Mitsuya Motoyoshi narrowed his eyes slightly and said coldly:
"You're being so good to this old man. Don't tell me you're a spy from an enemy village."
Uchiha Tunan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled faintly, removed his glasses, and activated his Sharingan.
Seeing the Three Tomoe swirling in Uchiha Tunan's eyes, Mitsuya Motoyoshi was utterly shocked.
It took him a long while to recover.
"I was being senile and overthinking things.
"I'm just a poor old man without two coins to rub together. What could anyone possibly want from me?
"Besides, your Sharingan has already reached Three Tomoe. If you wanted anything, the Uchiha Clan would probably give it to you."
Mitsuya Motoyoshi laughed at himself. As he drank his porridge, he explained the Samurai Spirit to Uchiha Tunan.
"Earning a samurai's recognition is no easy matter.
"Samurai are a stubborn group with their own beliefs. You must first understand what the Samurai Spirit is.
"Actually, the Samurai Spirit refers to..."
As Uchiha Tunan chewed his food slowly, he listened attentively to Mitsuya Motoyoshi's explanation of the Samurai Spirit.
That was because Uchiha Tunan had more or less given up on earning Hatake Sakumo's recognition through emotion.
After all, Hatake Sakumo had Kakashi. His feelings for his own son would always come first.
Uchiha Tunan could only think of gaining recognition through shared ideals.
After all, the Uchiha Great Elder's recognition of him was likely based on their shared ideals.
The elder saw him as the Uchiha Clan's hope for the future and was nurturing him as an heir.
As for recognition through strength, that would probably only work on battle-hungry people.
Mitsuya Motoyoshi only gave him a superficial explanation of the Samurai Spirit.
He said he would teach him more profound things once Uchiha Tunan had fully absorbed it.
After they finished eating, Uchiha Tunan washed the dishes and chopsticks.
Then he found a fleece blanket and draped it over Mitsuya Motoyoshi.
Mitsuya Motoyoshi looked doubtfully at the blanket covering him.
"What are you covering me with this for?"
Uchiha Tunan smiled faintly and tucked a hot-water bottle beneath the blanket.
"It's cold outside. You've been cooped up at home all day, so I'll take you out for some fresh air."
"Uh... all right."
The two moved through Konoha's streets and alleys like grandfather and grandson.
Mitsuya Motoyoshi could not remember how long it had been since he had last gone out for a stroll.
Even when he left home normally, it was only to visit the neighborhood general store for daily necessities.
Along the way, Konoha's villagers pointed and whispered as soon as they saw Uchiha Tunan.
Mitsuya Motoyoshi noticed it and could not help asking:
"Are they talking about you?"
Uchiha Tunan adjusted his glasses and replied blandly:
"Yes. Lately, the whole village has been talking about me."
Mitsuya Motoyoshi became interested, and even his tone grew lighter.
"I didn't expect you to be so famous. Tell Grandpa what they've been saying."
A stiff smile appeared on Uchiha Tunan's face. He pressed his lips together and said in a low voice, "I'll tell you next time."
Mitsuya Motoyoshi, wise with age, naturally saw that Uchiha Tunan had something difficult to say. He followed the flow of the conversation.
"I'm not that nosy anyway.
"The air outside really is different."
Uchiha Tunan pushed Mitsuya Motoyoshi along the mountain path until they reached the top of Hokage Rock to watch the sunrise.
The gentle sunlight painted them gold. Mitsuya Motoyoshi felt more relaxed than he had in years, as though he had become younger.
"The village has changed so much over the years."
Uchiha Tunan reached out and straightened the blanket that had nearly curled into a ball around Mitsuya Motoyoshi, agreeing, "The changes ahead will be even greater."
A gentle expression appeared on Mitsuya Motoyoshi's face as he asked almost dreamily:
"Tunan, do you know your Chakra affinities?"
Uchiha Tunan looked down at Konoha, which was gradually growing lively beneath Hokage Rock, and replied calmly, "Why are you asking that, Grandpa Motoyoshi?"
"Just wondering."
Uchiha Tunan nodded and answered casually, "I've never had them formally tested, but I seem to have Lightning, Fire, Water, and Earth Chakra."
Mitsuya Motoyoshi frowned. "No Wind affinity?"
Behind him, the corners of Uchiha Tunan's lips curled up slightly.
"I probably do."
"I see..." Mitsuya Motoyoshi seemed to be considering something.
"Grandpa Motoyoshi, I have to gather in half an hour. I'll take you home first."
"Okay."
Over the following days, Mitsuya Motoyoshi completely accepted Uchiha Tunan, and the two became like a true grandfather and grandson.
Mitsuya Motoyoshi even said he wanted to pass down the ancestral Mitsuya Gale Slash to Uchiha Tunan.
However, Uchiha Tunan firmly refused, saying that he was still too young and had yet to fully develop his Sharingan.
Every morning, Uchiha Tunan completed missions with Namikaze Minato and Kakashi.
In the afternoons, he either sparred at Kakashi's home or trained in basic subjects with Namikaze Minato.
For example, Water Walking, Tree Climbing, and how to refine Chakra more efficiently.
Kushina also came around during the squad's weekly meals, making herself familiar with them while checking in on Uchiha Tunan.
Every night, Uchiha Tunan locked himself alone in his room to study the Instant Body Flicker Technique.
This secret technique was incredibly difficult to master. Not only did one need sufficient proficiency in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu, but also enough talent and knowledge.
After such a long time, Uchiha Tunan had not even made it through the door.
Then one day, that peaceful life was finally disrupted.
Inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed a Mission Scroll in front of Namikaze Minato.
"Given your team's strength, I'm assigning this B-rank mission to you."
Namikaze Minato frowned in confusion. "A B-rank mission? Isn't that a little too early for the two of them?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe and explained:
"This mission is unusual. Although it is B-rank, it is only an ordinary protection mission, and there is a high chance that no ninja will attack."
Namikaze Minato asked in puzzlement, "If there are no ninja involved, shouldn't it be C-rank?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled without answering and tapped the reward section of the Mission Scroll with his finger.
The meaning was clear: the payment was enough.
"This time, the client is the Temple of Fire.
"Master Digo of the Temple of Fire will be traveling to the Temple of Soup to debate Buddhist doctrine.
"You are to protect him.
"Although this mission is not very dangerous, you must not lower your guard.
"After all, Master Digo holds a high position and may very well become the next Abbot of the Temple of Fire.
"I'm mainly assigning this to you because your Flying Thunder God has improved rapidly. If anything unexpected happens, you'll be able to protect Master Digo."
"No problem."
Namikaze Minato put away the Mission Scroll and Exit Permit, then turned to Kakashi and Uchiha Tunan behind him.
"This mission involves traveling far from the village. Go home and pack first, then gather at the village entrance at one this afternoon."
Uchiha Tunan nodded. Before leaving, he exchanged a subtle, ambiguous glance with Hiruzen Sarutobi, then departed the Hokage Building with Namikaze Minato and Kakashi.
Before you continue