novelnext Chapter 400 Eldest Daughter
Chapter 400 Eldest Daughter
Fugaku's first reaction was absurdity—what on earth is Naruto up to? Instead of spending the night with Satsuki, he's here playing cosplay, and he even has to dress up as the leader of that organization?
"What are you doing?" Fugaku's voice was clearly displeased. "This kind of joke isn't funny at all. Instead of keeping Satsuki company, you're—"
His words came to an abrupt halt.
Because he saw Satsuki walk out from behind Naruto. The two of them had obviously used the Flying Thunder God Technique together to get here—why would they bother him so late at night dressed like this? Just as Fugaku frowned, about to question him, his gaze suddenly fixed on his daughter's face.
To be precise, it was the faint blush that hadn't completely faded from the corner of her eyes.
The traces are from crying.
"Naruto!" Fugaku's voice turned completely cold. "What have you done?! You just promised me today that you would treat Satsuki well!"
"Excuse me, Father-in-law! There's also—"
"Honey, calm down." Mikoto's voice rang out just in time. She gently pressed down on Fugaku's tense arm. "Naruto must have his reasons for doing this. I believe him."
Her tone was indeed full of trust in Naruto, but deep in her eyes, a clear sense of confusion and inquiry also flickered. She looked at Naruto, waiting for an explanation.
"Um... thank you, mother-in-law..."
"No need to be so formal," Mikoto smiled slightly. "You can call me Mom. But what exactly are you doing? Why... are you dressed like this?"
"...I'll explain everything clearly," Naruto said, his gaze sweeping over Fugaku and Mikoto. "You'll understand when you see it. Also—regarding my identity, please don't mention it to anyone except Mom."
He reached into his robes and took out a fox mask, putting it on his face.
The moment the mask covered his face, Fugaku's eyelids twitched violently.
This is no longer just "similar".
Their posture, aura, and even the quietude shrouded in shadow—they were practically identical to Menma. Moreover, they could also use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Could it be...? No, that's impossible.
Before he could think it through, Naruto had already placed his and Mikoto's shoulders. Satsuki, understanding the situation, gently placed his hand on Naruto's back.
Flying Thunder God Technique, activated.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Being taken "out" by one's son-in-law late at night using the Flying Thunder God technique—this experience, even when combined with the Japanese syllabary "h," is truly beyond the realm of ordinary logic.
When Fugaku opened his eyes again, he was greeted by a scene he had never imagined.
A city buried deep underground.
The towering stone walls rise upwards, disappearing into the all-encompassing dark dome. And within this vast underground space, it is brightly lit, as if it were daytime.
The crisscrossing stone corridors and passageways, like veins, run through the area, connecting countless rooms and platforms embedded in the rock walls. Sparse yet orderly figures move through the passageways, each wearing a different mask, silently and efficiently heading to their destinations.
Fugaku stood frozen in place, witnessing such a mysterious and magnificent scene for the first time.
"Please put these on first," Naruto—or rather, Menma—handed over several simple, standard-looking masks, giving one each to Fugaku, Mikoto, and Satsuki. "Otherwise, you might be recognized. If anyone gets close later, please don't call my name."
Fugaku instinctively took the mask and put it on. As the cold touch pressed against his skin, a familiar yet strange aura rushed over him, permeating every inch of the air in this underground city.
That was the fluctuation of Sharingan's ocular power.
Although it is thin and mixed, it is absolutely impossible to mistake it for something else.
Memories of that night ten years ago suddenly pierced my mind—Uchiha Itachi wielded his butcher's knife, intending to completely slaughter the Uchiha clan except for Sasuke; the organization that suddenly intervened and stopped the massacre; and the Uchiha civilians and non-hawkish ninjas who were taken away…
Coupled with Naruto's current behavior, the presence of this underground city is even more noticeable...
An answer gradually emerged in Fugaku's mind, but it was so terrifying and unbelievable that he instinctively resisted believing it.
"Naruto... what is this?!" Mikoto finally couldn't help but ask softly. She had obviously sensed something as well, but the answer was so bizarre that she couldn't believe it.
Menma, wearing a fox mask, turned around and looked at them.
"...I've confessed everything to Satsuki. I am Menma. This is—the stronghold of the [Jin] organization."
------
Good evening, Master Menma!
At the corner of the passage, a ninja wearing a bird-shaped mask stopped and bowed respectfully in greeting.
"Um."
Mianma simply nodded slightly, without stopping.
"Lord Kakuzu has delivered samples of the Chamber of Commerce's latest products to your office. If you have time, please take a look."
"I see."
Menma led the three behind him forward, passing through a complex network of stone corridors. Every member of the organization they encountered along the way bowed their heads, their respectful demeanor revealing deep awe.
Although everyone couldn't help but cast curious glances at the three unfamiliar faces wearing ordinary masks behind Ma, no one asked a question, and no one even let their gaze linger for a second longer.
After another ninja bowed and left, Fugaku finally couldn't help but lower his voice and speak.
"Ugh...no, I...you...you're really not kidding? You really are freakish?"
"Yes." Menma's voice was tinged with apology. "I'm sorry... for keeping it from you for so many years."
"But! How old were you when Menma first appeared?!" Fugaku's tone was a mixture of disbelief and a sense of absurdity.
Mianma was silent for a moment.
"...Regarding what happened back then...at the time, all I wanted was to take back the Byakugan that Kumogakure had taken from me. However...because I gained power that was disproportionate to my age, I did do some...foolish things."
He possesses strength surpassing Kage level at less than four years old?! And his so-called "foolish act" was blasting a crater almost the size of the village on the outskirts of Konoha?!
Fugaku gasped inwardly.
"I... will never do that again," Menma added softly. "I know these past mistakes might not be so easily forgiven..."
"If what you're saying is true," Fugaku interrupted him, exasperated, "then let's not talk about forgiveness... What exactly do you want to do by bringing us here?"
He actually harbored no hatred towards Ma, and was even grateful to her.
If this organization hadn't intervened back then, the Uchiha clan would have been completely wiped out long ago, and he and Mikoto would have died at the hands of their eldest daughter.
"Back then, I took Itachi Uchiha away. To this day... he is still imprisoned here."
He turned around, his gaze from behind the mask falling on Mikoto.
"I want Itachi to tell me everything himself... to let Satsuki know the whole truth. Aunt Mikoto, you've always... thought about her, haven't you? Even though she did that to you..."
Mikoto's breath hitched slightly.
Her face appeared somewhat pale in the light. Over the years, she had thought countless times about how to find out her eldest daughter's whereabouts, but she never expected the truth to unfold in this way.
This is a wound in her heart that can never be healed, but the child has hurt more than just her... At this moment, she doesn't know how to face this flesh and blood who once tried to take her life but also carries her blood.
Without saying another word, Mianma turned to the guard at the entrance to the cell area and silently accepted a set of keys.
He finally stopped in front of a heavy iron gate, but instead of opening it with the key, he raised his hand and knocked three times on the door.
"Who?"
But the voice coming from inside the door was a man's.
"It's me. Contact Uchiha Yuzuru if you need anything."
"leader?!"
The sounds from inside the door were clearly chaotic for a moment, followed by hurried footsteps.
"Please, please wait a moment!"
A moment later, the lock turned from the inside, and the iron gate was slowly pulled open.
Standing behind the door was a handsome young man with short, slightly wavy black hair. He had a prominent round nose, and his eyes remained calm even in the dim light, but widened slightly the moment he saw the man's face.
At almost the same moment, although he was much more mature than he remembered, Fugaku recognized the person in front of him immediately.
"You are... Uchiha Shisui?!"