Back in Konoha the next morning, Kakashi checked in on the R&D department, handing over the standard funding while he was there. As he walked through the lab, he saw Ereki sketching ideas with absolute fervor, with many discarded designs crumpled and thrown onto an overgrown pile that filled a trash can.
"How long has he been at this?" Kakashi asked.
"Since his first day here, Lord Hokage," The research member who escorted him in replied. "He said something about construction, but the rest of it was all muttered too lowly for anyone else to hear."
Kakashi stepped closer to the drafting table, looking over the inventor's shoulder.
Ereki didn't even notice the Hokage's presence, completely absorbed in adding heavy, precise ink lines to a massive diagram. On the parchment was a highly detailed design for a massive, diesel-fueled hydraulic excavator, outfitted with heavy treads and a reinforced mechanical shovel meant to tear through solid earth without a single ounce of chakra.
"Ninja can clear a forest in a day," Ereki muttered, tapping his pencil aggressively against a schematic for a heavy-duty crane. "But what about the civilians? What about the merchants? Ninjas can't be expected to do simple construction, not above the Genin rank anyway."
Ereki smiled before finally noticing the shadow over his shoulder and practically jumping out of his seat to bow.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Relax, relax," Kakashi said absentmindedly as he looked over the designs.
If Kakashi didn't know any better, he'd assume this man was a transmigrator himself. The heavy equipment drawn on the parchment was nearly identical to the industrial machines from Kakashi's past life.
"Very interesting ideas. Mind telling me the inspiration for these machines?"
"I modeled the joint movements of the main arm after the precise digging mechanics of burrowing insects, Lord Hokage. They leverage their exoskeletons and internal muscle attachments effortlessly. I realized that if we replace those biological structures with high-pressure fluid pumps and steel pistons, we can replicate that exact mechanical leverage; without a single drop of chakra!"
Kakashi nodded, looking down at the detailed ink drawings. "It's an impressive design. What are you calling it?"
Ereki rubbed the back of his neck, his excitement dropping into slight embarrassment. "Ah, well... I haven't quite settled on a marketable name yet, Lord Hokage. Right now, the official patent draft lists it as the 'Hydraulic-Powered Treaded Soil-Displacement and Burrowing Locomotive Mechanism Type-One.'"
Kakashi stared at the schematic for a moment, resisting the urge to twitch at the name that Minato-sensei would have given the thumbs up to. "That is a mouthful, Ereki."
"I know," the inventor sighed, slouching slightly. "But it describes exactly what it does. I need something punchier.
Kakashi smiled, tapping his finger against the drawing of the heavy digging arm. "Why not just call it an Excavator?"
Ereki blinked, tasting the word out loud. "Ex... cavator?
His eyes gradually lit up as he looked back down at the blueprint and hurriedly scribbled the new name across the top header in bold letters. "Simple, direct, and it sounds incredibly industrial. That is brilliant, Lord Hokage!"
"Think nothing of it."
Kakashi waved it off, just glad that he didn't have to promote something with that ridiculous name.
Ereki carefully set his pencil down, his expression turning serious as he leaned against his drafting table. "With the branding settled, I can finalize the production cost estimates."
"Good. Keep your focus on the development stage," Kakashi replied, stepping back from the workspace. "I'll ensure everything goes well on my end. Once the product is ready and has been thoroughly tested, I'll make sure it spreads throughout the world."
Ereki's eyes widened slightly at the scale of the Hokage's promise, a wave of profound gratitude washing over his face. He bowed deeply. "I won't let you down, Lord Hokage."
Kakashi gave a small nod, turning to walk out of the R&D department.
Altering his route, Kakashi felt Sasuke's chakra signature near Training Ground 7, disappearing in a flicker.
Appearing atop a tree with a couple of flickers, Kakashi looked down at his student, watching him turn and stop training.
"Sasuke, I think it's time we have a chat."
