I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Only Silence

After sensing the Tailed Beast Chakra, Uzumaki Homon looked at Naruto with fear and doubt in his eyes.

He didn't understand Naruto's intentions—first, this young ninja sneaked into his office and launched an unprovoked attack, then, after defeating him with ease, he released a sinister chakra that was unmistakably the Nine-Tails'.

Seeing that Homon didn't recognize the Nine-Tails' chakra, Naruto felt a bit awkward.

Clearing his throat, Naruto loosened Homon's restraints and introduced himself: "I am Menma, an Uzumaki ninja who has traveled across the shinobi world. How should I address a fellow clansman?"

Freed from his bindings, Uzumaki Homon eyed Naruto warily.

Since the fall of Uzushiogakure, many Uzumaki clansmen had been scattered across the world. Some possessed formidable ninja abilities, but very few could dominate him as effortlessly as Naruto had.

More importantly, as an Uzumaki ninja, it was peculiar that Naruto didn't rely on sealing techniques.

Yet, what was even more puzzling was his association with the Uchiha—something entirely contradictory to the Uzumaki clan's traditional alliances.

Despite his suspicions, Homon introduced himself. The overwhelming difference in power left him little choice—his people had already lost everything, and dignity was a luxury for the defeated.

Naruto caught the doubt in Homon's expression and, without hesitation, sliced his own arm with a kunai.

Under the Uzumaki clan's legendary vitality, the wound closed within moments, leaving no trace of injury.

Homon's eyes widened in astonishment. No longer doubting Naruto's Uzumaki bloodline, he spoke in a somber tone: "I believe you… but Uzushiogakure was destroyed decades ago. Why are you still here?"

Naruto smiled and replied, "To gather the lost and rebuild the Land of Whirlpools."

"Rebuild Uzushiogakure?!"

Homon's head shot up, his eyes briefly shining with hope.

But the light faded just as quickly. He shook his head slightly and muttered, "The entire Uzumaki clan across the shinobi world barely numbers a dozen. Even if your strength surpasses mine, reviving Uzushiogakure is impossible. Our village wasn't just destroyed—it was erased from history. You underestimate how powerful Uzushio truly was."

"Yeah, I don't think so."

Naruto leaned against the desk, smirking. "Besides, rebuilding the Land of Whirlpools doesn't require just Uzumaki power. Other ninjas and even civilians could contribute."

Homon opened his mouth but hesitated. He didn't want to refute Naruto's vision—nor did he dare to.

"Enough of lofty ideals. Let's deal with reality," Homon said, exhaling. "Why have you sought me out? Just know that my existence in Uzushio is still a secret. If my cover is blown, I won't be of any help."

Naruto's expression grew serious. "I need you to assist a group of Uchiha—over a hundred of them. And you must not let this information leak."

"A hundred Uchiha?" Homon was stunned. The thought of Konoha orchestrating a secret invasion of Uzushio crossed his mind.

Sensing his suspicion, Naruto clarified, "Don't worry, they are merely exiles now. Just as Uzushiogakure was wiped out, Uchiha has also faced near extinction."

Homon fell silent. Meanwhile, Naruto left the office and returned with Shisui Uchiha.

The broader agreement was settled; now, it was up to Shisui to handle the finer details. As the acting leader of the Uchiha survivors, he understood their needs best.

After leaving the meeting, Naruto wandered through the ruins of Uzushio, treating it as a treasure hunt.

Memorizing the terrain and the surrounding environment, he contemplated the long-term strategy for rebuilding a village, and ultimately, a nation. If he wanted to gain strength quickly, he would need the support of a formidable force.

And Konoha—corrupt, stagnant, and steeped in bureaucracy—was beyond salvation.

Reform was always harder than revolution. He had no interest in changing Konoha; he wanted to build a nation of his own.

Hours later, Naruto returned to Homon's office.

By then, Shisui and Homon had finalized plans for Uchiha's settlement. In truth, Homon had little room to object—despite Uchiha's losses, their remaining fighters still outclassed most minor ninja villages.

In the chaos of the Land of Whirlpools, they would be a dominant force.

Naruto had revealed his Uzumaki heritage partly to ease tensions, but also to prevent Homon from panicking and alerting nearby villages about Uchiha's presence.

If diplomacy failed, there was always Sharingan's genjutsu.

With an agreement reached, Shisui summoned the scattered Uchiha refugees from their makeshift camps and relocated them to the crumbling ruins of Uzushio. At the very least, they now had shelter.

As the weary Uchiha gathered, Namikaze Minato, appearing through Edo Tensei, called out their names one by one.

Naruto watched in surprise. "I didn't expect you to remember every Uchiha by name… Were you planning an attack against them when you were Hokage?"

Minato's expression darkened, and he shook his head. "No. I memorized their names because they were part of the police force. Their temperament made them a liability if left in that position for too long… But I ran out of time."

"That's a shame," Naruto remarked. "If you had survived, maybe Uchiha wouldn't have turned against Konoha. But let's be honest—could you have resolved the police force issue so quickly?"

"The Uchiha had too many Jonin. If they weren't placed in the police force, where else could they go?

If Uchiha members had been given key roles outside the police force, Hiruzen and Danzo would have been uneasy. You couldn't ignore their influence."

Naruto's words struck a nerve.

Minato had been shackled by politics throughout his tenure as Hokage.

Many of his subordinates had been denied promotions, trapped at the rank of Chunin. He had no idea how they had fared in the years after his death.

Naruto's voice softened. "Your former subordinates… They're not doing well. One of them, an Ame ninja, even tried to kill me. If not for Kurama's warning, I'd be dead."

Minato fell silent.

He had believed that, if nothing else, he had been a good Hokage.

Yet, in the eyes of his former allies, he had become a villain—one so despised that they would even attack his son.

The deception of Hiruzen, the hatred of the villagers, the betrayal by his own men…

Naruto had endured it all.

And those experiences had driven him to defect—choosing to abandon Konoha and forge a new future.

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