Izuna's Selfishness

Uchiha Tajima's fingers tapped unconsciously against the tabletop, his gaze falling out the window as he waited in silence.

At that moment, the Medical Ninja were frantically working to save the unconscious Uchiha Aoba.

The infant Kosuke in her arms and Mina on her back had already been sent ahead by the medical ninja to their home within the clan grounds.

Along a bustling street, a row of wooden houses stood in a quiet alley.

Inside one of the more tranquil rooms, Uchiha Mina's small figure stood holding her younger brother Kosuke in the center of the living room, at a complete loss.

Three-year-old Uchiha Izuna had just returned from the market when he happened to see medical unit ninja delivering two unfamiliar children into this long-vacant house.

A little girl of about three clutched a baby tightly in her arms, her face bearing a dazed fear far beyond her years.

Uchiha Izuna frowned and beckoned a patrolling clansman. "Who lives in that house?"

"It was left by the previous Clan Head for his youngest daughter, Uchiha Aoba," the guard replied in a low voice. "I hear Lady Aoba is still being treated in the Medical Unit. These two children were sent here first."

A flicker of confusion crossed Uchiha Izuna's face. "No servants arranged for them?"

"Not yet, I think. They only returned to the clan today."

"I see..."

Uchiha Izuna nodded thoughtfully, instructing the guard to fetch some food and supplies from his home, while he himself quietly crept closer to observe.

Through the crack in the door, he saw the little girl sitting in the middle of the hall, struggling to hold the baby, looking around the unfamiliar surroundings in bewilderment.

After a moment, Uchiha Izuna took the lunch box from the returning guard and tiptoed toward the gate.

As he carefully removed the warning bell from the door, three black feathers drifted down from a crow startled from the eaves.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, Uchiha Izuna saw the little girl still sitting in the center of the hall, clutching the baby, her young face bearing a determination that didn't match her age.

Uchiha Mina watched the approaching figure warily, not moving an inch.

Her small face was pale, her eyes gleaming with hostility as she stared fixedly at the slowly advancing Uchiha Izuna.

"Are you alright?" Uchiha Izuna asked softly, stopping in the courtyard for fear of startling her.

Uchiha Mina stared at the unfamiliar boy without a word, only instinctively hugging her brother tighter.

Izuna noticed a small, bleeding wound on Mina's fingertip—likely a scratch from their earlier escape.

He quickly stepped into the hall, set down the lunch box, and took out the medicine and bandages he always carried for his older brother Madara.

"Let me treat that for you."

Uchiha Izuna tried to make his voice sound as gentle and trustworthy as possible.

As he carefully bandaged Uchiha Mina's finger, a drop of blood slipped from her fingertip and landed squarely on the forehead of Kosuke, who had been temporarily set on the floor.

In that instant, the baby's eyelashes trembled—some mysterious power was awakening within his soul.

Inside the medical room, Uchiha Aoba, who had been brought out of the encirclement, was not in good condition.

Though her life had been saved, her left eye had gone blind from using the forbidden technique Izanagi.

When the Medical Ninja came to tell her that the two children had been safely returned to the old house, the once-fearsome Uchiha Princess sat numbly on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the blanket reeking of disinfectant, saying nothing.

"Clan Head."

Uchiha Tajima slowly opened his eyes, looking at the elders bustling with post-war affairs.

The faint scent of blood still clung to him.

He pointed to the simple report on the Senju attack lying on the table.

"The Senju Clan attacked our northern hideout," his voice was low and icy. "The Uchiha Princess's husband and all her guards died in action."

The Council Hall fell into dead silence, then erupted in a wave of fury.

"What? Lady Aoba..."

"Those Senju beasts! They dared to strike at the secluded young lady!"

"This must be avenged! The Senju must pay blood for blood!"

Uchiha Tajima's gaze swept across the Five Great Elders seated before him as he passed the scroll down.

"According to the intelligence Aoba risked her life to bring back, after attacking their base, the Senju Clan is setting up a forward outpost at her former residence," his voice was like ice. "This is our chance to counterattack."

The First Elder's hands trembled with rage as he unrolled the scroll. "The Senju must pay! Uchiha blood cannot be shed in vain!"

"Right. While they're still settling in, we'll crush that outpost and avenge the lady and our clansmen!"

The Second Elder ground his teeth.

After the scroll was passed among the elders, their faces all bore expressions of fury and resolve.

