Chapter 29: A New Home and a Plot
"Patriarch, are we just going to let them walk away like that? The Uchiha compound is not a place people can simply come and go from as they please!"
Uchiha Kagami, one of the clan's senior members, spoke with barely contained fury.
"Kagami, we must think of the clan," Uchiha Tajima replied, his voice calm but firm. "Our reputation in the village is already precarious. If we were to forcibly detain them now, it would only make us look worse. At this rate, we won't just lose our chance at the Hokage's seat; we'll lose all our political influence. We cannot jeopardize the entire Uchiha clan over a single child."
As the patriarch, Tajima had to weigh every action against the greater good of the clan.
"But to let that brat be so insolent! And Uchiha Mikoto, daring to betray the family... this kind of defiance cannot be tolerated!" Kagami argued, his face tight with resentment.
"Openly targeting him is difficult," Tajima conceded, his eyes narrowing. "But there are other ways. They can be dealt with discreetly. However, your hands must be perfectly clean. The blame must fall on another shinobi village. I am entrusting this to you, Kagami. Are you confident?"
Uchiha Tajima looked directly at his clansman, awaiting his answer.
"Naturally. They are just two five-year-old children," Uchiha Kagami said, a proud, cruel smirk twisting his lips. As an elite Jonin, dealing with mere children was beneath him.
"The most important part is not the killing, but the framing," Tajima reiterated. "Leave no trace that can lead back to us. Do not be careless."
"I will complete the task without fail," Kagami vowed, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
Tajima gave a curt nod. Kagami was one of the clan's most capable shinobi, second only to himself. He had faith in his abilities. "Do not act immediately. Wait for a while. If they are attacked too soon, the suspicion will be too obvious."
Kagami nodded in understanding.
…
Unaware of the deadly plot being woven against them, Shinra led Mikoto to his home.
"It's not as grand as the Uchiha compound, so I hope you don't mind," he said lightly.
Mikoto shook her head, a genuine, soft smile on her face. "Actually, I prefer a smaller house like this. The big houses are often very... empty."
In truth, Shinra's home was quite spacious—a two-story building with three bedrooms and a living room upstairs, and a great hall, kitchen, bathroom, and a master bedroom downstairs. Shinra had moved down to the lower bedroom after his father's death, and the upstairs had remained largely unused.
When they went upstairs, Shinra felt a pang of awkwardness at the thick layer of dust covering everything. "I haven't been up here in a long time. It needs a good cleaning. I'll take care of it right away."
His hands flew through a familiar sequence of seals. "Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
With a series of poofs, a hundred identical Shinras filled the room. Mikoto, who had been about to offer help, froze on the spot, her jaw slightly agape as she stared at the army of clones.
"Okay, maybe that's a bit excessive," Shinra admitted, scratching his head. He dispelled seventy of them, leaving thirty to efficiently set about dusting, mopping, and airing out the rooms.
"Let's go back downstairs. We can come up after they're finished," he said, taking the still-stunned Mikoto's hand and leading her back to the living room. He sat her on the sofa and fetched two glasses of juice from the refrigerator, handing one to her.
"Thank you," Mikoto said softly, taking the glass with both hands.
"There's no need to be so formal," he replied with a warm smile. "We'll be living together from now on. Too much politeness creates distance."
Mikoto's cheeks flushed, and she nodded, though she couldn't help but feel there was a deeper meaning hidden in his words.
After a while, Mikoto stood up. "I'll start making dinner."
"Great! Your bento was always so delicious. I'm finally getting to taste your full cooking," Shinra praised sincerely. It wasn't flattery; the lunches she had brought to school had always been exceptional.
Mikoto gave a small, pleased smile and headed into the kitchen. Finding herself too short to comfortably reach the counter, she dragged over a small stool to stand on.
Over half an hour later, the enticing aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the air. Knowing Shinra's appetite, Mikoto had prepared a truly staggering amount of food. When she brought it all out, the sight and smell were so inviting Shinra almost couldn't resist.
Smack!
Mikoto lightly batted his reaching hand away. "Go wash your hands first," she chided, though her eyes were playful.
Shinra grinned and dutifully ran to wash up. When he returned, he dove into the feast with unrestrained enthusiasm. Watching him devour her cooking with such obvious pleasure brought a happy, contented smile to Mikoto's face.
Nearly all the food on the large table found its way into Shinra's stomach. After the meal, he lay back on the sofa with a contented sigh. "I'm so full! Your cooking is amazing, Mikoto, far better than mine. You're definitely going to be a wonderful wife someday."
Mikoto blushed deeply at the compliment, feeling a sweet warmth spread through her chest.
Just then, the thirty Shadow Clones upstairs finished their work and dispersed, their completed task flooding back into Shinra. "The upstairs is all clean now, Mikoto. You can go get settled in."
"Mhm," she nodded. Then, she looked at him, her expression suddenly serious and heartfelt. "Shinra... thank you. For everything. If it weren't for you, I don't know what I would have done. You helped me when I was completely lost." She gave him a beautiful, grateful smile.
Such an adorable little loli, Shinra thought, momentarily captivated by her expression.
"Actually, all of this is my fault," he said softly. "If I hadn't caused trouble, you wouldn't have been expelled."
He looked at her warmly. "But what's important is that we're together now. Let's just help each other out from now on, okay? No more 'thank yous.' From today, we're family."
"Family?" The word sent a wave of pure sweetness through Mikoto's heart. Overwhelmed with emotion, she let out a shy squeak and hurriedly ran upstairs.
Shinra chuckled to himself. "Was she... embarrassed?"
He turned on the television, flipping through the channels of the shinobi world. He had to admit, many things about this world were baffling. The technology was a strange paradox—in some ways incredibly advanced, yet in others, strangely primitive. It was likely a side effect of a society built around chakra.
The news was on, filled with analysis of the political strategies and situations in the various nations—the so-called "expert" commentary. Shinra just shook his head. Anyone who took this kind of televised analysis seriously was a fool. Real strategy was never broadcast for all to hear.