The Uchiha clan compound.
"I'm home, Mom!"Uchiha Sasuke called out as he slipped off his shoes.
"Welcome back, Sasuke."Uchiha Mikoto's gentle voice soon followed.
"Where's my brother?"Sasuke stepped into the living room and asked impatiently.
"Why do you look for your brother every time you come home?"Mikoto reached out and rubbed his head, smiling.
"I'm looking for him because I have something important!"Sasuke pouted and emphasized unhappily.
"Your brother hasn't come back yet."Seeing how cute he looked, Mikoto's smile deepened.
"Then I'll wait for him."Sasuke plopped down onto the sofa.
"I'll go start dinner."Mikoto took a few steps, then suddenly remembered something and turned back."Didn't you go to school today? How was it?"
"Playing ninja house. Pretty boring,"Sasuke said proudly. "I'll be just like my brother and take first place at the Ninja Academy!"
"Do your best!"Mikoto clenched her fist and gave him an encouraging gesture.
After a short while, the sound of the door opening echoed.
"Brother!"Sasuke jumped up immediately and rushed to the entrance.
"Sasuke."Uchiha Itachi greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Is our Uchiha clan not as strong as it used to be?"Sasuke asked bluntly.
"..."Itachi opened his mouth, then fell silent.
Even Sasuke had already noticed.
The Uchiha clan truly stood at the brink of survival.
"Today, we had a Konoha history class,"Sasuke said excitedly. "The teacher talked about the founding of the village. Back then, the Uchiha clan was just as respected as the Senju clan."
So that was it.
Realization dawned on Itachi's face, and he quietly let out a breath of relief.
He didn't want Sasuke to be dragged into the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village.
"That teacher of yours sounds pretty good—he even teaches Uchiha history,"Itachi said with a smile.
"Why do you say that?"Sasuke asked, puzzled.
He had no idea that the Uchiha clan was already approaching the point where it was despised by nearly everyone.
Most Academy teachers avoided the topic like the plague, usually glossing over that period of history.
"It's nothing,"Itachi shook his head and didn't explain further.
"Then… will the Uchiha clan return to its former glory?"Sasuke asked eagerly.
"Yes,"Itachi replied firmly.
"That makes sense."Sasuke grinned. "With you around, big brother, the future of the Uchiha clan will definitely be even stronger."
"Mm."Itachi paused for a moment, then nodded. "I'll put the Uchiha clan back on the right path."
Night grew deeper.
On a deserted street in Konoha, two figures walked side by side.
"Y–you're drunk again… again! You're such a lightweight!"Yuhi Kurenai stared at Kitazawa, her pretty face flushed like peach blossoms.
"You're the one who's drunk. I'm not,"Kitazawa corrected her.
He'd only had one bottle—Kurenai had drunk three.
"Th–then why is your face red?"Kurenai swayed slightly and laughed loudly.
"Careful."Kitazawa quickly stepped forward and steadied her by the waist.
"I–I'm fine."
Kurenai leaned naturally into his arms.
The scent of alcohol mixed with her fragrance drifted upward. Kitazawa instinctively looked down at her.
They were very close—close enough for him to clearly see the curve formed by Kurenai's pale neck and the black mesh lining beneath her collar.
"W–we're home… next time… next time I'll treat you again."Kurenai patted his chest and suddenly laughed. "Pretty solid, huh?"
"Looks like you really are drunk. Do you need me to walk you inside?"Kitazawa tugged at the corner of his mouth and asked.
"I'm not drunk!"Kurenai snapped back as if a reflex had been triggered."If you don't believe me, come inside—we'll keep drinking!"
"Alright, alright, you're not drunk,"Kitazawa said, using the tone one would use to coax a child.
"Hmph!"Kurenai took out her keys and opened the door.
Under the dim light, the perfect outline of her figure was revealed.
"Kitazawa."She leaned against the doorframe, smiling at him. "See you tomorrow."
"Mm."Kitazawa nodded.
Once the door closed, he turned and left.
Before long, he arrived home.
Not far away, Ichiraku Ramen was still bustling with business, steam rising as people came and went.
Kitazawa glanced at it briefly, then withdrew his gaze.
His home was a two-story wooden building.
The first floor was a general store, selling a bit of everything—oil, rice, firewood, salt, snacks, and soda.
The second floor was his living space, with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Small, but fully equipped.
Having had a few drinks, Kitazawa couldn't be bothered to open the shop.
He took a shower, returned to his room, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
A new day.
Knocking sounded at the door.
Kitazawa sat up, rubbing his slightly dizzy head.
After getting dressed, he walked toward the door in confusion.
Who would come looking for him this early?
When he opened it, Yuhi Kurenai stood outside, looking bright and lively.
Before he could speak, a breakfast set was thrust into his hands.
"I bought this breakfast while enduring a splitting hangover,"Kurenai said with a wide smile. "You should be grateful to your merciful old classmate!"
In truth, she'd come to thank him for walking her home the night before.
"Thank you,"Kitazawa accepted the breakfast and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"I have. I'm heading to the Kurama clan now."Kurenai paused, then added, "That student of mine is the Kurama clan's young lady—Kurama Yakumo."
"I've heard of that clan. At its peak, their genjutsu rivaled the Uchiha clan,"Kitazawa said, glancing at the simple bread-and-milk breakfast.
"Yes, that's the one."Kurenai turned, her long black hair swaying."I'm heading out—perfect timing to try the teaching methods you gave me."
"Truly a good woman,"Kitazawa murmured as he watched her walk away.
He suddenly recalled a common saying from the urban novels of his previous life:A good woman should never be missed, and a bad woman should never be let go.
After finishing breakfast, Kitazawa headed to the classroom.
Just like yesterday, since he arrived early, there were only a few students inside—yet Hinata Hyuga was already there.
Born into the Hyuga clan, she was strict with rules and punctual by habit.
But something was different today.
At the very least, she now took the initiative to greet him.
"K–Kitazawa-sensei."Hinata stood up and called out, mustering her courage.
Kitazawa's gaze fell on her face.
After being stared at for a few seconds, Hinata immediately grew flustered.
She brushed her hair aside, clenched the hem of her clothes with her small hands, her cheeks faintly red.
"Good morning, Hinata,"Kitazawa said, smiling as he watched her reaction.
This little girl was really quite fun.