"Fugaku, you're late. Why did you only arrive now?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone held a trace of blame as he struck the Nine-Tails' massive claw with his staff.
Fugaku scoffed, launching a stream of Fire Style flames to keep the beast at bay.
"Ask your dear friend, that rabid dog Danzo. He blocked us at the edge of Uchiha territory, claiming we were planning a rebellion!"
To be honest, Fugaku had never thought highly of Hiruzen. In his eyes, Hiruzen and Danzo were cut from the same cloth—schemers hiding behind masks. The difference was that while Danzo made no effort to hide his ruthlessness, Hiruzen cloaked his intentions beneath a veil of so-called morality.
Hiruzen frowned. What is Danzo playing at now? Why target the Uchiha at a time like this?
He hadn't yet learned that Danzo had already attacked Shisui and stolen his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Fugaku," Hiruzen said, his voice more serious now, "what do you make of the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eye?"
Fugaku shot him a sharp glare.
"Trying to pin this on us again? Do you really think we'd be stupid enough to launch an attack like this? If we were behind this, would I be standing here fighting the Nine-Tails with you under its claws?"
The two continued trading veiled barbs while doing their best to restrain the beast. Yet, despite their efforts, they were barely managing to hold the Nine-Tails at bay, let alone defeat it.
Suddenly, Fugaku's eyes widened.
"No… It's building up chakra! It's preparing a Tailed Beast Ball!"
His voice was tense. The Uchiha clan's ancient records were filled with information about the tailed beasts—he knew exactly what this buildup meant.
"You still got anything left, old man?" Fugaku called out.
Hiruzen gritted his teeth. "If I had anything that could stop that, I'd have used it already!"
"If you've got a trick, now's the time!" Fugaku snapped. "I'm not exactly equipped to take down kaiju-sized monsters on my own!"
"Summoning Technique—Susanoo!"
Fugaku activated both the summoning technique and his Susanoo at once. A towering shadow loomed in the sky—an enormous creature appeared above them, dwarfing even the Nine-Tails. It was Kaiju Virus, a powerful creature that had grown stronger over many years.
After being captured and tamed by Su Xiuyu, Kaiju had been relocated to a special spiritual domain. There, the Uchiha clan members who passed rigorous trials were allowed to form summoning contracts. Over time, Kaiju had multiplied—and thanks to Uchiha innovation, the creatures had evolved to refine chakra and fight like true ninja beasts.
Now, that immense power was bearing down on the Nine-Tails.
Hiruzen looked up at the monster in disbelief. It had been decades since he'd seen a summoning beast of that size. And of course—it belonged to the Uchiha. He knew the clan's heritage well. These were treasures passed down from the Warring States period. The Uchiha and the Uzumaki—two clans blessed by legacy and ancestry.
Unlike the Senju… who disappeared under my leadership, Hiruzen thought bitterly. All that's left is Tsunade, wandering the world alone.
Kaiju Virus crashed down on the Nine-Tails, interrupting its Tailed Beast Ball charge. Then, it opened its mouth and sprayed a stream of blue corrosive liquid.
"You're really something, Fugaku. First time you summon me, and it's to fight this thing?" Kaiju Virus grumbled, its voice deep and oddly intelligent.
"Sorry, Virus. Not exactly a casual favor, I know. But if we don't stop the Nine-Tails here, Konoha's finished," Fugaku said, controlling his glowing blue Susanoo from within. "Besides, you've got thick skin—what are you afraid of?"
Together, Fugaku's Susanoo and Kaiju Virus overwhelmed the Nine-Tails, pinning it down.
Hiruzen stood on the side, uncertain whether to help or stay out of the way. He was afraid his own attacks might interfere with Fugaku's efforts—or hurt the summoning beast.
His envy flared again. The Uchiha's summoning beast was not only powerful, but exclusive. Only Uchiha and Uzumaki could contract it. No one else was even considered.
Some clans really did inherit heaven's favor.
"I can hold it off, but not forever," Kaiju Virus warned. "Don't expect me to kill the Nine-Tails on my own."
Fugaku knew it too. Kaiju's size gave them an edge, but the Nine-Tails had near-limitless chakra. Eventually, they'd run out of stamina.
Minato, where the hell are you…
As if on cue, a golden flash cut through the chaos.
"Sorry I'm late!"
Namikaze Minato appeared, kunai in hand.
"Flying Thunder God!"
