When the patrol ended, Uchiha Chiya made his way to Uchiha Mikoto's home as they had agreed.
It was a typical Uchiha clan residence, simple and elegant. Several cherry blossom trees grew in the courtyard, and as the gentle breeze passed through, petals drifted lightly downward.
Mikoto had already been waiting at the entrance.
When she saw Chiya arrive, a warm smile bloomed across her face at once.
"Chiya-nii, you came!"
She stepped forward to meet him, her eyes full of delight.
"Yes. I came straight here when the patrol ended."
Chiya smiled slightly, his gaze resting on her with warmth.
Mikoto's cheeks turned faintly pink. She said softly.
"Come in quickly. The sushi is already ready."
Chiya nodded and followed Mikoto into the residence.
As they walked through the corridor, he noticed that the courtyard had been swept spotlessly clean. A faint scent of cherry blossoms hung in the air. It was clear that Mikoto had made careful preparations for this visit.
However, when he stepped into the sitting room, he was surprised to find a white-haired elder seated at the head of the room, his sharp gaze fixed on Chiya.
It was Elder Sosuke, a highly respected elder of the Uchiha clan, and Mikoto's grandfather.
Chiya quickly bowed.
"Elder Sosuke, I apologize for the intrusion."
Uchiha Sosuke was known throughout the clan for his strictness, and held the younger generation to an especially high standard.
He had long favored Uchiha Fugaku, seeing him as steady and reliable, a future leader of the Uchiha.
As for Chiya, he had kept to himself in the past and had never shown any particular edge, so he had not drawn Sosuke's attention.
In fact, because of the fondness Mikoto held toward Chiya, Sosuke had more than once dropped quiet hints for Chiya to keep his distance from her.
Yet today, Sosuke's manner was unexpectedly different.
"You are here. Sit down."
Sosuke's voice remained low, but the hard edge that usually ran through it had lessened somewhat.
Chiya was mildly surprised. In the past, there was always some kind of remark to endure. Today, it seemed, was going to be different.
Chiya bowed slightly.
"Yes."
Mikoto also paused for a moment.
She had clearly not expected her grandfather to invite Chiya to sit of his own accord.
Her grandfather had never given Chiya-nii a welcoming look before.
Could it be?
She stole a glance at Chiya. A flicker of both delight and confusion passed through her eyes.
Sosuke raised a hand to signal the servant to bring tea, then spoke slowly.
"I have heard about what you have been doing lately, both in the clan council and around the village."
Chiya's chest tightened. He could not tell whether Sosuke's words were praise or criticism, so he answered carefully.
"As a member of the Uchiha, I only did what was my part to do."
Sosuke let out a quiet sound and his gaze deepened.
"Your part? The idea of 'enforcement with warmth' you put forward, and your support for Tsunade's medical ninja proposal, are not things an ordinary person would dare to do."
Chiya was silent for a moment, then spoke plainly.
"I believe the future of the Uchiha must change. Isolation and arrogance will only push the clan further and further from the village."
Sosuke looked at Chiya for a long moment. Then, without warning, he lifted his teacup, took a small sip, and said quietly.
"The tea is going cold."
Only then did Chiya notice the cup in front of him. He lifted it and took a light sip.
The tea was crisp and clean, with a lasting finish. It was fine gyokuro.
After drinking, Sosuke did something unexpected. He picked up the teapot and refilled Chiya's cup himself.
Mikoto, standing to the side, stared in disbelief.
Grandfather had poured tea for Chiya himself?
That was something she could not have imagined before.
Sosuke set down the teapot and spoke slowly.
"Chiya, your thinking is bold, but it is not without reason. The glory of the Uchiha cannot rest on the Sharingan alone. The clan must find its way into the core of the village."
Chiya nodded slightly.
"Elder Sosuke sees it clearly."
Sosuke's gaze moved to Mikoto, then came back to rest on Chiya. His tone softened a degree without warning.
"You did not grow up under my eye, but I have kept watch on you all the same. After all, this child Mikoto has been stubborn since she was small. The person she takes a liking to, I naturally pay more attention to."
Mikoto's face flushed a deep red in an instant. She lowered her head, at a complete loss for what to do with herself.
"Grandfather!"
Chiya was also taken aback. He had not expected Sosuke to bring up that subject so suddenly.
