Seeing him look a bit hesitant, Mikoto immediately intensified her efforts, even making her voice sound deliberately cute.
"Please, Naraku, you're the only one I can rely on~"
Naraku silently covered his face: "O-Okay..."
I surrender, please stop this technique... Following Mikoto home, Naraku realized that she had already prepared a room for him, just waiting for him to move in.
Moreover, the location of his accommodation was somewhat secluded, so he wouldn't be disturbed by many things.
"Your Clan Head has been especially busy lately, not coming home for ten days to half a month, so Naraku, don't feel constrained."
Looking at Mikoto's smiling face, Naraku couldn't help but feel that Fugaku must have been chased out by his wife to wander.
Sorry, Fugaku, in return, I will take good care of your wife.
Naraku apologized to his Clan Head in his heart.
Mikoto glanced at her watch: "It's almost time for lunch. To celebrate Naraku coming to live with us, we'll prepare a rich meal for lunch."
"No need, Aunt Mikoto, I can eat anything..."
Under Mikoto's gentle yet disapproving gaze, Naraku's voice grew softer and softer.
Just as he showed an expression as if he expected to be scolded, a slender, soft hand gently stroked the top of his head.
"Be good to yourself, Naraku."
Mikoto looked at him with loving tenderness; perhaps due to her pregnancy, her maternal radiance was evident.
"No matter what happens, you must take good care of yourself, otherwise, if Sakumo-senpai wakes up someday, he will be very sad too."
"...Mm."
Naraku sniffled, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and then smiled.
"I'll cook for Aunt Mikoto; you rest well."
Mikoto didn't dampen his enthusiasm; instead, she put her hands to her mouth, feigning surprise.
"Oh, Naraku can cook? How amazing! Then I'll just wait?"
"Yes, you just need to wait a little while."
...Naraku walked into the vegetable market with his basket, skillfully picking fresh vegetables.
Back when he was still in school, if Sakumo wasn't home, he and Kakashi would often go grocery shopping and cook together, until they both graduated and became Ninja, and the time they could spend together became much less.
Even so, whenever they had a chance, they would both make time for a break, either training together or cooking for each other.
Kakashi must be having a tough time now too... Naraku, holding a white radish, was lost in thought until someone patted him on the shoulder.
"Hey, Naraku?"
"Hmm?"
Naraku looked to his left. Uchiha Fūyō, dressed in The Police Force uniform, stood beside him, pointing at the radish in his hand. Two of his team members behind him were curiously looking in their direction.
"You've squeezed it all soft."
"Ah, I'm sorry, I keep getting distracted today..." Naraku handed the radish to the shop owner, Auntie, for weighing, explaining softly with an apologetic look, "I'll pay for it."
"Don't worry about it," the shop owner, Auntie, very kindly gave him a few extra small green vegetables, putting everything into his basket, "Little Ninja-san, you look very unwell; you need to eat more."
"Thank you."
After thanking the shop owner, Auntie, Naraku paid and was about to leave when his basket was suddenly taken from his hand.
Uchiha Fūyō whispered a few words to his team members. The two Police Force members didn't ask further, nodded, and left first.
He weighed the basket in his hand, his eyes signaling Naraku to lead the way.
"Fūyō-senpai, I'm fine on my own."
"As a junior, you should obediently accept a senior's kindness. Even if you're a genius, you're no exception."
Uchiha Fūyō's slightly forceful attitude made Naraku a little at a loss. He didn't insist on refusing the concern and silently returned the way they came.
"Have you moved back to the Clan compound?"
"Yes, Fūyō-senpai."
"That's good too. Everyone actually wants to see you often." Uchiha Fūyō smiled almost imperceptibly, "You are a big name among the Uchiha."
"I..."
Naraku wasn't happy about being praised. He lowered his head and softly retorted, "I'm just a useless guy..."
"If you're useless, then what am I, who only awakened my Two-Tomoe Sharingan at 19?"
Uchiha Fūyō's large hand covered the top of Naraku's head, vigorously rubbing his black hair, causing the gloomy boy to sway from side to side, grabbing his wrist and begging softly for mercy.
So he let go, and while the other person silently tidied his hair, he said seriously,
"Many people have always cared about you, Naraku."
"At the same time, you are also the hope of those you love."
"Therefore, you must never give up on yourself."
Naraku looked up at the fan crest on Uchiha Fūyō's uniform. These encouragements were too gentle, making Fūyō himself seem a bit unlike the Uchiha in Konoha's stereotypical impression.
From then until now, all of Naraku's impressions of the Clan Member gradually came to life. Some were eccentric and mischievous, some were cold on the outside but warm-hearted, some were gentle and kind, some were mature and considerate... In Konoha, the Uchiha had always been a clan defined by the outside world.
But every Uchiha was actually real and complex, truly living people.
They shouldn't be born to be mere backdrops for heroes saving the world, or the tragic background for some legendary figure.
They lived genuinely and diligently in this Ninja World, just like everyone else.
Naraku walked past Uchiha Fūyō, took a few more steps forward, then turned back and showed him a slight smile.
"Let's go, Fūyō-senpai."
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