Mikoto's gaze flickered for a moment, her voice a soft murmur. "Abandon… abandon…"
"That's right. Abandon."
Shimizu continued to guide her.
The Sharingan's genjutsu could brainwash, but the cost was that it was easily detected.
The true skill lay in guiding thought.
These were conclusions Shimizu had reached through personal experience.
All it took was a little nudge to set things in motion.
That was the true use of the Sharingan's genjutsu.
That night.
Mikoto carefully examined herself in the mirror, ensuring not a single detail was out of place.
She applied a touch of light makeup, enhancing her already stunning beauty.
Discarding her old, conservative apron, she donned a pristine new outfit of the Uchiha Clan, exuding a sharp, capable aura.
When Fugaku returned home, the aroma of food greeted him. The dinner table was laden with an extravagant spread, steaming with warmth.
The table was filled with an array of delectable dishes, vibrant and appetizing, stirring the senses.
"Mikoto, this is…?"
Fugaku paused, lost in thought. Was today some kind of anniversary?
But Mikoto wasn't the type to care about such formalities.
"Fugaku, you'll be heading to the battlefield soon, so… I wanted to wish you good fortune in advance."
A wave of warmth surged through Fugaku's heart.
He knew Mikoto didn't usually care for such gestures, but tonight, she had clearly put in immense effort.
Fugaku sat down, lifting the sake cup Mikoto had filled for him and drinking it in one gulp.
He couldn't help but think how beautiful Mikoto looked tonight.
Even the women at the pleasure houses, though they could be touched, couldn't hold a candle to Mikoto's beauty.
As Mikoto watched Fugaku drink cup after cup, a growing sadness weighed on her heart.
Was she afraid of Fugaku abandoning her? Or was it worry for the child growing inside her?
Or perhaps… was it because of Shimizu?
Fugaku, oblivious to the subtle shift in Mikoto's expression, returned from a long day at the Konohagakure Police Force. After a few cups of sake, fatigue began to set in.
"Mikoto, why aren't you eating?"
Fugaku downed another cup, glancing at her.
"Of course, it's because the food is laced with a sedative."
A voice, both familiar and foreign, cut through the air.
Fugaku's pupils constricted. In less than a tenth of a second, he met a pair of crimson eyes embedded with three tomoe, and then everything went dark.
Clatter.
Fugaku's face slammed onto the table, rattling the dishes.
Mikoto flinched, hurriedly lifting Fugaku's head to check for injuries.
"You remember what you promised, Uchiha Shimizu. From now on, serve Fugaku well and treat this as a dream."
"Mikoto-nee, when have I ever deceived you?"
Shimizu didn't stop her, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Things were going even smoother than he had imagined.
Mikoto would give up everything for Fugaku.
And she would work tirelessly to preserve the fragile bond she shared with him.
A strong, independent woman like Tsunade would be far harder for Shimizu to manipulate.
It would take far more effort to see even a sliver of reward.
But Mikoto was just a housewife—nothing more, nothing less.
Housewives often played the role of the submissive caretaker in the family, taught to maintain harmony and prioritize their husband and household above all else.
They felt it was their duty to protect the family's integrity, and if the family fell apart, their own worth and identity would be called into question.
Mikoto, who in the original story never showed a shred of independent thought and relied entirely on Fugaku, could never break free from these shackles.
"Now, let me finish things up."
Shimizu pried open Fugaku's eyelids, forcing his vacant eyes to meet his own.
Ninjas were glass cannons—no matter how strong they were at their peak, a single misstep could lead to ruin.
Even someone as mighty as Six Paths Madara had been caught off guard by Black Zetsu's betrayal.
The unconscious Fugaku couldn't muster a trace of chakra.
To Shimizu, controlling him was easier than handling a Genin.
Of course, careless control would allow Fugaku to break free the moment he woke.
So, Shimizu intended only to craft an illusion.
He wove a beautiful dream for Fugaku, one that would blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
All the food had been laced with a sedative Shimizu had procured from Konoha Hospital, making the dream all the more vivid.
Fugaku's vacant eyes curved into a smile.
Soon, his eyes narrowed, as if lost in a blissful dream.
Mikoto, who had anticipated Shimizu's actions, felt a pang of guilt toward Fugaku.
"Fugaku, when the child is born, you'll be its father."
Tears welled in Mikoto's eyes as they spilled over.
Even the parts of her that Fugaku had never touched had been utterly defiled by Shimizu.
What a tragic irony.
"I'm not a worthy wife at all."
She gently laid Fugaku on the tatami mat, then sealed all the food and dishes into a scroll.
Every trace had to be erased.
When Mikoto finished, she suddenly realized Shimizu hadn't left.
"Why are you still here?"
