Will of embers

Chapter 9

It was almost hard to believe how peaceful the village was. It was only possible because of the Third Hokage's hard work. Nobody could deny that without the Third Hokage, it would have taken a lot more time for the village to stand back on its feet. And even though not many liked to be relocated, they could live peacefully here thanks to the Third Hokage.

It might not look like it, but Fugaku quickly realized that the Third Hokage was worried about the Uchiha Clan. Not only did he let them join the border guard, but most importantly, he showed that he trusted them by letting Fugaku raise Naruto Uzumaki. Only time would tell if it was the best decision, but he could only be grateful for him for now.

"Stop moping around and help me," Fugaku sighed as his peaceful day ended, and Mikoto brought Sasuke and Naruto to him. "These little rascals can't be calmed down."

Fugaku could only take Sasuke from Mikoto's hands as Naruto was crying his lungs out. Since Naruto started living with them, Fugaku didn't think he had a day of peaceful sleep. At first, Mikoto was overjoyed, having been entrusted to take care of the boy. Itachi seems to be happy, too, to have another little brother.

But everything comes to an end one way or another. And this time it was because Sasuke and Naruto hated each other. It might have sounded stupid to anyone else, but Fugaku had witnessed the two boys glaring at each other every time they met their eyes. It felt like they were old enemies. Every time one fell asleep, the other would make his life work to wake him up.

Even Itachi, who was the most patient child, couldn't handle them. And even though Sasuke was a bigger baby than Naruto, Naruto had more energy than every child in the village combined. And then there was his obnoxiously big lungs that let his cries reach every house in the Uchiha residence.

"Where is Itachi?" Fugaku asked, wishing his eldest had taken on some of his responsibilities in caring for these babies.

"Shisui took him to train," Mikoto replied with a tired sigh. "I swear, every time Shisui learns anything in the academy, he comes to teach it to Itachi."

"Weren't you the one who pushed Itachi to find friends?" Fugaku asked with a knowing smile.

"Shut it, Fugaku," Mikoto warned her husband with glaring eyes. "It is your fault that you pushed Itachi so much that he had no time to make friends."

It was good that Itachi spent time with someone as talented as Shisui. As the clan's heir and probably the village's most talented child, Itachi didn't have many friends, if any. It was only natural. Fugaku was similar back then. Spending time with someone weaker than you was a waste of time. But back then, it was time for war.

It was better to have no one if you couldn't rely on them. At least, that was how Uchiha operated. If not for Kagami-sensei, Fugaku would have been the same, proud of his power and pushing everyone away. Kagami-sensei taught Fugaku what it meant to care for others and take responsibility for them. He only hoped he could teach the same to his children.

"Captain," Fugaku turned his gaze from Sasuke to one of his subordinates as he entered the terrace of his house. "Tsunade Senju has come to the clan and demands to meet you."

Hearing that name was a shock to Fugaku and even to Mikoto, who stood next to him. He didn't even know that she even returned to the village. He didn't even think he would ever meet her again, so it was surprising that she visited him. Fugaku could tell that the clan would be restless with her here. Not only is she a Senju, but she is also one of the Sannin.

"Bring her to me then," Fugaku said as he was worried why she would come to him, too.

"No need; I can find my way," Fugaku could tell that Tsunade hadn't changed even a bit as she approached him. "So, this is the kid who caused all the trouble for the village and me."

It was hard to tell what Tsunade wanted with Naruto as she laid her eyes on him. For a moment, Fugaku was afraid that Tsunade might do something and was prepared to interfere at any moment. Yet, before he could say anything, Naruto started laughing and gurgling as he looked at Tsunade. Naruto was always restless among strangers, and it took much time for Naruto to warm up to Mikoto, so it was a surprise to see this reaction from the boy.

"Why did you come by?" Fugaku asked as he looked at Tsunade, who stood still before him.

"I've seen enough," Just like that, Tsunade turned around and left.

"Captain, is it alright to let her come and leave as she wishes?" Fugaku's subordinate asked as he stared at Tsunade's back.

"Don't fuss around for nothing," Fugaku wanted to slap that idiot's head for speaking nonsense. "Did she do anything for you even harbor such thoughts? Go back to your work if you have nothing better to do."

Fugaku could tell why the subordinate was worried. If Tsunade Senju just came in and left without a word, it might look like she was checking on them. Of course, the rest of the Uchiha clan would feel restless hearing about it. But Fugaku knew better; Tsunade Senju didn't care about the politics of the village nor the history of their clans.

As she said, she only came to see Naruto, even if Fugaku had no idea why. What he was more worried about wasn't petty politics or distrust of the village towards his clan. Fugaku's mind was on the Ghost of the Uchiha, Madara Uchiha. Whatever the village thought of them, Fugaku knew he could clear the Uchiha name of any of that.

But if Madara Uchiha was still alive, it was his responsibility as the current head of the Uchiha clan to stop him from whatever he was planning. Nothing good will come with Madara on the loose. He might have failed to destroy the village this time, but he will try it again until he is either dead or satisfied with his work.

…

"Ding!!! Hidden quest completed. Tsunade Senju, one of the Sannin, has decided to listen to your words and stay in the village to support the residents. Ding!!!"

'What the hell?' Hiruzen was surprised by the ringing bell in his head. It took a lot of effort not to flinch as he talked with the Jonin Commander Shikaku Nara. Shikaku was too observant, even more than other shinobi, so it was hard to hide anything from him. That way, he didn't talk much with him.

