Young Uchiha Sasuke had little knowledge of the unspoken truths surrounding his clan. Other ninjas never openly discussed it, yet he could sense the subtle rejection towards the Uchiha.
His father, Uchiha Fugaku, and his brother's friend, Uchiha Shisui, had both lost their Sharingan due to Shin. Even with advancements in medical technology, their regenerated eyes could only reach the level of three tomoe—never again achieving the Mangekyō Sharingan.
It was as if something vital had been stripped away, rendering them unable to reclaim their clan's ultimate power.
Though the Virtual Space had transformed the world, bringing unprecedented peace, no one spoke of the sacrifices made in the past. Many had begun to revere Shin as a legendary figure, painting over past grievances with narratives of progress. Some even believed the hardships endured before the Virtual Space was created were merely part of fate's design.
But Sasuke knew the truth.
As the son of Uchiha Fugaku, he had been told enough to understand what had happened. Despite his father's insistence that there was no need for resentment—despite Shisui's willingness to accept the past in exchange for peace—Sasuke still carried a lingering bitterness toward Shin.
If not for his father's teachings, that bitterness might have turned into hatred.
Sasuke turned to his older counterpart, the middle-aged Uchiha Sasuke from another world, his expression filled with hope.
"In your world, the Uchiha clan must be the strongest, right? My father, Uchiha Shisui, had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan even before the Virtual Space emerged. And with my brother Itachi's talent, I believe that even without the Virtual Space, he would have awakened it as well, at the very least reaching Kage-level strength."
"In that case, our clan must have produced three Kage-level shinobi! Even though Kage-level strength isn't as valued in this era, back when there was no Virtual Space, even a major ninja village struggled to produce three Kage-level fighters!"
"If that's the case, wouldn't the Uchiha have become the strongest clan? Did your father become Hokage?"
Middle-aged Sasuke's face stiffened. How was he supposed to answer that?
Tell him the Uchiha never became Hokage? That the clan was all but annihilated by internal conflict?
That they were suspected of orchestrating the Nine-Tails Attack, leading to their suppression and eventual rebellion?
That of the three Mangekyō users, two were Konoha spies, and the last—Fugaku—was little more than a bystander.
As Sasuke struggled to find words, Boruto, who had been listening nearby, interjected casually, "Uchiha clan? I've never heard of them in Konoha! Besides Uncle Sasuke, there's just Aunt Sarada, right? There aren't any other Uchihas in the village."
"What?!" Young Sasuke's face twisted in shock as he turned toward his older self. "What happened? What became of the Uchiha in your world?"
A voice rang out behind them. "They were wiped out."
Young Sasuke turned sharply to see Shin approaching.
"What do you mean by that?!" Young Sasuke demanded, anger flashing across his face.
His gaze shifted downward, catching sight of the Akatsuki ring on Shin's finger.
That black ring was once a mark of prestige. Previously, any Kage-level shinobi could obtain one, but with the rise of Virtual Space, the requirement had changed. Now, Kage-level strength was merely a baseline—the real qualification was contribution and achievements.
Even within the Uchiha clan, only his father, Uchiha Fugaku, had managed to earn one. Not even his brother, Uchiha Itachi, had qualified yet.
Young Sasuke didn't recognize Shin's face, unaware that he stood before the creator of the Virtual Space himself. If he had, he wouldn't have been so brash.
In the last ten years, Virtual Space has become an irreplaceable pillar of the ninja world. Its advancements were so profound that old beliefs and structures had faded into obscurity. The era of the Five Great Ninja Villages had lasted barely fifty years, while only a decade had been enough for the Virtual Space to rewrite history.
To the young generation, the past was already distant. Many believed the Virtual Space had always existed, and those who had lived through the wars of the old world no longer questioned its rule.
After all, Virtual Space had undeniably brought prosperity.
Former nobility, once oppressive, were now pacified under Virtual Space's influence. Productivity had skyrocketed, wealth was more evenly distributed, and shinobi no longer suffered under the whims of corrupt leadership.
Even the most die-hard believers in the Will of Fire had to admit—what was a noble ideology compared to actual peace and security?
The old system of "One Country, One Village" had only survived because of military dominance. The moment Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha fell, it became a fragile balance, easily shattered by war.
But now? Even without the overwhelming might of the Virtual Space, no one dared start another war. And if anyone did try, the reaction from the rest of the world wouldn't be to follow—it would be to eliminate them outright.
And so, Shin's reputation had risen higher than he had ever anticipated.
Even young ninjas, who had no knowledge of the wars before the Virtual Space, saw him as a guiding light—a spiritual leader.
Young Sasuke blinked in disbelief. Shin was a member of Akatsuki?
He had never heard of such a thing.
After a moment of silence, he clenched his fists and asked, "Why do you say the Uchiha clan was wiped out? What do you know?"
Shin observed the boy's shift in demeanor—from anger to hesitation.
For the first time, Shin truly understood the reverence Akatsuki members held in this world.
And how deeply the past had been buried.
*******************************
If you would like to gain early access, you can join me at www.patre on.com/bookbattalion
70+ Advance Chapters Now Available!