Sasuke pushed open the door, intending to call out for his mother as he always did, but then he remembered Shinho standing behind him.
With a slight pause, he shut his mouth and maintained his aloof demeanor, and keeping in chec his usual behaviour.
"You're back? Why didn't you call out like usual?" Mikoto Uchiha was kneeling beside the tea table, her long black hair cascading down to her hips, her traditional kimono stretched taut, outlining her graceful curves, focused on cleaning.
"..." Sasuke remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
Fortunately, Mikoto didn't press further. After wiping the tea table, she took the cloth back to the kitchen.
Moments later, she returned, her hands now washed, small droplets of water still clinging to her fair skin.
"How did the exams go?" she asked, handing them both a cup of water after wiping her hands dry on her apron.
"I got first place," Shinho replied casually, taking a sip of water.
"As expected of Shinho," Mikoto said with a smile. Then she turned her gaze to Sasuke. "And Sasuke? Don't worry, I have gifts for both of you."
"I got first too!" Sasuke retorted, visibly displeased.
"Both of you? First place?" Mikoto placed a hand over her mouth, feigning surprise.
"..." Sasuke let out a huff. He was on the verge of frustration.
Whose mother are you really?
Sensing the tension, Shinho intervened, "Aunt Mikoto, Sasuke and I were assigned to the same squad. Kakashi will be our team leader."
"That's wonderful!" Mikoto clapped her hands, her face lighting up. "This calls for a celebration!"
Sasuke merely rolled his eyes.
Too perfectly timed, he thought. It was clear Shinho and his mother were far too in sync for his liking.
"What would you like to eat, Sasuke?" Mikoto asked, reaching out with a playful smile.
"Anything is fine," Sasuke replied, leaning back, dodging her hands nonchalantly.
Mikoto's face broke into a radiant smile as she suddenly lunged, pinching Sasuke's cheeks."Success!"
"Mom, you're being Childish" Sasuke muttered, trying to maintain his serious expression.
Shinho couldn't help but smile at the scene. Lady Mikoto really has a youthful spirit….Youthful spirit?!
"Why don't you go fetch Izumi for dinner?" Mikoto suggested, still laughing.
She was referring to Izumi Uchiha. Eighteen years old and having already developed her three-tomoe Sharingan, Izumi was a rising star among the Uchiha.
Sasuke gave a nonchalant nod, then stood and left.
"That boy," Mikoto shook her head, glancing at Shinho. "He's not always like this, you know."
Does he switch into 'show-off mode' when there are guests? Shinho thought to himself. "Mikoto-auntie, should I help you with the cooking?"
"No need," Mikoto smiled warmly, placing both hands on his shoulders.
Ever since Fugaku's passing, Mikoto had regularly invited Shinho over, and had experienced his cooking firsthand, and she loved Shinho's cooking.
"Let me take care of you today."
"Alright," Shinho relented with a chuckle.
Mikoto ruffled his hair gently before heading back into the kitchen.
Moments later, the door opened, and Shinho turned to see Sasuke return with a tall, graceful young woman at his side. Izumi Uchiha, wearing a violet cheongsam, smiled as she approached.
"Shinho," she greeted warmly, her bare feet softly padding across the floor. "Look what I brought for you."
She held up a plastic bag containing a box of takoyaki.
"Thank you, sister Izumi," Shinho opened the box, eyeing the delectable takoyaki. "Did you make these yourself?"
"Of course!" Izumi beamed, then turned to Sasuke. "You should try some too."
"..."
Sasuke remained silent, taking a takoyaki and biting into it. After chewing thoughtfully, he muttered, "It's too sweet. You guys can have it."
He doesn't like sweets? Shinho thought, recalling how Sasuke's brother, Itachi, had a fondness for them.
As Sasuke quietly sipped his water from the couch, Izumi glanced his way, her expression thoughtful.
"Shinho, why don't you take one to Lady Mikoto?" Izumi suggested.
"Sure," Shinho stood, taking the box into the kitchen.
Inside, Mikoto stood over the stove, frying tempura, the heat causing her skin to glisten faintly.
"Mikoto-auntie, Izumi-nee made these for you," Shinho said, offering her a piece of takoyaki.
