Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too tsundere

Then, this morning arrived.

Chapter 114 Choice

The next moment, a very slight "snap" sound rang out.

Naruto extended his finger and gently flicked Satsuki's forehead. The force was just right; it wouldn't really hurt her, but it was enough to bring her back to her senses from her panic.

"Well……"

Satsuki subconsciously loosened her grip on Naruto's sleeve and covered her forehead where she had been flicked, but her large, tearful eyes, filled with unease, remained fixed on Naruto.

Looking at the girl in front of him, who had lost all her sharp edges and was left with only a soft core, Naruto felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and he deliberately spoke in a slightly teasing tone.

"Satsuki... It seems that while the Uchiha clan's genius is outstanding in terms of talent as a ninja, in some aspects... he really is an absolute idiot."

He was referring, of course, to her anxiety and fear of losing connection.

However, this statement would normally have immediately drawn a furious rebuttal from Satsuki, but at this moment it was like a stone sinking into the sea.

Zuo Yue didn't immediately explode as I expected, nor did she blush and loudly retort, "Who are you calling an idiot?!" She simply continued to look at him with those wet, vulnerable, and dependent, pitiful eyes.

Even if I'm an idiot... don't abandon me...

Naruto, "..."

The "arrogance" in that once vividly defined "tsundere" attribute has been completely washed away by the overnight upheaval and fear. What remains is only undisguised "tsundere" and a deep-seated unease.

"Satsuki, do you know?" Naruto's voice softened.

"The tides... they never need to choose whether to follow the moon—they simply follow the natural rhythm of the ocean itself deep within their hearts."

He leaned forward slightly, bringing his gaze level with hers, which was filled with unease. "And I didn't just make that choice at that moment. I will always, always follow the 'rhythm' of my heart."

"So don't be afraid. Embrace this happiness that you've regained. I'll always be here watching over you, and I won't leave you for a moment."

Tides...moon...

This metaphor stunned Satsuki, who stared unblinkingly at Naruto with her big eyes, while Fugaku, who was watching quietly from the side, seemed to see the figure of an old friend in a daze.

"Really...really?" Zuo Yue's voice still trembled slightly. She needed the most certain confirmation and the most concrete proof.

Naruto didn't reply with words. He simply took Satsuki's still somewhat cold little hand and pressed it firmly against his chest.

"Yeah!" Naruto nodded emphatically, a bright smile spreading across his face. "You felt it, didn't you? It's hot, isn't it? Your heart is beating fast, isn't it? It's all real! It's not because we just went through a battle, but because... we're making the most important promise with you, so I'm both nervous and incredibly happy!"

The real, unmistakable, burning, and rapid heartbeat beneath the palm of your hand is more powerful than any flowery language.

Then, Naruto gently removed Satsuki's hand from his chest, and with his other hand, he playfully pinched Satsuki's soft cheek... Hmm, it felt quite nice.

"You can feel it, right? It hurts a little, doesn't it?" he asked with a smile. "So you see, this isn't a dream! I'm really standing here, and I'm not going anywhere!"

Seeing that the frozen expression of panic on Sasuke's face finally began to loosen and cracks appeared, Naruto decided to press his advantage. He changed his tone and his voice became weak and dejected.

"Actually... I might be a little more scared than you are right now."

"...Huh?" This completely unexpected turn of events left Satsuki stunned. "Why...?"

Naruto lowered his head slightly. "I'm scared... scared that once Satsuki has her parents back, she won't need me anymore. So..."

He raised his head again, looking at her with a pleading gaze, "Please don't leave me either, okay? Let's just... stay together, and neither of us will leave the other, okay?"

This "retreat to advance" tactic instantly struck the softest spot in Zuo Yue's heart.

"No! How could I!" she retorted almost immediately, grabbing Naruto's sleeve again with her small hand. "How could I abandon Naruto? I absolutely won't! I will never leave you behind!"

Upon hearing this urgent and firm response, Naruto's face immediately lit up with a triumphant smile, but more so with genuine joy, and he immediately accepted the reply.

"Yes! I heard you! I will accept your words with all my heart! This is our promise! Now that Uncle and Aunt are back, if you still need me..."

