Yes, what could be more important than witnessing a child's important moment in life. The same question lingered in her heart, refusing to fade away.
Before long, the two of them stopped in front of a residence. This was Yashiro Uchiha's home, quiet and ordinary from the outside.
Mikoto suddenly stopped, squatted down, and smiled at Sasuke. "Sasuke, wait here for Mom for a moment, all right? I'm going to talk to Aunt Ryoko about something. I'll be right back."
Sasuke nodded obediently and leaned against the tree by the roadside. He watched as his mother turned and walked away.
Mikoto stepped up to the door of Yashiro Uchiha's house and raised her hand to knock lightly. The sound echoed softly in the morning air.
"Ryoko, are you home?" Mikoto Uchiha called out gently.
The house was silent, with no response at all. Faintly, the sound of a child crying could be heard, but it quickly died down again.
Normally, given Mikoto Uchiha's temperament, she would have chosen to leave at this point. Yet for some reason today, she waited patiently outside, the rising sun stretching her shadow long across the ground.
Just as she hesitated over whether to knock again, light footsteps came from inside, followed by the click of a bolt being drawn. The door opened a narrow crack.
Ryoko's face appeared behind the door. When she saw Mikoto Uchiha, she smiled. "Mikoto, sorry to keep you waiting."
However, Mikoto Uchiha's gaze went straight past Ryoko and landed on the figure standing in the living room behind her. It was Yashiro Uchiha.
"Lady Mikoto?" Yashiro Uchiha stepped forward and asked calmly from behind Ryoko. "Is there something you need?"
Mikoto quickly suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, her warm smile returning. "It's nothing. I came to see Ryoko and ask if she wanted to go buy some groceries together."
As she spoke, her eyes shifted naturally to Ryoko, who seemed about to say something as her lips moved slightly.
At that moment, loud and urgent crying erupted from inside the house again. Ryoko instinctively turned her head toward the bedroom.
"The baby is crying."
In contrast, Yashiro Uchiha's voice remained steady as he raised a hand and patted Ryoko on the arm. "Go check on the child first."
Ryoko snapped back to herself, glancing apologetically at Mikoto before looking anxiously inside. "Mikoto, I'm sorry. The child hasn't been feeling well today."
Mikoto's eyes swept quickly between Yashiro Uchiha's calm, unreadable face and Ryoko's flustered expression. She shook her head slowly.
"It's fine. The child comes first," she said with an easy smile. "Go ahead. We can talk about groceries another day."
Without waiting for them to respond, she took a step back and waved her hand lightly. "I'll be going then. I won't disturb you."
With that, Mikoto turned decisively, basket in hand, and left Yashiro Uchiha's house with the same light steps as before. In the instant she turned away, the gentle smile vanished from her face, replaced by a slight frown and a deep, heavy doubt in her eyes.
"Mom?" Sasuke asked as he saw her returning.
"Yes, let's go," Mikoto Uchiha replied, taking his hand again and keeping her tone relaxed. "We're heading to school."
The two of them continued toward the academy, Mikoto responding softly to Sasuke's excited questions about school. Yet the sense of unease in her heart only grew stronger with each step.
Soon, the gates of the Ninja Academy came into view. Many parents and children were already gathered there, creating a lively scene filled with hope.
Mikoto squatted down and carefully straightened Sasuke's collar. Looking at his youthful face, a wave of tenderness welled up in her heart.
"Sasuke," she said gently, "listen to your teachers at school and get along well with your classmates, all right?"
"Mm. I know," Sasuke nodded vigorously.
She patted his shoulder lightly and watched as he turned to run toward the school gate, then suddenly called out to him again.
"Sasuke!"
He stopped and turned back, puzzled. "Mom?"
Mikoto looked into her son's clear eyes, forcing herself to keep her smile steady. "After school today, you don't need to come home too early. You can play with your classmates a little longer."
Sasuke blinked, confused. "Why?"
"It's nothing," Mikoto shook her head. "It's just your first day of school. It's fine to come back a bit later and spend more time with your classmates."
"Oh," Sasuke nodded, half understanding. Thinking about being able to play longer, he smiled brightly. "Got it. I'm going in then."
As she watched Sasuke run into the school and merge with the other children, Mikoto's smile slowly faded away. She stood there quietly, her heart heavy.
By evening, the residence of Fugaku Uchiha was lit by a single wall lamp that cast a soft glow through the living room. The darkness outside was held at bay by the gentle light.
Mikoto Uchiha was not resting in the bedroom as usual, but sat alone on the sofa with a cup of tea that had long since gone cold in her hands. The room was silent, broken only by the faint hum of the lamp.
kacha.
The sound of a key turning softly at the entrance broke the stillness. The door opened, and Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha entered one after the other.
"Welcome home," Mikoto Uchiha said, her voice cutting through the silence. Itachi Uchiha's body stiffened slightly at the sound.
Mikoto set down her cup, her familiar gentle smile returning as she stood to greet them. Fugaku Uchiha glanced at her, a faint crease forming between his brows.
"Why didn't you go pick up Sasuke after school?" he asked.
Mikoto shook her head, her smile unchanged. "It's his first day at school. I let him stay and play with his classmates for a while."
As she spoke, she stepped forward naturally and took Fugaku Uchiha's coat from him. He nodded calmly.
"Mm. Now that he's entered the Ninja Academy, Sasuke should start growing up," Fugaku Uchiha said, then turned and headed toward his room.
Itachi also moved to return to his own room. Just as he passed by his mother and took a step forward, her voice sounded again behind him.
"Itachi."
Her tone was still gentle, yet it carried a weight that could not be ignored. Itachi Uchiha stopped and slowly turned back.
"Mother, is there something else?" he asked.
Mikoto Uchiha stood there quietly, moonlight casting soft shadows across her face. She looked at her son's eyes, so similar to her own, yet always hiding too much emotion.
She took two steps forward and stopped in front of him. Her smile gradually faded.
"Itachi," she said softly, "can you tell me something."
"What have you and your father been doing during this time?"
Itachi's heart jolted violently. He instinctively wanted to answer with excuses about missions and training.
"You should understand," Mikoto said suddenly, her voice rising and cutting him off as she stared at him. "You and Fugaku Uchiha cannot hide it from me."
"You were so tense before because of the conflict between the clan and the village, almost like strangers. Why have you suddenly become so close recently?"
"And not just you and Fugaku Uchiha, but Shisui too."
"The three of you are always together, leaving early and returning late. What exactly are you doing?"
"Or rather," she lowered her voice, almost interrogating him, "what did you and Shisui do to your father?"