Mikoto smiled, taking a bite. As she chewed, her gaze rested on Shinho, and she suddenly said, "You've grown so much, Shinho."
Just five years ago, he had been a small child. Now, he was nearly her height.
Time certainly flies.
She briefly thought of Sasuke, who had yet to catch up to Shinho in height, standing a head shorter at just over 150 cm.
How worrying.
Shinho offered her another piece, which she took with a grateful smile before saying, "Alright, that's enough for me. You finish the rest."
Shinho obliged, eating the remaining takoyaki as he returned to the living room. The atmosphere between Sasuke and Izumi seemed a bit... tense. But Shinho decided not to pry.
Half an hour later, dinner was ready.
Shinho had dined with the Uchiha family enough times that the meal passed without the usual pleasantries about how the food tasted.
After the meal, Mikoto cleared the dishes and Izumi bid her farewells, leaving only Sasuke and Shinho behind.
"Have you learned Chidori yet?" Shinho asked, breaking the silence.
"Chidori?" Sasuke looked confused.
"Kakashi's signature jutsu," Shinho clarified with a grin.
"Ah, that's what it's called?" Sasuke's expression shifted as realization dawned on him. "Is it powerful?"
"Very," Shinho nodded. Like Naruto's Rasengan, Sasuke's Chidori would follow him to the very end of his story.
"Maybe you'll see it tomorrow," Shinho continued. "According to tradition, we'll have the 'Bell Test' tomorrow."
"Bell Test?" Sasuke's interest piqued. "How does it work?"
"The three of us will face off Kakashi," Shinho explained simply.
Sasuke's eyes lit up at the idea. A fight with Kakashi, their leader? His sensei? The copy ninja? His fighting spirit surged.
Though Sasuke had sparred with Kakashi countless times before, he had never witnessed the full extent of his sensei's abilities.
This might finally be his chance.
More importantly, Sasuke wanted to use Kakashi as a benchmark to gauge his brother, Itachi's strength.
In his mind, both were prodigies, former members of the Anbu, with skills likely on par with one another.
Maybe… Itachi is still stronger, he mused, sinking deep into thought.
"Hey, Sasuke," Mikoto's voice called from the kitchen. She walked over, opening her hand to reveal a gleaming red crystal. "This is for you."
In her palm was a beautiful stone, glowing faintly with a warm, red hue.
"It's a Fire Chakra Crystal," she explained. "If you embed it in a weapon, it'll enhance your Fire type Jutsu."
"Thanks, Mom." Sasuke accepted the crystal, a rare look of gratitude passing across his face.
"Too bad…" Mikoto said with a hint of regret, "I couldn't find a Lightning Chakra Crystal."
Shinho's mind wandered briefly to the Raijin Sword he had tucked away in storage since acquiring it. He didn't need it himself, but Sasuke… Sasuke could make good use of it.
"Shinho," Mikoto continued, "your gift is in my room. Come with me."
Sasuke glanced at the two of them walking off together, noting how they were almost the same height. A small, bitter thought crossed his mind.
I may be able to beat him for first place again someday… but my height? That'd be a problem!
Sasuke clenched his fists. "I'll definitely grow taller," he muttered quietly to himself, offering a silent prayer.
Shinho followed Mikoto into her room, scanning the space.
It matched perfectly with Mikoto's image as a graceful housewife. Everything was clean, neatly organized, and a subtle, floral scent filled the air—a welcoming space for anyone with an obsessive love of cleanliness.
Two framed photos sat on the table to his left. One was of the Uchiha family—though Itachi was notably absent—and the other was a black-and-white portrait of Fugaku, Sasuke's father.
Mikoto moved to the wardrobe and pulled out a white, stylish coat. The design was exactly the same as the one Shinho was currently wearing.
"Here, try this on," Mikoto said, handing the coat to Shinho.
Curious, Shinho felt the coat's weight—it was heavier than expected, certainly not typical fabric, but it wasn't metal either.
The material had the refined texture of something rare, like the silk from legendary beasts in ancient tales.
Without explanation, Mikoto grabbed a kunai and dragged it across the coat's surface. No mark was left behind.