He tried his best to avoid him. Unlike Danzo and others, Hiruzen didn't know much about Shikaku, so it was hard to determine how he should act around him. He has to be extremely careful around him, as he might get his friend, Inoichi Yamanaka, then Hiruzen might be screwed. And the random ringing in his head didn't help him.

"Kusagakure is dissatisfied with our alliance and is demanding more support from us," Shikaku informed Hiruzen. "They think we would not want to antagonize anyone because of the Demon Fox attack."

"It is not surprising," Hiruzen replied as he tried to remember all of the information he had read on Kusagakure. "Our alliance was forced upon them, so we couldn't say we are on friendly terms. It would be more suspicious if they didn't try to do something like this. What exactly are they demanding of us?"

"They want our clients," Shikaku said; frustration was evident in his tone even if he tried to hide it. "And techniques from Konoha."

"How bold of them," Hiruzen replied with a calm voice that didn't give off anything. "Can they even handle new clients? Their village doesn't have strong shinobi, so how do they expect to do the work for them? It is clear that they do not expect us to agree to their demands. How devious of them."

"Diplomacy is their weapon, after all," Shikaku agreed, yet Hiruzen wasn't comfortable. He caught Shikaku narrowing his eyes as Hiruzen spoke. "But even if they lower their demands after negotiations, they will aim to take advantage of us."

"There won't be any negotiations since we will agree with their demands," Hiruzen replied with a smile. "We give them some of our biggest clients and throw them a few techniques. It is no problem."

"How ruthless," Shikaku commented. "With how many jutsu we have at our disposal, it won't be difficult to find a few that would not harm the village even if other villages learned about them. And once they realize they can't succeed in missions the new clients will provide them, they will return to us to ask for help."

"Our only worry will be to think of what we should ask them in return."

He didn't know what Shikaku was thinking about him, but Hiruzen could only act to his best abilities as a leader. From what he knew, the real Hiruzen wasn't ruthless and wouldn't exploit others, but he couldn't be like that. Hiruzen can't let the others take advantage of the village through his kindness and passivity. He had to take the qualities of the real Hiruzen and cover his weaknesses with his knowledge of the world and the future.

"I am glad," Hiruzen looked at Shikaku as he stood up to leave. "I thought you would be unable to return to your old self anymore, Hokage-sama. But it seems the fire within you is still burning brightly."

Hiruzen had no idea what Shikaku was talking about. Did he want to sound like some kind of badass or something? But at least he was left alone, at last. It seemed that everything was working out with Kakashi helping to do his paperwork, and since he had dealt with the most annoying things, Hiruzen thought it was about time to concentrate on himself.

"Ding!!! By completing a hidden quest, you received a random genjutsu skill. Ding!!!"

Genjutsu skills: Bringer of Darkness.

As much as Hiruzen was happy to receive another skill, he wasn't satisfied with it. He couldn't help but feel worried that he was relying on the system to give him strength. He still didn't know much about this system. What it was? Where did it come from? What did it want from him? And what if it suddenly disappeared?

It was the feeling of uneasiness. As much as the system could give him, it could probably take away. It was difficult to tell if the system wanted to help him. If it did, it would strengthen Hiruzen and give back his memories. But then, would he need the system to rely on? And if so, would he have any reason to do as the system wanted him?

That is what got Hiruzen worried. It felt like the system was conditioning him to do as it says. So, once again, Hiruzen had to ask what this system was for. To help him? To help this world? Or to help itself? He knew he couldn't get answers to these questions, so he had to prepare himself. In the end, he will only have himself to rely on.

"Do you ever leave this place?" Hiruzen looked up as Tsunade entered the Hokage office. "Does the office smell like you, or are you smelling like this office?"

"I don't remember you to be so brazen," Hiruzen replied as he motioned for Tsunade to sit down.

"I saw the boy," Tsunade said, but Hiruzen looked puzzlingly at her as if he didn't understand what she meant. "The Nine-tails jinchuriki."

"Why?" Hiruzen asked, as he couldn't understand what Tsunade wanted.

"Uzumaki," Tsunade muttered. "Why give him that last name?"

"What a foolish question. He is Naruto Uzumaki, that all there is to it."

"What games are you playing, old man?"

"Are you drunk?"

"He is the son of that Uzumaki girl, isn't he?" Tsunade asked as she was putting the dots together. "The previous jinchuriki."

"He is Naruto Uzumaki, nothing more, nothing less."

"I don't need you to say it. I will ask Jiraiya," Tsunade seemed frustrated about something. "I really shouldn't have come back."

"He reminded you of Nawaki, didn't he?"

"Don't cross the line," Tsunade warned Hiruzen.

"Well, he could be considered your cousin." Hiruzen couldn't feel any negative emotions from Tsunade, and he knew that she had already made her decision to stay, so he just smiled at her. But I will not let an alcoholic like you look after him, so you better forget it."

"When did you start being a smartass?" Tsunade replied. "Anyway, I am staying since you begged me so much. But don't get the wrong idea; I am staying as long as I want, and I will leave once I get bored of this place."

Hiruzen wondered if Tsunade was always such a tsundere. At this point, Hiruzen should accept that all shinobi in Konoha are weirdos. As he thought, the most normal of them all was Fugaku Uchiha, what he wouldn't do to make him the next Hokage. If only it were that simple. Either way, after Tusnade left, Hiruzen stopped thinking about useless things and started to plan how to get stronger.

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852. And if you have any requests for stories, I will only take them on my pa treon.