She wanted to help ease some of Fugaku's burdens.
Mikoto wore a ninja outfit, a green flak jacket over it, and black pants that outlined the full curve of her thighs as she stood.
Under the dim lighting, the shadows made her features look even more defined.
The moment Fugaku saw that it was Mikoto, his voice softened.
"All right, then I'll leave it to you."
The feelings between the two of them were mutual. All that remained was to break through the final layer of hesitation.
In Fugaku's eyes, that was only a matter of time.
...
Seiji had not gone far when he heard someone calling his name.
When he turned around, he saw a gentle-looking woman.
"Lady Mikoto."
Seiji spoke.
Even though Mikoto always gave off the impression of a housewife, the official databook listed her clearly as a retired jonin.
And a jonin already stood at the upper tier of the ninja hierarchy.
"One of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade, will be coming later. I'll take you back to your room first."
Mikoto offered.
"All right."
Seiji nodded and followed behind her in silence, staying half a step back.
He had already been with the Uchiha Clan for a month, and he was long familiar with where his room was.
Yet Mikoto still said she would lead him there.
The two of them walked on for a while and passed around a corner.
Then Mikoto suddenly said, "The Sharingan is a rare bloodline limit. In the Land of Lightning, other people probably found it strange, and you must have received quite a few looks for being different, Seiji."
She turned her head slightly and lowered her gaze to look at Seiji, who was shorter than her.
Before Seiji could say anything, Mikoto revealed a gentle smile.
"And you don't need to call me 'Lady.' It feels too distant. You can call me big sister. If you've suffered any grievances, you can come talk to me."
Her words were filled with concern for him.
"Lady Miko... Mikoto nee-san, you're so kind. It's been a long time since anyone cared about me."
Seiji sounded moved.
He paused, as if thinking of something, then added, "But the others had never seen eyes as scarlet as mine before, so no one ever really did anything to me."
[Silver Tongue (White)] was still in effect.
The words Seiji spoke sounded sincere.
But inside, he was completely calm.
Even at a time like this, she still had not forgotten to test him.
Mikoto might become a housewife after retiring, but right now she was still a genuine jonin.
And ninja had never been some "righteous profession."
Beyond the surface-level image of adventure, there was far more darkness hidden underneath.
Poisoning, espionage, assassination... those were the unchanging themes.
"I see. That's wonderful."
Mikoto smiled softly.
Children only a few years old were the easiest to draw information out of unconsciously.
It seemed Seiji really might be clean.
Mikoto relaxed a little inside, though she still kept her guard up. What kind of person he truly was would need to be determined through long-term observation.
The two of them kept walking, and soon arrived at Seiji's room.
"Wait here a little longer. They should be here soon."
"All right."
Seiji waited inside the room while Mikoto stepped out.
"Next, I need to find a way to improve my strength."
He did not have much peaceful time left.
The Third Great Ninja War was about to break out.
Konoha would even be invaded all the way to Kikyo Pass. From there, it would not be far to the village itself.
The people of Kumogakure might actually be a good breakthrough point.
After losing the Uchiha bloodline, they had sent a spy to "coincidentally" run into Seiji.
Seiji had chosen not to report it.
In a Konoha where the class structure had already solidified, Kumogakure's attempts to win him over could bring him more benefits.
After thinking in silence for a moment, Seiji closed his eyes and began practicing chakra refinement.
A panel appeared before him.
[Trait: Muscle Memory (White)]
[Requirement: Repeatedly perform a complicated form of training and establish a subconscious habit.]
[Progress: 99%]
[Effect: After repeating a large number of movements, your muscles have gradually changed and adapted to them. These actions can now be used without conscious thought through conditioned reflex.
Your muscle memory is 10% better than that of an ordinary person.
At present, incorrect muscle memory cannot be removed.]
[Note: This trait can continue to evolve.]
This was the trait Seiji was about to obtain.
Looking at the translucent words on the panel, he knew that if nothing unexpected happened, he would gain this trait within three days.
Ever since entering Konoha, he had been refining chakra every single day.
This was an ability with enormous potential.
As long as he had this trait, whatever he learned would come faster to him than to an ordinary person.
For now, [Muscle Memory (White)] still could not erase incorrect movements, meaning Seiji had to correct them himself.
Since it specifically stated that "at present, incorrect muscle memory cannot be removed," then after it evolved in the future, it might be able to correct such errors passively.
And with his muscle memory already 10% better than normal, that value might also continue to grow.
Maybe one day it would reach the point where seeing something only once would be enough for his body to remember it forever.
Half an hour later...
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Seiji."
Mikoto, who had left not long ago, entered again.
There were also two female ninja following behind her.
At the front was a full-bodied woman with long blonde hair tied behind her head and a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
With just one glance, Seiji recognized who she was.
One hundred and six centimeters.
Only Tsunade could possess such overwhelming grandeur.
One of the legendary Sannin.
The second female ninja followed behind Tsunade. She had short black hair and looked like a very quiet girl.
Shizune.
The little attendant who was always following Tsunade around.
Seiji calmly analyzed the information.
The Second Great Ninja War had already ended. Tsunade had lost Dan and developed hemophobia.
That was also why she cared so much for Dan's niece, Shizune.
"This is Tsunade, and this is Shizune."
Mikoto introduced them one by one for Seiji.
"Hello."
Seiji's tone was humble. Even when facing Shizune, who was slightly younger than him, he treated her the same way.
"Hurry up and let me see that Sharingan of yours."
Unlike Tsunade's beautiful face, the words coming out of her mouth were full of impatience.
She was obviously not happy about having to come to the Uchiha compound.
Hearing that, Seiji closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his left eye had turned scarlet, and a single tomoe emerged within it, slowly spinning.
His right eye remained dark, like that of an ordinary person.
"That is pretty strange."
Tsunade's red-painted fingernails pressed against Seiji's eyelid and pulled it wider.
From this close, 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 condition is getting stronger."
"And?"
Tsunade stared at Seiji.
Her second granduncle had been a true master when it came to researching the Uchiha, and he had compiled a great deal of information. Tsunade knew at least some of it.
Those Uchiha, once they awakened their eyes, all underwent drastic personality changes.
So was Seiji like a half-change?
"That's all."
Seiji answered sincerely.
After that, Tsunade continued examining his body. Since Seiji knew nothing about medical ninjutsu, he could only let Tsunade touch here and check there as she pleased.
Shizune, who had been standing quietly behind Tsunade the whole time, was now secretly studying Seiji from the corner of her eye.
(End of Chapter)
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