Half an hour later, Kirito watched Izumi, wrapped in a bathrobe, looking refreshed as she eagerly devoured her meal, a faint smile lighting up her face.
Sensing his gaze, Izumi paused, setting down her bowl and chopsticks. She crossed her arms and, with a playful glint in her eyes, said, "I don't want to eat anymore."
Kirito looked at her, puzzled. "Is something wrong? Did you not like the food?"
"It's not that." Izumi's expression turned serious. "I want to be a ninja again, and I want to go on missions with you."
Before she could say more, Kirito shook his head firmly. "No."
Izumi's face fell, frustration flickering in her eyes. "Why not?"
Kirito leaned forward, his tone somber. "It's dangerous outside. If people knew you're from the Uchiha clan, there would be plenty of people eager to come after you."
Izumi's gaze sharpened, and without another word, she activated her Sharingan. The three tomoe quickly spun, morphing into a new shape—an intricate pattern resembling blooming sakura petals. She had unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Kirito blinked, surprised. "You awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan? When did this happen?"
Izumi sighed, her voice soft. "It happened just before I fell asleep. I was clinging to hope, even after I overheard things, but when you confirmed it, I just… felt something inside me shift." Her shoulders slumped as she looked down.
Kirito's mouth twitched in surprise. "So that explains it. No wonder you fell asleep so deeply; the mental strain from awakening the Mangekyō must've drained you completely."
Izumi looked up, her eyes bright with determination. "Can I go on missions with you now?"
Kirito shook his head again. "No, Izumi. Not yet."
"But why?" Izumi pressed.
Kirito moved closer, gently taking a tissue from the table to wipe the oil from her lips. "Izumi, the Mangekyō is powerful, yes. It can turn a skilled Uchiha's strength into something remarkable. But just having power doesn't mean you know how to wield it effectively. Strength isn't just about raw power; it's about control and mastery. Do you know how to use the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Izumi's face flushed with embarrassment as she looked away, shaking her head.
Seeing her reaction, Kirito softened. "I'll make a deal with you. For the next few years, I'll train you myself. Once you meet my standards, I'll consider taking you on missions. How's that sound?"
Izumi's eyes brightened. "Really? You mean it?"
Kirito nodded, "Yes, but you'll need to keep your Mangekyō Sharingan a secret for now. Not even Konan can know about it without my permission."
Izumi thought about it for a moment, then stretched out her pinky. "Promise?"
Kirito chuckled and linked his pinky with hers, sealing the promise.
Satisfied, Izumi deactivated her Sharingan and looked at him curiously. "By the way, what did you mean when you said Aunt Mikoto has no family?"
Kirito's face grew solemn. "I didn't plan to tell you this so soon. I wanted you to have a peaceful youth. But since things have come to this, I think it's time you knew." With that, Kirito explained the massacre of the Uchiha clan and the tragic circumstances surrounding it.
When he finished, Izumi's eyes filled with tears. "Everyone… they're all gone?" Her hand flew to her mouth as she stifled a sob, the weight of the revelation crashing down on her.
She recalled Mikoto's subdued demeanor in the days before Kirito had arrived. Only recently, since his return, had Mikoto seemed to smile again.
"So, was Aunt Mikoto's pregnancy because of Uncle Fugaku's last wish?" Izumi's voice trembled.
Without thinking, she had begun calling Mikoto "Sister Mikoto," a reflection of the unspoken, strange acceptance in her heart.
Kirito sighed deeply. "Would you rather hear the truth or a lie?"
Izumi tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"The lie is that I'll only ever love you and that I agreed to have a child with Mikoto solely because of Fugaku's dying wish." He spoke softly, reaching out to gently wipe a stray tear from Izumi's cheek, his tone unexpectedly tender.
Izumi blinked, stunned. "And the truth?"
Kirito gave a small, genuine smile. "The truth is, I care for you deeply… but I also care for Mikoto."
Izumi's face softened, the whirlwind of emotions slowly settling. She looked up at him, a glimmer of understanding in her gaze. Perhaps love, like her newly awakened eyes, was something multifaceted, complex, and deeply rooted in the bonds they shared.
(End of this chapter)
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