Konoha: Uchiha's Two-Way Travel in One Piece

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"Alright then!"

Uzumaki Mito shot a glance at him before finally nodding in agreement.

"Jiri, you should come along as well. There are matters that require your involvement."

Without delay, Mito gestured for Uchiha Jiri to join her, along with Uzumaki Ashina, as they walked a short distance away.

Once they reached a secluded spot, Mito erected a complex isolation barrier that blocked out sight, perception, and sound.

With the precautions in place, the three began their discussion.

"Mito-sama, what exactly is going on in Konoha?"

"I've heard rumors that the Senju Clan's strength has been declining over the years, with their numbers decreasing to the point of near extinction. This isn't just by coincidence, right?"

Uzumaki Ashina cut straight to the heart of the matter, asking the question that had been on his mind.

If he couldn't get clarity on this issue, how could he feel at ease about leading the Uzumaki Clan to join Konoha?

"You're correct," Mito replied without hesitation. Instead of hiding the truth, she explained the events leading up to the current situation in detail.

The blame lay squarely with the Third Hokage and his faction.

"I knew it!"

Ashina sighed knowingly after hearing her explanation. "I had a feeling the problem came from within Konoha itself."

"That's one of the reasons I initially refused to merge the Uzumaki Clan with Konoha!"

"But if that's the case, Mito-sama, why are you now advocating for the Uzumaki Clan to join Konoha?"

"Do you want to see the Uzumaki Clan follow the same fate as the Senju?"

"Not at all!" Mito shook her head firmly. "The past mistakes were partly due to Tobirama and the Senju Clan's own issues.

"Additionally, my age was catching up with me. Maintaining the seal on the Nine-Tails was draining my life force, and I was nearing the end of my lifespan.

"I didn't dare to act too boldly, and as my strength waned, I could no longer keep Sarutobi Hiruzen and his allies in check.

"That's what led to the Senju Clan's decline."

Her tone shifted, now carrying renewed confidence.

"But things are different now!"

"With the help of the Uchiha, I've regained my vitality and returned to my prime.

"I now have decades ahead of me, and everything has changed!"

"From this point forward, I will not allow Sarutobi Hiruzen and his dogs to harm the Senju Clan any longer!"

"Likewise, I won't let them have the chance to target the Uzumaki Clan, either!"

"On the contrary, by joining Konoha, the Uzumaki Clan can work alongside the Senju to grow even stronger."

She paused, casting a glance at Uchiha Jiri.

"And let's not forget the Uchiha."

Jiri smiled in response.

"Eh?"

Ashina looked between Mito and Jiri, visibly puzzled. "If I remember correctly, the Senju and Uchiha were always mortal enemies, weren't they?"

"Even after forming the village, their relationship wasn't particularly amicable. So why the sudden alliance and even talk of cooperation?"

At this point, he began to understand why the Uchiha had come to assist in this situation.

It was all due to the changing relationship between the Senju and Uchiha.

"That's all in the past."

Mito shook her head.

"As time went on, the grudges between our clans gradually faded."

"When the Senju fell into decline and the Uchiha were targeted and suppressed by Sarutobi Hiruzen and his allies, our conflicts further diminished."

"And after the Uchiha saved me, I took it upon myself, on behalf of the Senju, to form an alliance with them to stand against Sarutobi Hiruzen."

"Their presence here today is a result of that alliance."

This wasn't something that could have been achieved through mere negotiations.

If the two clans hadn't already forged a bond and shared interests, no amount of bargaining could have brought the Uchiha to support the Uzumaki Clan.

"I see."

Ashina nodded in understanding. "So it's because of a common enemy and the fading of past grudges that the alliance formed. That does make sense."

"However, wouldn't bringing the Uzumaki Clan into Konoha drag us into this swirling vortex of conflict as well?"

The mere thought of this made Ashina even more reluctant to bring the Uzumaki Clan into Konoha.

"You're looking at this the wrong way," Mito interjected, her face darkening as she rebuked him.

"With me here, the Uzumaki Clan will not only find safety in Konoha but also grow stronger alongside the Senju."

"Moreover, we will form a three-clan alliance with the Uchiha."

"With the Uzumaki, Senju, and Uchiha united, what do Sarutobi Hiruzen and his faction have to fight us with?"

"Once we strike back, we'll not only counter their suppression but also remove them from power entirely—perhaps even eradicate them if necessary."

Her confidence radiated as she spoke.

"So, you have nothing to fear about the Uzumaki Clan being targeted or oppressed in Konoha."

"Besides, because of your clan's sealing techniques and Jinchūriki expertise, the other major villages already have their eyes on you."

