Chapitre 31: Living Together
The Uchiha clan's meeting room was engulfed in a heavy silence. The faces of those present reflected a mix of anger, frustration, and worry.
Finally, one of the clan members, a middle-aged man with battle scars on his face, broke the silence. His voice trembled slightly:
"Yi-sama, with all due respect, can we really allow that brat and the traitor Mikoto to just leave like this? This... this could weaken our authority. The Uchiha clan will seem like a place anyone can enter and leave at will."
All eyes turned to Yi, awaiting his response. Yi remained silent for a moment, his eyes closed in deep thought. When he opened them, his gaze was calculating.
"I understand your concern," Yi began calmly. "But forcing that brat to stay or taking direct action against him will only worsen our situation. Our reputation in the village is already damaged. One wrong move could destroy our political aspirations, including our fight for the Hokage position."
A murmur of discontent ran through the room.
Uchiha Kaiden, a jōnin known for his volatile temper, stood up abruptly.
"But we can't let this slide!" he exclaimed, clenching his fists. "The arrogance of that brat, Mikoto's betrayal... It's an insult to everything the Uchiha clan stands for!"
Yi stared at Kaiden, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Sit down, Kaiden," he ordered, his voice laden with authority. Kaiden, though visibly upset, complied.
Yi continued, his voice now lower, almost a whisper: "I didn't say we wouldn't do anything. We just need to be... cautious in our approach."
He leaned forward, and everyone did the same, eager to listen.
"Kaiden," Yi said, "I want you to handle this. But it must be done in a way that doesn't implicate us directly. Eliminate the brat and Mikoto, but make it look like the work of another shinobi village. No traces must link back to us."
Kaiden's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "It will be my pleasure, Yi-sama," he replied, a cruel smile forming on his lips. "They're just five-year-old children. It won't be hard to take care of them."
"Don't underestimate them," Yi warned. "Remember, that brat managed to injure Fugaku. Your priority is not only to kill them but to ensure there's no evidence that ties back to us. Understood?"
Kaiden nodded solemnly. "Understood, Yi-sama. I won't leave any evidence. When I'm done, everyone will believe it was the work of spies from another village."
"Good," Yi said. "But don't act hastily. Wait for the right moment. If you strike too soon, you'll raise suspicion."
"Of course," Kaiden responded. "I'll wait patiently and choose the perfect time to act."
Yi nodded, satisfied. "It's settled then. Kaiden will handle this... problem. The rest of you, stay calm and act normally. We can't afford any mistakes."
---
Chen and Mikoto walked slowly toward Chen's house.
Chen was unaware that at that very moment, the Uchiha clan was plotting a secret attack against him. However, even if he had known, he would not have shown any concern.
As they arrived in front of a two-story structure, Chen said, "Welcome to my humble abode, Mikoto. I hope you don't get lost in its hallways," with a playful smile.
Mikoto looked at the house with nostalgia. "It's... impressive," she murmured. "Although, to be honest, I prefer more intimate spaces. My house was big, but it felt... empty."
Chen nodded understandingly as he opened the front door, revealing a spacious foyer. "This house has an interesting history," he explained as they walked inside. "It was originally designed for a large family, but circumstances changed."
They toured the ground floor, with Chen pointing out each room: the spacious, well-equipped kitchen, the main bathroom with its gleaming tiles, and a second bathroom that Chen described as "special," though he didn't go into details.
"And this," he said, stopping in front of a door, "is my bedroom. It used to be my father's, but... well, things change."
Mikoto noticed a fleeting look of melancholy in Chen's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
"Let's go upstairs," Chen suggested, leading her up the stairs.
On the upper floor, a fine layer of dust covered the furniture. Chen frowned.
"This isn't presentable," he muttered. Then, with a mischievous smile, he exclaimed, "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
In an instant, the house filled with identical copies of Chen. Mikoto stepped back, astonished, as a hundred clones dispersed throughout the upper floor, armed with brooms, rags, and buckets that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Chen, realizing he had created too many clones, dispelled most of them until only thirty remained.
