Konoha.
It was a rest day.
While a massive battle erupted at the distant Naka Shrine, drawing a large number of Konoha shinobi there, the unaware villagers continued to enjoy their rare day off, strolling through the streets and alleyways, filled with laughter and joy.
Until a certain group appeared.
Although it was somewhat surprising that Gensou had made the decision, the Uchiha members didn't object. Following his instructions, they no longer concealed themselves and openly walked through Konoha's streets, retracing their childhood memories with each step.
"Huh? Who are these people? I've never seen them before," a nearby vendor noticed the unfamiliar faces of the Uchiha group and voiced his curiosity.
Next to him, another person glanced over, pondering, "Judging by their demeanor, they must be shinobi. But they're not wearing Konoha headbands, so they're probably outsiders."
"Why would so many outsider shinobi show up here?"
"Look! There are Konoha shinobi following behind them!"
"Are they being watched? Or is it something else? But there are too many of them for that."
More and more people began to notice the Uchiha group, along with the strange sight of Konoha shinobi trailing behind them. The villagers couldn't understand what was going on.
The streets were already crowded with people.
As the Uchiha group made their way through, the villagers instinctively moved to the sides of the road, and the bustling street suddenly quieted down.
Many curious eyes fell on the unfamiliar Uchiha.
At that moment, an elderly man, out for a walk with his grandson, looked at the Uchiha clan emblems on their clothing and, with shock, pointed and exclaimed:
"Isn't that... the Uchiha clan's emblem?"
These words set off a wave of reactions.
"The Uchiha clan? That sounds familiar."
"I remember now! They were the clan that was wiped out, right?"
"Ah, that's why they look so familiar! The emblem on their clothes is the Uchiha clan's symbol!"
"But... wasn't the Uchiha clan completely wiped out? Who are these people?"
"No need to guess. They're probably just wearing the Uchiha emblem for show. It's not like any real Uchiha would come back to cause trouble."
"Is it possible that they really are Uchiha?"
The night of the Uchiha massacre had been seven or eight years ago, and unlike the shinobi, the average Konoha villagers had mostly forgotten about the Uchiha.
Until now, when someone reminded them, and with people chiming in, the villagers gradually realized what was happening. They strained to get a better look at the Uchiha group, standing on their toes, craning their necks, and the street was abuzz with speculation.
One person claimed they were imposters, not real Uchiha; another said their appearance resembled the Uchiha, so they must be real.
Yet another person argued that the Uchiha were extinct, so it was impossible for this many to be alive; while someone else insisted that a few of them looked familiar, as if they had been seen before.
As the crowd continued to argue...
Among the Uchiha, a satisfied Zanki, having avenged his clan, passed by a toy stall. Glancing at it, he was suddenly reminded of his time in the Konoha Police Force and casually said:
"You're blocking the walkway with your stall. If you don't want to be fined, move it back a bit."
"Yes, of course." The stall owner immediately bent over, instinctively obeying Zanki's command and began to move his stall.
But just as he put his hands on the stall, he froze and realized, "Wait... Why am I listening to him? He's not with the police force anymore."
Hearing someone laughing nearby, the stall owner quickly lifted his head, ready to argue with Zanki for messing with him.
Then he saw Zanki's face.
"You... you..." The stall owner suddenly felt that the person in front of him looked familiar.
After a moment's thought, his good memory kicked in. He recalled the days when the Uchiha ran the police force and how, whenever he tried to spread his stall further onto the walkway, a grumpy young Uchiha with a police armband would always show up to give him a hard time, no matter what excuse he made. He had even been fined several times.
Since the night of the Uchiha massacre, no one had cared about his stall blocking the walkway.
Until now.
Hearing that familiar voice and looking at the familiar face before him, the stall owner's pupils contracted in shock. He stared at Uchiha Zeng as if seeing a ghost.
"You... you... you're that Uchiha!!"
"So you do remember me."
Zanki immediately recognized the stall owner, who had caused him quite a bit of extra work back in the day.
"Don't worry, I'm no longer with the Konoha Police Force."
Zanki patted the stall owner on the shoulder and continued walking.
This scene was witnessed by the other Konoha villagers.
"They're real Uchiha! They're really Uchiha!"
"Someone just recognized them!"
"I knew it! See that young Uchiha? He doesn't look much different from when he was a kid. He used to come to my shop to eat all the time!"
"How is this possible? Wasn't the Uchiha clan wiped out? How did so many of them suddenly reappear?"
"Who cares about the reason! The Uchiha were always part of Konoha."
"One, two, three, four... There are fifteen of them! If they're all Uchiha, then the Uchiha clan can rebuild in Konoha."
"That's great! With the Uchiha back, Konoha's military strength will get a significant boost."
"Isn't it a bit too soon to be celebrating? I feel like there's some tension between the Uchiha shinobi and the village's shinobi."
Upon realizing that the newcomers were indeed Uchiha, the street quickly grew lively again. Large numbers of villagers who heard the news rushed over, filling the area with excitement, as if it were a festival.
As for the Uchiha themselves...
At first, they hadn't given much thought to the change in their route.
But soon, they noticed that the villagers who once lived alongside them now looked at them with surprise, curiosity, and confusion. When the villagers recognized their identities, their expressions shifted to shock, disbelief, and finally, joy, excitement, and even cheers.
Being the center of attention, especially in front of the villagers who once shared their home, felt quite satisfying to the naturally proud Uchiha.
However...
They couldn't help but wonder when the Uchiha clan had become so popular in Konoha.
Cheering and welcoming them with such enthusiasm?
Did they really think we'd return to Konoha and continue to burn for the Will of Fire?
How laughable.
Once they looked down on us with cold eyes, and only now, after losing us, do they realize our importance.
Now that we've reappeared, they want things to return to how they were?
Too late!
At this moment...
The expressions of the Konoha villagers were filled with joy, curiosity, excitement, anticipation, and, for a select few, unease and concern as they remembered the past.
Meanwhile, Sasuke, Izumi, Zanki, and the others remained calm, their faces showing no sign of emotion.
(End of Chapter)
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