"Congratulations, Lord Fugaku. It is a boy."
Shimizu Uchiha pushed open the door. He held the cloth-wrapped Itachi Uchiha in his arms, offering Fugaku Uchiha a brief glimpse. Afterward, he arranged for several nurses to take Itachi to the neonatal incubator for registration.
"Hahaha! This is our Uchiha clan—this bond of blood and lineage... I am a father!" Fugaku laughed heartily. He had only spared Itachi a single glance, but that feeling of a blood connection convinced him—this was undoubtedly his child!
Shimizu silently observed Fugaku's expression of pure joy. Every man who is "happy to be a father" feels a deep connection to the child at birth, believing it to be his own flesh and blood. To put it bluntly, it was a psychological reaction—a self-deception. As long as a wife maintains the appearance of virtue, what husband would suspect he was wearing a "green hat" before a paternity test?
"Congratulations, Lord Fugaku. You are a father now," Shimizu said, clapping his hands. He then watched as Mikoto Uchiha was wheeled out on a transfer bed.
"Where is the child?" Mikoto asked weakly.
"The nurses took him. Your family will be reunited shortly," Shimizu replied.
"Mikoto, don't worry about Itachi. Is your body alright?" Fugaku walked to the side of the bed, leaning against the stainless steel guardrail, gazing at Mikoto with concern.
"I'm fine..." Seeing Fugaku's genuine worry, Mikoto felt no joy—only a profound sense of desolation. The more Fugaku cared for her, the more she was reminded of her betrayal. This guilt weighed heavily on her heart, making it difficult to breathe.
"Mikoto, I'll go buy some chicken soup. Wait for me." Fugaku comforted her with a few more words before heading out to get nourishment for her recovery.
"Congratulations, Lord Fugaku! Don't forget to invite us for a celebratory drink!" Several other Uchiha clan members followed Fugaku out, teasing him playfully. Fugaku didn't put on many airs; though he looked stern and old-fashioned, he wasn't particularly harsh with his subordinates. Sometimes, he even phrased his orders as requests. The group departed in high spirits.
Shimizu moved Mikoto to a private hospital room. "Rin [Nohara], please look after Lady Mikoto during this time."
Rin Nohara seemed to have been waiting there all along. "Understood," she nodded. Shimizu had notified her to wait in this room when he was called away for the delivery.
"By the way, prepare some formula for Itachi—Lady Mikoto's child. Use that newly developed formula."
Hearing Shimizu's words, Mikoto frowned slightly. Isn't natural nourishment better for a newborn? Why use a man-made product? "There's no need... I... I will personally brea—"
"That won't be necessary. Itachi was born prematurely; he needs a specialized formula," Shimizu said, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
While researching the Power of Mōryō, Shimizu had conducted many experiments. Organisms are at their most malleable stage right after birth. He had developed a type of milk powder infused with a fraction of Mōryō's power to enhance growth. Since Itachi's birth was approaching, he had finalized the product over the last few months, though it was currently only suitable for small-scale production.
The Power of Mōryō was finite, and Shimizu would not waste it. At least until he found a way to mass-produce it, he wouldn't share much with others. Whether it was the Juin (Cursed Seal) experiments or this formula, he used only a minuscule amount. A single drop of Mōryō's essence was enough to produce years' worth of formula if diluted with enough ingredients.
"I... I see." Mikoto's brow relaxed. She hadn't expected Shimizu to take his responsibility as a father so seriously.
"Now, before that, I believe it's necessary to test your proficiency in Suiton." Shimizu formed a hand seal—one that looked remarkably like a gripping motion.
Zzz—
Releasing a Jutsu requires hand seals to guide the generation of the technique. Because of the seal Shimizu formed, Mikoto "released" a Suiton!
It was white! Her constitution was unique; unlike the usual blue or transparent chakra-water of others, hers was as white as snow from a mountain peak. Under the sunlight, it shimmered with a crystalline luster, splashing within the hospital room.
Mikoto's face was filled with shock, her body stiffening. Her upper garment was soaked by the Suiton, and some of it even spilled onto the blankets. Standing at the door, Rin Nohara was equally stunned, watching Shimizu's hand seal and Mikoto's "Suiton." The coordination between the two was seamless; without either party, this effect could not have been achieved.
Mikoto was horrified that Shimizu's tastes had reached such a depraved level so soon after the birth. He truly did whatever crossed his mind. Rin, however, was terrified by the realization that Shimizu was having an affair with the wife of the Uchiha Clan Leader!
This explosive revelation echoed in Rin's mind. Only now did she realize just how audacious Shimizu was. It was one thing to manipulate a commoner kunoichi like herself—if she tried to report him, the Konohagakure Police Force would likely side with him anyway. But Mikoto's husband was Captain Fugaku of that very Police Force! How did he dare?
