his hand dismissively and said gravely, "Clan Head, the prosperity we Uchiha now enjoy is like a bubble—beautiful but fragile. With Itachi and Shisui away, you are the only Kage-level fighter left in the clan. Our enemies are always watching, and I can't predict when they might attack. We must always be prepared. I've only given you a small portion of my power; what I have left is more than enough."
"Oh… there's one more thing I haven't told you." Kawasaki touched his forehead and instantly activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. The overwhelming ocular power shocked Fugaku. He knew that Kawasaki had already transferred a portion of that power away, yet what remained was still an overpowering force. Fugaku's heart pounded. Could it be…
Kawasaki's gaze was profound. "That's right. I have awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."