Kakashi leaped down and walked up to him. He leaned back against a wooden training post, his posture completely relaxed. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the village, and more importantly, about your family. With everything changing the way it is, I want to bring back parts of the Uchiha clan."
Kakashi watched Sasuke's eyes widen and couldn't help but laugh.
"Did you really think I'd revive Naruto's parents and not yours? No, Sasuke, I didn't forget or judge it unimportant; I wanted your opinion before I did so, because unlike Naruto's family, yours is more complicated."
Sasuke stood completely still for a moment, the stunned expression gradually fading into a wry, quiet smile. He let out a soft breath, shaking his head. "Yeah. Complicated is putting it lightly."
He leaned back against the wooden post opposite Kakashi, crossing his arms as he looked down at the grass. The weight of his clan's history was always there, but talking to Kakashi like this made it feel manageable. "So, what's the plan then? I know you're not planning on bringing back the entire compound to start another headache for yourself."
"Exactly," Kakashi said with a slight nod. "I want to revive your mom and your dad. Along with them, the babies, the young children, and the clan members who were completely innocent of the politics. They deserve a clean slate, and you deserve your family back. But the Hawk faction and the primary conspirators who pushed for the coup? They have to stay dead. I won't risk bringing that old civil war baggage back inside the walls, and I don't think you'd want to lead a clan separated into factions either."
Sasuke stayed silent; the thought of seeing his mother again, of seeing young Uchiha children playing safely in a peaceful village, was something he would love.
"My dad... he's going to have a lot of questions about the state of the village," Sasuke muttered softly, his tone thoughtful rather than defensive. "But you're right about the others. Leaving the Hawk faction behind is the right call. If we're rebuilding the clan, it needs to start fresh, without the old hatred."
"He will," Kakashi agreed, nodding in understanding. "And the answers we give him have to show that things are and will be different this time. That's why, once the revivals are finished, I want to re-establish the police force with a completely new structure. Unlike last time, it won't be made up only of Uchiha; that system can quickly backfire, as it already has. Instead, I wish to open the police force to civilian Ninja, other clans, and your Uchiha too. They'll handle everyday issues like fights, lost valuables, and theft, but certain individuals will be responsible for rooting out spies in the village."
Along with that, I'd like a subset to handle more interrogation work, like the Yamanaka, and tracking work for the Inuzuka. In the future, instead of chasing cats around, genin could work shifts in the police force under experienced squads before being allowed to take missions outside the village. And, of course, the Uchiha will be relocated back to their original place in the village center; I won't ostracize them like they were in the past."
"Moving back to the center of the village," Sasuke muttered, his voice carrying a quiet mix of relief and gravity. "I was too young to understand back then, but Father always talked about the old clan grounds. He always hated that we were pushed to the outskirts, seeing it as the first step toward our containment. Returning us to the center won't just satisfy him; it will show everyone that the old stigma is completely gone. It would be a good first step with him."
He looked directly at Kakashi, his dark eye clear. "Sharing command of the military police with civilians and other clans will be a bitter pill for him to swallow at first. The Uchiha took immense pride in that badge. But Father isn't so prideful that he'd put it over the safety of the clan."
Kakashi gave a slight nod, a calm reassurance in his posture. "He's a pragmatist, Sasuke. Once he sees the children running around a safe compound, the old political pride won't matter nearly as much."
He assured him before tilting his head in the direction of the Uchiha compound.
"So, are you ready?"
"Now?"
Sasuke blinked, a bit shocked by the suddenness of it all. He figured Kakashi would want to prepare—perhaps announce it to the village or handle some administrative setup first.
"I already planned on announcing the return of Minato-sensei and Kushina soon," Kakashi explained, his tone practical. "Announcing the Uchiha at the same time saves me the trouble of gathering the entire village twice. Might as well rip the bandage off all at once. So, let's go."
Kakashi leaped ahead, Sasuke leaping after him a moment later, heart hammering in his chest as he thought of his mother and father.
"What about Itachi?"
