Having just returned from the front lines, the first thing Shirou had to do was report to the Hokage's office and then back to his clan. He had only just gotten home when he encountered Uchiha Mikoto, who was visibly emotionally unstable.
Inside the house, no one could say how much time had passed, but the sound of intermittent sobbing filled the silence. From the moment they entered, Shirou could see the place was in disarray, with signs of battle and destruction everywhere—right up the stairs, leading to the bedroom.
"Shirou, I... I'm sorry."
Uchiha Mikoto, her body marked with red bruises, turned her head, looking at Shirou with guilt in her eyes. Shirou, equally exhausted, shook his head.
"Sister Mikoto, just lie down. I'll use some medical ninjutsu to heal your injuries."
So, Mikoto lay down on the bed as Shirou's hands began to glow faintly green with healing chakra. It was just basic medical ninjutsu, but as he worked, tears welled up in Mikoto's eyes, and she began to cry softly.
"Shirou, on this mission... my teammates! I watched Sakurako get killed right before my eyes, all because we were careless... When we passed through a village after completing the mission, we saw an old man who looked pitiful, and Sakurako kindly gave him some food. But in an instant, he went berserk!"
As she spoke, the two tomoe in Mikoto's eyes flickered with blood-red light, her gaze filled with regret and endless hatred.
"That man was terrifying. He didn't have any chakra at all, but in a moment, he turned into a monster, and then Sakurako... Sakurako had her neck bitten off by that man. I could only watch as she gasped for breath, looking at me…"
Listening to Mikoto's story, Shirou frowned. No chakra, yet suddenly going berserk and transforming into a monster? It felt eerily similar to information he had come across before. However, seeing the sadness in Mikoto's eyes, he let out a long sigh.
This brutal shinobi world, though advanced in some ways, was full of cruelty. Uchiha Mikoto had grown up with him, but her status was far from simple. She was the granddaughter of Elder Setsuna, a rare prodigy among female ninjas in the Uchiha clan.
When a Uchiha awakens their Sharingan, their emotions are already teetering on the edge of collapse. The special chakra flooding the brain only makes their emotions more unstable, leading to mental turmoil. Throughout Uchiha's history, every Sharingan awakening had been followed by a period of emotional turbulence before stabilizing.
…Later, in the bathroom…
"Shirou, thank you," Mikoto said softly, her energy utterly drained yet finding some emotional peace. Meanwhile, Shirou yawned as he stepped out of the bath and threw on a robe. This life of privilege... he was starting to enjoy it.
"Sister Mikoto, you're Elder Setsuna's granddaughter. I'm taking a huge risk here. If the clan finds out, you know what'll happen!"
Shirou rubbed his fingers together in a gesture hinting at payment, making Mikoto burst into laughter.
"Well then, how much do you want this time, little brother?"
"Sister Mikoto, even though we've known each other since we were kids, I can't compare to you. Ninja swords, explosive tags, steel wires, soldier pills… all of these are precious resources, especially since I haven't even awakened my Sharingan."
Shirou spoke eagerly, while Mikoto closed her eyes, soaking in the bath and displaying a rare expression of relaxation. She knew Shirou was just trying to distract her and lighten her mood.
"I don't have that much, so how about I pay with my body instead?"
Normally so gentle and ladylike, Mikoto's boldness since awakening her Sharingan was startling—a stark contrast to her usual self. Her words made Shirou choke and cough, and he quickly clasped his hands together in mock prayer.
"Sister Mikoto, you shouldn't joke like that. If anyone overhears, Elder Setsuna will skin me alive."
In this lighthearted exchange, Mikoto's tense emotions gradually eased. She slowly stepped out of the bath. Young Uchiha Mikoto—though her curves were hidden beneath her clothes, her figure was flawless. Even though he had seen it many times—ahem!
"This scroll contains advanced shurikenjutsu and sword techniques from the clan, along with a B-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu: Lightning Release: False Darkness. Make sure to practice diligently, especially given the battles in the Land of Rain."
After changing into fresh clothes, Mikoto returned to her gentle and composed demeanor. She pulled a scroll from her robe and tossed it to Shirou. Catching it, he immediately smiled.
"Sister Mikoto, you're the best."
Now calm, Mikoto blushed slightly at his praise. Normally, she wouldn't be so bold. Each time she awakened her Sharingan, it was due to emotional trauma, and this time was no different. In such moments, the darker sides of human nature often surfaced.
The Uchiha clan's shurikenjutsu was renowned throughout the shinobi world. Opening the scroll, Shirou felt a deep sense of gratitude. He knew Mikoto was giving him these techniques to ensure his survival. Though he'd graduated just over a year ago and was still a Genin, his wartime growth, combined with the Uchiha clan's arsenal of ninjutsu, had already put him on par with an average Chunin.
However, even Chunin-level chakra wasn't always enough on the battlefield. For a ninja of his skill, mastering swordsmanship and shurikenjutsu could conserve chakra, proving crucial in battle. As a Uchiha, he carried an arsenal of explosive tags, kunai, and other tools beyond what his peers could dream of.
"Don't rush the Lightning Release. Take your time, but you must learn it. In the Land of Rain, Fire Release is greatly limited," Mikoto reminded him, her tone serious. B-rank ninjutsu was Jonin-level, after all—not easy to master.
"Sister Mikoto, I can handle the swordsmanship and shurikenjutsu, but this advanced Lightning Release…"
Shirou's face showed hesitation, but Mikoto nodded confidently.
"Don't worry. The battlefield is in Amegakure this time. Since you have a Lightning Release affinity, I've already gotten approval from the clan."
At her words, Sjirou smiled. As he expected, even within the strict Uchiha clan, personal favors were possible.
"Shirou, meet me at the village gate in three days. I'm going to avenge Sakurako myself!"
As Mikoto's emotions threatened to surge again, Shirou feigned surprise before flashing a grin.
"Sister Mikoto, what just happened clears our debt, but this mission is risky. I'll need extra pay!"
With a loud thud, Mikoto threw a pillow at him, which Shirou caught swiftly.
"Sister Mikoto, let's discuss this calmly! Just a little extra, since we'll be leaving the village… Alright, we won't talk about money, but the cost of tools for this mission—"
Before he could finish, Mikoto leaped out the window and disappeared. Just before vanishing, a cool breeze brushed against her face, and a small smile of relief appeared.
Watching her fade into the distance, Shirou narrowed his eyes, a knowing smile crossing his face.
PS: Don't worry guys they only bathed together and Mikoto needs to be naked to be examined perfectly.