"Cousin?!"
Not only Lucien and Minato were stunned, but even Rin and Kakashi's jaws tightened, their eyes wide in disbelief. They half-thought Obito was joking—yet the look on his face proved otherwise.
"How exactly is that recorded in the family tree?" Lucien pressed, his tone curious but sharp.
Obito nodded seriously. "My name is Uchiha Obito. I have only one younger brother, Shisui. He's already joined the Anbu because of his talent."
"Shisui... your brother, huh." Lucien's crimson eyes glimmered. "How old is he now? Already in Anbu? He really must be a genius. I'll have to spar with him someday." He blinked, his brows raising. "But if you're my cousin... then that would mean my father and your father are brothers? So tell me... who's your father?"
The question hung heavy.
Obito blinked, then scoffed. "Haaah?! Why are you asking about my father? Shouldn't you be wondering about your own? Don't tell me... you don't even know your father's name."
The words pierced deeper than intended. But they were true. Ever since awakening in this world as Uchiha Shigure, Lucien had never discovered his parents' names.
"You know?" he asked flatly.
Obito shook his head gravely. "That's the problem, Shigure. Your father... every record of him has been erased. Name, background—gone. The only reason I could even piece this much together was because I always found it strange."
"Erased..." Lucien murmured, his face darkening.
"Yes. From what I gather, your current name—Shigure—was originally tied to your father's. But the clan deliberately erased all traces. I don't know why, or what they intend to hide..."
Lucien's teeth clenched so hard they nearly ground. So that's why... the constant bullying, the scorn. My very existence was branded defective... because they buried my bloodline.
"The Sandaime always told me my parents were Konoha heroes. That they gave their lives for the village. Then why—why am I ignored, despised, treated like dirt even within the clan?" His voice trembled, rage and hurt mixing until his Sharingan spun open unbidden. Three white tomoe glowed with piercing fury.
Obito stiffened, recognition flooding his eyes. The three tomoe—so pure, so cold—sent a chill down his spine.
Lucien's gaze sharpened into steel. "So that's it. Fatherless. Motherless. Orphan of heroes turned scapegoat. That became their excuse—an easy point of attack."
He exhaled through gritted teeth. "Heroes' son I may be, but the Uchiha treat me as an unwanted shadow. That's something I'll make them answer for."
Obito swallowed, then admitted quietly, "Even I don't know the full truth. The clan's affairs are tightly controlled—every decision by the Patriarch and the elders. Ten years ago, today... everything was decided by their whims. I'll help if I can, Shigure... but I barely understand the clan myself."
Lucien let the silence linger, then gave a thin smile. "I see. Thanks, Obito. But my path is mine to walk. One day, I'll unravel this truth myself."
With that, Lucien turned, remembering time was short. He bowed his head slightly to Minato.
"Junior Master. Until next time. I look forward to fighting by your side."
Minato grinned warmly. "And I'll be waiting, Uncle Master. When the time comes, let's fight together."
Kakashi's eye narrowed, pride burning in its depths. "We'll meet at the Chunin Exams. Be ready... Uchiha Shigure."
Obito forced a laugh, scratching his head nervously. "I hope... I don't face you there. Three tomoe at your age? What are you, five? Six? That's terrifying..."
Lucien smirked, then disappeared in a flash of his Body Flicker, leaving Team Minato standing awestruck once again.
Back at home, Lucien noticed the once-broken place was now tidied spotless.
"Xiaoxing must've cleaned everything," he murmured. A warmth brushed his otherwise cold heart. "That girl... she's more sensible than I thought."
But as much as order returned to the walls of his home, his heart still carried heaviness.
"I may be a transmigrator... but Uchiha Shigure's life is mine, and his pain is mine. Their bullying, their scorn—it all falls on me just the same. Someday... I'll demand my answers."
His body ached, exhaustion creeping in. Just as he was about to drift to sleep, footsteps entered without warning.
The door pushed open, stunning him. There stood Xiaoxing, bright-eyed, and beside her Amemiya Narcissus, the refined girl he'd met before.
Together, they carried... a birthday cake.
Lucien blinked, utterly caught off guard. "What... are you two doing?"
"Brother Shigure, did you forget what day it is?" Xiaoxing asked, tilting her head.
"What day?" He frowned.
"Your birthday!" she beamed.
"My... birthday?" Lucien repeated blankly. "Wait. How old am I again?"
Narcissus snorted with laughter, covering her mouth. "You don't even know your own age? How badly did you hit your head?"
Xiaoxing leaned closer, smiling gently. "Today's your fifth birthday."
Lucien froze. "What?! I'm only five years old?!"
"Yes, five," Xiaoxing giggled. "I'm the same age too—just a few months younger."
"Five..." Lucien muttered in disbelief. "Kakashi's nine. Obito's ten. And Shisui... probably six or seven..." His fists clenched, not in frustration, but in steeled determination.
"So young... but I already wield this power. Then the future is mine to seize."
P.S. This chapter revealed Lucien's erased lineage, Obito's recognition of their blood connection, and the cruel mystery surrounding his parents—while contrasting it with the tender moment of his birthday surprise. It mixes heavy identity struggles with a quiet reminder: even in darkness, Lucien still has people who care for him.
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