"Stop...!" Mikoto pushed Shimizu away with her weak hands, covering herself. There was an outsider present!
"Ahem... this is Dr. Shimizu helping me regulate my body," Mikoto explained to Rin, forcing herself to use a clumsy excuse. In cases where a mother's "output" is insufficient, there are specialized techniques to increase the volume—commonly known as "induction."
"I... I understand," Rin said, lowering her eyes.
If this news got out, all of Konohagakure would tremble. Since the Uchiha and Senju founded the village, there had never been a scandal of this magnitude. The fallout would be immeasurable; everyone might start living in fear that their own partners were doing the same.
Rin's situation was different from Mikoto's. For all she knew, Mikoto was a willing participant, living in a sort of twisted happiness. Rin, on the other hand, was entirely coerced. She had no intention of exposing Shimizu. The fact that he allowed her to see this meant he was completely unafraid. Rin didn't dare gamble on whether Shimizu had left some "back door" or trap within her. By now, the image of Shimizu as a terrifying, all-powerful figure was firmly rooted in her mind. He was... omnipotent.
"It's good that you understand, Rin," Shimizu said with a faint smile.
He then tested the "flavor" of the Suiton. Normally, Suiton is a product of chakra and is not potable; only natural water can be consumed. The Suiton released from Mikoto's "heart" happened to be pure, natural water. From this alone, one could see her foundation as a kunoichi. Most women wouldn't be able to "summon" this much Suiton after giving birth.
The water flowed freely. As the sunlight filtered in, it cast Shimizu's shadow in a winding, distorted shape—like a demon feasting at its leisure.
"The chicken soup is here, Mikoto."
Fugaku finally returned to the Konoha Hospital carrying a pot of soup. After asking around, he found Mikoto's ward.
"Sorry!" Rin's mop nearly collided with Fugaku as she cleaned.
Fugaku shook his head, saying it was fine. He was in an excellent mood and was very easygoing about such trifles. He felt a slight flicker of curiosity, though; he remembered this girl was Rin Nohara. She was the girl the late Obito Uchiha had admired, and a teammate of Shimizu Uchiha. Why was she here mopping floors?
"Fugaku..." Mikoto's voice was still weak, as if she had just endured an ordeal.
"Why did you change clothes?" Fugaku noticed that Mikoto's Uchiha clan robe had been replaced by a blue-and-white striped hospital gown.
"The sweat soaked through them. Rin helped me change," Mikoto said, propping herself up against the headboard.
"I see. Here, try some chicken soup." Fugaku placed the container on the table, poured a small bowl, and approached Mikoto with a spoon. He stepped carefully on the floor to avoid slipping on the freshly mopped surface. "You've worked hard giving birth. You've suffered much for our child."
Looking at the soup her husband brought, Mikoto's nose felt sharp with emotion. She didn't let him feed her, instead taking the bowl and drinking it herself. Her eyes grew red as she kept her head down, sipping the broth.
Meanwhile, Rin finished mopping the floor, erasing every trace of the Suiton. She held her mop, watching the "loving" couple inside. A sense of absurdity rose within her. After a long moment, she let out a quiet sigh.
The great tree of Konoha always harbored darkness in its shadows—darkness that might never be touched by the sun. Just like her. Her struggles would never be known by Kakashi [Hatake]. Lady Mikoto's betrayal would never be known by Captain Fugaku.
Rin walked out silently. But what could she do? Obito, who loved her, was dead. Kakashi, whom she liked, was already engaged; his marriage was a certainty. Even the seemingly grand and radiant Minato Namikaze had not responded to her pleas regarding Kakashi's Sharingan. Furthermore, he had sent them on that mission to Kannabi Bridge. That irrational assignment—having a newly promoted Jōnin like Kakashi lead them against an elite force from Iwagakure—showed that even Minato was not perfect.
In Konoha, she was nothing more than a lowly commoner.
Rin returned the mop to the utility room. She slapped her cheeks to cheer herself up. Regardless of the circumstances, her parents' lives had improved. Working for Shimizu provided her with a substantial amount of money at regular intervals. Her parents no longer had to run their shop from dawn till dusk; they could find easier work.
"That's right, Rin Nohara. You can do this. Shimizu Uchiha is just a small, insignificant shadow obscuring your path forward," Rin whispered to herself.
But as she finally regained her composure and stepped out with renewed energy, the first thing she heard struck her like a bolt of lightning.
"Yugao [Uzuki], did you say Kakashi brought back a woman? He's going to marry her? And she's from Kirigakure?"
Hayate Gekko had come to the hospital for his usual medication when he happened to run into Yugao Uzuki.
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