"Could it be that Kushina's current state is all my fault?"
Takeshi only then realized the seriousness of the matter.
Because of his intervention, Minato, who was originally supposed to pester Kushina and become her friend, now had no interaction with her.
And those classmates who pursued Kushina, due to Takeshi's threats and intimidation, no longer dared to approach her. If he didn't pay attention to her either, it would truly be equivalent to indirectly isolating her.
Takeshi rubbed his forehead, filled with remorse. He truly hadn't expected to have done so many foolish things.
Although he acted with the intention of protecting Kushina, these actions did indeed cause her harm.
For a little girl who has lost her home, isn't what she most desires kinship and friendship?
"Damn it, I'm truly damned!"
After understanding the cause and effect, Takeshi, on his way back to the Uchiha Clan Grounds that day, walked directly in the opposite direction of his home.
His destination was clear: to find Uchiha Mikoto.
Takeshi had already thought it through. Since he was the one who caused the trouble, he had an obligation to take responsibility.
Isn't Kushina all alone? Then wouldn't it be good if he found her another friend?
Anyway, in the original timeline, Uchiha Mikoto and Kushina would eventually become good friends.
So, it would be quite reasonable for him to intervene early and let the two of them meet sooner, right?
Uchiha Mikoto was about two years older than him at the time.
He was the same age as Kushina, so Mikoto was also two years older than Kushina and was currently in the third grade of the Ninja Academy.
The age difference was not significant and would not affect them becoming close friends.
Moreover, Mikoto was famously gentle, considerate, and understanding, which would perfectly complement Kushina's fiery temper. Their compatibility should be very good.
"Young Clan Head, you're here?"
As soon as he arrived at his destination, he saw the beautiful girl with long, black hair standing prettily at the entrance, like a well-behaved girl next door, looking at him with a warm smile.
"Sister Mikoto, didn't I tell you not to call me that?"
Takeshi gave a wry smile.
Ever since he became Tsunade's disciple, the title of Young Clan Head had spread among the clan members.
Although he had corrected them many times, telling them not to call him that, the clan members seemed to have not heard him at all and continued to call him that with gusto.
Even his father and his older brother by convenience, upon hearing it, had no objections whatsoever, as if they had tacitly approved.
It made him feel a lot of pressure now.
"Takeshi, it's not good to always frown, you'll get old easily."
A soft, sweet girlish voice sounded. Mikoto stepped forward and gently extended her small hand, smoothing out his tightly furrowed brow. The distance between them instantly closed, and Takeshi could even smell a pleasant fragrance.
He instinctively paused, looking at the girl in front of him, and suddenly recalled the scene of their first meeting.
That was a few years ago, not long after Minato arrived.
Takeshi, as usual, after being forced by his father to attend the clan meeting, was preparing to go to the training ground for his daily 'beat Minato' activity.
However, on the way, he encountered a little girl. Her iconic long, black hair made Takeshi recognize her identity at a glance—Uchiha Mikoto.
Why was she here?
She looked somewhat helpless.
This immediately piqued Takeshi's interest. Out of consideration for her being his older brother's future wife by convenience, he voluntarily stopped, stepped forward, and asked with concern.
Only then did he learn that Mikoto's mother was sick, and she, having no means to help, had come to the Clan Head for assistance, hoping to save her mother.
Although the Uchiha was a large clan, resources were limited. There would be no special care for Ninja without talent.
So, even among the Uchiha, those with different talents would have varying living conditions.
Especially for a single-parent family like Mikoto's, with only her mother and herself, if her own talent was not outstanding, life would be even more difficult.
The Uchiha were their backing, true, but the Uchiha were not philanthropists. At most, they would provide a minimum allowance to ensure clan members wouldn't starve.
As for improving their quality of life, they still needed to rely on their own efforts.
However, given Mikoto's family's current situation, it was clearly impossible.
A father who died young, a sick mother, and a helpless her.
Oh my god, this script is truly amazing!
Although Takeshi had watched Naruto, the original work never described Mikoto's childhood experiences.
So he naturally didn't know she had such an embarrassing past.
Thinking that even with all this, she would later become the Clan Head's wife, Takeshi couldn't help but admire her.
Wasn't this also a kind of life reversal?
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly paused.
Ah, no, what did she just say?
She came to find the Clan Head?
Could it be that this was actually the opportunity for his older brother by convenience and Mikoto to meet?
One must know, Fugaku was a full seven years older than Mikoto, a classic case of an old ox eating young grass.
With such a huge age difference, without some opportunity to meet, it would be impossible for them to get married.
So, did he… snatch his older brother's wife?
Thinking of this, he turned to leave, but Mikoto held onto him tightly, refusing to let go.
Finally, unable to win against her, Takeshi had no choice but to help his older brother.
After all, since he was already here, he might as well help all the way!
And perhaps he was overthinking it. If Fugaku had already taken an interest in Mikoto when she was so young, then it could only mean that the guy was a pervert.
So, whether he intervened or not, it wouldn't affect their future meeting.
"Takeshi, what's wrong?"
Mikoto, noticing his unusual behavior, leaned in and asked with concern.
"Nothing… nothing."
Meeting her moist eyes, Takeshi subconsciously shook his head and sighed:
"It's just that, thinking of such a gentle and beautiful Sister Mikoto marrying someone else in the future, I feel very sad…"
Although Fugaku would be a Clan Head in the future,
his appearance… was truly not commendable. They were both born of the same mother, so why was there such a huge difference in their looks?
His prematurely aged face was truly too hard on Mikoto.
Just thinking about it made him feel sad for Mikoto.
What did Takeshi mean by that… Mikoto's curled eyelashes trembled slightly, and her pretty face was unconsciously tinged with a faint blush.
Actually, she had always had a secret… She still remembered a few years ago, when she felt most helpless, a little boy appeared before her, not only helping her cure her mother's illness but also improving her family's living conditions.
He even found a senior from the clan to specially teach her.
Before this, these were things she dared not even dream of.
After all, her father had died early due to a mission, and her mother had been in poor health for many years, unable to do heavy physical labor, which led to their family's conditions never being good.
And her own talent was very ordinary; she hadn't awakened her Sharingan. She was already very grateful if she could join the clan's Police Force in the future and earn enough money to cure her mother.
But Takeshi's appearance changed all of that.
He was like a dazzling ray of light that suddenly burst in, making her feel an unprecedented warmth.
He completely changed her life. That small figure was deeply imprinted in her mind, something she would never forget in her lifetime… What Takeshi didn't know was that children in the world of Naruto were very precocious. Even if they looked very young, they already understood what liking and love were.
So he naturally didn't know about Mikoto's special feelings for him, foolishly thinking that their relationship was just pure friendship.
Under the setting sun, the shadows behind them slowly lengthened. Mikoto's small hands nervously clasped together, and she cautiously stole a glance in Takeshi's direction, her heart seemingly leaping into her throat.
"I…"
"Actually, well, Sister Mikoto, I came here today because there's something I want to discuss with you."
Just as Mikoto was about to say something, Takeshi's words suddenly cut in, directly interrupting her and making Mikoto momentarily stunned.
"Eh?"