"Blood must be repaid with blood!" The Third Elder, Uchiha Shin'ya, slammed his fist on the table. "Let those Senju scum know what happens when they mess with the Uchiha!"

Uchiha Tajima raised a hand to silence the uproar. "According to the clan's Medical Ninja report, Uchiha Aoba's left eye is completely blind from using the forbidden technique, and she has permanent internal injuries."

His gaze fell on the Third Elder, Uchiha Shin'ya: "Elder Shin'ya, Uchiha Aoba is withdrawn from the Intelligence Division. From now on, she joins the Logistics Department, responsible for escorting frontline supplies."

Seeing the Third Elder nod in response, Tajima's tone shifted, growing stern once more.

"Three days from now, the First Elder Uchiha Kyūhaku and the Second Elder Uchiha Gensuke will lead a raid on the Senju Clan's newly established stronghold. The Fourth Elder Uchiha Senmei, the Fifth Elder Uchiha Ten'u, and I will head to the front lines. The Sixth Elder Uchiha Akiha will remain in the clan! Uchiha Aoba will participate in this operation."

"Yes, Clan Head!"

With the words spoken, the figures of the several elders vanished one by one from the Council Hall, leaving behind Uchiha Tajima with a grave expression.

Over the next three days, the Uchiha Clan began frequent mobilization, with supplies loaded onto dedicated carts...

During this time, a Logistics Ninja appeared at the Medical Unit.

"Lady Aoba, the Clan Head has ordered that you be transferred to the Logistics Department, responsible for transporting frontline supplies."

Watching the ninja disappear, a flicker of complex emotion passed through Aoba's remaining right eye.

"Transferred to the Logistics Department, huh?"

On the fourth day after the Logistics Ninja's notification, Aoba, her left eye wrapped in bandages, slowly walked out of the Medical Unit.

She took a deep breath of the slightly pungent air, glancing back at the place where she had spent several days.

Then, Chakra surged within her in an instant, and her form flickered, vanishing from the spot.

Returning to this unfamiliar home, Uchiha Aoba keenly sensed a rustling commotion outside the courtyard gate.

Perceiving the familiar guard standing behind her, she felt a sudden understanding in her heart.

"That boy from Tajima's house? Not staying home properly, what's he doing at my place?"

With that, Uchiha Aoba reached out and gently pushed open the door.

There she saw her eldest daughter, Uchiha Mina, curled up asleep beside a constantly swaying cradle.

A bell hung on the cradle as a "decoration," and beneath Mina lay a thin mattress.

Uchiha Aoba's heart was suddenly seized by an Invisible Big Hand.

Her right eye stung with bitterness, a glimmer of tears quietly surfacing, trembling on the verge of falling.

She almost stumbled as she hurried to the cradle, kneeling gently on the messy bedding.

Her gaze, tender and cautious, swept over two small, innocent faces—the only son and daughter left to her in this world.

"Mina... Kosuke..."

As if sensing their mother's presence, Kosuke's eyelashes fluttered, and his pink lips parted slightly.

Uchiha Mina, too, murmured "Mother" in her sleep, her small hand unconsciously clutching the hem of her mother's clothes.

Sensing her children's stirring, Uchiha Aoba gently stroked their hair with maternal affection.

She reached out to lift Kosuke into her arms, while with the other hand, she tucked the blanket around Mina.

Just then, Uchiha Izuna, who had been rustling outside the courtyard gate for some time, finally pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing this, Uchiha Aoba, holding the child, looked at the small, tiptoeing figure with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Feeling Aoba's gaze on him, Uchiha Izuna, carrying a Lunch Box, scratched his head apologetically and bowed, his voice so soft it seemed it would scatter like a passing breeze.

"Uchiha Izuna pays respects to Aunt Aoba."

If not for the fact that Aoba's Chakra had fully recovered, she might not have caught what Izuna said from several meters away.

Noticing Izuna's gaze occasionally drifting toward Mina, Uchiha Aoba felt a wave of clarity, and the smile on her face grew warmer.

Uchiha Izuna carefully approached Uchiha Aoba and set down the Lunch Box beside her.

"Click~"

A fragrant aroma of food seeped out from the gaps.

"This is..."

Faced with Aoba's confusion, Uchiha Izuna immediately replied in a low voice: "Senior Aoba, this is some food I brought for Mina, and some warm milk for Kosuke."

Looking at this young yet remarkably sensible boy, she said sincerely, "Thank you, Young Master Izuna."

Uchiha Izuna shook his head slightly at this and continued taking the food out of the Lunch Box.