During their isolated days, the two had depended on each other for survival, living off the village's subsidies. There had also been no further news from outside the village of that Uchiha clansman who had killed his best friend, caused enormous upheaval throughout the clan, and dragged his only family, Hirohiko, into the abyss. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth, disappearing from this world.
At the very least, neither Hirohiko nor Nao had ever heard anything about that person again in Konoha.
Throughout her account, Nao never mentioned that person's name. However, from the words "Hirohiko's only family," Chiba had roughly guessed his identity.
Without a doubt, that person was Hirohiko's brother.
When he heard Nao finish recounting how she had obtained her Mangekyō Sharingan, Chiba once again felt a strong sense of déjà vu involving Itachi and Sasuke.
Because of her "blindness," Nao had not entered the Ninja Academy when she came of age, instead remaining at home. Hirohiko, meanwhile, began attending school. Unlike his brother, Hirohiko displayed considerable talent and gradually came to be known as a genius of the Uchiha Clan. Under the guidance of the current clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, with the Third Hokage checking in from time to time, and as their memories of the dead gradually faded, their situation improved considerably.
Although the clan's attitude toward them remained cold, at least no more stones were thrown into their home in the middle of the night, and they no longer woke up to find the words "Get out" written on their door. Their lives truly settled down.
Until they met Chiba, Yukina, and everyone else, they had always lived amid coldness.
They had only each other, caring for and warming one another.
Nao did not mention her strange