Chapter 33: Entering the Anbu
Walking into the house, Asuka looked around.
Bright sunlight streamed through the window, warming the pastries on the table and giving them a strangely sunny aroma.
Uchiha Asuka picked up a pastry, took a bite, then closed his eyes and chewed.
Hmm.
It really did have a strange smell.
But it wasn't the smell of spoiled food.
Opening his eyes, Uchiha Asuka looked at Mikoto, who was sitting across from him. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said,
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Mikoto."
"Where is Captain Fugaku?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Mikoto watched him swallow the entire pastry before a smile appeared on her face.
"How does it taste?"
"Not bad."
Although the pastries weren't particularly tasty, Uchiha Asuka praised them as usual.
After all, he couldn't very well tell her to her face that they tasted bad.
He picked up another pastry from the plate and chewed it elegantly.
Hmm.
It really wasn't very good.
"Fugaku was called away just now."
"Asuka-kun, please wait here for a moment."
"Alright."
Uchiha Asuka nodded, then picked up another pastry.
He had to admit that although they didn't taste very good...
They were still edible.
As the wife of the Uchiha Clan Head, she had her pride.
She certainly wouldn't serve him spoiled food.
This was probably just how they were supposed to taste.
Thinking this, he picked up yet another pastry.
Hmm.
Still not very good.
Even after four of them, he still hadn't gotten used to the flavor.
"Are they really that delicious?"
"They're very good."
Watching Uchiha Asuka give her a thumbs-up, Uchiha Mikoto looked at the pastries on the plate with confusion in her eyes.
She had experimented with a new batch of pastries that morning.
Something had gone wrong, making the freshly baked pastries exceptionally unpalatable.
After tasting one herself, she had planned to throw them away.
Just then, she had gone into the front yard and happened to see Shisui bringing Uchiha Asuka over.
As the hostess, she naturally couldn't ignore her guests.
So she had simply brought out the pastries to entertain them.
After placing them on the table and pouring tea, she had only just asked why they had come when she watched Uchiha Asuka immediately reach for the plate of failed pastries.
The thought of stopping him had been firmly suppressed.
"Asuka-kun..."
"Do you really think they're delicious?"
Seeing him continue putting one pastry after another into his mouth, Uchiha Mikoto frowned slightly and asked cautiously.
"They're delicious."
"Can't you tell?"
"I can."
Watching Uchiha Asuka eat with complete enjoyment, Uchiha Mikoto hesitated before looking down at the pastries.
Then she reached out, picked one up, and examined it for a while.
Could it be...
Only the one I tasted was a failure?
Maybe the rest turned out fine.
If that's the case, Itachi can have some after he comes home hungry.
Thinking this, Uchiha Mikoto took a small bite.
After chewing it...
The smile on her face instantly stiffened.
It really was a failed batch.
The first time she tasted it could be blamed on ignorance.
But now...
She had actually eaten the failed pastries twice.
I'm so stupid!
She even felt as though donkey ears had sprouted from her head.
Although Uchiha Asuka's smile hadn't changed, she somehow felt that he was secretly mocking her.
"...?"
Seeing Uchiha Mikoto staring at him intently, Uchiha Asuka glanced at the half-eaten pastry in her hand and said,
"Lady Mikoto..."
"The flavor of these pastries is quite unique this time."
"...Yes."
"They're certainly unique."
She looked up.
Her gaze settled on the respectful young Uchiha who was happily eating the pastries, and her heart suddenly felt rather complicated.
Such a thoughtful child at such a young age.
To keep me from feeling embarrassed...
He actually ate half the plate.
"Good."
Seeing her continue nibbling at the pastries, Uchiha Asuka looked at the one in his own hand in surprise.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he scrutinized her.
"They're delicious?"
"Mm."
"Very delicious."
Really?
Seeing Uchiha Mikoto nod with a gentle smile, Asuka's expression suddenly became serious.
Has she lost her sense of taste because of some terminal illness?
"Madam."
"Please stick out your tongue."
