The following morning, sunlight poured through the window into the room. Chiya was still deep in sleep when he felt a gentle poke on his cheek.
"Chiya-nii, time to wake up!"
A soft voice sounded in his ear, carrying a faint, sweet, coaxing tone.
Chiya opened his eyes slowly. Uchiha Mikoto was kneeling beside the bed, holding a neatly folded set of clothes in her hands, her brows and eyes curved in a warm smile as she looked at him.
"Breakfast is ready. If you do not get up soon, the miso soup will go cold."
Chiya stretched lazily, the corner of his mouth curving up.
"This early? Did I not tell you to sleep in a little more last night?"
Mikoto's cheeks turned faintly pink and she said softly.
"I... I wanted Chiya-nii to have a hot breakfast..."
Chiya laughed quietly and reached out to ruffle her hair, then sat up.
Seeing this, Mikoto immediately picked up the clothes and carefully helped him put them on, her movements as gentle as if she were handling something precious.
Her fingertips brushed against his skin from time to time, carrying a faint warmth, her eyes filled with tenderness.
"You went through the trouble."
Chiya looked at her serious expression and could not help reaching out to pinch her cheek.
Mikoto pressed her lips together, a trace of shyness flickering in her eyes, but she quickly returned to her warm smile.
"It is no trouble. Taking care of Chiya-nii makes me happy."
Chiya looked at her like this.
His heart softened all at once. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
Mikoto let out a small gasp and landed sitting on his lap. A flush spread across her cheeks in an instant.
"Ch, Chiya-nii?"
"Let me hold you for a moment."
Chiya laughed softly. His chin rested gently on her shoulder as he breathed in the faint, clean fragrance of her hair.
Mikoto's heartbeat quickened, but she did not refuse or struggle. She simply leaned obediently against him.
Enjoying a quiet moment of warmth and peace.
Until...
"Chiya-nii, it is getting late. If we do not eat soon, the food really will go cold..."
She reminded him in a small, soft voice.
Only then did Chiya let go.
"Alright. Whatever you say."
Chiya took Mikoto's delicate hand and pulled her along with him.
In the living room, the table was set with a simple but nourishing breakfast.
Steaming miso soup, rice balls shaped round and neatly, fish fillets and ham grilled just right, and two golden fried eggs with lightly crisped edges. It was clearly something she had prepared with care.
After Chiya sat down, Mikoto immediately brought everything in front of him, then thoughtfully handed him his chopsticks.
"Give it a try. I added a new blend of seasoning to the miso soup today."
She looked at Chiya with expectation.
Chiya said nothing and took a sip.
A rich, savory fragrance spread across his tongue. He nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. Even better than before."
Mikoto's eyes lit up, the corner of her mouth rising without her being able to stop it.
"Really? That is wonderful!"
Chiya looked at her satisfied smile.
He suddenly reached out and caught her wrist, giving it a gentle tug.
"Ah!"
Mikoto let out a startled cry as he pulled her down to sit beside him.
"Don't just stand there. Eat with me."
Chiya's tone left no room for argument.
Mikoto blinked, looking a little hesitant.
"But..."
"No buts."
Chiya picked up a piece of fish and brought it to her lips.
"Open up."
Mikoto's face went completely red in an instant, but she obediently opened her mouth and took the bite, chewing slowly and carefully like a well-behaved little cat.
Chiya looked at her like this and could not help laughing quietly.
"Is it good?"
"Yes!"
Mikoto nodded energetically, her eyes full of contentment.
The two of them finished breakfast taking turns feeding each other, the atmosphere warm and tender like a newlywed couple.
...
After the meal, Chiya lay in the reclining chair in the courtyard.
Enjoying the morning sunlight with his eyes half-closed, Chiya could not help feeling a quiet sense of something.
Lazy. Far too lazy.
This feeling of having everything handed to him was truly intoxicating.
After lying there for a while, Chiya finally checked the system reward.
'System, where is my Mangekyō reward!'
The system notification chimed right then.
[Congratulations to the host. Task complete: Securing Uchiha Mikoto.]
[Task reward: Mangekyō Dojutsu, Tsukuyomi.]
"Tsukuyomi?"
Chiya paused slightly.
He could not have been more familiar with this dojutsu.
Uchiha Itachi's signature genjutsu, capable of pulling an enemy's consciousness into an illusory world of the user's own creation.
Within that world, time, space, and all sensation were entirely under the caster's control.
