Path Of War-Chapter 328: Torikage

When Fugaku exited the home, Arthur was not present with him.

Many of the clanmates were urged to know what the two had discussed. Especially after seeing what looked to be a Kage's hat in his hands.

Fugaku drew their attention and spoke nothing but the truth, and that Arthur was for the clan and not against it. The latter had also appointed him as the new Kage of this village.

Hearing this lifted their spirits up.

More importantly, they were amazed at Fugaku's new title: Torikage. No one had ever heard of this position before, for hardly anyone knew that the Land of Birds even existed.

But one thing was clear: the Uchihas had returned thanks to Arthur. They had to confront their world again and embrace retribution despite how mysterious this situation was.

Not a single one of them had died and returned to tell the tale. Their reactions were only natural.

While they cheered on how they could thrive again but in a new village, Fugaku stood silently at this odd alliance.

He could feel the echoes of his fallen clan in the depths of his heart, a chorus reminding him that this was more than just a decision; it was an opportunity to change the Uchiha clan's legacy.

Arthur's promise to him was the only hope they had after coming back. And while he hadn't threatened them, many knew in their hearts that if he could resurrect almost all of their clan members, he could likely kill them again.

That thought alone was fearful.

Nonetheless, they held him in high regard, hoping that their history would be different. Even if Fugaku hadn't gone Arthur's way, they would carve a covenant with Arthur themselves.

As the cheers began to fade, everyone heard someone approaching them. The group turned to see a man, strikingly similar in appearance to the white coat Arthur was wearing, though taller.

The man pulled down his hood to reveal his slick black hair combed back.

"Glad to see you're all content," he greeted. "I'm lord John, a benefactor of lord Arthur."

They were all curious. John, sensing their eagerness, gestured for them to follow, saying, "Allow me to show you around your new home."

Fugaku stood front and center and watched how the clan momentarily hesitated. They sought his approval first, so he met their gazes before prompting them to follow John.

As they walked along the village pathways, they gasped at the sight before them. Many of the things they saw were unfinished, but to think this village was unoccupied.

There were hospitals, public parks, community centers, an academy, empty grocery stalls, a post office, a restaurant district, and even a police station.

The Hidden Light Village stood proud and modern and was adorned with traditional elements reminiscent of their former home, yet enhanced with advanced innovations.

At least to them it was advanced.

"As you can see," John explained, "lord Arthur has spared no expense in erecting this village for you. Consider it a gift."

Fugaku clearly had many questions. The implications of Arthur's preparedness were insane to believe.

How long had Arthur planned their return? How much effort had gone into creating this village?

"How much did all of this cost?" a woman shamelessly asked.

"Let's just say you were worth the price of admission," he replied as if sharing a private joke.

Fugaku offered a tight-lipped smile. The idea that their benefactor had not only revived them but also created an entire village for them was quite inviting.

John continued, declaring, "You're free to choose any home within this village. Any of them that are empty belongs to you."

"Any home?!" came a gasp from one of the women in the group.

"Yes, any home," he confirmed. "As you can see, the village is designed to accommodate many, and there are ample options to choose from."

The Uchihas stared ahead at the stunning array of houses. Their designs were much more grander than the residents at the Leaf Village. Many resembled a feudal lord's mansions, with spacious interiors and beautiful gardens, all waiting for their new occupants.

Their excited gasps filled the air. While many of them had lost their heirlooms and prized possessions back in that Leaf Village, at least they had an opportunity to rebuild.

A chance to start over again was more than enough as compared to worldly objects.

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Just like that, the clan members began to disperse, eager to claim their new abodes. Only Fugaku and Mikoto were left standing together with John.

Mikoto looked toward her husband and noticed that he had activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Dear, what's happened to your eyes?"

He slowly blinked before deactivating them. Then he admitted, "I forgot that you didn't know about the second stage. I was—"

"Checking to see if you still possessed chakra," John interrupted.

"That's right," Fugaku agreed. "I didn't think we had really returned. I needed to reassure myself. If that offended you, you have my sincere apologies."

"There's no need for apologies," John interjected. "Anyone would find this situation strange, especially considering that it was your eldest son who played a crucial role in this."

At the mention of Itachi, Mikoto's expression fell. She felt shameful. Any mother would.

She had many questions about the children, but she held them back since she knew it wasn't her place to ask right now.

Seeing her struggle, Fugaku sought to ease the tension by asking, "Can you tell me more about our youngest son, Sasuke?"

While Arthur had indeed revealed what Sasuke was currently up to, he never explained how the young Uchiha got there.

"Ah, yes," John began. "Allow me to enlighten you."

He first explained that Sasuke had graduated from the Academy and joined Team 7, led by Kakashi Hatake, whom Fugaku and Mikoto were aware of.

