She wanted to help Fugaku shoulder more of the clan's responsibilities.
Mikoto Uchiha wore a standard shinobi outfit, a green flak jacket over it and black pants that outlined her full thighs as she stood up.
Under the dim lighting, shadows sharpened the contours of her face, making her features appear even more defined.
Seeing that it was Mikoto, Fugaku Uchiha immediately softened his tone.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you."
There were already feelings between the two of them. All that remained was to break through the final invisible barrier.
In Fugaku's eyes, it was only a matter of time.
...
After walking only a few steps, Seiji heard someone call his name.
When he turned around, he saw a gentle-looking woman.
"Lady Mikoto."
Seiji spoke respectfully.
Despite Mikoto's usual appearance as a housewife, the official databook Naruto Jin no Sho clearly recorded that she was a retired jōnin.
And a jōnin already stood at the upper ranks of the shinobi hierarchy.
"One of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade, will arrive shortly. Let me take you back to your room first."
Mikoto suggested.
"Alright."
Seiji nodded quietly and followed behind her, half a step back.
He had already lived with the Uchiha clan for a month and knew exactly where his room was.
Yet Mikoto still insisted on guiding him.
The two walked for a while, passing a corner.
Suddenly Mikoto spoke.
"The Sharingan is a rare kekkei genkai. In the Land of Lightning people must have found your eyes unusual. You probably received many strange looks while living outside, didn't you, Seiji?"
She slightly turned her head and lowered her gaze toward the shorter boy beside her.
Before Seiji could answer, Mikoto smiled gently.
"And you don't need to call me 'Lady.' It feels distant. You can call me sister instead. If you've been wronged or feel upset, you can always talk to me."
Her words were filled with concern.
"Mikoto La… Mikoto-sister, you're so kind. It's been a long time since anyone cared about me."
Seiji replied emotionally.
After a brief pause, as if remembering something, he added,
"Though actually, no one in the Land of Lightning had ever seen eyes like mine before. Nobody really did anything to me."
The Art of Speaking (White) trait was still active.
Seiji's words sounded sincere.
But inside, he remained completely calm.
Even now, they were still testing him.
After retiring, Mikoto lived like a housewife.
But right now, she was still very much a jōnin.
And shinobi had never been a "righteous profession."
Beyond the surface adventures, the darker side was always present.
Poisoning. Espionage. Assassination.
Those were the true constants of the shinobi world.
"I see. That's wonderful."
Mikoto smiled softly.
Children of only a few years old often revealed information subconsciously.
It seemed increasingly likely that Seiji truly had nothing suspicious in his background.
Still, Mikoto kept a small measure of caution. Only long-term observation would reveal the truth.
The two continued walking and soon arrived at Seiji's room.
"Wait here for a moment. They should arrive soon."
"Alright."
Seiji remained inside while Mikoto left.
"Next, I need to find a way to increase my strength."
Peace would not last long.
The Third Great Ninja War was about to break out.
Konohagakure would even be pushed back to Kikyō Mountain, practically at the village's doorstep.
The ninja of Kumogakure might be a useful opportunity.
They had already tried to arrange a chance meeting with Seiji after realizing they had missed the opportunity to claim Uchiha blood.
Seiji never reported them.
In a place like Konoha, where hierarchy had already solidified, Kumogakure's attempt to recruit him could bring greater benefits.
After thinking for a moment, Seiji closed his eyes and began practicing chakra extraction.
A panel appeared before him.
Trait: Muscle Memory (White)
Requirement:Repeat a complex training routine until it forms a subconscious habit.
Progress: 99%
Effect:Through repeated movement, your muscles gradually adapt and memorize actions. These movements can be performed reflexively without conscious thought.
Your muscle memory is 10% stronger than that of an ordinary person.
Currently unable to erase incorrect muscle memory.
Note:This trait can be upgraded in the future.
This was the next trait Seiji was about to obtain.
Looking at the translucent panel, Seiji estimated that if everything continued normally, he would acquire the trait within three days.
Since arriving in Konoha, he had been practicing chakra refinement every single day.
It was an ability with enormous potential.
Once he possessed this trait, anything he learned would be faster than ordinary people.
For now, Muscle Memory (White) could not remove incorrect movements.
But the system specifically noted that it currently could not remove them.
That suggested that once the trait evolved, it might eventually correct mistakes automatically.
Right now it improved muscle memory by 10%.
In the future, that number might grow even higher.
Perhaps to the point where seeing something once would be enough for the body to permanently remember it.
Half an hour later.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Seiji."
Mikoto returned.
Behind her were two female shinobi.
The one in front was a voluptuous woman with long blonde hair tied behind her head and a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
With a single glance, Seiji recognized her.
106 centimeters.
Only one woman in the shinobi world possessed such legendary proportions.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
Tsunade.
The second female ninja stood quietly behind her.
She had short black hair and looked like a calm, gentle girl.
Shizune.
Tsunade's constant companion.
Seiji calmly analyzed the information.
This was already after the Second Great Ninja War.
Tsunade had lost her lover, Dan Kato, and developed hemophobia.
Because of that, she cared deeply for Dan's niece, Shizune.
"This is Tsunade, and this is Shizune."
Mikoto introduced them.
"Nice to meet you."
Seiji spoke humbly.
Even when addressing Shizune, who was slightly younger than him, he kept the same respectful tone.
"Show me your Sharingan."
Unlike Tsunade's beautiful face, her voice carried clear impatience.
She clearly did not enjoy visiting the Uchiha compound.
Hearing this, Seiji closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his left eye turned crimson.
A single tomoe spun slowly within it.
His right eye remained pitch black, like that of an ordinary person.
"That's certainly strange."
Tsunade's red-painted fingernails held open Seiji's eyelid, widening it further.
At this distance, Seiji could even smell the faint fragrance coming from her.
About five minutes later, Tsunade finally withdrew her hand.
"Have you noticed any changes?"
"I feel like my physical strength is improving."
"And?"
Tsunade stared at him.
Her grand-uncle had been deeply involved in studying the Uchiha clan and had recorded plenty of information.
She knew that once an Uchiha awakened the Sharingan, their personality often changed drastically.
So what was Seiji?
Half-changed?
"That's all."
Seiji answered sincerely.
Tsunade continued examining his body, touching here and checking there.
Since Seiji didn't understand medical ninjutsu, he could only let her continue the inspection.
Behind Tsunade, Shizune had remained silent the entire time.
But now, she secretly glanced at Seiji from the corner of her eye.
(End of Chapter 2)