"If you don't join Konoha and form a united front, those villages won't stop coming after you."

"Even if you scatter and hide, they'll eventually find you."

"When that happens, the Uzumaki Clan will become nothing more than lambs to the slaughter."

"This is something I absolutely cannot allow!"

Ashina couldn't deny the logic in her words. Still, he looked at Mito with a hint of resentment.

After all, the reason the Uzumaki Clan became a target in the first place was partly due to Mito herself.

Had she not been the first to use sealing techniques to bind the Nine-Tails within herself, creating a precedent, would the Uzumaki have drawn so much attention?

"Ahem."

Noticing Ashina's expression, Mito coughed awkwardly before admitting, "I understand that I bear responsibility for this.

"It was an oversight on my part."

"But even without me, it was only a matter of time before the other villages discovered that sealing techniques are the best way to control the tailed beasts."

"At most, I accelerated the timeline slightly."

"In any case, the Uzumaki Clan must relocate to Konoha. There is no room for negotiation on this matter."

"Furthermore, with the Senju and Uchiha already allied, and given the Uzumaki's existing ties to the Senju, I propose a formal three-clan alliance.:

"We will support one another and even permit intermarriage. What do you say?"

What could Ashina say to that?

Mito's tone made it clear that this wasn't a discussion—it was a decision. He could only nod and agree.

"I have no objections. An alliance and intermarriage are fine by me."

"Though, isn't there a risk of Sharingan secrets being leaked through intermarriage with the Uchiha?"

He turned to Uchiha Jiri as he asked.

"There's no such risk," Jiri replied with a smile, repeating the explanation she had previously given to Mito.

Hearing this, Ashina's eyes lit up slightly as he envisioned the possibility of the Uzumaki Clan gaining access to the Sharingan.

"Very well. I agree to the alliance, intermarriage, and relocating to Konoha."

"I'll send people to recall our scattered clan members immediately."

Fortunately, they hadn't gone far yet, so there wouldn't be much delay.

He was also wary of the possibility of ambushes from the three great villages along the way.

"That's for the best. Act quickly to avoid any complications," Mito said with a satisfied nod, lifting the barrier she had placed around them.

After sending Ashina to gather the Uzumaki Clan members and secure their assets, she turned her attention to healing the Konoha ninjas injured in the battle.

With her expertise in medical ninjutsu, it was only natural for her to lend a hand to those who had come to her aid.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, Uchiha Jiri suddenly received a notification from the spatial gate's marker. Keeping a calm exterior, she mentally connected to the marker to check the communication space.

It was a message from Kaito, inquiring about her current situation and whether everything was going smoothly.

Reading the message, Jiri's lips curled into a faint smile.

She quickly took out paper and pen, writing a reply before placing the letter into the communication space.

Moments later, Kaito received the message on his end.

As he read it, a wide smile spread across his face.

Uchiha Mikoto, standing nearby, asked curiously and with concern, "How is it? Is everything going well with Aunt?"

"Yes! Everything is going smoothly!" Kaito nodded with a smile while handing Mikoto the letter in his hand, saying,

"Not only is it going well, but the war over there has already ended!"

"This time, no one from the Uchiha clan died—only a few were injured."

"The Uzumaki clan, although they suffered losses, managed to save most of their people!"

"And, my mother has officially formed a three-clan alliance with the Senju and Uzumaki!"

"That's amazing!"

"From now on, the situation for the Uchiha in Konoha will improve."

"In the future, it's not impossible for someone to rise and become the Hokage!"

Everything was moving in a positive direction, and Kaito couldn't help but feel pleased.

This was the result of a little over a month of work after awakening the memories and talents from his previous life.

Thinking about it, he felt a sense of accomplishment—but he wasn't satisfied yet.

His ultimate goal was to control not just the world of Naruto but also the world of One Piece.

In fact, if possible, he wanted to further develop his ability to open spatial gates and explore even more unknown worlds.

Of course, he also knew that trouble was far from over.

This time, the Third Hokage and his faction had taken a huge loss. When they learned about the alliance of the three clans, they would likely come up with more aggressive ways to suppress them.

Although Kaito wasn't afraid, he didn't want to deal with the annoyance.

"They might just change their methods," he muttered to himself.

For now, Kaito decided to focus on improving his strength further and growing faster.

Then, he would deal with the Third Hokage and his faction directly.

"As long as there are no casualties, that's good," Mikoto said with relief as she read through the letter, nodding happily. "I'll look forward to the day when you become the Hokage, Kaito."

"Are you planning to explore Sky Island next?"

