"Whether it was the version of me who studied at the Ninja Academy, or the version of me who now commands the Hidden Mist Village, I have never truly changed."
Uchiha Su slowly rose from his seat. His voice was calm, yet it carried a quiet firmness that filled the hall.
"I have been struggling with myself for a long time. But in the end, I would rather remain the person I truly am."
The hall fell silent.
Jiraiya stared blankly at Uchiha Su, his brows slightly furrowed. At his current age, he could not fully grasp the deeper meaning hidden behind those words. To him, the sentence sounded philosophical and mysterious, yet confusing.
"What do you mean by that?" Jiraiya muttered inwardly.
Before he could ask anything, another voice broke the silence.
"Was everything you did before just an act?"
It was Tsunade.
This was the first time she had spoken since entering the hall. Her tone was steady, but the stubborn determination in her eyes was impossible to hide.
She stared directly at Uchiha Su, as if trying to see through him.
Uchiha Su met her gaze calmly.
"It wasn't an act," he replied gently.
"As I said earlier, when I was still in Konoha, I never pretended to be someone else. My personality was real, my actions were real, and my friendships were real."
He paused slightly before continuing.
"The only thing I ever hid from you was my strength."
"Everything else… was genuine."
Tsunade lowered her head.
For a brief moment, the strong and confident girl seemed lost in her thoughts.
Memories flashed through her mind—training at the Ninja Academy, sparring matches, arguments, laughter, and those countless small moments she had shared with Uchiha Su.
If those memories were real… then what did his defection mean?
After a few seconds, Tsunade raised her head again.
The hesitation in her eyes had disappeared, replaced by a sharp and resolute spirit.
"Uchiha Su," she said firmly.
"I will bring you back to Konoha."
The declaration stunned everyone in the room.
"Perhaps you'll laugh at me for being overconfident," Tsunade continued, clenching her fists.
"But this is my sincere decision."
"No matter how much effort it takes… no matter how many times I fail… no matter how painful the consequences may be…"
"I will bring you back to Konoha!"
Her voice echoed through the hall.
"I will never give up!"
"That is my Ninja Way!"
Her words were louder and more determined than Uchiha Su's calm declaration earlier.
She even waved her clenched fists fiercely, just like she used to during their days at the Academy.
Uchiha Su froze for a moment.
For the first time in a long while, he did not know how to respond.
"This situation… feels strangely familiar."
A strange thought crossed his mind.
Could it be that in the future, when Orochimaru eventually leaves Konoha, Jiraiya would chase after him… while Tsunade would chase after him instead?
The absurd image made Uchiha Su feel slightly uncomfortable.
He suddenly imagined a future where Tsunade constantly pursued him across the ninja world, just like Naruto chasing Sasuke.
"That would be troublesome…"
But then he shook his head inwardly.
Nothing was certain anymore.
After all, his existence had already begun to change the timeline.
He was the butterfly flapping its wings, creating ripples throughout the ninja world.
For example—
Naruto's grandfather had already been drawn into the Hidden Mist Village by Uchiha Su.
Meanwhile, Uzushiogakure—the homeland of Naruto's mother—had become a military ally of the Hidden Mist.
Under these circumstances, the future relationship between Naruto and Sasuke might be completely different.
Perhaps their destinies would never intersect in the same way again.
Thinking about this, Uchiha Su slowly smiled.
"Of course I won't laugh at you," he said warmly.
"In fact, I think that's a very admirable goal."
Then he added casually,
"If one day you manage to defeat me…"
"I would gladly return to Konoha with you."
Tsunade's eyes lit up immediately.
"I'll defeat you!"
Her voice was full of confidence.
"And not just once!"
"I'll defeat you countless times, just like I did back at the Ninja Academy!"
Seeing Tsunade's fiery determination, Uchiha Su could not help but laugh softly.
Just as the atmosphere began to relax slightly, Jiraiya finally spoke.
"Uchiha—"
But before he could finish his sentence, another voice interrupted him.
"That's enough, Jiraiya."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's calm yet authoritative tone cut him off.
"Our mission today is not to argue about past mistakes."
"We are here to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement to end this war."
The Third Hokage's gaze was steady.
"The casualties on both sides have already been far too heavy."
Jiraiya looked extremely aggrieved.
"I didn't even say anything yet…"
He wanted to complain.
In his opinion, if anyone deserved to be scolded, it should have been Tsunade for shouting so loudly.