In a blink, Minato teleported the Nine-Tails out of the village, along with Hiruzen and Fugaku. No longer needing to hold back, all three launched a relentless assault on the beast.
For a moment, it looked like they had it under control.
But then, a masked man appeared above the Nine-Tails.
"I won't let you win that easily."
"Fire Style – Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
With a surge of chakra, the masked man aided the Nine-Tails in breaking free. The beast roared and began charging a second Tailed Beast Ball—this time, directly aimed at Konoha.
"Not good!"
"Not good!"
"Not good!"
Minato, Fugaku, and Hiruzen all exclaimed at once.
Minato moved to intercept, but the masked man grabbed him, locking him in close combat. Fugaku and Hiruzen tried to help, only to be blocked by a strange figure—half black, half white, with an aloe-like head.
"Wood Release – Thorn Killing Spear!"
"Wood Release?!"
Both Fugaku and Hiruzen were stunned. The forbidden power of the First Hokage… used by this?
Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails unleashed the Tailed Beast Ball, launching it straight at the village.
"Flying Thunder—!"
Minato tried to teleport it away—but was interrupted before he could complete the jutsu.
"No!!"
His voice cracked as he saw the massive orb of chakra heading toward the heart of Konoha.
Fugaku's eyes followed the trajectory.
"Don't worry, Minato. At this angle… it's heading straight for the Uchiha and Uzumaki districts."
"What?!" Hiruzen spun around, enraged. "Fugaku, are you insane?!"
Just then, a massive crimson barrier shot up from the Uchiha district, enveloping both the Uchiha and Uzumaki areas.
"Uchiha Flame Formation!"
The Tailed Beast Ball struck the barrier—and detonated.
But the barrier held.
From a safe distance, the masked man—Obito—watched in disbelief.
"Impossible…! How did they block it?! That was a full-power Tailed Beast Ball!"
Within the barrier, the districts remained untouched.
"Relax, Minato," Fugaku said calmly. "This barrier was designed by Uchiha Xiuyu, one of our ancestors. It was built specifically to withstand attacks like that."
Realizing his plans had failed, Obito sneered.
"You got lucky. Next time won't be so easy. See you around… Golden Flash."
With that, he vanished into the void.
Black Zetsu, likewise, melted into the ground.
Hiruzen exhaled and readied his staff.
"Now… let's finish this. All three of us."
Fugaku nodded. "Agreed."
"Let's subdue the Nine-Tails together!"
"Right!"
--------------------
The three of them fought together to suppress the Nine-Tails. With the beast no longer under the control of the masked man—Uchiha Obito—and weakened by the Kaiju virus, they managed to temporarily restrain it.
"Lord Fourth, allow me to handle the sealing," Fugaku offered respectfully. "And thank you, Fugaku-kun, for your help," Minato replied with a gentle smile.
Uchiha Fugaku paused. Minato's tone felt off—solemn, distant—but he couldn't quite place why.
Minato dismissed the Third Hokage and began preparing for the final seal. "Fugaku, give me a moment. I want to speak with Kushina."
Fugaku nodded silently.
Minato raised a new barrier, isolating himself and Kushina. He began preparing the final steps to seal the Nine-Tails once and for all.
"Kushina…" Minato's voice was gentle, filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you."
Kushina smiled weakly, her body trembling from the pain. "What are you talking about? I have no regrets. Meeting you… loving you… it was all worth it." Her eyes softened. "But Naruto… it hurts thinking he'll grow up alone."
Minato's gaze hardened with resolve. "He won't. I'll ask Fugaku to raise him."
Kushina blinked in surprise. "The Uchiha? That's... fine. The Uchiha and the Uzumaki were once allies. They'll take care of him—especially for our clan's sake. But... didn't you say the Third Hokage would look after him?"
Her body grew colder by the second. Her voice faltered.
"Minato… seal it quickly. I—I can't hold on much longer…"
"Shiki Fūjin!" Minato invoked the Reaper Death Seal.
"Minato, why are you…?" Kushina gasped.
Minato gently cupped her face. "Without you, there's no point in living. Kushina… we'll walk the road to the underworld together."
Outside the barrier, Fugaku sighed and shook his head. He hadn't expected Namikaze Minato to be so… passionate. Reckless, even.
Minato successfully used the Shiki Fūjin to split the Nine-Tails into two: Yin and Yang. Just as the Grim Reaper reached for Minato's soul, something unexpected happened.