"So...it's really...so good that you need me! Please keep needing me like this from now on!"

Finally, the last barrier in her heart was completely breached, and the cracks widened rapidly. The proud and awkward "tsundere" disappeared completely, turning into a "crybaby" who could only nod and shed tears.

Satsuki nodded vigorously, letting her tears flow like a bursting dam, but at the same time she felt that crying like this was a bit embarrassing, so she subconsciously tried to lower her head and hide her disheveled appearance.

Seeing this, Naruto reached out again and stroked her head. "Yeah, it's okay, cry. Sometimes tears aren't a sign of weakness."

He gently comforted them, "They couldn't contain their joy, so they couldn't help but come out, right?"

“…Mmm.” Satsuki buried her face deeply in Naruto’s shoulder and responded with a muffled sound. Warm tears quickly soaked the clothes on his shoulder.

Naruto felt the dampness on his shoulder and the slight trembling in his arms, and continued in a steady and firm voice, "Yes, your future won't require you to make choices. There you will be, there will be me, there will be your uncle and aunt, and perhaps other friends..."

"But you have been in my world from the very beginning, you are in my world now, and you will always be in my world forever. This will never change, no matter what."

These last words made Zuo Yue's crying louder once again, no longer a silent sob, but a loud wail mixed with immense relief, gratitude and happiness.

Accompanying her sobs were her intermittent, almost inaudible, repeated "Thank you... thank you so much..."

Naruto didn't say anything more to comfort her, but simply nodded gently, one hand still rhythmically patting her back, completely accepting all her emotions. Finally, he softly made a suggestion.

"Okay, let's go to the ninja school together after breakfast."

Behind the two, Fugaku watched as his youngest daughter clung to that blond-haired boy without reservation, and he cried his heart out...

As a father, watching his beloved daughter develop such a deep dependence and affection for another boy...

He raised his hand with mixed feelings, as if he wanted to say something, perhaps out of a father's instinct, or perhaps because he felt something was inappropriate.

But her other hand gently stopped him. Mikoto shook her head slightly at her husband, her face showing no worry or dissatisfaction, just a gentle, tolerant smile as she gazed softly at the two children embracing.

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(There will be one more update today. The next chapter will be a transitional one, jumping back in time to graduation from the Ninja Academy.)

Chapter 115 Aftermath

In short, the huge uproar caused by the Uchiha clan massacre has gradually subsided with the passage of time and the compromises made by various forces, and life on the surface has returned to a certain degree of calm.

In the days that followed, when everything settled down, Naruto returned to the Ninja Academy.

The most significant difference from before is the change in Satsuki. If the original Satsuki was "tsundere," then "tsundere" accounted for 50% and "tsundere" accounted for 50%. Now, the ratio seems to be a bit extreme. "Tsundere" accounts for 90%, while that bit of "tsundere" has become an occasional, cute, and awkward quirk.

And she became... unusually clingy. Whether it was during breaks or on the way home from school, she habitually stayed within Naruto's reach.

Although they no longer grab onto her sleeves like they did at first, their silent attachment and following gaze are more evident than any words.

To be honest, Naruto was secretly pleased with this change.

Furthermore, some time later, Satsuki seemed to have developed a new hobby that he hadn't expected—photography.

This was indeed a path Naruto had never imagined. He hadn't even seriously considered whether cameras actually existed in the Naruto world... After all, with cameras and movie theaters existing, it wouldn't be surprising if portable cameras existed.

Satsuki had somehow acquired a rather sophisticated-looking camera, which she often fiddled with. Naruto frequently saw her with her head down, her fingers carefully adjusting the lens and focus, her expression focused.

However, Naruto never actually saw what scenery or people Satsuki photographed. He only often saw her fiddling with the camera in front of him.

Then, he gestures in a certain direction for a long time in front of himself, but finally puts it down, as if he hasn't found the right angle.

