Sniff sniff sniff
Mumei, her mouth glistening with oil, quietly sobbed.
Shinji, sitting beside her, looked exasperated. "Slow down, slow down!"
Mumei mumbled incoherently, "The barbecue here is just too fragrant, too delicious!"
Shinji wiped her tears with a tissue. "You don't have to cry about it! People who don't know might think I'm bullying you!"
Mumei, completely serious, said, "Because I finally feel happiness!"
The era Mumei lived in was the Warring States period, a time of low productivity. On top of that, she was imprisoned by her clan in a dark, sunless dungeon from a young age, silently bearing the role of the "clan's weapon." Forget gourmet food—she likely hadn't even eaten decent meals.
Shinji understood Mumei's reaction. After all, good food could indeed dispel worries and bring a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
So he shook the bell, summoning the shop owner. "Another set of what I ordered earlier!"
The owner smiled and agreed, "Got it!"
Moments later, plates of high-quality ingredients were brought to the table, including several dishes of premium beef that Shinji hadn't ordered.
Shinji quickly stopped the owner. "Is there a mistake? I didn't order these!"
Mumei, biting her chopsticks, stared intently at the beef.
Seeing this, Shinji relented and told the owner to leave the premium beef. "Fine, keep it—"
Before Shinji could finish, the owner explained, "First Chair, you're a regular here, always supporting our business. These dishes are on the house!"
Shinji didn't stand on ceremony. "Thanks!"
After the owner left, Mumei whispered, "Shinji, why did the owner call you 'First Chair'? And is it really okay for us to accept such precious ingredients?"
"Eat without worry! A big shop like this can afford to give away a few plates of meat!" Pausing, Shinji continued, "As for 'First Chair,' it's because I scored first place in the assessments at Hidden Leaf's Shinobi Academy, earning me the title of 'First Chair.'"
Mumei blinked. "Shinobi Academy?"
"It's where Hidden Leaf trains shinobi. Children from all clans can apply to enroll, receiving guidance from sensei and learning through competition with each other." Pointing out the window, Shinji added, "The Shinobi Academy is over there. That building is the academy's teaching hall!"
Mumei's eyes sparkled with longing. "You must make lots of friends there!"
Shinji nodded lightly. "Hm."
Mumei stuffed a large piece of barbecue into her mouth. "Shinji, I wish I'd met you sooner!"
"It's… not too late now!" Pouring her a cup of tea, Shinji smiled. "Save some room—there's plenty more delicious food to try!"
Mumei blushed. "More delicious food?"
"Of course!"
After leaving the barbecue restaurant, Shinji took Mumei to explore Hidden Leaf's night market. Perhaps because of the recent Chunin Exam battles, Shinji didn't run into any familiar faces along the way, sparing him the trouble of explaining Mumei's identity.
After sampling various snacks, Shinji sneaked Mumei into the Shinobi Academy.
"This is the training field where we practice daily. Behind that grove are some smaller practice areas, and over there is the teaching building."
As Shinji led Mumei through the academy, he explained its features.
Mumei hesitated before asking, "Could I attend school here someday?"
"Uh…"
Shinji hadn't expected Mumei to make such a request, so he paused.
Mumei seemed to realize something. "Is my request too much? Hidden Leaf is a shinobi village, and with my suspicious background, I probably can't live here, right?"
Shinji shook his head. "It's not a big issue. I hesitated just now because, with your strength, you don't really need to study at the academy."
Mumei's eyes widened. "What?"
Shinji explained, "Years ago, the Uchiha clan was massacred. Though it was orchestrated by the village's higher-ups, the one who carried it out was an Uchiha clansman, so our clan wasn't branded as 'traitors.' Through my efforts over the years, and with the power struggles among the village's leadership, I've gained some status in the village. Arranging for one or two people shouldn't be a problem."
Mumei was stunned. "The ones who massacred the clan… were our own Uchiha?"
Though she harbored resentment toward her clan deep down, she had never considered wiping them out herself. Only now, hearing Shinji's account of the massacre, did she learn that the one who destroyed the Uchiha clan was one of their own.
"His name was Uchiha Itachi!" Pausing, Shinji said calmly, "He chose the village over the clan and made a deal with the village's higher-ups. Except for his younger brother, he killed every Uchiha."
Mumei hurriedly asked, "What about you?"
Shinji's expression remained neutral. "I was one of his targets too. I just got lucky and was saved in the morgue!"
To be precise, Itachi had succeeded in killing Shinji—or rather, the original owner of Shinji's body.
Mumei's face turned cold. "Why spare his own brother but target you?! Shinji, we can't let this go!"
"Huh?!"
"He made his choice between the village and the clan—that's his business! But him attacking you? That's something I absolutely can't forgive!"
As she spoke, Mumei's ink-black eyes turned crimson, her killing intent spilling over!
Shinji was taken aback.
At the barbecue restaurant, Mumei had been like an innocent, adorable little sister. But now, she seemed like a different person, her gaze razor-sharp!
Only now did he realize that Mumei was, after all, an Uchiha—one who loved and hated with fierce passion!
Patting her shoulder, Shinji smiled. "Don't worry, I've got this debt in mind too! When the time comes, I'll settle it!"
Mumei said, "Make sure to bring me along!"
"Alright!"
Shinji agreed.
Under the night sky, the two sat on a swing.
After a moment's thought, Shinji said, "I'll figure out a way to handle your identity. I'll arrange a proper one for you. But for now, the most important thing is your body's recovery, so you need to cooperate with me fully!"
Mumei nodded. "Hm, I'll listen to you!"
After swinging for a while, Shinji stood up. "Alright, it's about time. Let's head back to the lab!"
Mumei was reluctant. "We have to leave already?"
Shinji smiled. "Once your body fully recovers, you can stay here as long as you want!"