"It's made with Chakra Metal," she explained with a smile. "I mixed in some other materials as well."
"Thank you, Aunt Mikoto," Shinho said as he slipped the coat on. "It fits me perfectly."
Mikoto stood back, admiring him for a moment. "You're as handsome as ever," she said warmly.
"If there's nothing else, I should be heading back. See you tomorrow," Shinho said.
He had been about to ask how she knew his exact measurements, but quickly remembered—she was an Uchiha, with the power of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Replicating something as simple as clothing sizes should be child's play for her.
Mikoto nodded as Shinho left. Once alone, her eyes fell on the black-and-white portrait of her late husband.
"Fugaku," she murmured with a gentle smile, "Sasuke graduated today. And he even got first place."
….
The sound of the door closing caught Sasuke's attention, and he glanced toward his mother's room. Shinho emerged, now wearing a pristine white coat.
Why did he change clothes? Sasuke wondered, slightly confused.
"Hey, Sasuke," Shinho called out as he approached. "Give me your Fire Chakra Crystal. I'll forge a sword for you."
"A sword?" Sasuke asked, slightly surprised.
"The best in the village," Shinho said confidently. "You won't be disappointed."
Without hesitation, Sasuke tossed him the crystal.
Catching it easily, Shinho nodded and turned to leave.
By the time he reached the Senju Residence, the sky had already darkened. Dinner at the Uchiha home had taken longer than expected.
"I'm back, Sensei," Shinho called out, stepping inside and removing his shoes.
"You were with your squad this long?" Tsunade asked, sitting cross-legged on the couch, her eyes glued to the television.
"Not really," Shinho replied. "I went to Aunt Mikoto's house afterwards."
"Again with Mikoto," Tsunade muttered, giving him a side glance. "Why don't you just make her your godmother?"
"What are you talking about?" Shinho raised an eyebrow. "Are you perhaps… jealous?"
"Do you even know what jealousy is, kid?" Tsunade huffed in annoyance.
"Of course I do," Shinho said with a smile as he sat beside her. "I'm not a child."
"She gave you that coat, didn't she?" Tsunade's gaze settled on the faint metallic sheen of Shinho's new attire.
"Yeah," Shinho nodded. "It's a piece of ninja gear. The defense is pretty solid."
Though he already had the Heavenly Mugwart Gu, a little extra protection couldn't hurt.
"So," Tsunade's eyes narrowed mischievously, "do you like her gift better than mine?"
Here we go. Shinho knew Tsunade well enough by now.
She wasn't actually jealous—it was just her way of stirring up some fun.
"Yours is definitely better," Shinho said, trying to placate her.
"That answer had no enthusiasm in it. Do it again," Tsunade said, dissatisfied.
"Your gift is the best, Sensei!" Shinho repeated, this time with more energy.
Tsunade finally looked satisfied, but just then, Shizune entered the room, looking puzzled.
"What are you two doing?"
Since when did Shizune get back? Shinho thought, slightly taken aback.
"Nothing," Tsunade coughed awkwardly. "We were just discussing about Kakashi."
Sure, that's convincing. She hadn't wanted Shizune to overhear, as it really might sound like she was jealous.
Not that she'd admit to such a thing, of course. Not unless she were several decades younger.
"Oh, Kakashi," Shizune nodded knowingly. "He definitely needs to be talked about."
Tsunade cleared her throat again, resigned to continue the charade. "Kakashi isn't as cold-hearted as people think. His shift in personality is due to… his teammates."
"I remember one of them was Rin Nohara, and the other was Uchiha... Runtu?" Shizune said, tilting her head in confusion.
"Runtu? No, it's Uchiha Obito," Tsunade corrected, rolling her eyes.
As Tsunade and Shizune continued explaining Kakashi's past, Shinho listened intently.
He learned that during the Third Great Ninja War, Minato's team, which included Kakashi, had been sent to destroy the Kannabi Bridge.
Obito had been crushed under falling rocks, and Rin... Rin had sacrificed herself, choosing death at Kakashi's hands to prevent the Three-Tails from being unleashed on the village.
Though much of the story matched what he remembered from his previous life, the details were much more vivid here.
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