"Where is this?"
After arriving in Konoha and seeing so many people in such an unfamiliar place, Uchiha Hikari became even more guarded—like a cat getting stressed in a new environment. Instinctively, she drifted toward the one "safe" place she could find.
Uchiha Yorin.
Even if she wasn't thrilled about it, she had to admit that right now, only standing near him gave her even a little sense of security.
"This is Konoha," Yorin said. "A village where ninja gather. After more than fifty years of development, it has over a million residents—maybe more in the future."
"I don't like it," she said, still clinging to his hand and edging closer to him without thinking. If someone who didn't know the truth saw her like this, they'd assume she was a shy little sister (or daughter) holding onto her big brother's hand—not an awakened relic from a brutal era quietly sizing up her future surroundings.
"Too many people. I don't like it," Uchiha Hikari repeated flatly.
"It's fine," Yorin replied. "We'll reach the Uchiha district soon. There are fewer people there."
In truth, it wasn't that empty.
After Yorin rose to power, the Uchiha dismantled the walls around their old compound and fully merged their district into the village. Once the physical barrier disappeared, the psychological barrier started fading too.
These days, most visitors to the Uchiha district were either bold tourists chasing novelty, or business partners working with the clan. Over time, more ordinary Konoha ninja and civilians would likely come to shop, sightsee, or visit friends.
Of course, there was no need to tell Hikari any of that and stress her out.
"Good," she said, finally relaxing.
Because she wasn't used to socializing much, she had a slightly introverted, socially anxious vibe. Yorin figured he should introduce her to more people—Tsunade, Samui, Mei Terumi, that sort of crowd. Let her realize she was… comparatively "flat"—as a joke.
For some reason, Hikari felt like Yorin was planning something she wouldn't like. Her gaze turned sharp and dangerous for a split second—then his flawlessly warm smile wiped it away.
No woman immune to Yorin's gentle smile had been born yet. With that alone, he could probably even win over Kaguya.
"So… Konoha is the Uchiha clan's territory?" Hikari asked. Once they entered the Uchiha district and the crowd thinned, her nerves settled, and she continued.
"Not exactly," Yorin said. "The Uchiha are part of Konoha—not the other way around."
"The Uchiha… lost?!" Hikari blurted out, suddenly anxious.
She wasn't especially attached to Uchiha bloodlines—she even had some resentment about it. But hearing the Uchiha had been "enslaved" by some outsider still made her furious.
"That's not what this is," Yorin said. "This era isn't just 'victory or defeat' anymore. We're part of Konoha, and Konoha is a large alliance created jointly by us and other ninja clans."
He explained the idea of a hidden village as simply as he could.
Hikari looked like she only half understood… but she didn't want Yorin to think she was clueless. So whether she got it or not, she nodded seriously, putting on an "I completely understand" face.
It was so obviously forced—and so cute—that Yorin almost reached out to pat her head.
But if he really did, maybe she'd hit him with an Amaterasu and ruin his entire week.
What a shame, Yorin thought.
Still, he believed that as their relationship "leveled up" and improved, one day he'd be able to do whatever he wanted—pat her head, ruffle her hair, and plenty of other things too.
At most, Hikari would turn red and mutter, "Pervert," but she'd still be absurdly tolerant, gentle, and indulgent—letting Yorin do whatever he pleased.
Just imagining it made him ridiculously happy.
Uchiha Hikari: "…?"
She didn't know why, but looking at Yorin right now gave her a sudden, irrational urge to beat him down, step out of her shoes, and press her foot against his face like she was humiliating him.
Of course, she didn't actually do it. It was just a passing thought.
No matter what, Yorin had saved her, helped her, and treated her gently.
If he started having nasty intentions, that would be one thing. But so far, he'd been decent to her. So—like he suggested—she'd rest at the Uchiha grounds, learn about this era, and when she got bored or felt it was time to leave, she'd leave.
If by then they still hadn't fallen out… she'd do something for him in return. Something like making this city truly belong to the Uchiha clan.
Yorin would be happy, right…?
No. Whether he was happy didn't matter. She'd act by her own will. She didn't need to care what he thought.
…
Uchiha Hikari's thoughts swayed back and forth between "softly adorable" and "quietly terrifying."
Either way, as a true "ultimate weapon," her value was miles beyond some so-called "ultimate weapon" like Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan.
If she really tried, Hikari genuinely could conquer the world.
But as Yorin had already said, he didn't need her to conquer anything—he just wanted her to be a happy, safe, adorable young woman.
And she was adorable. That wasn't just Yorin's personal take—other people agreed.
The moment Yorin brought Hikari back to Konoha, people noticed her.
They couldn't not notice.
Yorin's fame and authority in Konoha had basically surpassed the Hokage's—at this point, even the past Hokage. With power like that, even a casual remark from him invited overinterpretation by "loyal" types—let alone him returning with an incredibly cute young Uchiha woman.
People had always gossiped that Yorin was a womanizer.
Rumors were rumors—but now they had a living "official witness."
So of course people were curious. They spread the news, asked around, tried to identify her: who was the girl by Yorin's side?
Based on her looks and hairstyle, the answer was easy:
An Uchiha.
And not just any Uchiha—an Uchiha beauty.
People who didn't know much about Yorin shrugged and said stuff like, "Yorin-sama has a new girlfriend again. Must be nice. Totally not jealous," (while being jealous enough to crack).
People who thought they were more "in the know" said, "Yorin-sama is really working himself to the bone for Konoha's prosperity."
Others didn't get it.
Sure, Yorin was powerful, sure he cared about Konoha—but saying he was dating an Uchiha girl "for Konoha" sounded like an insane stretch.
Even if you wanted to suck up, wasn't this a bit much?
But the "in the know" types doubled down, confidently insisting, "I'm telling the truth. You don't know this, but the Uchiha clan has actually had complaints about him.
Yorin-sama used marriages to tie in the Senju and other villages—but he didn't marry into his own clan.
Bloodline clans care a lot about keeping their blood 'in the family.' With someone as valuable as Yorin, if his bloodline spreads into the Senju—or even other villages—people will obviously be unhappy. He's under huge pressure.
Looks like he couldn't take it anymore, so he finally took a girl from his own clan. That's why I'm saying he's really suffering for the village."
Even after all that, most people still wanted to say, "Wow, that's a creative angle," but because it involved Yorin, they could only grit their teeth and say:
"So that's how it is."
"Yorin-sama really has it tough."
"That girl really is cute. Having a girlfriend that adorable—he must be happy too."
"…But her eyes are scary. Like the type who wouldn't blink at killing a hundred thousand people."
"Well, that's the Uchiha for you."
Yorin had been pushing the "Uchiha are a clan of love" line hard, and it was working to a degree—but nobody stopped fearing that an Uchiha could still wipe your whole family out if they snapped.
Because they're a clan of love, the hate runs just as deep.
A girl that pretty might be a dream—but ordinary people couldn't handle a living weapon like that.
Only someone like Uchiha Yorin—a real monster in human form—could.
…
That was the outsiders.
Inside the Uchiha clan, the gossip was even wilder.
Because they all knew one fact:
The Uchiha clan didn't have anyone named Uchiha Hikari.
~~~
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