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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: It's So Delicious

I had just returned from the front lines. My first stop was the Hokage Building to report, and then I headed back to my family to update them. When I finally reached home, I encountered Uchiha Mikoto, who seemed deeply unsettled.

The interior of the house was in chaos. From the entrance, I could see evidence of a fight everywhere—scattered furniture, marks on the stairs, and signs of struggle in the bedroom. Amidst this mess, intermittent sounds of soft crying echoed from within.

"Ye Jun… I… I'm sorry," Uchiha Mikoto murmured, her body marked with red scars, her eyes filled with guilt.

I shook my head tiredly. "Misaki, lie down. I'll treat your injuries with medical ninjutsu."

She obeyed, collapsing onto the bed. My hands emitted a faint green light as I performed the basic medical ninjutsu. Despite the treatment, tears welled in her eyes, and she sobbed softly.

"Ye-kun… on this mission… my companion, Sakurako… she was killed… all because of our carelessness," she whispered. "After the mission, we passed through a village and saw an old man in need. Sakurako kindly offered him food, but… he went berserk! In an instant, he transformed into a monster. And Sakurako… her neck was shattered. I could only watch as she gasped for air, staring at me…"

Listening to her, I frowned. No chakra… yet transforming into a monster? That sounded suspiciously like information I had encountered before. But seeing the sorrow in her eyes, I let out a sigh. This ninja world, despite its apparent sophistication, was cruel.

Mikoto's background was complicated. She was Elder Setsuna's granddaughter and a rare female ninja prodigy in the clan. When the Uchiha awakened their eyes, emotional instability often accompanied the surge of special chakra in the brain, leading to mental strain. Historically, members of the Uchiha clan experienced a progression from restlessness to eventual stability.

Later, in the bathroom, Mikoto's voice softened. "Ye Jun… thank you."

I yawned, casually stepping out of the bathtub and slipping into a bathrobe. Honestly, I almost loved this comfortable, if chaotic, life.

"Misaki… you're Elder Setsuna's granddaughter. I'm taking a huge risk here. If the rest of the clan knew…"

I rubbed my fingers together, a playful expression on my face, and Mikoto laughed.

"So, how much do you want this time, Ye… brother?"

Even though we had been friends since childhood, I couldn't compare to her. "These ninja swords, detonating tags, steel wire, and military pills… they're all precious supplies, especially since I haven't awakened my Sharingan yet," I said earnestly.

Mikoto, relaxing in the tub, squinted her eyes in rare enjoyment. She understood I was trying to ease her mood.

"I don't have that much. How about I pay with my body?" she teased.

I nearly choked. "Sister Mikoto! Don't even joke about that. If anyone found out, Elder Setsuna would skin me alive."

The tension in the room eased, and Mikoto slowly rose from the tub, her relaxed demeanor returning.

Her clothes, while subtle, highlighted her curves—a sight I had seen many times before, yet still… ahem!

"This is the family's more advanced shuriken and sword techniques, and a B-rank ninjutsu: Lightning Style: Pseudo-Darkness. Use this time to study it carefully; most battles will be in the Land of Rain," Mikoto instructed, removing a scroll from her coat and tossing it to me.

Receiving the scroll, I smiled. "Mikoto-sama, your thighs smell so good," I said casually. Mikoto's composure faltered, and she blushed deeply. Normally, she would never be so uninhibited, but the recent Sharingan awakening had stirred strong emotions.

Situations like this often revealed the darker aspects of human nature. But I understood—her concern for me was a survival guarantee. Though I had only graduated a little over a year ago and was still a Genin, my growth during the war and the ninjutsu accumulated from my powerful family made me comparable to an average Chunin.

Still, on the battlefield, a Chunin's chakra—let alone a Jonin's—was often insufficient. My swordsmanship and shuriken techniques were essential to conserve chakra for long-range attacks, a critical factor in survival. Even without the Sharingan, my ninja tools far surpassed those of ordinary ninjas of the same rank.

"Don't rush Lightning Release. Take your time, but you must learn it. Our clan's Fire Release is limited in the Rain Village," Mikoto warned solemnly. The B-rank ninjutsu was considered Jonin-level, challenging to master.

"Swordsmanship and shuriken jutsu are easy… but this advanced Lightning Release!" I admitted, a hint of concern showing.

Mikoto nodded calmly. "It'll be fine. This battle is in the Rain Village. I've already applied for your lightning-style ability within the clan."

Relief washed over me. Even the notoriously paranoid Uchiha clan had its social conventions. My chakra attributes were fire, lightning, and earth—a versatile combination.

"Ye, meet me at the village gate in three days. I will personally avenge Sakurako!" Mikoto's emotions surged again. I feigned surprise and smiled.

"Misaki, let's get this over with. This mission is too dangerous; I'll have to pay you extra," I said.

With a thud, Mikoto threw a pillow at me. I caught it easily.

"Sister Mikoto, let's talk about it reasonably. You should at least add a little. After all, we'll be leaving the village soon… Okay, let's forget about money for now. But we must account for the ninja tools used on this mission…"

At my words, Mikoto turned away from the window, visibly calming. Feeling the breeze outside, she finally relaxed, smiling gently. She understood that my teasing was meant to ease her fragile state after awakening her Sharingan.

As she disappeared into the distance, a small black dot in the night, I narrowed my eyes and smiled.

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