When Mikoto flipped to the last page, she found a string of addresses written there.
The address pointed to a dessert shop, detailed down to the specific seat number.
That seat number was the one... where she had once invited Shimizu to sit.
"Something Uchiha Shimizu did?" Mikoto murmured to herself, her heart heavy with suspicion.
She quickly gathered her things and headed straight for the address.
"What more do you want?" Mikoto demanded the moment she stepped into the dessert shop and spotted Shimizu's figure, cutting straight to the point.
Why did Shimizu always have to disrupt her peaceful life?
"I don't want anything," Shimizu replied with a faint smile. "You should be asking what Lord Fugaku wants."
Mikoto's heart churned with disgust. She was a deeply traditional woman, and after their last encounter, she wanted nothing more to do with Shimizu.
"Destroy those photos, and we can still talk," she said, forcing herself to sit down despite the unease gnawing at her.
Shimizu, as if he hadn't heard her, reached out and lightly brushed the back of her hand.
Mikoto recoiled as if shocked by lightning, her face darkening with anger. They were in public, and yet Shimizu dared to act so boldly.
"Lord Fugaku's already strayed, Mikoto-nee. Haven't you ever thought about getting even?" Shimizu's words sent Mikoto into a moment of contemplation.
After a pause, she shook her head. "Those are two separate matters. This is my failure as a wife."
If she hadn't been unable to fulfill her duties, how could this have happened?
Seeing her resolve, Shimizu's expression gradually cooled. The tactics from those books clearly didn't work in reality. For a mature woman like Mikoto, mere photos weren't enough to blackmail her.
He hadn't wanted to resort to extreme measures, but it seemed he had no other choice.
"Those photos? I'd advise against spreading them," Mikoto said, her voice steadying as she regained her composure. "No matter what, Fugaku has loyal followers. At most, it'll tarnish his reputation, but it won't be enough to impeach him."
As a former Jonin, Mikoto's sharp mind kicked in. To reach that rank, one needed not just skill but exceptional mental fortitude.
"Is that so?" Shimizu tapped his fingers on the table, his tone neutral.
Mikoto, willing to forsake her own children and stand unwaveringly by Fugaku's side, revealed the Uchiha traits hidden beneath her gentle exterior: pride and obsession.
It was the curse of the Uchiha. The unique chakra produced by their brains made their emotions far more intense than those of ordinary people.
The Third Great Ninja War was nearing its end, and Uchiha Itachi's birth had been delayed by years—because Shimizu had been biding his time, amassing power.
Now, with sufficient strength, he could afford to take bolder steps.
Seeing Shimizu unmoved, Mikoto decided there was no point in continuing the conversation. She stood to leave, intending to inform Fugaku and let him handle the matter.
Shimizu watched her retreating figure without stopping her. A faint smile curled his lips as he paid the bill and left the dessert shop.
"Come back soon!" the women at the pleasure house teased Fugaku.
Fugaku's face remained stoic, but inwardly, he was filled with regret. How had he let himself be swayed into coming here?
He tossed out a handful of money and hurried out. In a secluded corner, he dispelled his Transformation Jutsu, resuming his true appearance and walking onto the main street as if nothing had happened.
"Captain Fugaku," Uchiha Yatsushiro called out.
"What is it?" Fugaku's voice carried a faint tremor.
Yatsushiro, oblivious to the slip, said gravely, "Kirigakure's been acting up lately. The Third Hokage has summoned you to discuss matters."
"Kirigakure..." Fugaku's brows furrowed tightly.
Iwagakure had already been troublesome, possibly planning another counterattack. Now Kirigakure was making moves, plunging the already-clearing war situation back into uncertainty.
"I'll head there now," Fugaku said heavily. He was exhausted from the night before and longed to rest, but he knew his priorities.
"Oh, and tell Mikoto I was working at the Konoha Police Force all night and am now heading to the Hokage Tower for a meeting."
