"There are so many people here… are you really confident, Shigure?"
At that, Shigure only smiled.
"Relax."
He stepped forward and began forming hand seals—initiating Edo Tensei, the Reanimation Jutsu.
Over the past day, the Great Sage had already completed the full analysis and reconstruction of the technique.
The version he deduced was even more refined—more efficient—than the original Edo Tensei created by Tobirama.
Shigure raised his hand for another seal.
Thanks to the Great Sage's support, he technically no longer needed hand seals at all.
But when performing ninjutsu, he preferred it—because he always felt that sealing made the technique a little sharper, a little stronger.
A strange but persistent sensation.
With the final seal completed, Shigure released his chakra.
Boom—!
Edo Tensei.
Ash materialized in the air, swirling like a grey storm as it engulfed the corpses and sacrifices laid on the ground.
Moments later, the ash began to reshape—forming bodies, faces, and features.
Ninjas of the Uchiha clan reappeared one by one.
Sasuke's eyes darted through the crowd—searching.
And then—his expression froze.
But Shigure continued chanting calmly.
"Don't be afraid.
Kodo Tensei—Keikai-no-Tamashi.
—Return to form."
In an instant, every reanimated Uchiha regained a full, clean physical form.
No cracks, no decay, no binding talisman—they appeared living, breathing, whole.
The reborn Uchihas stared at their hands, bewildered.
"What… is this place?"
"What happened to us?"
"I remember—someone was attacking the compound. Killing our kin. How did I end up here!?"
"Who is that?"
"That uniform… Kirigakure?"
"No—that man… he's the Mizukage!"
"Why is the Mizukage here?! Did he capture us!?"
Questions erupted everywhere.
Shigure looked to Sasuke.
"It's your turn, Sasuke."
Sasuke nodded, stepping forward.
His eyes shifted—and the Mangekyō Sharingan bloomed open.
Gasps tore through the crowd.
"That's… the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
"He has awakened it!?"
"Is he one of us? How have I never seen him before?"
"The legendary Mangekyō… it's real! Completely real!"
"What did he experience to awaken that power…? Damn it, I want to awaken it too!"
Excitement and disbelief spread among the Uchiha—until a single voice cut through the noise.
"Sasuke!"
In an instant, the entire clan fell silent.
Only then did they notice who had spoken—
Their patriarch.
Uchiha Fugaku.
"Patriarch… were you also captured?"
Fugaku gave a faint smile.
"Not captured—killed."
He studied his restored hands.
"I remember exactly how I died. And yet… here I stand, alive again."
His words triggered recognition in the other Uchiha.
"That's right! I was killed too!"
"Same here—one of those Root bastards stabbed me straight through the heart!"
"So how are we all resurrected?"
Their gazes turned toward Sasuke—then to Shigure.
"I suppose we should ask Mizukage-sama… and our own clansman, Uchiha Sasuke."
"Sasuke… that's the clan leader's youngest son, isn't it?"
"He's grown so much. He was what—five? Six?"
"If he's a teenager now… that means we've been dead for six or seven years!"
Sasuke nodded calmly.
"That's correct. You've all been dead for about that long."
"And the reason you're standing here again is because I requested Lord Mizukage's help.
He agreed—and all of you who died unjustly were resurrected."
Sasuke's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I've already left Konoha. I joined Kirigakure. The Uchiha clan… has a new home now."
Fugaku froze for a moment.
Itachi had sacrificed everything to protect Konoha, yet Sasuke had chosen a completely different path.
Even so, Fugaku couldn't blame him.
He had long understood that remaining in Konoha meant waiting for extinction.
The Hokage faction had always held the dagger angled toward the Uchiha.
"Sasuke."
"Father."
Their eyes met.
Shigure patted Sasuke's shoulder.
"These people are your kin. How they're arranged from here on—whether they join Kirigakure or not—is your decision. I won't interfere."
With that, Shigure turned and left the underground chamber.
Fugaku watched him go, astonished.
"That Mizukage… he's so young."
Sasuke nodded.
"He's the same age as me."
The same age?
If Sasuke was only twelve or thirteen… then the Mizukage was also around thirteen?
Yet he had resurrected an entire clan—effortlessly.
A child in appearance, but his strength was anything but.
Fugaku exhaled slowly.
"Why did you choose to leave Konoha and join Kirigakure?"
Sasuke glanced at the still-confused Uchiha around them.
"Let's settle the clan first. Then… I'll tell you everything."
Fugaku nodded.
Whatever Sasuke's story was, it had to be extraordinary.
A teenager becoming Mizukage, wielding enough power to revive so many at once… and doing it casually.
This Shigure was anything but ordinary.
Back at the Villa
Shigure returned home.
Mei was out.
Hinata was cleaning the living room.
"Hinata."
She hurried over.
"Lord Shigure—you're back! Did you finish early today?"
"Yeah. I need rest. I'm leaving for the Five Kage Summit tomorrow."
"The Five Kage Summit…?"
Hinata blinked in surprise.
She helped remove his coat, then hesitated before speaking again.
"Lord Shigure… can you take me with you this time?"
"Take you?" Shigure frowned.
"There may be conflict. Possibly a fight. If something goes wrong—"
Hinata immediately stepped forward.
"I want to be of use to you too!
My Byakugan is much stronger now—I won't be a burden!"
Shigure paused… then smiled.
She wasn't wrong.
He had already asked the Great Sage to create a personalized training system for her—one that enhanced both her Byakugan and her chakra reserves.
Hinata's progress had been dramatic.
Her combat ability, especially in support and sensory ninjutsu, had become formidable.
"Alright," Shigure said softly.
"You can come."
(End of Chapter)
📝 Limited-Time Offer (Ends Soon): $9 → 20 chapters ahead
🔟 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin
😊 Thank you for your support!