Naruto: Life as Kagami Uchiha (AU)

"!!!"

Akimichi Torifū was stunned.

That old bastard Danzo—he's already revealing his ambitions?!

Tobirama-sama had barely sacrificed himself half a day ago, and you're already vying for power?

Though he was displeased, he wisely chose to remain silent. After all, while he was also one of the Hokage's guards, the other four were Tobirama's direct disciples.

And since Hiruzen had been designated as the Third Hokage…

If the future Third Hokage had no objections, what was the point in opposing it?

Danzo's urgency was clear—he wanted Konoha's new leadership structure to take shape as quickly as possible. If the jōnin accepted it, the lower-ranking shinobi would follow suit.

Once the "monkey" took the throne, everything would fall into place.

No one could change it.

Unless—Tobirama-sama returned from the dead!!

But that was impossible. And seeing that Hiruzen remained silent, nearly every jōnin raised their hands in agreement.

Except for one.

A man clad in the standard green jōnin vest, a red-and-white clan emblem on his shoulder, and two tear-trough lines on his face.

"Fugaku, do you have a different opinion?" Hiruzen asked in surprise.

"It's not an opinion," Uchiha Fugaku said with a frown. "I want to ask—are you certain that Tobirama-sama has perished? Did you witness it with your own eyes?"

Hiruzen replied seriously, "We didn't witness it firsthand, but Tobirama-sama faced not only Kinkaku and Ginkaku but also their elite forces."

"There were plenty of jōnin among them. His death is inevitable! We have no reason to lie about this!"

Fugaku's voice was low. "If Tobirama-sama was truly doomed, then why did Kagami go to his aid? Kagami is six years older than me—he's intelligent, rational, and never reckless."

"Could it be that he believed Tobirama-sama had a chance to survive? And considering you haven't even seen his corpse, isn't it a bit hasty to jump to conclusions?!"

(Note: In this story, it's Konoha Year 37, Fugaku is 19 and not yet clan head. He and Kagami are both candidates for the position.)

Before Hiruzen could respond—

Danzo abruptly stood up, his expression twisted with panic.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!"

"Kagami isn't even as strong as Hiruzen! Those Kumo elites aren't opponents a single jōnin can handle, let alone Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who instantly killed the Second Raikage! What makes you think Kagami could've saved Tobirama-sama?!"

"Tobirama-sama is dead! I'm telling you—nothing can change that!!"

"..."

At that moment—

The air suddenly pulsed with chakra.

Swish!

Two figures appeared out of nowhere.

One clad in blue armor.

The other's eyes gleamed with a blood-red glow.

"!!!"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Danzo, especially, was in utter shock.

He rubbed his eyes furiously, as if seeing an illusion.

Uchiha Kagami smirked, his expression playful.

"Danzo, you just said Tobirama-sama was dead, and nothing could change that? Care to repeat yourself?"

"I… I…"

Danzo was at a loss for words.

His face burned with shame, like a child caught misbehaving.

Tobirama Senju stepped forward, his gaze stern.

"Danzo," he said. "I instructed you all to assist Hiruzen, but you're rushing things far too much… Besides, even if I had died—"

"Shouldn't someone at least confirm it? Shouldn't you see a body before declaring it fact? As shinobi, we must rely on evidence, not assumptions. That is unacceptable."

"…I was wrong." Danzo hung his head.

"Admitting your mistake is a good start. But since I'm alive, the matter of the Third Hokage is postponed. No advisors or assistants are needed either."

Danzo froze.

But he didn't dare object. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura were openly weeping at the sight of their still-living teacher.

"But Tobirama-sama, how did you escape?"

"Yeah! Kinkaku and Ginkaku killed the Second Raikage, and they had an army of elites. How did you get out of that?"

"..."

Everyone was burning with curiosity.

After all, it was a situation beyond hopeless.

Tobirama had chosen to stay behind so Hiruzen and the others could escape—how could he have possibly survived?

Tobirama spoke slowly. "At the time, my chakra was nearly depleted. I was defeated by Kinkaku and on the verge of death. But my sworn brother saved me—and he killed Kinkaku in an instant."

"Kinkaku was so terrified that he fled, and the remaining Kumo elites—including those who ambushed Hiruzen's group—were wiped out by my brother as well."

"Sworn brother?"

"You mean Kagami?!"

"What?! It was really him?!"

The crowd was stunned.

Even the veteran jōnin were shaken.

Hiruzen and his team had their jaws dropped, faces filled with disbelief.

Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath. "Tobirama-sama, I mean no offense, but… Kagami is a brilliant tactician. Saving you would already be an extraordinary feat, but how could he possibly have the strength to kill Kinkaku and scare off Ginkaku?"

"He couldn't before," Tobirama said, his voice proud. "But my brother has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

"If not for the strain of his newly awakened abilities, Ginkaku would've been dead too!!"

Tobirama lifted his chin, as if he himself had awakened the Sharingan.

Then, from a scroll, he retrieved Kinkaku's mangled corpse and the legendary treasures—Banana Fan and Amber Purifying Pot.

"Hiss—"

"Good lord! He even took the Six Paths tools?!"

"Look at Kinkaku's body—he has over a hundred wounds! His death must've been unimaginably miserable!!"

"The legendary Mangekyō Sharingan… This talent reminds me of that man who once rivaled the First Hokage…"

"My god, Uchiha Kagami is terrifying!!"

"..."

Seeing Kinkaku's corpse and the sacred treasures, the jōnin were convinced. Their eyes toward Kagami changed—shifting to reverence, admiration, and envy.

After all, Kagami had a stellar reputation in Konoha. He wasn't like certain Uchiha who learned Chidori and suddenly thought they could take on the heavens.

More importantly—

By saving Tobirama, Kagami had become his sworn brother.

That meant his status now surpassed even Hiruzen's students, and his rise to power was inevitable.

But…

One person felt differently.

"I already lost to Sarutobi… and now even a damn Uchiha surpasses me?"

A flicker of greed flashed in Danzo's eyes.

"Kagami's eyes… they can kill Kinkaku in an instant? If only I had the Mangekyō Sharingan…"

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