"I'll leave soon enough. But before I go, I thought I'd rest here a bit. Lord Fugaku is asleep, so we should rest too, don't you think?"
Shimizu emphasized the last few words.
Mikoto stared at him, dumbfounded.
Fugaku was right there beside her, and Shimizu dared to say such a thing?
In an instant, Shimizu appeared behind her.
Sensing his absence, Mikoto instinctively stepped back—only to collide with his chest.
She could feel the defined lines of his muscles against her back.
"!"
Mikoto tried to flee, but Shimizu grabbed her.
"Where do you think you're going?"
His voice was calm, almost indifferent.
"Please… not here."
Mikoto pleaded, her voice heavy with sorrow.
"This is the last time, Mikoto-nee."
"No… it's not right."
Mikoto looked at Fugaku in despair.
He lay on the tatami like a lifeless husk, snoring softly.
Her gaze shifted to Shimizu, her expression growing more anguished.
Am I this kind of woman?
Meanwhile, Fugaku dreamed.
He envisioned becoming Hokage, restoring the Uchiha Clan's glory.
He saw the Uchiha's brilliance spreading across the ninja world.
And Mikoto, clearly, was working hard for her own dreams.
Shimizu, ever the helpful soul, was of course assisting Mikoto in her efforts for Fugaku.
Everyone was filled with hope, striding toward a bright future.
The next day.
Cough, cough…
A faint cough echoed through the living room.
Uchiha Mikoto felt a lingering trace of Water Release chakra in her throat, choking her.
"Hm?"
Her eyes widened suddenly.
She was no longer confined in that secret room, and Shimizu wasn't here. So why was she still following those old rules?
A wave of weakness washed over her.
Not for the first time, she thought of Shimizu's almost inhuman physique.
But the faint, lingering odor in the air forced her to push through. Trembling, she stood and replaced the tatami mats in the living room.
She glanced at the sleeping Fugaku, her heart racing.
He could wake at any moment, and she had to erase every trace.
Limping through the pain, Mikoto opened all the windows and even used a Wind Release technique to blow away the lingering smells.
Then she bathed, scrubbing herself clean. The defiled clothes from the night before were burned to ashes with a fire jutsu, and she changed into her usual conservative attire.
She carefully covered the marks on her arms and neck.
After finishing, she prepared breakfast and set it on the table.
Only then did she allow herself a moment to rest.
Looking at the sleeping Fugaku, she recalled the torment of the previous night.
Shimizu's abrupt departure that morning left an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.
Startled, Mikoto quickly suppressed the thought, refusing to dwell on why it had surfaced.
At that moment, Fugaku finally stirred.
He had never felt so invigorated.
"Fugaku, you're awake."
Mikoto's gentle voice, slightly hoarse, broke the silence.
"Hm, did I sleep long?"
Fugaku frowned slightly, confused. Hadn't he and Mikoto finally consummated their marriage last night?
"For a while."
Mikoto knelt on the tatami.
She looked frail, yet her pale face radiated an unprecedented glow. Her eyes and brows carried a soft satisfaction, like a rose kissed by morning dew—delicate, vibrant, and exuding a captivating charm.
Fugaku stared, momentarily entranced.
Mikoto had grown more beautiful lately.
"Mikoto…"
The aroma of food stirred his hunger, and he felt a pang of guilt for her.
It had clearly been her first time last night.
Yet here she was, already up and cooking for him.
Fugaku stepped forward, intending to embrace her.
Mikoto trembled slightly and said, "Let's eat first."
Noticing her awkward posture, Fugaku gave a knowing smile.
He didn't press further and began eating.
"Your cooking just keeps getting better."
Fugaku spoke more than usual, his words flowing freely.
For the first time, he truly felt like they were husband and wife.
"I'm glad you like it, Fugaku."
Mikoto lowered her eyes, lost in thought.
A faint warmth spread through her body. She subtly adjusted her posture, acting as if nothing was amiss.
Fugaku ate heartily, his usual frustrations gone.
"Mikoto, let's name our child Itachi."
He had even picked out a name.
It would be the crystallization of their love.
"…Alright."
To Fugaku's slight surprise, Mikoto seemed distracted.
But he brushed it off. It was her first time; women were probably like this.
The stoic Fugaku saw nothing amiss and continued eating.
Some time later, Shimizu was summoned to the battlefield.
This time, many notable ninjas were deployed.
There was speculation that this was Kirigakure's final, desperate push.
And with that desperation came the potential use of Tailed Beasts.
Tailed Beasts were akin to nuclear weapons in Shimizu's previous world.
When Senju Hashirama distributed the nine Tailed Beasts, Kirigakure received the Six-Tails Saiken and the Three-Tails Isobu.
This power was enough to shape the outcome of a war.
A single Tailed Beast Bomb could level a mountain, reshaping the very terrain in the wake of battle.
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