Kakashi hummed, wondering whether he wanted Itachi to keep being a spy. On one hand, he'd been cured of his illness and was far more powerful than the Akatsuki likely expected; on the other, Itachi was in constant danger of being discovered by either Zetsu or Obito. Then there was that wood style user to consider as well.
The only reason Kakashi hadn't ordered Itachi back was the fact that the Akatsuki wouldn't just lie down and give up; they'd recruit new members, maybe some Kakashi didn't recognize. Not that he was worried about himself, but not everyone was as strong as he was. That was part of his job as Hokage: to think about everyone in the village and try to minimize loss as much as humanly possible. But Itachi was also a part of the village, and Kakashi felt that Itachi had done more than enough for the sake of the village, regardless of how he felt about some of his actions.
They materialized at the quiet edge of the Uchiha compound, the silence of the abandoned streets giving way to the still air of the clan's private graveyard. Rows of stone markers stood ahead of them in the shade of the surrounding trees. Sasuke stopped just behind Kakashi, his gaze sweeping over the graves and the names etched on each of them.
Kakashi read over the names, even the ones recovered from Danzo's base after his death, but the babies of the clan the newborns that either lacked names or whose names were yet to be recorded were buried with just the clan symbol on their headstone.
Tapping his foot on the ground, the coffins of the ones that were going to be revived rose.
Of the many graves here, 53 rose from the ground not a large amount- but the graves that were brought up belonged to Mikoto, Fugaku, Izumi, 13 young teens, 25 young children (ages 5-11), and 12 newborns and toddlers (Up to 4 years old)
Kakashi gave the graves one final look over to ensure he didn't miss anyone, nodding when he didn't forget anyone, his eyes shifting into the Rinnegan.
"Sasuke, I want you to create clones; let's not keep anyone trapped in a coffin."
Kakashi spoke, not wanting any of the Uchiha, especially the children, to panic inside a coffin.
Sasuke nodded, his hands snapping together into a familiar seal as dozens of shadow clones materialized in bursts of white smoke. The graveyard suddenly filled with copies of the young Uchiha, each clone rushing toward a different upright coffin. They lined up in rows, placed their hands on the wooden lids, and readied to pry them open.
"Outer Path, Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique."
A bright, pale violet light erupted from Kakashi, expanding outward across the graveyard in a silent wave. The raw chakra washed over the fifty-three raised coffins, seeping deep through the wood and anchoring the returning souls back into their bodies.
The shadow clones moved instantly, tearing the wooden lids away from the boxes and tossing them onto the grass, ensuring not a single person remained trapped in the dark.
The graveyard was suddenly filled with a chaotic wall of sound. The sharp, frantic wails of the twelve newborns and toddlers pierced the air as they hit the cold daylight, their small lungs bursting into immediate, terrified crying. Surrounding them, the older children and young teens stumbled out, coughing and whimpering in sheer confusion. Many of them clutched their chests, their minds entirely fractured between the sudden sensation of breathing and the vivid, terrifying memories of the night they had died. They looked around at the tombstones, completely lost as to how or why they were standing alive in a cemetery.
A few feet away, Izumi stumbled out of her coffin, her knees buckling slightly before one of Sasuke's shadow clones caught her by the arm to keep her steady. Her mind reeled in utter confusion. The last thing she remembered was a peaceful, happy warmth, an entire lifetime spent by Itachi's side that felt entirely real. Yet here she was, gasping for air.
"Itachi…" she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling as she looked up into the face of the person holding her. For a brief, desperate second, looking at those mature features, her heart soared. But as her vision cleared, she realized the slight differences in the facial structure. It wasn't Itachi. She blinked in confusion, recognizing the younger brother. "Sasuke...?"
From the two central coffins, Fugaku and Mikoto stumbled forward into the daylight, their chests heaving as their lungs adjusted to the air. Mikoto blinked rapidly against the sun, her hands trembling as she looked up, her gaze instantly locking onto the older, mature face of the original Sasuke standing right in front of her.
