Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 418: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

In the first-floor living room, Naruto gritted his teeth in anger, but Hinata’s words kept echoing in his mind.

"The village or family!"

At that moment, pain flashed across Naruto’s face. Only now did he realize—he could only choose one: the village or his family.

If he chose family, he had no time for village affairs.

After all, he was the Seventh Hokage, and the village’s government was endless.

"Naruto!"

Within the sealed space, Sage Hagoromo shook his head, sighing at Naruto’s sadness.

"Naruto, our desires are hard to suppress. In your pain, think of the village—think of the ninja world."

With the Sage’s guidance, Naruto, true to his destiny, quickly showed resolve.

"Sage, I understand. These are the flaws of my body, and the darkness amplified over the past year. What’s done is done.

If I can’t fix it, then as Naruto Uzumaki, for Konoha! For the ninja world! I must not let myself fall any further!"

With determined eyes, Naruto grabbed the divorce papers from the table and bit his finger.

With quick strokes, he signed "Naruto Uzumaki" in bold, and pressed his bloody handprint on it.

"From now on, as the Seventh Hokage, I won’t dwell on my little family. I’ll fight for the village! For the whole ninja world!"

As Naruto’s determined words echoed, Hagoromo smiled in satisfaction inside him.

"Well done, Naruto. As you said—a family is just a few people. We should see the whole ninja world. Since those desires can’t be undone, face them calmly."

"Yes, Sage! Since I’ve made mistakes, I’ll face them. If Hinata likes Keyaru, I’ll bless her. Over the past year, Keyaru’s been with Tenten, Temari, and the rest too.

I won’t keep stirring things up!"

With firm resolve, Naruto thought—so what if it’s women? If it doesn’t work, let go. It’s not abandonment.

He was doing it for their sake; he’d let them go and even bless them. They could all still be comrades.

He never abandoned his comrades.

Thinking this, Naruto felt suddenly enlightened. He realized he’d been going in circles.

This was better: Hinata openly with Keyaru. Temari, Tenten, and the others too.

It was just a trivial matter in Konoha. He could even smile, watching everyone’s happiness.

"We’re still comrades. I trust Hinata, Tenten, Ino, and Temari’s smiles."

Naruto’s logic might seem odd at first, but remembering how after the Fourth War, he fought and forgave Obito—the man who killed his parents and Neji—makes sense for the Child of Destiny.

...

Land of Fire, Tanzaku Quarters.

"After all my wandering in the ninja world, I’ve come back to this place."

Tsunade, Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, smiled at the familiar scene, feeling sentimental.

So much had happened here—it was a turning point in her life.

"Since I’m here, I’ll enjoy myself for a bit."

Tsunade grinned, and Shizune beside her helplessly reminded,

"Tsunade-sama, please be mindful of your reputation. You’re still the Fifth Hokage, even if Naruto is in charge now."

But at the mention of Naruto, Tsunade frowned and snorted,

"Shizune, don’t bring up Naruto. People change. Even if his love for the village hasn’t changed, half a year ago Hinata started writing to us—you’ve seen the letters."

Thinking of this, Tsunade’s face darkened. Who’d have thought the Seventh Hokage, Naruto, would have such dirty thoughts.

Shizune blushed in embarrassment, explaining,

"Tsunade-sama, you know Naruto isn’t an ordinary ninja anymore. He’s in a high position—he sees things differently.

After the Fourth War, Naruto was welcomed by the lords and nobles. During that time, he was exposed to their debauchery—maybe he was influenced."

Truth be told, Shizune’s explanation made sense.

But Tsunade only snorted, flipping a coin in her hand.

"Lords and nobles are rotten enough. Why couldn’t Naruto learn something good? He just picked up the filth."

Tsunade was displeased, but it was Naruto’s family matter—she couldn’t interfere.

Shizune shook her head, thinking of Hinata’s letters.

At first, Hinata wrote about Naruto’s changes and dirty thoughts. They were embarrassed to read them.