"Yes, Captain Fugaku," Yatsushiro nodded.
He'd gone home to rest after his shift yesterday, unaware that Fugaku had stayed late working. Now, without rest, Fugaku was heading to the Hokage Tower. Truly, he was a role model for Yatsushiro.
The moon hung high, and the world was silent.
Mikoto waited at home for a long time, but Fugaku didn't return. In the afternoon, Yatsushiro had stopped by to relay Fugaku's whereabouts before leaving.
"Fugaku, why aren't you back yet?" Mikoto muttered, growing drowsy. It was only eight in the evening, but the day's worries had drained her, and all she wanted was to sleep.
As she drifted into slumber, an uninvited guest arrived in the courtyard.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
Poof.
A shadow clone identical to Shimizu appeared beside him. The clone formed hand seals, and white mist enveloped it. When the mist cleared, it had transformed into a woman in her twenties, with gentle features, a curvaceous figure, and a traditional apron.
"Stay home for the next few months and avoid contact with outsiders. Don't slip up," Shimizu ordered the clone before entering Fugaku and Mikoto's bedroom.
Mikoto had just turned off the light and fallen asleep, alone, as Fugaku had left the village on a mission that morning.
Suddenly, she felt someone touch her.
When Mikoto opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of crimson Sharingan staring into hers.
Terror flashed in her eyes, and she opened her mouth to scream. But the three-tomoe Sharingan glowed faintly, and before she could react, she was ensnared in a genjutsu.
Within a second, her fear melted into deep confusion, as if nothing was before her.
Shimizu bound Mikoto's hands and feet, hoisted her over his shoulder, and instructed the shadow clone to erase all traces of his presence. Then, he vanished into the darkness.
Under the moonlight, a lone figure silently wove through the Uchiha compound.
Click.
Some time later, Uchiha Fugaku opened the door and found Mikoto already asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, he stretched and headed to the study.
Today, Sarutobi Hiruzen had spoken at length with the clan leaders. The crux was to remain vigilant in this war. Kirigakure might deploy tailed beast power, and if they did, Konoha would have to respond in kind.
The power of a tailed beast, if unleashed fully, could reshape landscapes and wreak catastrophic destruction. Such a force demanded utmost caution.
Fugaku sighed deeply.
The only thing lifting his spirits was Uchiha Shisui. He had successfully graduated early, his talent rivaling that of Hatake Kakashi, the son of White Fang. Shisui was already on the battlefield, and soon, news of his exploits would reach the village.
With geniuses emerging one after another, Fugaku felt a glimmer of hope in challenging that man.
Even now, the memory haunted him—a vision of flames consuming everything, ninja screaming in agony, and himself gravely wounded. Even Mikoto lay prostrate at that man's feet.
That future was not one Fugaku would accept.
In his agitation, he unconsciously activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, a red glow piercing the darkness. Realizing his mistake, he quickly deactivated it. This power had to remain hidden until the right moment.
It didn't take long for Shimizu to reach the first secret chamber he had built, adjacent to his laboratory. He had initially planned for Nohara Rin to be its first occupant, but now a better candidate had presented herself.
"Katon: Sokubaku."
Shimizu pressed his hand against Mikoto's abdomen, and fiery red chakra chains slithered across her body, merging into her skin to form faint, chain-like patterns.
Shimizu's talent in Fire Release was exceptional, rivaled by few in the Five Great Nations. This technique was a Fire Release sealing jutsu he had developed, inspired by "Katon: Tenro." It restricted the target's ability to mold chakra, preventing them from using ninjutsu.
Unlike Tenro, which burned the target with fiery chains if they tried to escape, Shimizu's version merely blocked chakra usage temporarily.
He channeled a surge of chakra into Mikoto.
Stimulated, her eyelids fluttered, and she slowly regained consciousness. Her dazed eyes scanned the dim surroundings, then widened in horror.