After the massacre of his clan, Fugaku Uchiha, as a "survivor" and "former clan head," had several closed-door conversations with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The conversation largely revolved around the Uchiha clan's current awkward situation of being "no longer worthy of the name" in Konoha. Faced with the fact that the once glorious number one clan in Konoha had almost vanished overnight, leaving only a handful of members, the Third Hokage's face aged and became even more haggard, his words filled with heavy sighs and the guilt of being powerless to reverse the situation.

At the same time, Fugaku also officially learned that Shimura Danzo, the Konoha high-ranking official who had been hiding in the shadows and sparing no effort to target and suppress the Uchiha clan, had been confirmed dead.

What shocked him even more was that Danzo's numerous crimes over the years, including desecrating the remains of the First Hokage, colluding with rogue ninja, conducting human experiments, and harming his own people, had all been exposed to the public, completely ruining his reputation and making him infamous for eternity.

In the past, when he was still the Uchiha clan leader who had to rack his brains for the benefit of the entire clan, he would have been overjoyed to hear this news.

But now, having shed the burden of clan leader and experienced life and death and betrayal, his most important identity, besides the empty title of "Konoha Jonin," is simply a husband and father who longs to protect his family.

Upon hearing the news, he felt only a complex, settled calm, and a touch of desolate melancholy at the impermanence of things.

Within the family, some new changes were gradually emerging. Satsuki had repeatedly suggested to her parents that Naruto move into the now-empty Uchiha clan compound, even explicitly stating her wish for him to live directly opposite their house…

This wasn't difficult; with the Uchiha clan's territory almost entirely vacant, this area could theoretically be considered the private property of the Fugaku family. It's also possible that because of the tragedy that occurred here and its remote location, no one bothered with it.

However, Fugaku firmly rejected Satsuki's request. Aside from feeling somewhat uneasy as a father seeing his daughter's dependence on and closeness to an "outsider" far exceeding that of himself, he gave a very reasonable and irrefutable reason.

The small apartment Naruto currently lives in is a bit old, but its location is excellent, situated in the very heart of Konoha. Whether it's going to the Ninja Academy, shopping, or Ichiraku Ramen, it's much more convenient than living in the Uchiha clan's territory on the outermost edge of Konoha. Having Naruto move here would only cause him trouble.

This realistic and reasonable rejection still left Zuoyue feeling down for a long time, and she was listless for several days.

Furthermore, regarding their eldest daughter, Itachi Uchiha, who accepted Danzo's plot and personally carried out the massacre of her clan… Konoha has officially designated her as an S-rank rogue ninja and issued a high bounty on her head. Fugaku and Mikoto's feelings towards this daughter who betrayed her clan are too complex to describe in words.

Heartache, confusion, and a lingering, indelible attachment... all these emotions intertwined.

Ultimately, they chose to stop mentioning the name at home, trying to protect their youngest daughter from further trauma and to give their own wounded hearts a moment's respite.

However, every time Mikoto inadvertently sees Itachi's old room or the backs of Satsuki and Naruto together, her thoughts inevitably drift away, and her eyes involuntarily redden. She has to silently turn her face away to hide the deep sorrow that surges up in her, the sorrow that belongs to a mother. That unforgettable pain cannot be easily erased by never mentioning it again.

So, what is Itachi Uchiha's current situation?

Naruto was unaware of all the details, only occasionally hearing fragmented information about the internal workings of the [Jin] organization from Hizashi.

According to Hizashi, shortly after Itachi Uchiha was brought to the base, she was arranged to have a private meeting with Shisui Uchiha, who had "come back to life".

The meeting that day seemed extremely intense. No one knows exactly what happened behind the closed door; all that can be vaguely heard are suppressed, near-collapse-like sobs and heated arguments.

In the end, it was Shisui who left the room first, his eyes red and his aura heavy with lingering sorrow. Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi remained inside…

However, Shisui wanted to keep her associated with the name "Uchiha Itachi," which carried the sin of annihilating her clan, and to divert attention from this special "prison."

Shisui used some of the privileges granted to him as a core member of the [Jin] organization to secretly change her name.

Uchiha Yuzu.

When Hizashi reported to Naruto (Menma), his tone was filled with complex emotions. As a core member of [Jin], he had met the girl who had changed her name to "Yuzu" several times.

