N/A: I pushed back the true year of the Uchiha clan massacre by three years. Apparently, there are some readers who are shocked that four-year-olds are in the forest at night, so I guess Itachi being thirteen when he massacres his parents will shock those sensitive souls who haven't read manga. So Itachi will be sixteen and the MC fifteen. Plus, it works out for me. š Enjoy, guys! - LuxCrusis
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Year 52, January
Mikoto was taking out the trash in the Uchiha estate's backyard, the stars timidly piercing the dark night. A gentle breeze made the bare trees shiver, and a heavy silence reigned. But as she closed the lid of the bin, a shiver ran down her spine. Someone was watching her. She instinctively activated her three-tomoe Sharingan, her body adopting a defensive posture.
She scanned the darkness with her red pupils and turned her head towards a tree in the corner of the yard. A solitary rose was planted at the foot of the trunk, surrounded by a carefully placed card. Wary, she approached, picked up the card, and read:
[Mikoto-san, take a moment to rest.
As you read this letter, you're probably doing some mundane household chore... But you will always be the queen of my heart.
This rose, highly prized in Kusagakure, reminds me of the sweetness of your smile.]
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she turned the card over to read the back:
[Wondering who it is? It's me ā¤ļø]
A fleeting smile appeared on her face. She shook her head, remembering a young boy she had crossed paths with before.
"Ah, that kid... If Fugaku found this, he'd think I have a lover." She sighed softly, but her smile persisted despite her efforts.
...
Year 52, February
By chance, as Mikoto passed by the tree, she spotted a new flower: a brilliant lily, a symbol of purity. Next to it, a new card:
[Mikoto-san,
This time, a lily, as it reflects your nobility and grace. Sometimes, I wonder if the beauty of these flowers can even rival yours.]
Mikoto blushed slightly but shrugged. "Childish, but he's quite the smooth talker," she murmured as she took the card with her. However, she cast one last glance at the lily before going inside.
Year 52, March
A blue iris was there, its intense hue contrasting with the spring's newly sprouted grass. The attached card read:
Irises are messengers. So let me be the one to whisper to you how much your presence brightens the lives of those around you.
A laugh escaped her. "A messenger, really? It seems he never gets tired."
The months passed...
Each month brought a new flower and a new message. Tulips in April with words of gratitude. In June, a daisy to symbolize the innocence he saw in her, despite the weight of her responsibilities. Over the months, the tree became a true flowering garden, each flower carefully chosen, accompanied by a tender card.
Mikoto, initially skeptical, had come to eagerly await these moments. She took care of the flowers, watered them, and reread the cards when she had a moment of solitude. Fugaku, busy with his duties as clan leader, noticed nothing.
Year 53, June
A bright red poppy appeared at the foot of the tree. The card said:
[Mikoto-san,
The poppy symbolizes rest and remembrance. I hope these moments, however fleeting, bring you a little respite.]
She caressed the delicate petal with her fingertips, a dreamy smile on her lips.
Year 54, September
A luminous sunflower illuminated the foot of the tree.
The sunflower always follows the light, just as I am drawn to your radiance.]
Mikoto placed a hand on her chest. She wasn't in love, she knew that. Yet, this constant attention awakened a feminine side in her that she thought was extinguished.
...
Year 55, May
A bouquet of delicate camellias adorned the tree, accompanied by the longest letter she had received:
[Mikoto-san,
If I had been braver, perhaps I would have dared to confess my feelings to you face to face. But even so, I am happy to be able to make your days a little more beautiful, even if you think it's just childish acts. You deserve all the love and devotion in the world.]
As Mikoto read these words, she felt her heart tighten. She took the bouquet and carefully went inside.
...
Year 61, January, eight months before the Uchiha clan massacre
Two months had passed without new flowers or cards. Mikoto watered the tree absentmindedly, her mind filled with worry. What had happened to him? Why this sudden silence?
As she finished taking care of the flowers, a card suddenly appeared at her feet. She quickly picked it up, her heart pounding. The card was perfumed, and the words she read made her blush.
[Mikoto-san,
It's been so long... I can't wait to see how beautiful you've become.]
She sat down near the tree, troubled. "Is he going to come back? What will he say when he sees this flowering tree, the garden I've carefully tended? He'll think I've responded to his feelings?"
A whisper escaped her: "My God! No! Is... is this cheating on my husband?"
Guilt rose within her. She knew she was faithful to Fugaku, at least in her actions. But in her heart, these moments of secret exchange had become so precious that she felt almost disloyal.
"What am I doing?" she murmured, burying her face in her hands.
"Mikoto? What do you have in your hands?"
Fugaku's deep and authoritative voice made her jump. She turned around hastily, her eyes widened in surprise. Fugaku, arms crossed, looked at her with suspicion.
Mikoto tried to hide the card behind her, but her husband's piercing gaze did not miss that gesture. "What is it?" he repeated.
She felt her heart pounding. The truth she had carefully hidden for years threatened to explode.