"Right from the start," John stated, "he made it clear he had little interest in being part of a team. His only goal was to kill Itachi."

John stopped to see Mikoto twisting her fingers. Then he continued, "A teammate of his named Sakura Haruno tried to reach out to him. She went as far as sharing how she envied their third teammate, Naruto, for being free of the burden of parents. But that just upset your son; he didn't want to hear it and had considered the girl annoying since."

John paused for a moment to let them understand the causality of their son's actions. They knew who Naruto was, considering that Fugaku was planning to capture the boy and release the Nine-Tails upon the village.

"Needless to say," John declared, "Kakashi failed as a teacher."

"What happened?" Mikoto eagerly wondered.

John continued to give a dispassionate description of their son's journey by mentioning the bell test. This made Fugaku scowl that Sasuke never truly learned the lesson.

John retorted that Sasuke gradually came to comprehend teamwork through routine missions, such as the events that should have happened during the Land of Waves arc.

John then talked about the Chūnin Exams, where Sasuke not only faced William and won but also received the curse mark from Orochimaru.

Mikoto inquired about the nature of this curse mark, clearly worried. According to John, it distorted Sasuke's identity and caused him to experience unnecessary fits of outrage.

An example given was when Sasuke attacked Arthur, only for the latter to spare the boy. The two parents felt grateful hearing that.

John went on to mention the growing rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke. Sasuke was overcome with resentment and jealousy after Naruto's advancements.

Truth be told, it was Arthur's Evil Illusion Flattery technique that further manipulated the Uchiha.

Desperate to demonstrate his strength, Sasuke challenged Naruto to a duel like before. Following this altercation, Sasuke had a run-in with Kaito, who helped him leave the village.

Mikoto let out a gasp and muttered that she couldn't believe Sasuke would have ever left. John affirmed this, stating that Kaito was a double agent who also worked for Arthur.

"Then why did he help bring him to Orochimaru?" Fugaku wondered.

"Simple," John responded. "It was because your boy was bent on leaving. No amount of words would have changed that."

Recognizing Sasuke's pain, Mikoto shifted uncomfortably.

"This hurt was undeniable," John stated.

He then described the pivotal encounter at the Valley of the End, where Sasuke and Naruto faced off once more, each motivated by a different goal—Naruto's desire to save his friend and Sasuke's desire for vengeance.

Naruto had the chance to kill Sasuke during the battle, but he decided to knock him out and return him to the village by foot if he had to. That's when Arthur interrupted this victory and pulled Sasuke away.

A somber atmosphere pervaded the group as John finished his explanation.

"Although Sasuke chose power and left behind the ties he once treasured, it's still not too late for him to turn back."

Fugaku marveled at this. The more details he received, the more he marveled at how deeply Arthur's influence had stretched—this information was the proof of the complexity of their actions.

They stood there in silence after absorbing all of Sasuke's choices and the painful impact it had on him after they died. They felt shameful for having left Itachi with him and for the village they were trying to raid.

"May I ask you something?" Fugaku asked, unable to shake his unease.

"By all means..."

"How do you and lord Arthur know so much about my sons?"

"Because lord Arthur knows all," John replied. "And if he was capable of bringing you back, he has the means to keep tabs on those you cared for."

Fugaku finally felt the enormity of their situation. It was unnerving yet comforting to know they were being watched over even after their deaths. But it also carried undertones of peril.

Arthur wielded great power, and with it came the potential for greater control.

If there was one thing on Fugaku's mind now, it was to willingly side with Arthur and accept things for what they were.

After some more thought, he looked at his Kage hat and questioned, "What does it mean to be the Torikage of this village?"

For the Land of Birds, a fitting title for a hidden village could only be "Torikage," which literally means "Bird Shadow." This title captured the essence of the land's avian theme while aligning with the traditional naming convention used for the leaders of other hidden villages with their respective natural elements.

John explained that the Torikage would symbolize a protector and guide for those specifically in this village. They were to embody the qualities of liberty and watchfulness that are often associated with birds.

"As the Torikage, you'll be delegating the welfare of this village and leading the Uchihas into a new age to shape your destiny."

All in all, Fugaku would also be responsible for connecting this village to the natural world while fostering a deeper relationship between the land and its inhabitants.

As for his guards, five elite ninjas would also dwell here to help protect the country's borders. These ninjas were undoubtedly the former Sound Five.

Above Fugaku was the feudal lord, and above her was to be an unspecified king.

"I assume lord Arthur's the king," Fugaku addressed.

"No," John answered. "We're still in the early stages of this. To announce a king in this continent would draw too much attention early."

Fugaku absorbed every word; it felt like both an honour and a burden.