His assessment was... that girl who lost her sight and was renamed 'Yuzu'... as expected, she was completely rejected by Shisui, who had once entrusted all his will to her.

Because Menma had taken her Mangekyou Sharingan, leaving only empty eye sockets and damaged tear ducts, her eyes were covered and wrapped in layers of white gauze.

However, perhaps because the extreme grief and regret never stopped eroding, or perhaps because the body remembered the instinct to cry, the gauze covering the eyes was often soaked with uncontrollable liquid.

Sometimes the tears are clear, and sometimes... they are streaked with faint, crimson blood.

On the white gauze, damp stains often appeared, sometimes transparent, sometimes tinged with a tragic blood color... It looked like a strange and broken beauty.

She remained quietly in the solitary confinement room assigned to her, like a soulless doll. Only the gauze occasionally stained red with tears and blood proved that some intense emotions were still silently raging within that seemingly calm body.

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(Thanks! To Gao Shanming who loves red yeast rice sausage! And to the boss for the gift! The gift value has been met again! Another day has passed since the fourth update.)

Chapter 116 The Development of [Ember]

The heavy and tedious task of properly settling and managing the more than two hundred Uchiha clansmen who were rescued and joined the [Jin] organization fell almost entirely on the shoulders of Hizashi and Shisui, who ran around handling everything.

Although Menma felt bad about putting all the burden on them, he was truly at a loss.

Because Mianma was completely clueless about how to manage an organization of more than two hundred people, allocate resources, soothe emotions, plan for the future, and so on.

Moreover, he was only a shadow clone when he appeared here, and could not stay at the base in the Land of Hot Water for long. Therefore, he still comfortably acted as a hands-off manager, only giving instructions on the general direction.

As the second core combat member of the [Jin] organization, Shisui took on an important responsibility. Based on his understanding of the Uchiha clan and his previous experience in the Anbu, he carefully selected a group of young men with outstanding ninja talent and relatively reliable character from among the clan members.

Following Menma's instruction that "we need to build our own armed forces," Shisui reorganized and rigorously trained the selected Uchiha ninjas, forming an elite force loyal to the [Jin] organization, whose equipment and training methods were modeled after the Konoha Anbu.

Naturally, in addition to being the second combatant of the [Jin] organization, Shisui gained a new title—Captain of the [Jin] Dark Force.

He was in charge of commanding this new force, responsible for guarding the base, gathering intelligence, and carrying out any special missions that might be carried out in the future.

As for the Uchiha civilians who had not awakened the Sharingan or had no ninja talent whatsoever, as well as their families, Hizashi used his connections and skills cultivated over many years in the Land of Hot Springs to cleverly integrate them into various industries in the bustling hot spring district of the Land of Hot Springs in batches.

Some went to work as hotel waiters, some went to restaurants to learn cooking, and some took on tasks such as transporting and managing supplies... allowing them to continue being with their families and start a new life in a foreign land in a relatively peaceful and stable way.

Fortunately, the Uchiha clan members rescued this time were mostly peace-loving doves and ordinary people who didn't want to fight.

After learning the truth about the massacre of their clan and the darkness within Konoha's upper echelons from Shisui, they felt immense anger and chills, but also gratitude for the help extended by the [Jin] organization, and a longing to live a peaceful life away from conflict.

There were no extremists who, upon learning the truth, clamored for revenge against Konoha and the destruction of everything; it's possible that those who had such thoughts died that night.

Then there's Kakuzu, this "old-timer" from the same era as the First Hokage. In the years since he joined the [Jin] organization, his activities have taken an unexpected turn.

So this is how you can make money in business...?

This is almost Kakuzu's most honest and impactful summary of the past few years. Although he is a bounty hunter with Kage-level strength, he is not inherently a bloodthirsty and warlike person. For him, fighting and killing are merely a means to accumulate wealth.

He is not opposed to changing his work style as long as he can earn a huge amount of money steadily and efficiently.

When he first saw the staggering quarterly profit report submitted by Nippon Airways regarding the hot spring town of Yunokuni and its affiliated industries, his green eyes widened in astonishment!