Hatake Tatsuya in Naruto

Uchiha Fugaku's decision to transfer his eldest son from the police force to Anbu was all too easy to interpret. Anbu is a direct unit of the Hokage, and having his son in it would make it more convenient to monitor the Hokage faction and access high-level confidential information.

As for why he didn't choose Shisui, who had been working in Anbu for many years, Tatsuya could only conclude that Fugaku didn't trust him. 

"Does the patriarch not trust me?" Shisui thought bitterly. "It's no wonder; after all, I was rescued by Hokage-sama, her brother, and Tatsuya-san from Root's base." Despite understanding the reasoning behind Fugaku's distrust, Shisui couldn't shake the feeling of resentment. Over the years, he had worked tirelessly to clear the family's name, sacrificing his peace of mind, only to be met with suspicion.

Itachi, too, understood his father's intentions well. The phrase "become a bridge between the family and the village" was merely a euphemism for becoming a spy for two opposing forces. Itachi questioned the need to separate the village from the family. Although the village had been unfriendly to the Uchihas, at least it offered a stable life.

"Tatsuya-sama, what now…" Itachi's expression was a mix of bitterness and confusion. 

Tatsuya replied, "His situation is understandable, but the current conflict between the Uchiha and the village lies with the common people, not the higher-ups. There's little we can do about that. You understand, don't you?" 

Tatsuya was left feeling speechless, grappling with the complexities of their situation.

The conflict between the Uchiha and the village is now worse than it was during the original timeline. In the original story, the issue could have been resolved by simply changing the Hokage or killing Danzo of the Elder's Group. However, the current situation involves tens of thousands of Konoha villagers. It's unimaginable to think of killing so many innocents.

Both Tatsuya and Tsunade felt powerless in the face of this dilemma. They could only proceed cautiously, step by step. 

"As long as you don't do anything extraordinary, just go with the flow. Shisui will be joining your team in the future," Tatsuya said, yawning and signaling that the two of them could leave.

Just then, Terumi Mei interjected, "Um, can I ask for a favor?"

Tatsuya glanced over, intrigued. 

Terumi Mei, now sporting the same hairstyle she would have during her tenure as the Fifth Mizukage—long burgundy hair cascading to her waist—rested one hand on her cheek, her bangs partially obscuring her face. Her exposed left eye revealed a deep concern. 

"Recently, something seems to have happened in my hometown," she said, her tone serious. 

"Blood Mist"—a new nickname for Kirigakure—had surfaced. It was said that in the past two years, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, had implemented drastic reforms to the village's rules and regulations.

Although the assessment process for Mist Shinobi during the Third Mizukage's reign was extremely harsh, it took a chilling turn under the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. What was once considered "serious" became downright "cold." 

According to rumors, each graduating class is forced to fight one another in brutal graduation ceremonies, akin to raising poisonous insects of the Aburama clan, where only a few—or even just one—survivors can become an official ninja of Mist Shinobi. This frenzied training method has earned Mist Shinobi a grim new nickname: Blood Mist Village.

"I remember now. Yagura was manipulated by Obito…" Terumi Mei's reminder triggered Tatsuya's recollection. The Fourth Mizukage had been turned into a puppet controlled by Obito's illusions as soon as he took office. Obito had used only one of his Mangekyō Sharingan's powers to control Yagura, and now that he possessed both eyes, his influence would be even greater.

"Yagura is a kind person. There must be a reason for him to act this way. I want to go back and see for myself," Terumi Mei said, gazing at Tatsuya with longing. Her expression conveyed, "I want you to accompany me."

"…It wouldn't be possible for me to go to Mist village with you. If they sense my presence, they will likely flee immediately and a political shitstorm will start between Konoha and Mist," Tatsuya replied, pinching his chin thoughtfully.

Terumi Mei suddenly puffed out her cheeks like an angry frog. "After serving you for so many years, you still think of me as an outsider compared to Rin and Kurenai? And now, when I finally beg you for help, you just outright refuse me? You're a ruthless scum!"

With that, she lunged at Tatsuya in frustration, her tiny fists playfully hitting his face.

"Mei! Calm down!" Nohara Rin exclaimed, trying to intervene.

"There are others here! Don't cause a scene!" Kurenai added a mixture of concern and amusement in her voice.

Despite the playful hits, a flicker of worry crossed Tatsuya's face. He couldn't help but smile at her determination, even if it was a bit overwhelming. "I get it, Mei. You want to help. But this is dangerous, and I can't let you put yourself at risk."

"Don't treat me like a child!" she shot back, her eyes narrowing. "If you don't want to help me, then I'll go to the Mist alone!"

Tatsuya's expression shifted to concern as he grabbed her wrist gently. "You know it's not safe to go on your own, Mei. The situation is too volatile right now. I can't just stand by while you throw yourself into danger."

She pulled her wrist free, a defiant glare in her eyes. "I can handle myself! I've trained hard for this, and I won't let you or anyone else dictate what I can or cannot do!"

Tatsuya sighed, realizing her stubbornness was not going to back down easily. "Alright, alright. Let's talk about this seriously."

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi exchanged embarrassed glances, unsure of what to make of the scene unfolding before them. They couldn't believe the words they were hearing—like something out of a wild story. No, they needed to forget this once they left; otherwise, they might find themselves in hot water later.

"Can I send a team to accompany you? Let's just stop this." Tatsuya gently pressed down on Terumi Mei's small fists, slowly calming her down.

After a moment, he said, "You two will go with her. This may be your last chance." 

His eyes rarely held such seriousness, and he directed a firm gaze at the Uchiha duo. Their expressions shifted in an instant as they grasped the weight of Tatsuya's words. 

"The last chance…?"

"Let's go back and prepare!" Shisui's expression turned grave. After giving Tatsuya a final salute, he quickly walked away with Itachi.

Once the Uchiha duo had left, Rin stood in front of Tatsuya, her hands clasped nervously. "Um... Tatsuya, could it be that—"

"Obito will likely be there," Tatsuya interrupted. "But he will avoid confronting me. It's pointless for me to go."

Rin's eyes widened with concern. "If it's Obito… then I must face him."

"Don't be ridiculous. You don't have any duty here; don't overthink it." Tatsuya playfully ruffled her hair.

"You don't know how to hide either. Anyway, he is far too gone. He can't change," he added, his tone turning serious. 

Naruto had a knack for convincing even the most hardened foes, but what hurt Tatsuya the most was that Naruto forgave Obito for his actions. 

"Your parents were killed by him, and yet you can forgive him? Forgive those who've wronged you without holding them accountable. You talk about breaking the cycle of hatred, but what about justice?"

---

Enjoyed the chapter?

You can read 40 chapters ahead and get exclusive access to more content on ✨P*treon.c*m/Marioni

Thank you for your support, and I can't wait to share more with you!