Uchiha Noboru always tried his best to accommodate this child's requests. Unlike the other prideful and difficult-to-approach Uchiha, he wasn't arrogant at all.
Today's matter could've easily been glossed over, yet he apologized and made amends immediately. That, more than anything, proved that Uchiha Noboru was different from the rest of his clan.
Thinking back on the original plot, there were indeed Uchihas who shared this trait. Obito Uchiha was a kind and silly boy before awakening his Mangekyō.
Shisui and Itachi also stood apart from their proud kin. Shisui was genuinely kind, while Itachi merely buried his pride deep within.
Those Uchihas who were different had complex, emotional inner worlds. And once they lost something precious, they would immediately awaken the cursed power—Mangekyō Sharingan.
If Uchiha Noboru really managed to awaken the Mangekyō in the future, no matter how you looked at it, he'd be considered top-tier talent.
Even if he wasn't cut out to handle complex affairs, he could still be used as an elite enforcer.
"I don't need your apology. Just consider this a favor you owe me—how about that?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Noboru's usual squint disappeared, and his eyes opened wide.
He looked at Uchiha Hikaru, then at the collapsed bed and the mess all around them.
And he recalled the surge of chakra he had just sensed—far exceeding even that of a jōnin.
In that moment, he could no longer treat Uchiha Hikaru as a mere child.
Their interaction yesterday had already given Uchiha Hikaru some insight into Noboru.
But at the same time, Noboru had started to have questions about Hikaru after that conversation.
He initially thought Hikaru's maturity stemmed from losing his parents.
But today's events made it clear that things weren't so simple.
Still, Noboru had already crossed a line among ninja etiquette today. Pressing further would just be rude.
So after staring deeply at Uchiha Hikaru for a moment, he slowly said:
"No problem. I owe you one, then. If you ever need me, come to the Police Force—I'm the deputy captain there."
"By the way, I have a daughter about your age. She'll be starting at the Ninja Academy this year too."
"Her name is Uchiha Chiri. Please look after her."
Uchiha Noboru's words left Hikaru stunned. His expression twisted in shock.
He really hadn't expected Uchiha Chiri to be Noboru's daughter.
Chiri, after all, would go on to develop Izanami—and was one of the few Uchihas to awaken the Mangekyō.
Her talent even surpassed Shisui's in the future. She was the strongest genjutsu user in name and in fact.
After all, her genjutsu literally forced you to change your ways. If you didn't, you'd be stuck in it forever. If that's not the strongest genjutsu, what is?
Of course, this revelation also came with bad news. Uchiha Chiri would live through the clan's civil strife as a teenager.
That internal conflict was part of why the Uchiha later gained a reputation they couldn't live up to. The turmoil dealt a huge blow to the clan.
And for someone like Hikaru—who already saw the Uchiha as his to command—this was definitely not good news. Internal strife was the last thing he wanted.
Still, since Chiri was his peer, the civil war was likely a long way off. That eased Hikaru's concern.
By that time, he'd have grown strong enough.
And the Uchiha who would eventually cause that conflict—someone who would use Izanagi to seek power—was bound to reveal himself. When that time came, Hikaru could either kill him or make him heel like a dog. Either way, the problem would be solved.
Noboru was a little puzzled. He didn't think he had said anything strange—he had just asked Hikaru to look after his daughter. So why the surprise?
Then again, today had already raised too many questions for him. One more odd reaction was hardly worth dwelling on.
Meanwhile, Hikaru snapped out of his thoughts and realized he'd overreacted. He quickly tried to smooth things over.
"You're so young, big bro, and already have a daughter? That really caught me off guard."
"You've been so kind to me. You can count on me to take care of your daughter!"
As he spoke, Hikaru patted his chest in assurance, looking every bit like a little grown-up. Noboru couldn't help but wonder if maybe he was just being overly sensitive.
Still, his purpose for visiting had been fulfilled. It was time to go.
"Since nothing serious happened here, I'll take my leave. There's still a lot of clan business to handle."
Hikaru didn't try to stop him. But there was still something he needed to say.
The fact that Mito Uzumaki was going to adopt him—that was something Noboru needed to know.
Soon enough, everyone in the village would hear about it. That was part of Mito's plan.
But giving Noboru advance notice might help him prepare for the fallout.
After all, even without thinking too hard, it was obvious that Mito Uzumaki adopting him would shake the Uchiha to their core.
The Uchiha clan was already divided into many factions, and none of them spoke with one voice.
Take Uchiha Setsuna, for example. In the original timeline, he incited rebellion and chaos within the clan, and was eventually arrested and imprisoned by the Anbu under the Second Hokage's orders.
He was the figurehead of the Hawk faction.
And where there's a Hawk faction, there are bound to be others.
The Uchiha didn't have a large population, but the internal factions were numerous.
By alerting Noboru now, Hikaru was essentially extending goodwill to his faction.
With that in mind, Hikaru stepped outside and grabbed Noboru's arm.
Noboru looked down at the boy in surprise.
"Big bro, I'm leaving here tomorrow."
"Lady Mito has decided to adopt me. Tomorrow morning, she'll take me to the Hokage building for registration. So if you ever need to find me, you'll have to go to the Senju from now on."
Noboru stood there dumbfounded, his mind echoing with the classic three questions:
Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
'Am I the one out of touch with the times? How did Mito Uzumaki adopt you in just one day? Are you some kind of reincarnated succubus!?'
Though this was only his internal thought, it showed just how stunned Noboru was.
After all, Mito Uzumaki was the First Hokage's wife, the very first Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
She held no formal position in the village, but everyone knew how Hiruzen Sarutobi had become the Third Hokage.
If she hadn't approved, there was no way Sarutobi would've been selected.
Back then, Sarutobi was a member of the Hokage Guard. No matter how you framed it, he had committed a grave dereliction of duty.
He abandoned the Hokage he was supposed to protect, forcing the Hokage himself to cover the rear. And their version of events had no solid proof.
If Mito hadn't personally known Tobirama Senju and understood his nature, she never would've believed what Sarutobi and the others claimed.
In the end, she went against the majority and honored Tobirama's wishes, which is how Sarutobi became the Third Hokage.