Summary:-

Naruto Uzumaki, a cursed child born from tragedy, knows the pain of loss too well. Despite being an orphan, he found solace in the Uchiha clan, where a strange ocular anomaly, The Six Eyes, granted him acceptance. This newfound power holds immense potential and danger. As Naruto grapples with his destiny, he strives to honour his duty and shield his loved ones. With resilience and sacrifice, he navigates a complex path, shaped by his past and the legacy of his eyes.

(Created by using mixed original ideas and text from The Honoured One and The Second Coming .)


Chapter 1


Noun

最強 (さい)(きょう)

(saikyō)

1. The strongest


"Protect your sister, Naruto," a voice echoed in the darkness. "You are the Child of Prophecy… I know it."

Naruto sat up in his bed, a panting mess with sweat soaking his sheets and clothing. He looked at his clock and discovered that it was five o'clock in the morning, an entire hour before he usually woke up. Nevertheless, he had become accustomed to nightmares such as these, and rose from his bed with the full knowledge that sleep would continue to evade him should he choose to stubbornly try to sleep again.

The death of his father and his mother… it still haunted him, even after being given a year to come to terms with what had happened. On a day that was supposed to be filled with such joy, all he felt was immense sorrow. That night his sister was brought into this world, only for his parents to be taken away immediately after.

"Naruto?" a gentle, feminine voice softly called out from the other side of his bedroom door.

Already composed, Naruto turned toward his door and answered, "Yes?"

As quietly as one could, the door was opened to reveal a beautiful woman with raven-coloured hair and onyx eyes. She wore a simple, dark-coloured blouse underneath a lightly-shaded yellow apron. She looked down at the child before her and smiled sadly, the way she always did when she thought he wasn't looking.

"Having trouble sleeping again?" the woman, her name Mikoto, asked after leaning forward to get to his level.

"Yes."

Mikoto's expression grew a bit pensive as she looked at the boy she had taken in a year ago. Kushina, Naruto's birth mother, had always said that her son was mature for his age but mentioned that it came at a cost. He wasn't playful, friendly, or in any way sociable. Seemingly stern at all times, it was tough to crack through his proverbial shell and see the young child underneath.

Despite herself, Mikoto smiled to lift the mood, "Your brother and sister haven't woken up yet, and Izumi has gone on a trip with Fugaku. I was wondering if a strong boy would help me run some errands. Hmm, I wonder if there is anyone in this house like that?"

She stroked her chin a bit and smirked as Naruto looked at her with a tilt of his head. Even Naruto was susceptible to clever paternal coercion.

"I can help you, Lady Mikoto," Naruto offered respectfully with a nod of the head.

As he went into his closet to get dressed, Mikoto faltered a bit. A whole year, and he still spoke with her in such a formal way. She had never outright told him that he could refer to her as a mother, but she'd be lying if she didn't relish such an idea. An eldest son… it was something she had always dreamed of having ever since Sasuke was born. Izumi was a great elder sister to Sasuke, but Mikoto wanted there to be a brotherly figure for her youngest to learn from and admire.

"I am ready," Naruto announced quietly after walking back into view.

Mikoto smiled when she saw him, internally gushing over how much of a 'cutie-wootie' he was. He was dressed in the clothes she had purchased for him, making him look like an actual member of the clan. A short-sleeved t-shirt with a high collar and a pair of shorts with shinobi sandals. Only his Crimson hair and crystal-like Azure eyes made him stand out from other Uchiha children.

"Look at my handsome little man," she smiled with her hands on her hips. "How did you get so handsome?"

Naruto blinked and shrugged his shoulders, "My mother said that I got my looks from my father."

Mikoto hummed, "Well, she was certainly correct. As you get older, I'll have to fight the girls off of you with a stick," she said before chuckling to herself.

Soon after, the duo walked through the kitchen to the exit, with Mikoto making sure to grab her handbag on the way. Naruto honestly had no clue where they were going, but it didn't matter. This woman was his host and had taken him in when he had nobody else. He owed her more than a few favours.

As they walked the streets, many people who were starting their days stopped and bowed at the two, or more specifically, Naruto. All non-shinobi in the village treated him with complete respect, always bowing and using the 'sama' honorific when addressing him. He was the son of the Fourth Hokage, after all… the very man who saved the village from destruction.

Mikoto frowned at the treatment, wishing that everyone would merely treat Naruto like an ordinary boy. This had never been an issue for the Third Hokage's son, Asuma Sarutobi, who for the most part wasn't given any special status due to his parentage. No… Naruto was different. He was the son of the village's most celebrated, most revered hero.

The two went to various stores and markets, buying several household supplies that they had been running low on. Naruto just stood at Mikoto's side and watched as she navigated through the village like an expert, apparently having gone through this routine many times before. It made him wonder…

"Lady Mikoto?" he asked, speaking up for the first time in a while.

She looked down at him incredibly quickly, as if excited he had spoken at all, "Yes, Naruto?"

"Do you miss being a shinobi?"

Mikoto pursed her lips in thought. That part of her life hadn't crossed her mind in quite some time. After giving birth to her eldest daughter, Izumi, five years ago, she decided to retire from her shinobi career in favour of supporting her infant child. And now that she was essentially raising two, one-year-old children, along with Naruto and Izumi as well, ninja life had become a distant memory.

"I suppose I miss the excitement," she confessed with a small smile. "However, I've now come to realize that there are things more important than being a shinobi."

Naruto was caught in a rare moment of confusion, "Like what?"

They both stopped in the middle of the street, and Mikoto kneeled in front of him with a smile. She then proceeded to tap him on the nose with her pointer finger.

"Well… you, silly," she explained with a chuckle. "You, Izumi, your brother and your sister are all precious to me. I love you with all my heart."

Naruto's brows raised, "Sasuke… is my brother?" he asked. He was always confused when she made it seem as if they were actually related.

Mikoto smiled, "Of course he is. Do you see the way Sasuke's eyes light up whenever he sees you? You are his favourite person in the whole world… his big brother. I think that is what he would want you to be for him. Don't you think?"

"I'm Sasuke's… big brother?"

Mikoto nodded with a smile. Perhaps he was finally beginning to understand. Looking at his innocent face, for once not stuck in a look of seriousness, she decided to say something she had wanted to say for quite a while. She just hoped that if Kushina were somewhere watching, she would approve of what was about to be said; however, knowing her old friend, she knew that she would.

"Yes, Sasuke is your little brother… which would also make me your mother."

Naruto looked up at her and blinked a couple of times. She assumed that for Naruto, this was pretty much the same as an ordinary person tripping forward in surprise. As she waited anxiously for him to respond, she hoped to god that she hadn't crossed any boundaries. Naruto was old enough to remember his mother, and the last thing Mikoto wanted was for him to think she was trying to replace Kushina.

"Okay, I understand now," Naruto said after having composed himself. "Thank you for taking me out with you this morning… mother."

Everything froze, and the world seemed to light up around her. After all of this time, she felt that she had finally broken through. She had finally made it clear to Naruto just how she felt about him as a part of her life. He wasn't a guest at her house… he was family. She embraced him and cried into his shoulder. Naruto was confused but remained still until she finished.

He owed her as much, after all… and he would probably never be finished repaying her.


Chapter 1

End