Tsunade wrote to Naruto, giving gentle advice.

But two months later, Hinata sent another letter.

It detailed her experience—from gritting her teeth and accepting the mission, to gradually feeling Keyaru’s affection.

He respected her as a woman and cared for her.

"Who’d have thought Naruto would learn the bad and not the good. Just like the Third Hokage—righteous on the outside, but another person in private..."

Tsunade spoke disdainfully. She felt only regret and sadness for Hinata, who’d been utterly let down by Naruto and given her heart to someone else.

"Tsunade-sama, since Naruto became Seventh Hokage, Konoha’s development is obvious—the five great villages’ economies can’t match Konoha’s..."

Shizune, embarrassed, admitted Naruto’s failings, but praised his achievements as Hokage.

"Hmph!"

Tsunade snorted again. While that was true, wasn’t it all thanks to Naruto’s power?

"I’d rather not go back to Konoha. In the past, the Third Hokage’s era was full of dirty politics. Now, Naruto’s got dirty thoughts. Shizune, you’d best not go back either.

Just look at Konoha now!"

"Tsunade-sama!"

Down the street, Shizune hurried after Tsunade as she entered a casino.

A shadow on the wall saw it all.

"Father, Tsunade—the Fifth Hokage of Konoha—isn’t easy to control."

Hidden in the shade of a large tree, Shirou watched Tsunade, while beside him, a shadow rose: Black Zetsu, who’d been freed from the origin sphere.

Black Zetsu, watching Tsunade disappear into the casino, spoke in a low voice.

Having seen another world’s developments, Black Zetsu analyzed:

"Father, you should know—Hinata Hyuga only found comfort in you after her utter heartbreak.

Ino Yamanaka and Sai—there’s a natural status gap. When Sai acted on the Hokage’s orders, Ino became the dominant one..."

Black Zetsu summarized all it had learned.

"And Tenten: Neji’s death and Guy’s injuries in the Fourth War—after Naruto sided with Obito, it was all a joke. She had grievances but couldn’t show them.

As for Shikamaru and Temari, their relationship is more about Konoha and the Land of Wind’s alliance. If the countries fall out, they’re the first to split..."

Shirou smiled and nodded—Black Zetsu, after all, was a master of human nature.

"In contrast, Tsunade is different. She’s Konoha’s Fifth Hokage—her personality is tough. Naruto’s private issues only make her angry and contemptuous.

Even with Sakura, Tenten, Hinata, and Temari’s factors, personal morality is a minor political flaw..."

Black Zetsu made it clear: persuading Tsunade to defect was a lost cause.

Shirou nodded.

"So, Black Zetsu, why are you so sure Hinata, Ino, and Temari will side with us?"

He asked, half-smiling as if testing Black Zetsu.

Black Zetsu grinned, feeling the joy of recognition after a thousand years of loneliness.

"It’s simple. Father, you’re an Uchiha, and your goal isn’t to destroy Konoha or the ninja world—but to reclaim your Konoha and your ninja world!"

With confidence, Black Zetsu stated the key point.

"You’ll enter Konoha as a Uchiha. Unless the Senju are revived, no one can match you in influence. But the Senju are gone, and Tsunade never took their surname."

"They’re loyal to the village, and you never asked them to betray it. That’s enough.

But Tsunade, as Fifth Hokage, oversaw Konoha’s handover to Naruto. Besides—"

Black Zetsu paused, face a bit hesitant, then rasped:

"Tsunade’s bonds with Naruto’s comrades are deep. To her, you’re from another world."

Shirou nodded in agreement.

"Good analysis, Black Zetsu. Even if Tsunade knows everything, she’ll never side with me—at most, she’ll stay neutral.

But I never came here to persuade Tsunade—I came to swap for another Tsunade."

Swap Tsunade!?

Black Zetsu was stunned, but on seeing Shirou’s smile, he understood.

Of course—there’s more than one Tsunade. There are two others—he could just pick one of his wives.