"Let's go downstairs! We'll wait for them to finish cleaning and then we'll go back up."
Chen pulled Mikoto, who was still dazed, down the stairs and let her sit on the couch.
"Impressive," Mikoto managed to say, still stunned by the display.
"Give me a moment," Chen said before disappearing into the kitchen.
He returned with two glasses of fresh juice, offering one to Mikoto. "Here you go," he said with a warm smile.
"Thank you," she replied shyly, taking the glass with both hands.
Chen sat next to her, maintaining a respectful distance. "You don't need to be so formal with me. After all, we'll be living together in the future. We can relax a bit, don't you think?"
Mikoto's cheeks turned a soft pink at the ambiguity of his words. She nodded slightly, taking a sip of juice to hide her nervousness.
"You're right, Chen," she responded, trying to hide her unease.
After a moment of silence, Mikoto stood up with determination. "I think I'll prepare dinner," she announced, heading to the kitchen.
Chen watched her with anticipation. "Oh, excellent! I still remember how delicious your bento was. Your cooking is really amazing, Mikoto."
In the kitchen, Mikoto faced a small challenge. Due to her short stature, some of the upper shelves were out of her reach. Undeterred, she found a chair and strategically placed it in front of the counter.
Chen, watching from the doorway, couldn't help but smile at her determination.
Mikoto moved gracefully around the kitchen, preparing a variety of dishes. Aware of Chen's voracious appetite, she decided to cook generous portions.
Soon, the aroma of spices and fresh ingredients filled the house, making Chen's stomach growl in anticipation.
When dinner was finally ready, Chen lunged at the table, ready to devour everything in sight. However, just as he was about to take the first bite, he felt a gentle tap on his hand.
"Ara~ara," Mikoto said with a playful smile. "First, we wash our hands, Chen."
Chen blinked in surprise for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You're right, you're right. I'll be right back," he said, heading to the sink.
Once they were both seated at the table, Chen began eating with an enthusiasm that defied reality.
Mikoto watched him with satisfaction. Seeing him enjoy her food filled her with an inexplicable warmth.
"This is incredible, Mikoto!" Chen exclaimed between bites. "You're truly an exceptional cook."
Dinner passed with compliments and pleasant conversation. Chen devoured most of the food while Mikoto ate more moderately.
Finally, when the plates were empty, Chen lay back on the couch, a look of complete satisfaction on his face. "Mikoto, your food is simply divine. You will undoubtedly be a wonderful wife in the future."
The comment made Mikoto blush intensely. She felt flattered and, although she tried to hide it, a sweet smile appeared on her lips. "Thank you, Chen," she murmured, lowering her gaze.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Chen suddenly sat up. "Oh, I almost forgot! The cleaning upstairs is finished, Mikoto-san. You can go and settle in whenever you want," he said, after dispelling the last shadow clone.
Mikoto nodded, but before moving, she looked at Chen seriously. "Chen, I want to thank you again. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do. Thank you for helping me out of that life," she said, giving him a beautiful smile.
Chen felt his heart race at that smile. 'What a cute girl,' he thought to himself before responding aloud: "Actually, all this is my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been expelled from the Uchiha clan. But now we're living together and we'll help each other in the future. Don't thank me for these things, Mikoto. From now on, we'll all be a family."
Mikoto's eyes lit up at the idea of being a family. With her heart overflowing with happiness, she went upstairs to settle into her new room.
Chen, meanwhile, stayed in the living room and turned on the TV. As he flipped through channels, he couldn't help but reflect on the curious technological contradictions of the Naruto world.
Some aspects of their technology were surprisingly advanced, like the television itself, while others seemed centuries behind. "It's probably because of chakra usage," he murmured to himself.
On the screen, the news rolled, showing reports on the situation in various countries and their political and military strategies.
________
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