Uchiha Clan Compound.
"I'm home, Mom!"
Uchiha Sasuke kicked off his sandals at the door, calling out loudly.
"Welcome home, Sasuke," came the gentle voice of Uchiha Mikoto.
"Where's big brother?" Sasuke asked eagerly as he stepped into the living room.
"Why is it that every time you come home, the first thing you do is ask for your brother?" Mikoto teased with a soft smile, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
"I've got important business with him!" Sasuke puffed his cheeks in protest, frowning.
"Your brother hasn't come back yet," Mikoto said warmly, her smile deepening as she watched her son's adorable pout.
"Then I'll wait for him," Sasuke declared, sitting down on the sofa with determination.
"I'll start dinner, then."
Mikoto took a few steps toward the kitchen before pausing. She turned back with a gentle smile. "Weren't you at the Academy today? How was school?"
"It's just ninja make-believe. Nothing exciting," Sasuke said proudly. "I'm going to be like my brother and take first place at the Ninja Academy!"
"Then do your best!" Mikoto clenched her small fist, cheering him on.
A few moments later, the sound of the front door sliding open echoed through the house.
"Brother!"
Sasuke jumped up instantly and ran to the entryway.
"Sasuke," said Uchiha Itachi, greeting him with his usual calm and gentle smile.
"Hey, big brother," Sasuke asked seriously, "is our Uchiha Clan not as strong as it used to be?"
Itachi froze.
Even Sasuke had started to notice?
The truth was grim — the Uchiha Clan really was on the brink of destruction.
"Today in class we learned about the founding of the Hidden Leaf," Sasuke said in awe. "Back then, the Uchiha Clan was just as respected as the Senju Clan!"
Ah… so that's what brought this up.
Relieved, Itachi's expression softened.
He didn't want Sasuke to get entangled in the clan's growing conflict with the village.
"That teacher of yours sounds good," Itachi said with a faint smile. "It's rare for them to even mention Uchiha history these days."
"Why do you say that?" Sasuke tilted his head, confused.
He didn't realize how hated the Uchiha had become — how most Academy teachers avoided the topic entirely, skipping over the clan's history like a dangerous minefield.
"It's nothing," Itachi said, shaking his head.
"Do you think the Uchiha Clan will ever return to its former glory?" Sasuke asked, his eyes full of hope.
"It will," Itachi said firmly.
"Yeah!" Sasuke grinned. "With you around, our clan's bound to rise again!"
"…Right," Itachi murmured, caught off guard. Then he nodded. "I'll make sure our clan finds its true path again."
Later that night.
The streets of the Hidden Leaf were quiet, bathed in silver moonlight. Two figures walked side by side.
"You… you're drunk again. You're such a loser, Kitazawa~"
Kurenai Yūhi's cheeks were flushed pink, her elegant face warm with sake and laughter.
"You're the one who's drunk," Kitazawa corrected her calmly. "I only had one bottle. You had three."
"Then… why's your face all red?" she teased, wobbling slightly as she giggled.
"Careful," Kitazawa said, stepping forward quickly to steady her by the waist.
"I-I'm fine," Kurenai murmured, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned lightly against his chest.
The scent of her perfume mingled with the faint smell of alcohol. Kitazawa looked down instinctively.
They were close — so close he could see the curve of her pale neck and the faint outline of the mesh fabric beneath her collar.
"We're… we're here," Kurenai mumbled, still a little dazed. "Next time… I'll treat you again."
Then, with a playful smile, she patted his chest. "Huh. Pretty solid, aren't you?"
"Looks like you really are drunk," Kitazawa said dryly. "Need me to walk you inside?"
"I'm not drunk!" she said immediately, reacting like she'd triggered a counter-attack jutsu. "If you don't believe me, come in and drink some more!"
"Alright, alright, you're not drunk," Kitazawa said, his tone like he was soothing a child.
"Hmph!"
Kurenai pouted, fished out her key, and unlocked the door.
Under the dim porch light, her silhouette traced the perfect lines of her figure.
"Kitazawa," she said, turning her head slightly, her cheek pressed against the doorframe, lips curving into a smile. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah," Kitazawa replied, nodding.
The door clicked shut.
He stood there for a moment before turning and heading home.
Not far away, the lights of Ichiraku Ramen glowed warmly, steam rising into the night air as customers laughed and chatted inside.
Kitazawa glanced at it, then looked away.
His own home was a modest two-story wooden building.
The first floor was a small general store — a jumble of everyday goods, from rice and oil to snacks and soft drinks.The second floor was his living space, with a small bedroom, kitchen, and bath — simple, but complete.
Since he'd had a bit to drink, he decided to close the shop early.
After a hot shower, he collapsed onto his bed and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning.
A sharp knock knock pulled him from his dreams.
Kitazawa sat up groggily, rubbing his temples before dragging himself to the door.
Who could it be this early?
When he opened it, there stood Kurenai Yūhi, bright and elegant as ever — despite the faint shadows under her eyes.
Before he could even greet her, she thrust a paper bag toward him.
"This is breakfast," she said cheerfully. "Bought it while fighting through my hangover, so you'd better appreciate it, old classmate!"
In truth, it was her way of thanking him for walking her home last night.
"Thanks," Kitazawa said, taking the bag. "Have you eaten?"
"I have," Kurenai said with a small nod. "I'm heading to the Kurama Clan today — my student, Kurama Yakumo, is the clan's young heiress."
"I've heard of them," Kitazawa said, glancing inside the bag — simple bread and milk. "Back in their prime, they were said to rival the Uchiha in genjutsu."
"Exactly," Kurenai said, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she turned to leave. "Time to test that teaching advice you gave me."
Kitazawa watched her walk away, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"What a good woman," he murmured to himself.
A line from one of his past life's novels floated through his mind — 'Never miss a good woman, and never let a bad one escape.'
He chuckled. How fitting.
After breakfast, Kitazawa made his way to the classroom.
Just like yesterday, he arrived early — and, as always, there were only a few students there.
Among them sat Hyūga Hinata, the picture of quiet discipline. As a daughter of the Hyūga Clan, she was as punctual as she was polite.
But today… something was different.
For once, she was the one to speak first.
"K-Kitazawa-sensei…" Hinata said softly, mustering all her courage as she stood.
Kitazawa's gaze fell on her face. Hinata froze, her cheeks immediately turning pink under his calm eyes.
She fidgeted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and clutching the hem of her jacket nervously.
"Good morning, Hinata," Kitazawa said with a faint smile, watching her every shy little movement.
She was just too adorable.