"I suspect you may be sick."
"Hmm?"
Seeing Uchiha Asuka's brows knit tightly together, Uchiha Mikoto's heart skipped a beat.
She knew how skilled he was in Medical Ninjutsu.
Could I really have some kind of illness?
Thinking this, she unconsciously closed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.
After gently holding her tongue and examining it for a while, Uchiha Asuka blinked.
His face was practically covered with the words:
Questioning Life
She's not sick!
But those pastries are definitely terrible.
A normal person's taste buds should reject them immediately.
How is she smiling while eating them?
A short while later...
Watching Uchiha Mikoto hurriedly leave for the hospital, Asuka slowly sat back down in his chair, looking somewhat dazed.
Even now...
Uchiha Asuka was beginning to doubt his own Medical Ninjutsu.
Yet he never once considered that, just like him...
She had simply been forcing herself to eat them.
It wasn't until Fugaku returned from outside and saw Uchiha Asuka sitting there with an expression that seemed to question the meaning of life that he asked,
"What happened?"
"I'm starting to doubt my Medical Ninjutsu."
"...?"
A string of question marks practically appeared above Fugaku's head.
Since he knew nothing about Medical Ninjutsu, he simply assumed Asuka had encountered some difficult illness.
Thinking this, he sat down in the seat of honor and said in a low voice,
"This morning, Hokage-sama sent someone to notify me."
"You are to report to the Anbu tomorrow."
Holding up two fingers, Fugaku continued,
"After joining the Anbu, you must be diligent and hardworking."
"Always remember the glory of the Uchiha."
"And there's one more thing."
"You must remember it well."
"Although the Fourth Hokage bears no ill will toward our clan..."
"Konoha's elders still wield considerable authority."
"It's not difficult to imagine that they may secretly influence some of the Fourth Hokage's decisions in the future."
"But precisely because of that..."
"We need our own eyes and ears."
"Overall, the Uchiha Clan supports every decision made by the Fourth Hokage."
"But whenever the clan's interests are involved..."
"We must also have opinions of our own."
"Understood."
Uchiha Asuka nodded.
It was just espionage.
Besides...
He probably wouldn't remain a spy for very long.
Only about seven months.
Once the Third Hokage resumed office...
He would most likely be expelled from the Anbu.
---
At the same time...
At the Fourth Hokage's home.
Uzumaki Kushina picked up the file from the table while Minato Namikaze fed her slices of apple.
She read through the information he had brought home.
Uchiha Asuka accepted a disciple?
It seems a lot of interesting things have happened recently.
"Minato..."
"Is his mental state alright?"
She remembered that after the Third Shinobi World War, many ninja in the village had lost their comrades.
Their bodies and minds were tormented by endless nightmares, leaving their hearts filled with darkness.
This was especially true for the emotionally intense Uchiha.
And Uchiha Asuka was one of those who had lost comrades.
"He's fine."
Minato Namikaze smiled as he peeled another apple.
"His psychological evaluation has already been completed."
"The results were very good."
"Besides..."
"He's accepted a disciple."
"The emptiness in his heart should gradually be filled."
"He won't fall into darkness."
"Is that so?"
Still somewhat doubtful, Uzumaki Kushina looked through the report again before opening her mouth for another slice of apple.
As she chewed, she mumbled,
"Seeing the report reminded me of something."
"I accidentally stepped on that chubby Summoning Beast's tail once."
"When it glared at me with its Sharingan..."
"I could clearly feel its powerful ocular prowess."
"Its abilities surpass those of most Anbu."
"Since Asuka's mental state is fine..."
"What position are you planning to assign him?"
Looking at the pregnant Uzumaki Kushina, Minato scratched his head with a smile.
"How about the same position as Kakashi?"
"I've heard his Medical Ninjutsu is excellent."
Guard me?
Uzumaki Kushina immediately thought of Konoha's old men in the upper ranks.
She shook her head without hesitation.
How could those people ever allow an Uchiha to come into contact with the Nine-Tails?