A Guest at the Uchiha Household (Part 2)

As the saying went, "The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar." Ever since Zhang Miao had tasted the benefits of acting young, he had cast aside that pointless persistence and begun enjoying his wonderful childhood with a clear conscience.

For example, right now, he was eating the Mitarashi Dango Mikoto Uchiha had specially prepared for Itachi Uchiha while tugging at Fugaku Uchiha's "tiger whiskers."

"Oh my, when I first saw Aunt Mikoto, I was really startled. If I hadn't known Uncle Fugaku didn't have a daughter, I might have misunderstood!"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

Misunderstood my ass! Were you saying I looked old?

Compared to Fugaku Uchiha's thoroughly displeased expression, Mikoto Uchiha, who was holding the child, was amused by Zhang Miao's words and giggled.

"Giggle, giggle... Ryunosuke, you really know how to talk. Actually, from the moment I first saw you, I felt a special fondness for you. Seeing your red hair reminded me of someone!"

Hearing Mikoto Uchiha's words, Zhang Miao immediately knew who she meant—Kushina Uzumaki!

As a typical member of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina Uzumaki had a beautiful head of red hair, something rarely seen in the Leaf Village.

And Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki had been best friends. Now that she said Zhang Miao's red hair reminded her of someone, who else could it be but Kushina Uzumaki?

Sure enough, just as Zhang Miao thought that, Mikoto Uchiha stroked the little child's head in her arms and spoke with a wistful expression.

"She was my friend, and she was also from the Uzumaki Clan. Back then, she even said she hoped her child would become good friends with Sasuke in the future. What a pity... sigh..."

At that point, Mikoto Uchiha sighed. But she quickly regained her composure and smiled faintly at Zhang Miao.

"Actually, if you weren't a little too old, Ryunosuke, I would definitely think you were her child!"

Zhang Miao: "..."

A woman's intuition was terrifying. Thank goodness the system gave me the ability to digest and absorb!

At that moment, Zhang Miao realized that fortunately, he had developed quickly. Otherwise, there was no guarantee he could have kept his identity hidden!

With that thought, Zhang Miao immediately gave Mikoto Uchiha an innocent smile.

"Aunt Mikoto, are you talking about the Fourth Hokage's wife? I heard she was a very powerful ninja!"

"Yes!"

Hearing Zhang Miao's words, Mikoto Uchiha smiled again.

"Kushina was beautiful and powerful. Even the Fourth Hokage himself once said that without Kushina, he might not have been able to become Hokage, hehe!"

As soon as Mikoto Uchiha finished speaking, Zhang Miao immediately smiled and nodded.

"The Fourth Hokage was right. Behind every successful man is a woman who silently supports him, just like Aunt Kushina and you, Aunt Mikoto. That's what they mean by women holding up half the sky!"

"Giggle, giggle, giggle..."

Zhang Miao's words instantly delighted Mikoto Uchiha.

"Ryunosuke, you really know how to talk. Itachi should be back soon. Keep Uncle Fugaku company for a while—I'll go make dinner!"

With that, Mikoto Uchiha handed Sasuke in her arms to Fugaku Uchiha and headed for the kitchen beside them.

After Mikoto Uchiha left, Fugaku Uchiha glanced at Zhang Miao.

"I'm surprised. Which one is the real you?"

Of course Zhang Miao understood what Fugaku Uchiha meant. As soon as Fugaku Uchiha finished speaking, he shrugged.

"They're both me. Around pure-hearted people, I'm an innocent child. Around old foxes, I'm a little fox. You understand what I'm saying?"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

Understand my ass!

Zhang Miao completely ignored Fugaku Uchiha's displeased expression. He walked straight up to him, then suddenly stuck out his tongue at little Sasuke, who was looking at him curiously from Fugaku's arms!

"Rawr!"

The little guy froze for a moment. Then his tiny mouth crumpled, and with a "Waa!" he burst into tears!

"Waa... sob, sob, sob..."

At the same time Sasuke's cries rang out, Zhang Miao heard the system's pleasant notification just as he had hoped.

Ding—Obtained Nine-Star Six Paths Level ninja Sasuke Uchiha (Indra) fragment x1!

It was exactly as Zhang Miao had guessed. Since Naruto's fragment was nine-star and marked "Asura," Sasuke's had to be nine-star as well, and it should be "Indra."

Thus, upon hearing the notification, Zhang Miao nodded in satisfaction, then turned toward Mikoto Uchiha in the kitchen and shouted.

"Aunt Mikoto, little Sasuke got scared and started crying!"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

Was this a thief crying thief?

Under Fugaku Uchiha's astonished gaze, Mikoto Uchiha, still wearing an apron, hurried out. She picked Sasuke up and gently comforted him while shooting Fugaku Uchiha a reproachful look.

"Dear, I told you your stare was scary, but you didn't believe me. Look, you scared the child into crying!"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

How was it me? I didn't do it!

As the captain of the Leaf Village Security Force, Fugaku Uchiha had grown accustomed to maintaining an imposing manner. To put it bluntly, he tried to keep a straight face and speak as little as possible. The result was that, over certain trivial matters, Fugaku Uchiha found it difficult to lower himself to explain.

That was a classic case of suffering for the sake of saving face!

And that undoubtedly made it easier for Zhang Miao to shift the blame. Seeing that Fugaku Uchiha offered no explanation, Zhang Miao immediately nodded with great seriousness.

"Yeah, yeah, Aunt Mikoto, you're absolutely right. Uncle Fugaku's gaze really is terrifying. Otherwise, why would people call him Fugaku the 'Fierce Eye'?"

Zhang Miao's words undoubtedly sealed Fugaku Uchiha's "guilt." Upon hearing them, Mikoto Uchiha immediately carried Sasuke out of the room without another word.

Seeing this, Zhang Miao shrugged at Fugaku Uchiha and spread his hands.

"I wasn't lying just now!"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

You weren't lying, but you were misleading her!

Fugaku Uchiha decided to ignore Zhang Miao. He sat cross-legged beside the low table, holding a newspaper in one hand and a teacup in the other as he drank, not even sparing Zhang Miao a glance.

Seeing this, Zhang Miao raised an eyebrow and leaned toward Fugaku Uchiha.

"Uncle Fugaku, do you want to know what happened after Madara Uchiha obtained the First Hokage's flesh and blood?"

At Zhang Miao's words, Fugaku Uchiha's expression immediately shifted. Unable to maintain his previous calm demeanor, he turned to look at Zhang Miao.

"What happened after that man obtained the First Hokage's flesh and blood?"

"Heh heh, I'm not telling you!"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

Damn it!

Just as Fugaku Uchiha's mouth twitched, the system notification sounded in Zhang Miao's mind.

"Ding—Obtained Seven-Star Kage-Level Fugaku Uchiha Ninja Fragments x5!"