"Understood, Clan Head."
Uchiha Mu lowered his head respectfully before stepping back.
Marriage.
Within the Uchiha Clan, internal unions had always been the norm. Only by preserving the purity of their bloodline could they ensure stronger descendants—children with a higher chance of awakening the Sharingan.
Ryujin paused slightly.
He hadn't expected this topic to arise so suddenly.
Truthfully, he had never given it much thought.
At eighteen, by the standards of his previous life, he had only just reached adulthood.
But in this world…
Eighteen was already considered mature.
On the battlefield, children as young as eleven or twelve were common—especially in weaker villages that lacked elite fighters. They had no choice but to send teenagers into war.
The shinobi world matured people early.
Too early.
Seven or eight-year-olds already understood love and attachment. By their mid-teens, marriage was not unusual—especially in times of war, where survival mattered more than romance.
Ryujin exhaled softly.
"Go back for now. I'll think about it."
"Yes, Clan Head."
Pushing open the door, Ryujin stepped into his residence.
As the leader of the Uchiha Clan, his home was naturally the largest and most luxurious within the compound. Every detail reflected power and authority.
Yet despite its grandeur—
It felt empty.
Completely empty.
Since arriving in this world, Ryujin had once had a family.
Parents.
A home.
But they had died when he was still very young—assassinated by enemy shinobi from another village.
He had grieved.
For a long time.
And in that grief, something awakened within him.
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had taken revenge.
Every last one of them.
But revenge didn't bring people back.
And from that moment onward—
He had lived alone.
Well…
Not entirely.
Occasionally, a certain girl would come to visit him.
A small figure.
Quiet.
Persistent.
Her name—
Mikoto.
Sometimes she brought food.
Sometimes she simply sat with him.
And over time, Ryujin had allowed it.
To outsiders, it was nothing unusual. Just a young Uchiha girl delivering meals to the Clan Head—a privilege, even an honor. No one questioned it.
If anything—
They envied her.
Because within the entire Uchiha Clan, very few people could approach Ryujin so casually.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Just as Ryujin began removing his outer clothing, preparing to wash, a soft knock echoed from the door.
"Clan Head… are you home? It's Mikoto."
A small, gentle voice called out.
Ryujin paused for a moment, then casually threw on a loose robe before walking toward the entrance.
When he opened the door—
A petite figure stood there.
Long black hair.
A small frame.
Barely reaching even a meter in height.
A child.
Mikoto held a small basket with both hands. The moment she saw him, her face lit up.
"Clan Head, you're back! I came to bring you—"
She froze mid-sentence.
Her eyes widened.
Because—
Ryujin wasn't fully dressed.
His robe hung loosely, revealing part of his chest—the defined muscle lines shaped by years of relentless training. Combined with his pale skin and sharp, handsome features…
It was striking.
Mikoto's face instantly turned bright red.
"C-Clan Head… I… I came to bring… I mean… this is…"
She couldn't even form a complete sentence. Her voice trembled, her thoughts tangling into a mess.
Though she was only eight or nine, the shinobi world did not allow children to remain innocent for long. She already understood the difference between men and women.
And this—
This was the first time she had seen him like this.
"Come inside first."
Ryujin stepped aside slightly, his tone relaxed.
He didn't think much of it. After all, he had only exposed a bit of his upper body—and she was still just a child.
"Yes… y-yes, Clan Head…"
Mikoto walked in, her face still flushed, clutching the basket tightly as if it were the only thing grounding her.
Like Ryujin, she had lost her parents at a young age.
An orphan.
Perhaps that was why she came so often.
To her—
Ryujin wasn't just the Clan Head.
He was family.
And perhaps because he allowed her presence—
She had managed to grow up without losing her warmth.
"Mikoto, sit for a bit. I'll wash up first."
"Mm… okay…"
She nodded quickly, lowering her head, not daring to look at him again.
Not because she didn't want to—
But because she shouldn't.
Her heart pounded.
Her thoughts betrayed her.
She knew it was wrong.
"…Stop using honorifics, Mikoto," Ryujin said as he walked toward the bathing room. "I've told you that before."
"…I understand, Clan Head…"
He shook his head slightly.
Some habits were hard to change.
Still…
It was interesting.
If he remembered correctly—
In the original story…
This shy little girl would one day become—
Uchiha Sasuke's mother.
Back then—
She was like this too.
Quiet.
Reserved.
Easily flustered.
…And unexpectedly adorable.
After washing up, Ryujin changed into a simple set of clothes and returned to the main room.
Mikoto had already arranged everything neatly on the table. The food was set carefully, the utensils placed properly beside it.
"You brought fish today?"
Ryujin caught the scent in the air.
Mikoto looked up slightly, her earlier embarrassment easing just a bit.
"Mm! I caught it myself yesterday by the river. It was a really big one."
There was a hint of pride in her voice—a small, innocent satisfaction.
Ryujin smiled faintly.
"Then I'll have to see how it tastes."
A quiet moment settled between them.
Outside—
War loomed.
Schemes unfolded.
Bloodshed approached.
But inside this room—
For just a brief moment—
Everything was calm.