Kosuke's Hopes

Setting down the ceramic cup, his spirit seemed to snap awake in an instant, his entire demeanor shedding its earlier awkwardness.

Watching Madara's agitated expression, Kosuke said directly, "Alright, once I've sorted things out later, you can come over and study whenever you have time."

"Good. If you need anything, just let us know."

At this moment, Madara had no mind for anything else; his head was full of the scene of Aunt Aoba advancing to the Mangekyo.

"Then, you two head back for now. I'm tired and need some rest."

With that, Kosuke let out a yawn.

This blatant way of showing guests out was something Aoba had never heard before.

Her vision, now clear again, landed on Kosuke. Her brows furrowed slightly as she prepared to scold him.

One shouldn't be so rude to guests.

But Madara acted as if he hadn't heard Kosuke's words. He stood up directly, dragging the still-dazed Izuna along, and gave Aoba a slight bow in farewell.

"Aunt Aoba, I'll make sure to remind Izuna about your eyes. If you don't want it known, the clan won't learn of your Sharingan's evolution."

Aoba had just been pondering how to cover up her eye's evolution, and Madara's words instantly dissolved her worries.

"Madara, thank you for that."

With that, she grabbed one child in each hand and bowed in thanks.

Before leaving, Madara glanced at Kosuke's irritated expression—forced up from his seat by his mother—and his steps grew noticeably lighter.

Watching their backs disappear around the corner, Kosuke quickly broke free from his mother's grip, dashed to the door, and slammed the heavy wooden panel shut with a "bang."

Before the sound of the bronze knocker hitting the door had faded, he spun around, hurried back to the desk, rolled up the scroll neatly, tucked it into his chest, then grabbed his mother and sister by the wrists and rushed toward the living room.

"Little Kosuke, what are you—?"

"Mom, don't ask yet! Quickly set up a barrier in the living room—one that blocks all sound, the tighter the better!"

Entering the living room, Kosuke let go of his mother's wrist, helped his sister Mina sit on a cushion nearby, then turned to face his mother with a grave expression.

Seeing her youngest son's demeanor, Aoba connected it to everything that had happened today, and a shock ran through her heart.

Her wrist flipped swiftly as she shot several soundproof kunai around the living room.

"Alright, Kosuke. Is there something you don't want Madara and the others to know?"

Kosuke sat on the cushion but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he deliberately paused in silence.

The living room was terrifyingly quiet, with only Mina's long, steady breaths echoing within.

After a long moment, Kosuke's solemn gaze met his mother's again.

"Mom, do you have any siblings? What state are their Sharingan in now? Or what about your parents'?"

The question came so abruptly that Aoba was momentarily at a loss.

Parents, siblings, Sharingan? Why would Kosuke bring that up?

After thinking for a moment, Aoba replied slowly, "I did, but they're all dead. Their eyes evolved to Three Tomoe and were sealed and managed by the clan."

"Mom, in a month, apply to the clan for a pair of a relative's Three Tomoe Sharingan. Tell them your right eye is on the verge of blindness from overuse in a battle three years ago, and you need a replacement."

"But... what if they find out about my eye's condition? Won't they get suspicious?"

Listening to Kosuke's baffling words, which seemed inconsistent with what had happened during the day, Aoba's face showed worry.

"Them? Judging by Madara's behavior today, he might need something from you in the future. I doubt he'll pry—that's not his nature. As for Izuna..."

At this, Kosuke's gaze fell on his sister Mina. "With big sister around, I'm sure Izuna won't ask either."

Thinking of Mina and Izuna, a satisfied smile spread across Aoba's face.

But the next second, she caught a flicker of worry in Kosuke's eyes that vanished as quickly as it came.

Was this child worried about Mina and Izuna's relationship?

Seeing the smile on his mother's face, Kosuke felt nothing but helplessness.

Given the current situation, he had to prevent Izuna from dying and stop Black Zetsu from stacking buffs on Madara—otherwise, his sister and Madara would be in deep trouble.

So exhausting~

"Alright. In a month, I'll first report my eye condition to the Logistics Department, then apply to the clan for a replacement."

Seeing how seriously her son was urging her, Aoba had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"Mom, how about resigning from the Logistics Department and joining the Medical Unit instead?"

After a moment's thought, Kosuke offered another suggestion.

"Medical Unit?"

"That's right. It's better if you handle the eye replacement yourself."

Even if using Mangekyo dojutsu to nourish a direct relative's Three Tomoe Sharingan had an extremely low chance of evolution, Kosuke still intended to try.

After all, heaven helps those who help themselves.

Just like the great Zhang Jiao of our Han Dynasty, even if hope is slim, one must still take a gamble.

"Replace my own eyes? Most people in the Medical Unit can do that—why do I have to do it myself?"

"Because swapping in these eyes has a tiny chance of evolving your Mangekyo Sharingan into the more powerful Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. If it succeeds, as long as your Chakra is sufficient, you can keep using your dojutsu without going blind."

"This matter cannot be known to outsiders."

Kosuke's words left Aoba frozen in place, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

Evolve again?

Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?

And avoid blindness?

How did Kosuke know all this? How was he so clear about the evolution process and effects of the Sharingan?

Sensing his mother's incredulous gaze, Kosuke immediately explained that he had deduced it all from the books he usually read, just like the Meridians matter he'd brought up during the day.

It seemed he'd said too much all at once and overwhelmed his mother.

Good thing he'd stopped himself in time. If he'd accidentally blurted out something about the Rinnegan, his mother might start doubting the purity of his soul and even hit him with a deep genjutsu—then he'd be screwed.

No, Kosuke's heart suddenly tightened. What if he was already under a genjutsu right now?

After all, his dear mother had only recently awakened her Mangekyo. With her ability, it was entirely possible she'd cast a genjutsu on him, who hadn't even started training yet, without him noticing a thing.

Thinking this, Kosuke cautiously stole a glance at his mother, his heart pounding with tension.

Seeing little Kosuke's cute sneaking look, Aoba's inner doubts instantly vanished.

No matter how Kosuke had learned those secrets, it no longer mattered.

What mattered was that Kosuke was her son, Mina's younger brother, and that he cared deeply about both her and Mina.

With that thought, a gentle smile spread across Aoba's face, her gaze warm as it drifted between Kosuke and Mina.

Realizing his mother had caught him sneaking a look, Kosuke instead stared back openly and let out a silly chuckle.

"Tomorrow, Mom will resign from the Logistics Department. Just like our little Kosuke says, I'll become a Medical Ninja."