It could even force a person to endure days of torment inside the genjutsu, while only an instant passed in the real world.
'I did not expect it would be this one...'
Chiya murmured to himself, and then the corner of his mouth curved into an amused smile.
He suddenly thought that beyond combat, Tsukuyomi might have another clever use, and that was to shock and stimulate.
'If I used the illusory world of Tsukuyomi to simulate the plot from the original story.
Kakashi and Nohara Rin being hunted by Mist-nin, and in the end Rin dying by Kakashi's hand.
Or perhaps both Rin and Kakashi dying at each other's hands.
Would that be enough of a shock to push Obito into awakening his Mangekyō?'
The idea lit something up in his mind.
After all, the evolution of the Sharingan almost always required a powerful emotional shock, and Tsukuyomi happened to be the most realistic way to create a "desperate situation."
[Receive reward?]
"Receive!"
Chiya's thoughts shifted in an instant.
The dojutsu power of the Sharingan surged within Chiya's eyes, and without him even noticing, his Sharingan had shifted into its Mangekyō form.
His vision was sharper and clearer than it had ever been before.
'System, open the status panel!'
[Name: Uchiha Chiya]
[Age: 22]
[Chakra: 39 units]
[Special Abilities: Senju Clan Constitution, Sharingan (Mangekyō), Ice Style, Lava Style]
[Skills:
Mangekyō Dojutsu: The Far Shore of the Yellow Springs, Cycle of Cause and Effect, Tsukuyomi.
Forbidden Jutsu: Izanagi, Izanami.
Sword Mastery, Susano'o, Medical Ninjutsu Mastery, Fire Style Mastery, Genjutsu Mastery, Blade Mastery, High-Speed Body Flicker, Shadow Clone Jutsu, Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, and others.]
'A full harvest indeed. Five more chakra units added!'
'It seems like there will be a chance to try putting it to use someday...'
Just as Chiya was thinking about how best to make use of Tsukuyomi, Uchiha Tekkai came hurrying over.
He presented a report file with a respectful bow.
"Clan Head, this is the recent activity report on clan members."
Chiya took the file and flipped through it casually. Most of it was minor internal clan matters, until his gaze landed on one particular entry.
"Uchiha Fugaku has been making frequent contact with a young clan woman named 'Uchiha Rinbi' recently. The relationship appears to be close."
"Mm?"
Chiya raised an eyebrow, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
He had not expected this guy to finally wise up.
In Chiya's impression, this cousin of his had always been steady and composed, even a little dense about these things.
The file also listed information about this "Uchiha Rinbi."
Sixteen years old, even younger than Mikoto.
She was the granddaughter of one of the clan elders.
Decent talent, quiet in personality.
Chiya could not help smiling.
He closed the file and said to Mikoto.
"I am stepping out for a bit."
Mikoto gave a gentle nod.
Chiya stood and walked straight toward Uchiha Fugaku's home.
At this hour, Fugaku should not have left for the Hokage Building yet.
As a Hokage adviser, his work was fairly relaxed, not nearly as busy as the ANBU.
"Cousin, word is you have been up to something."
Chiya pushed open Fugaku's door, his tone teasing.
Inside, Uchiha Fugaku was drinking tea. His hand jolted and he nearly knocked the cup over.
"Clan Head Chiya?! When did you get here?!"
Chiya sat down with a grin, looking at him with a meaningful expression.
"What is it? Did I interrupt a date with a certain 'Miss Uchiha Rinbi'?"
Fugaku's face went red in an instant.
"What are you talking about?!"
Chiya burst out laughing.
"Most of the clan already knows. And you were actually trying to hide it from me!"
Fugaku pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a helpless sigh.
"...I just think she has a good personality. We only talk from time to time."
"Oh? Just talk from time to time?"
Chiya raised an eyebrow.
"Should I arrange something, so you two can talk a little more often?"
"Stop making a scene!"
Chiya shrugged, his smile unchanged.
"Cousin, it is time you gave your future some thought. The future of the Uchiha still depends on our generation, after all."
Fugaku was quiet for a moment. He gave a sincere nod and finally said in a low voice.
"...I will think about it."
Chiya nodded with satisfaction and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Now that is more like it!"
"Cousin, I will be waiting for good news from you!"
━━━━━━━━━━━━
❤️ Enjoying the Story?
⭐ Every 500 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter!
📖 Read 120 chapters ahead on Patreon.
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
Thank you for your support!
━━━━━━━━━━━━