"You're the one who died, we're still alive. Your Naruto is doing just fine," Uchiha Mikoto said irritably.
"Huh? You're not dead? My Naruto's doing fine too. Could it be that I was revived?" Kushina Uzumaki excitedly looked herself over, but then noticed her body was covered with cracks like shattered porcelain. She muttered, "But I don't look like I was really revived!"
"Aunt Kushina, you're not dead because I revived you. The technique I used should be familiar to you—it's the Second Hokage's Reanimation Jutsu," Uchiha Itachi explained as he stepped forward.
The Second Hokage's Reanimation Jutsu? Kushina's eyes narrowed as she whispered to herself.
The Reanimation Jutsu was a forbidden S-rank technique developed by the Second Hokage to summon the souls of dead shinobi back into the living world in physical form.
She had once seen it mentioned on a sealing scroll but didn't pay it much mind since the technique wasn't perfected yet.
She didn't expect Itachi, so young, to have perfected the Second Hokage's technique. Kushina looked at him with newfound respect.
"So it was you, Itachi, the Uchiha genius—my dear nephew—who revived me. Tell me, why did you bring your sister back?" Kushina ruffled Itachi's hair, speaking boldly.
"It's Aunt, actually," Uchiha Mikoto corrected sharply.
"It's sister!" Kushina shot back playfully.
Before their friendly quarrel could escalate, Itachi quickly intervened.
"Mom, Aunt Kushina, please don't argue. Time is short and the mission is urgent. I still have to head to Naka shrine later."
Hearing her son call Kushina "Aunt," Mikoto looked at Kushina proudly, feeling like she had the upper hand.
"Itachi, just tell us what's going on," Kushina said seriously, stopping the bickering.
When Minato was the Fourth Hokage, Kushina had studied the forbidden scroll on Reanimation Jutsu. She knew that the user could erase the consciousness of the deceased by burying a kunai inscribed with sealing tags in the back of the head, and whether to retain the person's emotions or will was up to the caster.
Itachi hadn't erased her consciousness—probably out of respect for Mikoto.
"The Third Hokage and Danzo want to wipe out our Uchiha clan, so I need your help to stop them, Aunt Kushina," Itachi said earnestly.
Uchiha Fugaku glanced at Itachi in surprise. He felt his son seemed changed today—but this change was good. At least father and son wouldn't fight each other anymore. At least now Itachi's loyalty was with the Uchiha clan—that was enough.
"The Third Hokage and Danzo want to destroy the Uchiha clan?" Kushina asked in shock. "Has it come to this?"
"Yes. It could happen any day now—possibly as soon as this week," Itachi said grimly.
"Itachi, you're overestimating me. I can't stop them," Kushina shook her head and smiled bitterly. "Even though the Third Hokage and Danzo are old dogs, they have many shinobi under their command. I alone can't protect the Uchiha clan.
Besides, they wouldn't listen to me anyway.
If Minato were still alive, maybe I'd have a chance. But now, without the Nine-Tails, only left with its chakra sealed inside me—and only my sealing techniques—I'm not nearly as strong as a full jinchuriki."
"Just do your best," Itachi said.
"Alright, but I have one request. Can I go see Naruto? Don't worry, I won't reveal myself," Kushina pleaded, her eyes full of longing.
Seeing her begging, Mikoto opened her mouth to agree, but then thought about the dire situation facing the Uchiha clan. What if Kushina's careless nature jeopardized Itachi's plans?
Though she understood her friend's heart as a mother missing her child, she couldn't risk her own son being hurt because of a moment's weakness.
So Mikoto lowered her head and left the decision to Itachi.
Seeing his mother's dilemma and Kushina's pleading, Itachi smiled.
"Of course you can."
"Thank you so much, Itachi!" Kushina cheered excitedly and hugged Mikoto.
"Be gentle! We're all mothers here, and you're acting like a wild kid," Mikoto said helplessly but gratefully glanced at her son, knowing he didn't want her to be troubled.
"Hehe, then I'm off!" Kushina said cheerfully.
"Oh, here's a photo of Naruto, and his address. He's attending school now, in the same class as Sasuke. By the way, he's called Naruto Uzumaki now—same last name as Aunt Kushina," Itachi handed her a picture.
"Uzumaki Naruto, huh? My child," Kushina took the photo carefully, gently touching the blonde-haired boy with whisker marks on his cheeks. She murmured, "Just like his dad—blonde hair. So handsome."
"Thanks, Itachi," Kushina said before disappearing with a snap using Body Flicker Technique.
"Itachi, aren't you worried Kushina might leak information?" Mikoto asked worriedly.
"No, Mom. Don't worry. Aunt Kushina won't betray us," Itachi reassured her.
"You have to trust Itachi—he understands the Reanimation Jutsu better than anyone. If he let Kushina go, it means he's confident she won't give us away," Fugaku said for the first time since Kushina left.
"Besides, Naruto's life in Konoha has been worse than a refugee's all these years. We wanted to help, but because of the Nine-Tails and Danzo, we could only watch helplessly.
If Kushina saw how badly Naruto's living, she might lose control—and who knows, she might just kill Danzo on the spot," Fugaku said with a grim smile.
Itachi's plan was clever—if Kushina saw Naruto's suffering, she'd hate Danzo deeply.
Mikoto was again worried about Kushina.
"Don't worry, Mom. I didn't order Aunt Kushina to do anything. She won't expose me or cause trouble," Itachi said softly.
"Then I'm relieved," Mikoto sighed.
Seeing this, Fugaku and Itachi exchanged a smile. Mikoto was just too kind and gentle.
"Itachi, you said you're going to Minato Shrine tonight—is that for the clan meeting?" Fugaku asked.
"The clan meeting is one reason. The other is, I need the bodies of our clan's strongest ancestors—even if just their bones or ashes. Without those, I can only hope the summoning scroll has their bloodstains on it," Itachi explained.
The Reanimation Jutsu given by the system doesn't require the whole body—DNA like hair, bones, or blood is enough.
"Don't worry, our Uchiha clan has the most complete collection. I'll find everything for you," Fugaku promised, pounding his chest.
His expression was no longer grim but full of smiles.
When Itachi last attacked clan members and shot the clan symbol with a kunai, Fugaku suspected his son had turned against the clan.
But now, this change was a surprise and relief for the Uchiha.
At least the father and son wouldn't fight each other anymore.
"Oh, Itachi, you'll host tonight's clan meeting, right?" Fugaku suddenly said.
"Me? Host?" Itachi was surprised. He had planned to find a reason to step back, but Fugaku beat him to it. Was he voluntarily stepping down?
"Yes. From now on, the Uchiha clan will rely on you," Fugaku said seriously.
He couldn't suppress the clan himself, but Itachi could.
"Don't worry, Father. I won't let you down," Itachi bowed deeply.
"Oh, and Father, I'll need a few death row prisoners."
"Don't worry, Itachi. I'll prepare them all for you today."