She wanted to share some of Fugaku's burdens.
Mikoto, dressed in her shinobi uniform with a green flak jacket over it, rose from her seat. The motion of standing brought out the firm curves of her thighs, defined by her black trousers.
Under the dim lantern light, shadows fell across her face, sharpening the delicate lines of her features.
When Fugaku saw that it was Mikoto, his tone softened at once."Alright then—I'll leave it to you."
Between the two of them, there were already unspoken feelings. Only the last thin paper wall had yet to be pierced.In Fugaku's eyes, it was only a matter of time.
Seiji had barely walked a few steps when he heard someone call his name.
Turning his head, he saw a gentle-looking woman."Mikoto-sama," Seiji greeted politely.
Despite always seeming like a homemaker, the official databook Shinobi Record made it clear: Mikoto was a retired jōnin.
And a jōnin was already a high-ranking shinobi—one of the elite.
"Later, one of the Sannin—Tsunade—will be arriving. For now, let me take you back to your room," Mikoto suggested.
"Alright," Seiji replied, falling into step behind her, keeping half a pace back.
He had already been with the Uchiha clan for a month and knew perfectly well where his room was. Yet Mikoto insisted on guiding him herself.
The two of them walked quietly for a while, turning a corner before Mikoto suddenly spoke.
"The Sharingan is a rare kekkei genkai. I imagine that in the Land of Lightning, people must have seen your eyes as something strange. You must have suffered quite a few looks of suspicion, didn't you, Seiji?"
She tilted her head slightly, lowering her gaze to meet his—he was shorter than her, after all.
Before Seiji could answer, Mikoto smiled gently."And there's no need to call me '-sama.' That feels distant. You can call me 'onee-san.' If you ever feel wronged or need someone to talk to, you can come to me."
Her words carried a warmth that could only be described as care.
"Mikoto-sa… Mikoto-nee-san, you're so kind. It's been a long time since anyone cared about me." Seiji's voice trembled with emotion.
After a short pause, as if remembering something, he added:"But honestly, most people never even saw my red eyes. No one ever treated me differently."
[Art of Persuasion (White)] was still active.
His words carried sincerity—yet inside, he was utterly calm.
Even now, they were probing him. Mikoto might play the role of a housewife in retirement, but she was still a shinobi—a jōnin at that.
And shinobi were never "righteous" by profession.Poison, espionage, assassination—those were the true rhythms beneath the surface.
"I see. That's good then," Mikoto replied with a soft smile.
Children as young as Seiji often slipped up and revealed truths subconsciously.
Perhaps this boy really was clean.
Mikoto allowed herself to relax—though not entirely. She would still need to observe him over time.
The two walked on in silence until they arrived at Seiji's quarters.
"Wait here a bit longer. They should be arriving soon," she said.
"Understood," Seiji answered, staying inside while Mikoto left.
"Next, I need to think about strengthening my power."
He knew his days of peace wouldn't last long.
The Third Great Ninja War was looming. Soon, enemy forces would even invade Konoha's doorstep at Kikyo Pass—so close to the village itself.
Perhaps the Hidden Cloud could serve as a useful entry point.
After failing to secure the Uchiha bloodline, they had sent spies to "accidentally" encounter Seiji.
But Seiji hadn't reported them.
In a village where class was rigid and fixed, the Hidden Cloud's attempts at recruitment could offer him more leverage for his own future.
After some thought, Seiji closed his eyes and began refining chakra again.
A translucent panel appeared before him.
[Trait: Muscle Memory (White)][Requirement: Repeat a tedious training until it becomes an unconscious habit.][Progress: 99%][Effect: After countless repetitions, your muscles adapt to the movement. You can now perform it as a reflex without conscious thought. Your muscle memory is 10% stronger than an average person's.Currently unable to erase incorrect muscle memory.][Note: Can be further advanced.]
This was the trait Seiji was about to unlock.
Staring at the faint letters on the panel, he resumed training. If nothing went wrong, within three days he would acquire this trait.
Ever since arriving in Konoha, he had refined chakra relentlessly every day.
It was a training method of tremendous potential.
Once he secured this trait, Seiji would learn faster than ordinary people in everything.
At present, [Muscle Memory (White)] couldn't erase faulty movements, so he had to correct them himself. But the wording—"currently unable to erase"—hinted that future advancements might allow him to passively correct mistakes.
And the "10% improvement" was only the beginning.
One day, he might reach a level where even doing something once would be enough for his body to remember it permanently.
Half an hour later—
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Seiji."
Mikoto returned, this time with two kunoichi behind her.
The first was a voluptuous woman with long golden hair tied back, a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
At a single glance, Seiji knew who she was.
106 centimeters.The one and only—Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin.
The second kunoichi followed closely at her side—a quiet girl with short black hair.
Shizune. Tsunade's constant companion.
Seiji's mind quickly processed the information.
This was after the Second Great Ninja War. Tsunade had already lost her lover, Dan Katō, and developed hemophobia. Because of that, she cared deeply for his niece, Shizune.
"This is Tsunade, and this is Shizune," Mikoto introduced them.
"Hello," Seiji said with a respectful bow. His voice carried humility—even when addressing Shizune, who was only a little older than him.
"Go on. Show us your Sharingan," Tsunade said.
Her voice didn't match her beautiful face—impatience colored every word. Clearly, she didn't want to be here with the Uchiha.
At her command, Seiji closed his eyes. When they opened again, his left eye glowed crimson, a single tomoe slowly spinning within.
His right eye remained a plain, ordinary black.
"It really is unusual," Tsunade muttered.
Her fingers—nails painted red—pressed against Seiji's eyelid, pulling it wider.
From this close, Seiji could even catch the faint fragrance that clung to her.
After several minutes, Tsunade finally released him.
"Any changes you've noticed?"
"I feel… stronger. My body seems tougher than before," Seiji answered.
"And?" Tsunade pressed, her gaze fixed on him.
Her granduncle had been a master of Uchiha research—she knew well that the moment these eyes awakened, Uchiha often underwent drastic changes in personality.
Seiji seemed only halfway there.
"That's all," Seiji replied earnestly.
Tsunade continued her examination, hands moving across him with practiced precision. Seiji, unfamiliar with medical ninjutsu, simply endured as she inspected him.
All the while, Shizune, silent at Tsunade's side, stole sidelong glances at Seiji with her soft, dark eyes.