Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle

Celebrate!

The entire Konoha camp was erupting in joyous celebration!

The haze of recent defeats that once hung heavy over the camp had lifted like morning fog under the sunlight. Now, what replaced it was a vibrant, contagious energy. From one end of the encampment to the other, the air buzzed with the sound of laughter, banter, and heartfelt relief.

Ninja crowded around makeshift tables, sharing hot food and louder stories. Some sat in small circles, passing around sake or tea, while others stood animatedly, gesturing wildly to reenact the moment their enemies had turned tail.

"Hah! I swear on my kunai, I've never seen Kumo-nin run that fast in my life!"

"You're telling me! I haven't laughed like this since the war started."

"All thanks to Mirai's intervention! He arrived like a tempest—boom, just like that, we turned the tide! Hahahaha!"

Namikaze Mirai had appeared on the battlefield like a flash of divine retribution. One moment, they were on the back foot—pressed by an overwhelming wave of elite Kumo forces. The next, the tide shifted. With nothing but a handful of hand seals and the fierce gleam in his eye, Mirai had completely dismantled their momentum. His presence alone was like a natural disaster to the enemy, a one-man hurricane that turned chaos into order.

But not everyone was swept up in the celebration.

Inside the main command tent at the heart of the camp, an uneasy silence reigned.

The atmosphere within was completely opposite to the one outside. The senior Konoha shinobi gathered around the strategy table sat still, unmoving. Their gazes flicked from one another, none daring to speak first. The only sound came from the faint crackle of the lantern flames and the slow, methodical tapping of fingers on the scroll-laden desk.

Because at the head of the table sat Namikaze Mirai.

His expression was calm, even kind, with a faint smile curling his lips. But his sharp blue eyes swept across the room like a blade, observing everything—measuring everyone.

The senior officers felt the pressure like a kunai pressed to their throats.

Their silence, however, was interrupted by a small voice.

"Uncle, why aren't these uncles saying anything?"

The childish question rang out with honest confusion. Sitting beside Mirai was a young boy with tousled blond hair and three whisker marks etched into each cheek. Uzumaki Naruto, only three years old, looked up at the grown men around him with wide, innocent eyes.

His tiny hands gripped the edge of the tall table, legs dangling midair as he leaned forward with curiosity.

A few of the older shinobi shifted awkwardly. The sight of the Jinchūriki—barely taller than the height of the table and still a toddler—sitting in on a high-level war council? It was absurd. Completely against protocol. But no one dared to protest.

He was Namikaze Mirai's nephew.

Mirai chuckled softly and reached over to ruffle Naruto's hair.

"Because uncle is here, Naruto. They don't dare to talk nonsense," he said with an amused smile.

The words hit the officers like a kunai to the chest.

'He's teasing us.' They couldn't even refute it. Mirai's tone had been lighthearted, but his gaze remained piercing. They felt like the boy's comment had cast a spotlight on their own hesitation.

They swallowed hard. Nobody wanted to risk drawing Mirai's ire—not after what happened to Shimura Danzo. Once hailed as the second most powerful man in Konoha, Danzo had plotted to seize Naruto during the chaos following the Nine-Tails Riot perpetrator's emergence. For that, Mirai had razed Root to the ground. Not a single trace remained.

So now? Everyone treaded carefully.

Breaking the tension, Yamanaka Inoichi, the acting commander-in-chief and head of the intelligence corps, offered a diplomatic smile.

"Mirai, thank you. Truly. If it weren't for you, we would've been routed today."

That single comment seemed to give the others permission to speak. Instantly, voices joined in:

"Mirai, your timing was perfect—like always!"

"The Kumo-nin scattered like mice the second they saw you!"

"You saved the entire right flank, Mirai!"

Naruto grinned. "Uncle, why are they talking so much all of a sudden?"

The officers went stiff again. It was like being roasted over a firepit. No one dared speak now, each silently cursing how perceptive the child was.

Clearing his throat, Yamanaka Inoichi attempted to redirect the meeting.

"Mirai… what's your strategic view from here on? Do you have a plan for the next engagement?"

Everyone turned silent again—but this time out of genuine anticipation.

All eyes returned to Namikaze Mirai.

Mirai didn't immediately respond. He leaned forward slightly, fingers steepled under his chin as he regarded the officers.

Then he spoke.

"Since Kumogakure dared to come this far," he said, voice calm yet laced with steel, "then there's no need for them to return."

The air froze.

His tone was casual, but the implication sent ripples of shock through the room.

They were talking about one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. A full-scale counterattack on Kumogakure? That wasn't just confidence—it was audacity.

Before anyone could voice concern, Yamanaka Inoichi nodded solemnly.

"Then… from this point forward, I relinquish command to you, Mirai. You will lead us as the new commander-in-chief."

Gasps rang out among the officers.

"The Hokage appointed you—"

"You can't just—"

But Inoichi's expression was resolute. His gaze told them there was no debate.

Reluctantly, the others held their tongues.

Namikaze Mirai stood and nodded once.

"Very well. Then I will direct this war from this point onward."

…

The news spread through the Konoha camp like wildfire.

"Namikaze Mirai-sama is now the commander-in-chief!"

The announcement was met with astonishment, pride, and—for one particular group—raucous celebration.

When any Konoha ninjas passed near the Uchiha encampment, they couldn't help but gape.

Because the Uchihas were howling with laughter.

"HAHAHA! Did you hear?! Mirai is in charge now!"

"As expected of our Mirai-sama! They gave him the whole damn war to run! Hahaha!"

The Uchihas laughed with unrestrained glee, many of them clutching their sides or falling over from joy.

Nearby, Shiranui Genma and a few others watched the spectacle with a mixture of amusement and concern.

"Are they ever going to stop laughing?" Genma asked, raising a brow.

"It's been nonstop since the announcement. I swear, last night I heard someone laughing in their sleep." another shinobi muttered.

Namiashi Raido, leaning on his black ninja blade, studied the Uchiha camp quietly.

"They have every reason to laugh." he said at last. "When Mirai-sama becomes Hokage, they'll be at the very heart of the village."

Genma's expression darkened slightly. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying—haven't you noticed?" Raido looked at him sharply. "Since Uchiha joined the war effort under Mirai, public opinion has shifted. They're no longer being treated like outcasts."

Genma paused. That was true.

Namikaze Mirai never did anything without purpose.

The Uchiha hadn't been brought here randomly—they were being reintegrated, and Mirai was leading that effort.

"The Uchiha have always been hard to manage." Raido said. "But there's one thing they respect—power."

"And Mirai-sama has that in abundance."

For a moment, Genma could only nod.

"He's the only one who could bring them into the fold without bloodshed."

Raido's eyes narrowed. "Which means we need to make a choice, Genma."

"What kind of choice?"

"If Uchiha rises, those of us from the old clans—the ones who've held influence—might be pushed aside. So we either resist… or adapt."

Genma looked toward the distant tent where Mirai now resided—the new war leader, the unchallenged spear point of Konoha's might.

He sighed.

"Then let's adapt… before it's too late."

*****

Support me on my pat reon and gain early access to my creations.

https://www.pat reon.com/RroY28 (remove the space)

You can access up to 30 advanced chapters.