But since his teacher had already spoken, Jiraiya could only swallow his words.
"Understood, sensei."
Meanwhile, Uchiha Su calmly gave an order.
"Nami."
A graceful woman stepped forward.
"Yes, Lord Su."
"Please discuss the negotiation details with Jonin Sarutobi."
Uchiha Nami bowed slightly before turning toward Hiruzen.
"Jonin Sarutobi, please follow me."
Hiruzen nodded and followed her to a nearby side hall.
Soon, the main hall was left with only four people.
Uchiha Su.
Tsunade.
Orochimaru.
Jiraiya.
A maid quietly served tea before retreating respectfully.
Uchiha Su picked up his teacup and took a sip before speaking.
"Orochimaru."
The pale young ninja looked up.
"If one day you feel uncomfortable staying in Konoha…"
"You are always welcome in the Hidden Mist."
"The gates of my village will always remain open for you."
Orochimaru remained silent for a moment.
He carefully considered the offer.
Finally, he shook his head.
"I appreciate the invitation," he said calmly.
"But for now… I have no intention of leaving Konoha."
Uchiha Su nodded.
"I understand."
Before the conversation could continue, Jiraiya suddenly blurted out anxiously,
"Isn't it enough that you defected yourself?"
"Now you're trying to lure Orochimaru away too?!"
Uchiha Su chuckled lightly.
"If a ninja feels unhappy in their own village…"
"Defection might be the best choice."
His words sounded casual, but they carried a deeper meaning.
In the future—
Orochimaru would leave Konoha in pursuit of forbidden knowledge.
Tsunade would wander the world, unable to overcome her trauma and fear of blood.
Jiraiya, left alone without his teammates, would also spend many years traveling outside the village.
Three legendary ninja.
Three completely different personalities.
Yet all three of them would eventually leave Konoha.
It was indeed a curious coincidence.
At that moment, Tsunade suddenly leaned forward.
"How did you become so strong?"
Her eyes were filled with curiosity.
If she could discover Uchiha Su's secret…
Then she could grow stronger quickly.
And once she surpassed him—
She could finally bring him back to Konoha.
To Tsunade, this felt almost like destiny.
Just like the legendary rivalry between her great-grandfather Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, she believed she could achieve something similar.
Uchiha Su simply smiled.
"You wouldn't understand the world of geniuses."
Of course, he could never reveal the truth.
The system.
And the fact that his father was a transmigrator.
Those secrets had to remain buried.
Tsunade puffed up her cheeks in annoyance.
"You're becoming more and more annoying!"
Uchiha Su rubbed his chin mischievously.
"Oh?"
"If I were truly annoying…"
"Then I would have already kidnapped you and forced you to stay in the Hidden Mist."
He leaned back lazily.
"Maybe I'd make you my bandit wife."
"And in the future…"
"We'd have seventeen or eighteen chubby sons running around the house."
His voice gradually became quieter.
Because Tsunade's expression had suddenly changed.
Her eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
Excitement.
Fear.
Curiosity.
Embarrassment.
Even a faint hint of longing.
Uchiha Su was stunned.
He had known Tsunade for years, yet he had never realized that her eyes could express such a wide range of emotions.
At that moment, Orochimaru quietly reached into his ninja pouch.
"Su-kun."
He carefully took out a small bottle and handed it over.
"I developed this ointment."
"It's more effective than the one I gave you before."
"It can accelerate wound healing and has no side effects."
"I stayed up all night making it."
He had prepared it immediately after learning that they would be traveling here for negotiations.
After all, Uchiha Su was currently leading troops on the battlefield.
Any small advantage could mean the difference between life and death.
Uchiha Su accepted the bottle.
"Thank you, Orochimaru."
"You're always the most thoughtful."
He casually wrapped an arm around Orochimaru's shoulder, just like old times.
Orochimaru's expression softened slightly.
"This is simply what I should do."
Uchiha Su suddenly sighed.
"Actually… I've been troubled by a problem recently."
"A problem?"
Orochimaru looked interested.
"If it is something I can help with, I will do my best."
Uchiha Su nodded.
"Takuma!"
He called toward the doorway.
"Come here."
A young boy quickly entered the hall.
He looked slightly shorter than Uchiha Su and carried the distinctive pale features of the Kaguya clan.
He respectfully bowed.
"Young Master."
Kaguya Takuma had arrived.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)