Mikoto walked forward, slapping away Fugaku's hand as he tried to stop her. The man was cautious about the situation, but Mikoto didn't care if it was a cruel illusion; she'd think about that after she held her son.
Sasuke watched her approach, emotions swirling in his mismatched eyes, but he remained stoic as his mother drew closer, tears streaming down her face.
"Sasuke, you're so grown up."
Mikoto reached him, Sasuke noticeably taller than his mother, something that broke her heart and made her happy at the same time.
She reached up with trembling hands, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek as if to convince herself he was truly real. Sasuke didn't pull away. The stoic mask he usually maintained began to crack slightly under the warmth of her touch, a sensation he hadn't felt in years.
Behind Mikoto, Fugaku steadied his breathing and stood up straight. His sharp eyes took in his grown son, the surrounding shadow clones, the weeping children, and finally the silver-haired figure standing a few paces back from everyone.
"What is the meaning of this?" Fugaku's deep voice cut through the sound of the crying children, his tone commanding despite the lingering tightness in his chest. "Hatake Kakashi... why are we here?"
"Father, I know this is a confusing situation for you, but you should really take a closer look at Kakashi-sensei before you speak to him that way."
Sasuke spoke, no longer the child who craved attention from his father; this time he even sounded a little scolding.
Fugaku's brows furrowed at his son's tone, a sharp reprimand rising to his lips. But as his gaze shifted back to the silver-haired man, the words died in his throat. He actually looked.
Looming over the graveyard, Kakashi wore the pristine white cloak of the Hokage, the wind allowing Fugaku to catch some of the letters on the back of the cloak.
Fugaku slowly lowered his defensive stance, his commanding demeanor faltering as he muttered, his voice losing its harsh edge. "The Hokage... Kakashi... you're the leader of this village now?"
"Yes, the Sixth Hokage of Konohagakure."
Fugaku was a bit startled, but what really drew his attention were Kakashi's eyes: purple with a ripple pattern, similar to one of Sasuke's eyes, but Sasuke's purple eye has tomoe with the ripple.
He shifted his gaze back and forth between his son and the silver-haired leader. The bizarre, mythical look of those eyes left him entirely without context. Still, the fact that both Kakashi and Sasuke possessed a variation of the same strange pattern made one thing undeniably clear: whatever power had pulled them from the grave was sitting right in front of him.
"It's the Rinnegan."
Kakashi spoke up, not missing a beat.
"And yes, I did bring you back to life using the power of these eyes. Now, look into my eyes, both of you; it'll be simpler this way."
Fugaku and Mikoto both looked up, their gazes locking squarely onto Kakashi's ripple-patterned eyes. The moment their vision met the Rinnegan, a massive wave of information flooded directly into their minds.
When Kakashi finally closed his eyes, breaking the connection, the graveyard felt entirely different. The former clan head looked down at his own hands, then at the crying newborns being cradled by Sasuke's clones, and finally up at his fully grown son. Confusion was gone, replaced by the heavy reality of the new world.
"Now that you know everything, I'm going to call one of my students here to do a checkup on you all, especially the newborns; they'll likely need food. Then I'm sure Kushina would like to see her friend again. Then after that, you'll all be gathered on top of the Hokage Tower alongside Sensei and Kushina. I'll formally integrate you back into the village."
"Agreed."
Fugaku looked back at his son's clones; the rigid way he held the young was slightly amusing, like someone who didn't really want to do it, but also cared about what he carried.
Mikoto noticed her husband's gaze and followed it, a soft, genuine laugh finally breaking through her lingering tears. Seeing her son completely overwhelmed by a bundle of newborns was the most normal, comforting sight she could have asked for.
- Chapter End -
3k-word chapter, one of the longest, if not the longest. Don't worry, Kakashi isn't going to start reviving everyone; he'll make that clear soon. Relax. Don't type that message; I can see you.