He snuck a glance at Mikoto. Seeing the shy look on her face, something warm stirred in his chest.
Sosuke saw this and let out a cold snort.
He rose to his feet, but the corner of his mouth had curved upward just slightly.
"All right, you two young people talk. This old man will not get in the way."
With that, he left the sitting room.
Only after Sosuke's figure disappeared at the far end of the corridor did Mikoto let out a long breath and press a hand to her chest.
"That scared me... why was grandfather so strange today?"
Chiya smiled.
"Perhaps because he has finally acknowledged me?"
Mikoto blinked. The blush on her cheeks had not yet faded.
"Chiya-nii's performance lately has had even the elders of the clan speaking well of you."
Chiya shook his head.
"I only did what needed to be done."
He paused, then deliberately shifted the subject.
"Right, what about the sushi? I have been looking forward to your cooking."
Mikoto snapped back to herself and spoke up quickly.
"Oh, I almost forgot! Wait here, I will bring it out right now!"
With that, she hurried off to the kitchen.
Chiya watched her retreating figure. A trace of warmth passed through his eyes.
He knew that Sosuke's change in attitude was not only because of his own conduct, but also because of the feeling Mikoto carried toward him.
This strict elder, in the end, still cherished his granddaughter.
A moment later, Mikoto came back carrying a tray of carefully prepared sushi, which she set down in front of Chiya with careful hands.
"Try some. I learned a new way of making it especially for today."
Under Mikoto's expectant gaze, Chiya picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
The sushi rice was soft and well-seasoned.
The fish was fresh and sweet. Combined with the special sauce Mikoto had made, the flavor was exceptional.
"Does it taste good?"
Mikoto looked at him with anticipation.
Chiya spoke from the heart.
"It is excellent."
Mikoto smiled happily, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Chiya-nii, then eat more! Today's work must have been tiring!"
Chiya nodded and kept eating.
Then the thought of Mikoto's fate in the story he knew crossed his mind. He swallowed the piece of sushi in his mouth and leaned over to say to her quietly.
"Mikoto, your cooking keeps getting better. When the time comes, I will marry you."
"Ah!"
Hearing those words, Mikoto's face went red in an instant.
Her hands, which had been resting on her lap, gave a startled shake. She did not know what to do with herself.
"Chiya-nii, does that count as a confession..."
Chiya freed one hand, reached over, and ruffled Mikoto's smooth hair.
Looking at that fair face, now so red it was nearly steaming, he shifted and sat down beside her.
Closer now, he also caught the faint, clean scent that came from her.
"Mikoto, what do you think?"
Mikoto raised her eyes and looked at Chiya, who was right there in front of her. For a moment her vision seemed to blur.
She had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
Mikoto felt her heart clench. Tears blurred her sight.
"You little crybaby, still the same as when you were small, always so quick to cry."
Chiya paused in eating the sushi and wiped his hand.
He reached up and pressed it gently against her smooth cheek, carefully brushing away the glistening drop that had fallen.
"Silly girl."
"Chiya-nii!"
Mikoto's hands, not knowing where to go, grabbed the hem of Chiya's clothing. She fell forward into his arms.
He felt the softness of her against him. Chiya had just begun to move.
At that moment, a cough came from the courtyard.
Hearing that familiar sound, Mikoto came back to herself as if waking from a dream, and startled like a frightened rabbit.
She jumped out of Chiya's arms at once.
Chiya rolled his eyes. That old man had clearly been watching the whole time.
"Chiya-nii, you keep eating. I will go wash the dishes!"
Face entirely red, she turned and ran toward the kitchen.
Chiya had no choice but to sit back down and finish the sushi.
...
After the meal, Mikoto walked Chiya to the entrance.
The last light of the setting sun fell across her face, casting a soft golden glow over her.
"Chiya-nii, next time... can you come again?"
Mikoto asked in a quiet voice, a trace of hope in her eyes.
Chiya nodded warmly.
"Of course. Whenever you are free, I can come any time."
Mikoto's smile grew even brighter.
"Then it is settled! Chiya-nii."
Chiya stepped forward and ruffled her hair once more.
"I am going now!"
Chiya left with ease in his step.
Walking back along the path to his own place, his mood was especially light.
He had not gone far.
"Uchiha Chiya!"
An Anbu ninja appeared in front of Chiya without warning.
"Lord Hokage summons you."