Aunt Mikoto Is a Very Beautiful Woman

After something like that happened.

If he put himself in Namikaze Mirai's shoes.

He had vanished for three years, only to return to the village and learn that his brother and sister-in-law had both died.

And the Uchiha Clan had been deeply involved in it! He would surely be filled with hostility toward the Uchiha, perhaps even directly regarding them as the killers of his brother.

In that state of mind, if he happened to run into the son of the Uchiha Clan head on the road.

And that son of his enemy happened to speak disrespectfully, using "girl" to insult his deceased brother and sister-in-law...

Itachi shuddered.

That was precisely why he was so shocked by Namikaze Mirai's carefree demeanor.

"Your name is Uchiha Itachi, right?"

Namikaze Mirai wore an exceptionally gentle smile. With that smiling expression, others might have taken him for a friendly older brother next door.

But the more he acted that way, the less Itachi could understand what he was thinking.

The anxiety hanging over him grew deeper.

"Yes."

Itachi did not dare say much. He could not figure out Namikaze Mirai's attitude toward the Uchiha.

To be safe, he should avoid touching any of the other man's sensitive nerves.

Just as Itachi's nerves tightened, Namikaze Mirai's next words left him petrified on the spot.

"My, how time flies. I never expected Fugaku's son to be so grown already. Ever since Mikoto got married, it seems I haven't been to the Uchiha Clan Compound. I wonder how Mikoto is doing now."

A trace of nostalgia appeared in Namikaze Mirai's smiling eyes as he gazed toward the end of the street, reminiscing about days gone by.

Itachi's jaw nearly hit the ground.

Even someone as composed as him was left gaping in shock after hearing Namikaze Mirai's words.

Fugaku was indeed their father, but what the hell was this about Mikoto???

In his daze, Itachi felt as though he had discovered something utterly incredible. This was terrifying! Namikaze Mirai paid no attention to Itachi's shock—or rather, he had not noticed it at all—and continued reminiscing with a smile.

Back then, he, Kushina, and Mikoto had been quite close.

Quite a few absurd and amusing things had happened between him and Mikoto.

That entanglement had continued until Mikoto got married.

Only then had it been forced to end.

After all, he had no interest in married women.

That was also why, when Kakashi mentioned the Uchiha Clan before Minato's Mausoleum yesterday, he had been so certain.

Minato becoming Hokage had greatly benefited the Uchiha Clan.

At the very least, Minato had genuinely wanted to ease the relationship between the village and the Uchiha Clan.

As long as he had been given enough time, a brand-new, thriving Konoha would have been born.

There was no need for the Uchiha Clan—and no way they would do something so stupid—throwing away the Uchiha's promising future for nothing and falling into their current state, where everyone condemned them.

Of course, based on what he knew of Fugaku, that coward definitely was not someone with the resolve to do such a thing.

The real culprit had to be someone else! "When you go back, remember to tell Fugaku that I'll personally visit the Uchiha Clan Compound in a while."

Namikaze Mirai's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.

"Consider it an apology for what happened back then."

Yeah, right! His targets were Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and the higher-ups. His interests aligned with those of the Uchiha Clan, and if they could form an alliance, it would be greatly beneficial to him.

Besides, perhaps he could use Fugaku's connections to learn more about that night.

"O-Okay, I understand. I'll tell Father."

Even Itachi, who was usually so composed, could not help but stammer.

Things had progressed far beyond his expectations.

As he spoke, he pulled Sasuke beside him away.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, Namikaze Mirai might blurt out something else about Mikoto.

Namikaze Mirai watched Itachi's fleeing back with a smile.

Mikoto's two children really did resemble her! Naruto looked from Itachi to Namikaze Mirai, then could not help asking, "Uncle, who is Mikoto?"

"Aunt Mikoto is a very beautiful woman, you know. She was also very close to your mother."

Namikaze Mirai crouched down halfway and smiled as he flicked Naruto on the forehead.

Night.

After thinking it over for a day, Uchiha Itachi finally pushed open Uchiha Fugaku's door uneasily.

Having just finished bathing, Fugaku sat on the bed in his pajamas, holding a book and reading it intently.

"Itachi? What brings you here so late?"

Noticing Itachi enter, Fugaku set the book down on the bedside table. His imposing face turned toward his eldest son, who resembled him by sixty or seventy percent.

Itachi, his pride.

Though only nine years old, he already possessed strength no weaker than that of a Chunin.

The depth of his thinking was also far beyond that of ordinary clan members.

Such astonishing talent had even earned the favor of the Third Hokage, who had personally taught Itachi several times and praised him for possessing the mindset of a Hokage.

Though Fugaku was somewhat dissatisfied, he did not particularly mind. It only proved Itachi's talent.

No matter what, the fact that Itachi was his son could not be changed.

"It's about Mother."

After hesitating for a moment, Itachi finally spoke.

Outside, the night sky was bright, the moonlight like a round silver disk. The soft patter of bathing water came from the adjoining room. Father and son looked at one another in this quiet yet peculiar atmosphere, and a strange tension entered the air.

"About... Mikoto?"

Fugaku, sitting on the bed, frowned slightly.

Mikoto was his wife, and she was bathing in the adjoining room.

Itachi had come to find him so late at night because of Mikoto?

"I ran into Namikaze Mirai on the streets of Konoha at noon today."

Itachi got straight to the point.

Namikaze Mirai???

Fugaku's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

That familiar name stirred memories from long ago.

"What did he say?"

"He said... that after some time, he would personally come to the Uchiha Clan Compound to visit."

After saying that, Itachi cautiously watched for changes in Fugaku's expression. He did not know what kind of relationship his father had with Namikaze Mirai.

Nor did he know what consequences his words might bring.

"Is that so?"

Fugaku nodded.

He was not surprised that Namikaze Mirai intended to visit the Uchiha. To be precise, ever since receiving news of his return to the village, Fugaku had been waiting for him to come.

From what he knew of Namikaze Mirai, with something so major having happened to Minato—and with the Uchiha involved—there was no way he would not come.

Itachi watched Fugaku's expression and saw none of the reaction he had feared. The weight in his chest finally eased.