Where... was this? Was she still in Konoha? Where had she been taken?
The walls were lined with neatly cut wooden panels, adorned with strange equipment. Small ventilation holes were the only openings. Iron bars surrounded her, forming a standard prison cell.
Did the Uchiha have another facility besides the Konoha Police Force?
The cramped space and dim light filled Mikoto with unease.
"Mikoto-nee, you're awake," Shimizu said, his face bearing a half-smile as he leaned closer.
Mikoto's heart jolted. She tried to stand but realized Shimizu had restrained her.
"Shimizu! Are you betraying the Uchiha?" Her usually gentle voice turned sharp, laced with icy anger.
"Betray the Uchiha? How could I?" Shimizu's fingers brushed through her dark hair, lingering.
"I told you last time, I forgave you, Mikoto-nee, but not Fugaku. It's been so long, and he's shown no remorse. Doesn't that mean he thinks I'm easy to push around?"
Mikoto faltered. So this was about that. She had deliberately avoided confronting Shimizu, hoping to pretend the issue didn't exist. More importantly, she didn't know what Shimizu wanted to forgive Fugaku.
After their last encounter, she viewed Shimizu as capable of anything, no matter how low.
"I am Uchiha Mikoto, a Jonin of the clan, Fugaku's wife, and the clan leader's spouse. Release this seal now, and I can pretend this never happened."
Mikoto took a deep breath, the oppressive environment screaming that this was no place to linger. She needed to placate Shimizu and escape.
"Since you're here, Mikoto-nee, do you think you can just walk away?" Shimizu shook his head.
Was he foolish enough to let her go and get caught?
With that, he gripped her chin and launched his attack.
Transcribed Seal!
With his Byakugan's purity enhanced, Shimizu's ocular power had grown significantly. Once limited to sealing specific keywords, he could now seal entire events.
Mikoto's pupils dilated briefly before refocusing.
"What did you do to me?" she demanded, her three-tomoe Sharingan flaring in alarm. She could sense the foreign ocular power he had implanted in her eyes—whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
Shimizu ignored her question, shifting to another topic. "Mikoto-nee, I'm now the bridge between the clan and the village. The Hokage himself has acknowledged my role as the link between the Uchiha and Konoha. My importance speaks for itself."
"And?" Mikoto sensed something was off but followed his lead to understand his intentions.
"Since I'm this important, and Fugaku disrespects me, why shouldn't I take his place?"
Mikoto's pupils shrank in shock. Shimizu's ambition was treasonous!
"You... what makes you think you can?" she challenged. Fugaku, known as "Wicked Eye Fugaku," was a seasoned leader, elected as clan head for his undeniable strength. Shimizu, despite his recent battlefield fame as "Shunshin Shimizu," was merely known for his speed.
"What makes me think I can? My strength, of course."
With that, Shimizu unleashed his chakra, no longer suppressing it. The sheer volume, rivaling that of the Uzumaki clan, rippled outward in waves, far exceeding that of an average Jonin.
He fully activated Raikiri: Saisei Rensei (Lightning Release: Regeneration Refinement), pushing his body beyond its limits. His mental energy, bolstered by both Byakugan and Sharingan, had always outstripped his physical energy, never achieving balance.
Now, by overdriving his body, his physical energy surged, harmonizing with his mental energy. His chakra skyrocketed, multiplying several times over.
The overwhelming chakra whipped Mikoto's dark hair, forcing her to squint, her Sharingan peering through the slits in awe.
"So, Mikoto-nee, do you think I have enough chakra?" Shimizu asked calmly.
Raikiri: Saisei Rensei continuously refined his body. The stronger his physique, the longer he could sustain this overdrive. For three minutes, he could fight with this immense chakra reserve.
In ninja battles, chakra quantity was paramount. With enough chakra, even a C-rank Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu could be amplified into something extraordinary.
Just like Naruto's Rasengan—brute-forcing it with sheer chakra volume was enough.
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