"Tch. Younger generations are so disappointing. You're crying after subduing a mere Nine-Tails?" A calm, confident voice echoed.
A man appeared beside Kushina's body, placing his hand on her abdomen. Golden Yang Release chakra surged through her, enveloping her broken body in warmth and vitality.
Minato, moments before his soul was taken, stared in disbelief. The man had the Mangekyō Sharingan—but Minato was taken before he could ask anything.
The mysterious figure then sent a final wave of Yang Release chakra into Minato's soulless body.
Fugaku's eyes widened as he saw the man clearly. Despite the youthful appearance, he didn't hesitate. He dropped to one knee and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
The man turned slightly. "You're Fugaku?"
"Yes. I am the current head of the Uchiha Clan—Uchiha Fugaku."
The young-looking man scoffed. "You've gotten weak. It's embarrassing how much effort you needed to fight a single Tailed Beast. I ought to break your legs for that."
His scathing remark cut through the air like a blade. Fugaku said nothing.
"I've revived Kushina," the man continued casually. "She's asleep now. Take her to the clan's research facility. Maintain her body and keep it safe. The Yang Release I infused into her will sustain her for twenty years without food."
He turned away, almost bored. "Keep Minato's body, too. Don't damage it. And take care of their child—Uzumaki Naruto."
Fugaku composed himself. "Ancestor… have you returned from another world?"
The man smirked. "This is only a clone. My real body hasn't returned yet. If that damn Tailed Beast Ball hadn't disturbed my slumber, I'd still be asleep. Honestly, Fugaku, I left you a fortune—scrolls, weapons, my legacy. And yet, I wake up to this mess?"
Fugaku winced in shame.
"All the real elites of our clan—like Master Kagami—are in the dimension you created. The Konoha branch is weak, and it's on me as clan head..." he admitted.
"I'm not criticizing your choices," the clone said bluntly. "I'm criticizing you. You're weak. You're not even worthy to be compared to me, Madara, or Izuna. You're barely on par with that old fool Sarutobi."
"…I understand, Lord Xiuyu. I've been inadequate."
Fugaku knew his limits. His greatest strength was his clarity. He didn't try to excuse his shortcomings. The clan had declined, and there was no denying it.
"Look into my eyes."
Fugaku raised his head, locking gazes with the Mangekyō Sharingan. In an instant, he was pulled into a powerful illusion.
Ten minutes passed.
When Fugaku awoke, he gasped as knowledge surged into his mind. Su Xiuyu had passed on techniques, training methods, and insights into Sage Arts—knowledge beyond this era.
"Also," Su Xiuyu added, "learn Yang Release techniques. Study them thoroughly. I've sealed a massive amount of chakra inside you. Use it wisely. My clone can only be active for a limited time, but if you're in danger, it will awaken again to protect you."
Su Xiuyu's eyes glowed with power. "One last thing: watch over Naruto. Don't let the village raise him. Your eldest son—he doesn't trust the Uchiha. Monitor him. Your younger son has great potential, but his personality is extreme. Guide him properly. Train them both together."
With those final words, Su Xiuyu's clone vanished into thin air.
Fugaku finally relaxed. Even though it had only been a clone, the pressure was suffocating. That was the true might of a legendary Uchiha ancestor. One wave of his hand, and Fugaku couldn't breathe.
Still, he felt grateful. The Uchiha were fortunate. From the Warring States Era to now, the clan had always had powerful ancestors watching over them.
Fugaku understood now—Uchiha Xiuyu had lived far longer than most. Even after the death of the First Hokage, he'd continued to wander across worlds.
In the Uchiha Clan, they said: An old man in the family is a treasure. But that didn't apply to Sarutobi or Danzo.
Fugaku's thoughts drifted to his sons.
The ancestor's words were clear: Itachi needed to be watched. Shisui too. They were both powerful, but they had their own ideologies. And the ancestor—he could see the future. His warnings were not to be taken lightly.
Feeling the massive chakra sealed inside him, Fugaku's heart surged with hope. He had another chance—to strengthen the Uchiha Clan once more.
Soon, other Uchiha arrived and carefully retrieved the bodies of Minato and Kushina. Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived not long after, and a heated debate erupted between him and Fugaku.
Meanwhile, the villagers of Konoha slowly returned to safety, unaware of the ancient power that had just awakened beneath their very feet.
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