“Smells So Sweet” - Naruto: The Uchiha Manifesto

After returning from the front lines, Uchiha Ye first reported to the Hokage's office, then to the Uchiha clan compound as per protocol.

But just as he arrived home—

He ran straight into Uchiha Mikoto, who was still mentally unstable from her recent trauma.

Inside the house, time seemed to blur. Soft sobbing could be heard faintly between the walls.

The room was a mess — the floor and stairs bore signs of struggle, the chaos trailing all the way up to the bedroom.

"Ye-kun… I'm sorry…"

Covered in red marks, Mikoto turned her head toward him, eyes full of guilt.

Ye just sighed and shook his head tiredly.

"Mikoto-senpai, lie down. I'll treat your injuries with medical ninjutsu."

He held out his hands, pale green chakra glowing softly — a simple healing technique, but enough to mend surface wounds.

Mikoto's eyes shimmered with tears. Her voice trembled as she spoke, barely above a whisper.

"Ye-kun… on this last mission… my teammate, Sakurako… I saw her die right in front of me. And it was all our fault…"

Her Sharingan flickered, the two tomoe spinning faintly as grief and hatred clouded her vision.

"We were just passing through a small village after completing the mission. There was an old man — he looked pitiful, so Sakurako offered him some food. But then… he suddenly went mad!"

Her hands clenched, voice trembling.

"That man… he was terrifying. He had no chakra, none at all, but in the next second — he changed! He turned into a monster! Then Sakurako—he bit through her neck! I could only watch as she gasped for air…"

Ye frowned deeply as he listened. No chakra, but transformed into a monster?

That sounded eerily familiar. There was only one figure in the world that fit that kind of report… but he held his thoughts back when he saw the grief in Mikoto's eyes.

He sighed softly.

This brutal shinobi world — advanced on the surface, yet rotten with cruelty beneath.

Mikoto had grown up alongside him. Despite her gentle temperament, she carried a heavy lineage — the granddaughter of Elder Uchiha Setsuna, and one of the clan's rare female prodigies.

Every Uchiha who awakened the Sharingan went through emotional collapse. The special chakra that surged into the brain often caused instability — wild mood swings and loss of control.

It was said every Uchiha endured a period of chaos before finding balance.

Later — in the bathhouse.

Steam filled the air, carrying the faint scent of cedar and herbs. A thin bamboo wall divided the room, casting rippling shadows through the rising mist.

On one side, Mikoto soaked quietly in the water, exhaustion and grief still lingering in her eyes.

On the other, Ye leaned back against the opposite wall, his voice lazy and calm.

"Ye-kun, thank you," Mikoto murmured, her voice barely reaching through the partition.

Ye stretched with a yawn. "Ahh… this noble life is dangerous, but I could definitely get used to it."

He grinned even though she couldn't see it. "You know, Mikoto-senpai, you're Elder Setsuna's granddaughter. If the clan finds out I'm here— even with a bamboo wall between us— I'm doomed."

There was a pause, then a faint laugh from the other side. "Oh? And how much do you want this time, little Ye?"

Ye rubbed his fingers together theatrically, knowing she could probably picture his expression. "Let's see… exploding tags, steel wire, ration pills, shuriken maintenance… everything's getting expensive these days. And I still haven't awakened my Sharingan, remember?"

Mikoto let out a quiet sigh that blended with the hiss of steam. "You're just as shameless as ever," she said, though her tone was warmer now — lighter.

"That's called being resourceful, Senpai." Ye's smile softened. "Besides, if I can make you laugh, it's worth it."

Silence lingered for a moment. Then Mikoto's voice came again, teasing but tired.

"Well, I don't have much money left… maybe I'll just have to pay with something else."

Ye immediately sat upright, nearly slipping on the damp floor. "Mikoto-senpai! Don't joke like that! If anyone hears that through the wall, your grandfather will have me executed!"

From behind the bamboo divider came the sound of soft laughter — genuine this time. The tension in the air slowly melted away.

After a while, Mikoto's tone grew serious again. "Ye-kun, take this."

Something slid over the top of the partition — a small scroll, wrapped neatly in red thread.

"This is an advanced version of the clan's shuriken and sword techniques," Mikoto said. "And there's also a B-rank Lightning Release jutsu — Lightning Style: False Darkness. Study it carefully. The battlefield in the Land of Rain is no place to hesitate."

Ye caught the scroll, eyes lighting up. "Mikoto-senpai, you're incredible. Your kindness—" he smirked, leaning lightly against the wall, "—smells sweeter than victory itself."

Mikoto's cheeks flushed lightly at his words. Her calm demeanor returned — she had regained control of her emotions after the trauma of awakening her Sharingan.

The Uchiha clan's shuriken arts were legendary, their precision unmatched in the ninja world. As Ye examined the scroll, his heart swelled with genuine gratitude.

He knew Mikoto was giving him everything she could to protect him — her concern hidden behind her composed smile.

Though he was only a genin, his training and clan resources had already made him nearly the equal of an average chūnin.

But on the battlefield, chakra alone wasn't enough — having efficient combat techniques meant survival.

And Ye, as an Uchiha, had no shortage of tools: paper bombs, kunai, and other ninja gear far beyond what most genin could afford.

"Take your time with the Lightning Release," Mikoto warned. "It's difficult, but you need to master it. Fire techniques won't work well in the Land of Rain."

Ye nodded but frowned slightly. "The shuriken and sword arts I can manage, but a high-level lightning jutsu…?"

"You'll be fine," Mikoto said calmly. "I already got approval from the clan to let you train with it. After all, your chakra nature includes lightning."

At that, Ye's grin returned.

As expected — even a proud clan like the Uchiha could be generous when it mattered.

His chakra attributes were fire, lightning, and earth — a rare combination.

"Ye," Mikoto said suddenly, her expression hardening, "three days from now — meet me at the village gate. I'm going to avenge Sakurako myself."

Her tone trembled with barely contained emotion. Ye blinked, then smiled again.

"Mikoto-senpai, business is business. About earlier — we're even now. But if this mission's that dangerous… you'll have to pay extra!"

A soft thud sounded as something sailed over the bamboo divider.

Ye caught it just before it hit him — a small towel, damp and warm from Mikoto's side of the bath.

"Don't be mad, senpai! At least cover the cost of ninja tools! If not, then maybe— okay, okay! I'll stop talking!"

By the time he finished, Mikoto had already leapt out the window.

A faint breeze brushed against her as she landed outside, the corners of her lips curving into a small, genuine smile.

She knew full well Ye was only teasing her — trying to ease her pain.

The newly awakened Sharingan left her emotions raw and volatile, and his foolishness gave her the space to breathe again.

Watching her vanish into the distance, Ye stood, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as a small grin tugged at his mouth.

Chapter 5 - “Smells So Sweet”