An indeterminate amount of time passed.
"To be this bold and reckless..."
Ringo Ameyuri leaned one hand against the wall, recovering her strength. Kiyoshi's technique was indeed formidable; the blooming Lightning Style had left her in awe. At the same time, it reinforced the thought in her mind that Kiyoshi Uchiha was the most "pure" Uchiha of them all.
Kiyoshi had already left. Looking at the mess on the floor, her face flushed red. She immediately used a ninjutsu to clean up all traces of what had happened.
Behind the wooden door, Raiga Kurosuki's brow was tightly knit. The pain was subsiding, and his consciousness was becoming clear again. 'Why did I hear the sound of Lightning Style chakra erupting outside just now? And a bit of Water Style? Did the two of them have a disagreement'
A spark of hope rose in Raiga's heart. *Infighting is good. That way, I'll have a chance to escape.* Kiyoshi had severed his hands, but a deformed arm had mutated out of his chest. Once he got out, he might still be able to continue as a ninja.
"Hee hee hee..." Raiga couldn't suppress his laughter.
"No food for you tomorrow!"
Hearing the voice from inside, Ringo Ameyuri's cheeks burned as she thought of what Kiyoshi had done. Now, Raiga's laughter just irritated her. Kiyoshi was responsible for the research and going out with the white snake to find organisms for experiments; she was responsible for guard duty and the logistics of food and water.
Her original goal was simple: cooperate with Kiyoshi, cure her illness, and then part ways. But now that such things had occurred, her mind was in a whirl. When someone's social circle is small, anyone who barges in leaves a lasting mark. Kiyoshi had essentially taken a mop, dipped it in ink, and swung it everywhere.
"What a pain..." Ringo murmured. However, a grin revealing her shark-like teeth appeared on her face. At the very least, this kind of contact was something she had never experienced in the dark, indifferent Blood Mist Village.
...
The sun in the sky quietly slipped toward the west, and faint points of light began to brighten in the darkness as the starry host filled the night sky.
"Fugaku, is it truly something even I cannot know?"
Mikoto bit her lower lip softly, a shimmer of tears appearing in her eyes. Her voice was so low it could barely be heard over the night wind. Over these past few months, she had been working tirelessly alongside the clansmen, defending against invasions and dealing with rogue ninjas. Yet, Fugaku still treated her like an outsider, hiding whatever secrets he held.
"Mikoto, I have my reasons," Fugaku said with a bitter smile, looking at her. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her. It was that the matter was far too significant.
Ever since obtaining that brand-new power, Fugaku had never used it again. That power was undoubtedly on a different level of strength than before; the sheer magnitude of the ocular power made his heart palpitate.
But he had also discovered the side effect: [Susanoo] placed an immense burden on the Mangekyo Sharingan. After using it for only a brief moment, Fugaku felt his vision begin to decline.
The Uchiha are a cursed clan. The more one uses this power, the more they are consumed by it. Eventually, the eyes will go blind through use, as if sealed away.
"I understand, Fugaku," Mikoto forced a sympathetic smile. She and Fugaku were only a thin sheet of paper away from a formal commitment. But that thin layer had somehow become increasingly heavy. Had it not been for the sudden war, perhaps they would have been together by now.
"Mikoto..." Fugaku's lips parted as if to speak, but he hesitated and ultimately said nothing. Recently, the Leaf high-ups had been pressuring him, trying to pry information out.
Regarding the secret of the Mangekyo, he decided to remain silent forever—at least until the Uchiha had enough strength to stand against the village. Otherwise, exposing it would certainly invite hostility from the Leaf. After the war, the Uchiha would surely be the first targets.
In the end, Fugaku could only watch Mikoto's retreating back. "This is for the sake of the Uchiha," he sighed deeply. He only hoped that when the time was right, he could explain everything to her.
...
'Play the pig to eat the tiger for too long, and you'll actually turn into a pig.'
Kiyoshi, returning to the stronghold from outside, witnessed this scene from a distance. His eyes flickered as he clearly read their lips and expressions. To be honest, even Kiyoshi hadn't expected Fugaku to be this patient.
In the anime, he awakened the Mangekyo but refused to use it, right up until he was killed by Itachi, taking the eyes to his grave. As for the fate of those eyes—whether Itachi took them or Danzo got them—the plot never gave an answer. Those eyes were barely used at all.
Thinking for a moment, Kiyoshi walked quickly toward his tent. Shortly after, he emerged carrying a box of pastries. He had bought them a month ago while purchasing supplies in a small town near the border.
"Mikoto-nee, are you busy?" Kiyoshi asked outside Mikoto's tent.
"No, come in, Kiyoshi." Hearing his voice, Mikoto rubbed her slightly reddened eyes and invited him in.
"What's this?" Mikoto noticed the pastries in his hand.
"You've been taking such good care of me, Mikoto-san. How could I not bring something in return?" Kiyoshi's lips turned up into a bright, sunny smile on his handsome face. He waved the sweets. Both Itachi and Sasuke liked sweets; they clearly inherited that trait from Mikoto.
"You silly child, why waste your money?" A trace of a smile appeared on Mikoto's face. Kiyoshi had even figured out her preferences. She took the box, which contained Three-Color Dango. She took out half and handed them to him, her lips parting slightly as she said gently, "I can't eat all this by myself. Let's share."
"Okay," Kiyoshi nodded. He was more than happy to linger here.
"By the way, is there a girl in the clan you fancy? At your age, you could get engaged, you know," Mikoto said. During the Warring States period, people were already having children at this age.
Even though it had been decades since they joined the Leaf, many traditions hadn't changed. The larger the clan, the harder it was to change, whereas smaller clans adapted quickly.
"No," Kiyoshi shook his head.
"Really?" A rare look of playful mischief appeared on Mikoto's gentle face.
"I... I think Mikoto-nee is quite wonderful. Everyone else... I always feel a certain distance from them." Kiyoshi lowered his head, the dango in his hand swaying as if he were a shy youth.
Mikoto was stunned. Then, her thoughts shifted—Kiyoshi's parents were dead, and he had grown up lacking love. It was natural for him to develop such feelings for a caring older sister.
"You can't do that, Kiyoshi. Actually, I already have..."
Mikoto wanted to say she already had a boyfriend. But she and Fugaku had never finalized anything; that thin sheet of paper still stood between them. Her eyes suddenly dimmed again.