Mikoto and Ren stepped through the gates of the "Uchiha Home," one after the other.
Under white walls and blue tiles, the children playing in the courtyard immediately spotted them.
Seven or eight small figures rushed over like chirping sparrows, surrounding the two in excitement.
"Ren-nii!"
"Mikoto-nee!"
Ren reached out and ruffled the spiky hair of the boy at the front.
Mikoto bent down with a smile, straightening the collar of a little girl with twin pigtails, then gently pinched her flushed cheeks.
"Izumi, slow down."
"Don't trip like last time. You cried so much your face looked like a little kitten."
Uchiha Izumi—daughter of Uchiha Hazuki—blushed instantly.
Her fair cheeks turned even redder as she tugged at the hem of her clothes, long lashes lowered, too shy to meet Mikoto's gaze.
The other children opened their mouths, ready to tease—
But Izumi suddenly looked up.
She shot them a fierce glare.
Her big, round eyes tried their best to look intimidating… but only made her look cuter.
She raised her small fist and waved it threateningly.
The effect was immediate.
The children fell silent.
Every one of them had clearly experienced her "discipline" before.
Izumi lifted her chin, letting out a proud little huff. Her earlier embarrassment vanished in an instant.
Then she looked up eagerly at Ren and Mikoto.
"Ren-nii! Mikoto-nee! Come watch our play!"
She grabbed one of Ren's fingers with one hand, Mikoto's hand with the other, and dragged them toward the courtyard.
Her little legs moved quickly, like a cheerful bird leading the way.
The other children followed like a string of tiny tails, laughing and chattering.
Ren watched Izumi's little "tyrant" act with amusement, then turned his attention to the scene ahead.
The interrupted performance resumed.
Dozens of children—none older than six—were reenacting yesterday's standoff at the Police Force.
They split into two sides, acting with surprising seriousness.
Izumi stood with a straight face, hands behind her back, imitating Ren's posture.
"Hokage-sama, please come inside for discussion!"
Her childish voice tried hard to sound mature, drawing a faint smile from Ren himself.
Across from her, the "Hokage faction" responded.
A child wearing a paper hat shaped like the Hokage's ceremonial hat puffed up his chest.
"Uchiha… why have you gathered in such force today—"
He broke mid-sentence, bursting into laughter.
"We're maintaining the village's stability!"
Izumi declared righteously, waving her hand.
Behind her, the "Uchiha elites"—a group of four- and five-year-olds—shouted in unison.
"Maintain stability! Eliminate threats!"
The Hokage side faltered.
They exchanged glances—
Then raised their hands together, speaking in a half-playful tone.
"We… we'll come back next time!"
They turned and "retreated," laughing, even sticking their tongues out as they ran.
'They forgot their lines again…'
Izumi sighed inwardly, sneaking a glance at Ren and Mikoto.
Then she threw both arms up triumphantly.
"We win!"
"Uchiha victory!"
Cheers erupted behind her.
Small faces lit with pure pride and excitement.
Ren watched quietly.
Beside him, Mikoto gently took his hand.
A breeze passed through the courtyard.
Late cherry blossoms drifted down, landing on the children's hair—and on their joined hands.
After the brief warmth—
Mikoto was pulled away by Izumi, who eagerly began asking about the "real events."
Ren's gaze shifted.
Beyond the children—
To a corner of the courtyard.
A dozen clan members sat scattered there.
They still wore Uchiha attire, the fan crest clear against the dark blue fabric.
But their presence…
Was different.
Like blades dulled by storms.
One leaned against a worn pillar, eyes distant.
Another sat on a stone bench, slowly polishing a teacup—over and over.
Others sat in silence, as if separated from the laughter around them by an invisible wall.
The sunlight revealed what could not be ignored—
Empty sleeves.
Sunken eye sockets.
Twisted scars.
Crutches resting at their sides.
They carried Uchiha blood.
But they were fragments left behind—
After the clan's internal war.
The passion of the assembly had nothing to do with them.
The coming war would not include them.
They were—
People waiting.
For death.
Or something they themselves could no longer name.
The Uchiha Home—
Was both a haven for children…
And a refuge for broken souls.
Ren's expression remained calm.
No pity.
No regret.
He gestured briefly to Mikoto—
Then walked toward them.
Several injured members tried to stand, but he stopped them with a hand.
"Uncle Sōsuke… how's your leg been?"
He spoke naturally to a middle-aged man with severe burns and an empty sleeve.
Uchiha Sōsuke forced a crooked smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Ren-sama… old injuries. They ache when it rains. Nothing serious."
Ren nodded, then turned.
"Uncle Takashi… the prosthetic I sent—how is it?"
The man touched the metal crutch beside him.
More refined than a simple wooden stick.
"Much better. More flexible. Thank you."
One by one—
Ren spoke to each of them.
He remembered their names.
Their injuries.
Even the small details of their lives.
At last, he stood at the center of the group.
His gaze swept across every scarred face.
"The clan assembly's decision—you've all heard it."
"We've gained the right to form our own force."
"It's the first step to breaking Konoha's constraints."
He paused.
Letting the weight settle.
"But what follows… is war."
"A hard war."
"A bloody war."
Silence thickened.
Fists clenched.
Heads lowered.
Eyes dim.
A heavy gloom pressed down.
Then—
Ren's voice softened.
But carried deeper weight.
"Do you remember what I told you before?"
He didn't wait for an answer.
"The fire of the Uchiha has never burned only through battle."
"Our war does not exist only on the battlefield."
His gaze sharpened.
"Experience."
"Insight."
"The will to protect our home."
"These do not disappear with your bodies."
"Patrol."
"Guard."
"Teach the next generation."
"Protect this place."
"The Uchiha Home is not a shelter for the weak."
"And you—are not objects of pity."
His voice rose.
Firm.
Demanding.
"Look at me."
"Tell me—why should proud Uchiha bow their heads?"
The words struck like a stone thrown into still water.
Ripples spread.
Dim eyes flickered.
They were needed.
They still had value.
Sōsuke stared at him with his remaining eye.
His voice trembled.
"Ren-sama… we… who bear the blood of our own kin…"
"Can we… still do anything?"
"Not 'still'."
"Indispensable."
The answer came without hesitation.
"The past was not your fault."
"Years of suffering have paid for any sin."
"You are—still Uchiha."
Sōsuke repeated softly.
"Indispensable…"
His hunched back slowly straightened.
"My eye… still sees."
"I can watch for threats."
"Exactly!"
Another man slammed his fist against his leg.
"My legs may be gone—but my hands still work!"
"I can teach the kids!"
"Patrols are ours!"
A one-armed woman stood.
"We'll guard this place."
Voices rose.
One after another.
"We're not useless!"
"Our fire still burns!"
The gloom vanished.
Replaced by purpose.
By resolve.
Sōsuke took a deep breath.
"Ren-sama… give us orders."
"The clan can trust us with its back."
"As long as we breathe—no one will harm this home!"
Mikoto watched from afar.
Her eyes softened.
Ten years of effort—
Had finally borne fruit.
Even the children had fallen silent.
Watching.
Izumi clutched Mikoto's sleeve.
She didn't fully understand—
But she felt it.
Something important…
Was changing.
Ren nodded.
"Then I entrust you with this."
"Protect the Uchiha Home."
"Train the next generation."
"And maintain order within the clan."
"Yes, Ren-sama!"
Their voices answered as one.
Later—
After escorting the children home—
Mikoto walked beside him, her mood lighter.
"They've finally found their strength again."
"But… isn't assigning them to patrol a bit too much?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"Mikoto… don't underestimate them."
She blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"Explain it properly."
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