"Don't… Itachi, don't—!"
With a choked cry, Mikoto jerked awake.
She sat up, chest heaving as she dragged in lungfuls of air.
Her heart pounded violently; her whole body shook.
Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, and she trembled like a frightened quail.
Even Sasuke's loud crying beside her barely registered at first.
Evan simply tightened his hold around her, a crooked smile curling at his lips.
He gently patted her back.
"Don't be afraid, Sister-in-law. I'm here."
Mikoto didn't even have the presence of mind to push him away.
It took a long moment before she finally whispered, voice hollow:
"Wh-What… was that…?"
She had just watched her own son slaughter his parents.
Watched him butcher the clan.
She knew it was genjutsu. But it felt horrifyingly real.
"This isn't real…"
She kept repeating it under her breath, biting her lip so hard it bled.
Evan watched her calmly, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Kyōka Suigetsu, paired with his other techniques—
a terrifying combination.
Only after she'd calmed slightly did he finally speak.
"Sister-in-law, there's something you might not know about my bloodline," he said softly.
"It has… a special ability."
"It lets me see the future—within limits."
"What you just saw was the future of the Uchiha clan.
And your family's future."
Mikoto's heart clenched.
"You're lying… There's no such thing," she snapped, teeth grinding.
Seeing her crying face, Evan reached up, wiping away her tears almost tenderly.
"Don't cry. If you don't believe me, you can ask Fugaku when he comes back," he said.
"Ask if I really have this power."
Mikoto stared at him, unable to answer.
Her mind was still a swirling mess.
Someone had just told her—
That her gentle, clever son would one day murder his own parents…
and annihilate their clan.
No. Impossible.
He's such a good child.
He would never…
Her first instinct was denial.
It had to be a lie.
A trick, for some ugly reason.
Evan quietly watched her expression, every twitch and micro-movement.
When he judged the timing right, he continued:
"It's normal you don't believe me. That's fine. Ask around first."
"But remember this—
If I show you such a future… it means I can change it."
He leaned in slightly.
"And in return, I think you already know what I want."
Mikoto's brows knit together.
"What do you want?"
"You," Evan said plainly. "I want you."
Shame and fury flared in her chest.
"You… disgusting…"
This beast in human skin…
So that's what he wants…
Evan gently turned her face toward him, expression almost serious.
"Liking Sister-in-law isn't disgusting."
Mikoto froze.
For a moment, she had no words.
"How… can a Leaf shinobi like you exist…?"
Evan's expression cooled.
His fingers tightened on her cheeks, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Sister-in-law," he murmured, "you don't want Itachi to grow up and kill his own parents, do you?"
Each word was like a knife, driving straight into her heart.
"How could he… He would never—"
"I know you don't believe me. You think I'm only saying this to corner you," Evan continued.
"That's fine. I'll give you time to find out the truth yourself."
"What I want… is for you to come to me willingly, someday."
"Never," Mikoto hissed, face burning with rage and humiliation. "That will never happen."
Evan didn't get angry.
He simply leaned close—
And the world narrowed.
Her mind blanked for a second, drowned in his scent, his presence, the heavy rush of emotion and shame and something she refused to name.
By the time she managed to push him away, she was gasping for breath, cheeks burning, heart in chaos.
Too many things crammed into her chest at once—fear, disgust, confusion, helplessness.
Evan withdrew his hand casually, as if nothing had happened.
Then he smiled.
"Oh, right, Sister-in-law… what happened here today—"
He brushed a thumb over her tear-streaked cheek.
"Let's keep it secret, okay?"
"This will be our little secret."
His tone cooled instantly, turning sharp and cold.
"If you tell anyone…"
His voice dropped.
"I'll kill Itachi. And Sasuke."
Mikoto's blood ran cold.
"You… wouldn't dare," she whispered, voice shaking.
"You can test me if you'd like," Evan replied with a mocking smile.
Looking at his handsome face, Mikoto felt nothing but ice inside.
He wasn't bluffing.
As his figure finally faded from the room, Mikoto could no longer hold back.
She curled up, hugging her knees, and cried silently into them.
Then a thought jolted through her.
Sasuke.
She wiped her tears in a panic and rushed to the child, lifting him into her arms.
"Shh… Sasuke, it's okay…" she whispered, voice hoarse.
"Mother won't let anything happen to you…"
…
Uchiha training grounds.
Two figures, one tall and one small, sat side by side on the grass.
"Shisui-nii," Itachi asked, eyes serious, "do you know Evan?"
He knew very little about the man.
Even less about his war record.
After all, he was only five.
Shisui's expression shifted the moment he heard the name.
"Itachi," he said slowly, "why are you asking about him?"
"Father wants him to teach me swordsmanship."
"Eh?" Shisui blinked. "I'm jealous. Getting to learn from Lord Evan…"
"Is his swordsmanship really that strong?"
Itachi frowned.
The man looked… utterly unreliable.
Shisui's eyes shone with open admiration.
"You don't get it."
"In Konoha, no one surpasses him in swordsmanship. Not a single person."
"Not even the White Evan, if he were still alive."
"What?" Itachi stared, stunned.
Shisui thought for a moment, then his tone turned solemn.
"Itachi, you've heard of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, right?"
Itachi nodded quickly.
"I've heard… They wield seven legendary blades. It's said they could wipe out a country in a single night."
Shisui snorted softly.
"They're all dead. Killed in the Third Shinobi War."
"By… who?" Itachi asked automatically.
Then realization hit.
He froze, eyes going wide.
"Don't tell me…"
He looked up at Shisui, seeking confirmation.
Shisui nodded.
"That year, Lord Evan went alone with a single sword."
"The so-called Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—
Were nothing in front of him."
Itachi's jaw dropped.
"T-that means… he was stronger than all of them combined, to defeat them one by one."
Shisui chuckled.
"You're wrong. It wasn't one by one."
"It was one against seven."
Itachi's pupils shrank.
He stared in raw disbelief.
"H-how is that even possible…?"
Shisui tilted his head back, gazing at the sky.
"The gap between you and Lord Evan right now… is bigger than you think."
Then his expression turned a bit helpless.
"Though for some reason, he doesn't seem to like me much."
"Every time I go asking for sword pointers, he finds some excuse to dodge me.
Like he doesn't want to be alone with me."
"Really strange…"
…
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