"Yes," Kaito replied confidently, noticing Mikoto's curious expression. He couldn't help but chuckle. "What's this? Do you want to come to Sky Island too?"

"Mm-hmm!" Mikoto nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she asked, "Can I?"

"It shouldn't be a problem," Kaito said after some thought. "I can take you along."

"But it's still dangerous over there. You can't wander away from my Mother, or something bad could happen."

Both the Skypieans and Shandians were known to be wary of outsiders—especially the Shandians.

"I won't cause trouble!" Mikoto promised, nodding earnestly before breaking into a delighted smile.

"Sky Island!"

Ever since Kaito had shared information about it, she had been filled with curiosity and longing for the place.

And not just Sky Island—Fish-Man Island, Amazon Lily, Sabaody Archipelago, the Red Line...

Though the Sabaody Archipelago had already been mapped and marked, Mikoto hadn't visited due to the dangers there.

---

Three days later

The Uzumaki clan had gathered their remaining people and resources. After laying to rest those who had sacrificed their lives, they set out for Konoha, led by Mito Uzumaki.

Although a few clan members were still missing, there wasn't much else they could do.

Unlike their hasty arrival, the journey back was slow. The Uzumaki, burdened with their families and a large amount of resources, could only move cautiously.

To prevent ambushes by other villages, the Uchiha, led by Jiri, chose to stay with the main group instead of returning to Konoha on their own.

This also gave the Uchiha clanspeople more time to bond with the Uzumaki.

And if some of their unmarried elites managed to win the hearts of Uzumaki women, Jiri would be even more pleased.

---

Mountains' Graveyard, underground space

In a dimly lit room, Uchiha Madara sat on a wooden chair, a massive Gedo Statue looming behind him also known as the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

At that moment, Black Zetsu emerged from the ground.

Madara opened his eyes, looking at Zetsu as he asked,

"How did it go? Have you found a suitable vessel?"

"Yes!" Black Zetsu nodded immediately. "I've found a talented child with extraordinary vitality from the Uzumaki clan. Lord Madara, you can proceed with the eye transfer at any time!"

"Shall I bring the child and his family here?"

By now, Madara had awakened the Rinnegan, but his lifespan was nearing its end.

If not for the Gedo Statue continuously supplying him with life force, he would have died upon awakening the Rinnegan.

Even so, he couldn't afford to nurture the Rinnegan in his own body any longer. A suitable vessel was essential.

"Bring them here," Madara ordered. "Make sure they're unconscious."

"Understood!" Black Zetsu sank back into the ground.

Before long, Black Zetsu returned, bringing a family of three from the Uzumaki clan—a father, a mother, and a child.

"Oh? This child's talent is indeed impressive," Madara remarked, his gaze falling on the boy—Uzumaki Nagato. "The purity of his Sage Body is sufficient to nurture my Rinnegan."

Using the Rinnegan's genjutsu, Madara altered some of the family's memories.

Then, after some time, he successfully transplanted his Rinnegan into Nagato.

Madara himself switched to a pair of backup three-tomoe Sharingan.

Once the procedure was complete, Madara instructed Black Zetsu to return the family.

As Zetsu disappeared, Madara's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Now, it's time to move to the next phase of my plan."

"I need a suitable substitute, a really good surrogate. I wonder if there are any promising candidates within the Uchiha clan these days."

"When Zetsu returns, I'll have him investigate."

---

A short while later

Black Zetsu returned, and Madara shared his requirements.

"The Uchiha clan, huh?" Zetsu pondered before replying,

"Speaking of which, I encountered several Uchiha in the Land of Whirlpools recently."

"Oh?" Madara's interest was piqued. "I know them? Who?"

"It was Uchiha Jiri," Black Zetsu replied. "As for why the Uchiha were in the Land of Whirlpools, they were part of Konoha's rescue effort for the Uzumaki—likely because of Uzumaki Mito."

He didn't have all the details yet but planned to investigate further. Something seemed off about the relationship between the Senju and Uchiha clans.

"Uchiha Jiri... her?" Madara raised an eyebrow. "If I recall correctly, she's the one who developed the Sharingan's forbidden technique, Izanami, and single-handedly ended the Uchiha's internal conflicts. Quite the girl."

"She's still alive? Interesting."

"Not only is she alive, but she's thriving," Zetsu confirmed. "The damage she suffered from using the forbidden technique has completely healed. Her vitality, physical condition, and even her visual powers have all been restored."

"Earlier today, she used her Mangekyō Sharingan to activate the fourth stage of Susanoo and defeat the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki."

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