Uchiha Tajima's fingers tapped unconsciously against the table as his gaze rested on the window, waiting quietly.
At this moment, the Medical Ninja were doing everything they could to save the unconscious Uchiha Aoba.
Kosuke in her arms and Mina on her back had already been sent ahead by the Medical Ninja to their home in the clan grounds.
Beside a bustling street stood a row of wooden houses in a quiet alley.
Inside one of the quieter homes, the small figure of Uchiha Mina stood helplessly in the center of the living room, holding her younger brother Kosuke.
Three-year-old Uchiha Izuna had just returned from the market when he happened to see ninjas from the Medical Unit carrying two unfamiliar children into this long-vacant house.
The little girl, about three years old, clutched an infant tightly in her arms, her face filled with confusion and fear far beyond her age.
Uchiha Izuna frowned and beckoned over 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 quietly. "I heard that Lady Aoba is still being treated in the Medical Unit. These two children were sent back here first."
A trace of confusion appeared on Uchiha Izuna's face. "No servants were arranged for them?"
"Probably not. After all, they only returned to the clan today."
"Is that so..."
Uchiha Izuna nodded thoughtfully, instructing the guard to fetch some food and supplies from his home while he quietly followed to check on them.
Through the crack in the door, he saw the little girl struggling to hold the infant as she sat in the middle of the hall, looking helplessly around the unfamiliar surroundings.
A moment later, Uchiha Izuna took the Lunch Box the guard had brought and crept toward the front door.
As he carefully removed the warning bell from the door, three black feathers were shaken loose from the eaves by startled crows.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, Uchiha Izuna saw the little girl still sitting in the center of the hall with the infant in her arms, a resolve unfitting for her age on her young face.
Uchiha Mina watched the figure entering with caution and did not shift from her place.
Her little face was pale, and her eyes gleamed fiercely as she stared fixedly at Uchiha Izuna, who was slowly approaching.
"Are you all right?" Uchiha Izuna asked softly. Afraid of frightening her, he stopped in the courtyard.
Mina looked at the unfamiliar boy without speaking, only instinctively pulling her younger brother closer.
Uchiha Izuna noticed a small cut bleeding from Mina's fingertip. It must have been scratched during their escape.
He hurried into the hall, set down the Lunch Box, and took out the medicine and bandages he carried for his older brother Madara.
"Let me treat your wound."
Uchiha Izuna tried to make his voice sound as gentle and trustworthy as possible.
Just as he carefully bandaged Mina's wound, a drop of blood slid from her fingertip and fell squarely onto Kosuke's brow, where he had been temporarily laid on the floor.
In an instant, the infant's eyelashes trembled—some mysterious power was awakening within his soul.
Inside the medical room, Uchiha Aoba, who had been rescued from the encirclement, was not in good condition.
Although she had survived, using the forbidden technique Izanagi had left her blind in her left eye.
When the Medical Ninja came to tell her that the two children had been safely sent back to the old house, the Uchiha Princess, once a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, sat sadly on the bed. Her eyes stared blankly at the blanket reeking of disinfectant as she said nothing.
"Clan Head."
Uchiha Tajima slowly opened his eyes and looked at the elders, who had been tirelessly occupied with postwar matters.
The faint scent of blood still clung to him.
He pointed at the simply written report of the Senju attack on the table.
"The Senju Clan attacked our northern refuge," he said in a low, icy voice. "The Uchiha Princess's husband and all of her guards were killed."
The Council Hall fell dead silent before angry cries erupted.
"What? Lady Aoba, she..."
"Those Senju beasts! They even dared to attack the secluded young lady!"
"This blood feud must be avenged! The Senju must pay for their blood debt!"
Uchiha Tajima's gaze swept across the Five Great Elders one by one as he passed down the scroll.
"According to the intelligence Aoba brought back at the risk of her life, after attacking their settlement, the Senju Clan is establishing a forward base at her refuge," he said, his voice as cold as ice. "This is our chance to strike back."
The First Elder's hand shook with rage as he unfurled the scroll. "The Senju must pay the price! Uchiha blood cannot be spilled in vain!"
"That's right. Before they gain a firm foothold, we will destroy that base in one stroke and avenge the young lady and our clansmen!"
The Second Elder spoke through gritted teeth.
After several elders had passed the scroll around, their faces all showed anger and determination.
"A blood debt must be repaid in blood!" Third Elder Uchiha Shin'ya slammed his fist onto the table. "Let those Senju scum learn the consequences of touching the Uchiha!"
Uchiha Tajima raised a hand to stop the clamor. "According to the clan's Medical Ninja, Uchiha Aoba's left eye has been permanently blinded by the forbidden technique, and she has been left with lasting internal injuries."
His gaze settled on Third Elder Uchiha Shin'ya. "Elder Shin'ya, Uchiha Aoba will withdraw from the Intelligence Division. From now on, she will join the Logistics Department and be responsible for escorting supplies to the front lines."
Once the Third Elder nodded in acknowledgment, Tajima's tone shifted as he spoke solemnly again.
"Three days from now, First Elder Uchiha Kyūhaku and Second Elder Uchiha Gensuke will lead an assault on the Senju Clan's newly established base. Fourth Elder Uchiha Izuna, Fifth Elder Uchiha Ten'u, and I will head to the front lines. Sixth Elder Uchiha Akiha will remain behind to guard the clan! Uchiha Aoba will take part in this operation."
"Yes, Clan Head!"
As his words fell, the elders vanished from the Council Hall one after another, leaving behind a grave-faced Uchiha Tajima.
Over the next three days, the Uchiha Clan began mobilizing frequently, with supplies loaded onto dedicated Carts...
During this time, a logistics ninja appeared at the Medical Unit.
"Lady Aoba, the Clan Head has ordered your transfer to the Logistics Department. You will be responsible for transporting supplies to the front lines."
Watching the ninja depart, a complex glint flashed through Aoba's remaining right eye.
"Transferred to the Logistics Department?"
On the fourth day after the logistics ninja came to notify her, Aoba, her left eye wrapped in bandages, slowly walked out of the Medical Unit.
She took a deep breath of the slightly pungent air and glanced back at the place where she had spent the past few days.
Then Chakra surged through her body, and with a flicker, she vanished from the spot.
Upon returning to the unfamiliar house, Uchiha Aoba keenly sensed faint rustling outside the courtyard gate.
Sensing the familiar guard standing behind him, she immediately understood.
"Tajima older brother's boy? Why aren't you staying at home? What are you doing at my house?"
Uchiha Aoba then reached out and gently pushed open the door.
There, her eldest daughter, Uchiha Mina, was curled up beside a constantly rocking cradle, fast asleep.
Bells hung from the cradle as "decorations," while a thin blanket was spread beneath Mina.
An invisible big hand suddenly gripped Uchiha Aoba's heart.
Her right eye stung, and a glimmer of tears quietly welled up, trembling at the edge of her eye.
She nearly stumbled as she hurried to the cradle and gently knelt on the messy bedding.
Her tender, careful gaze swept over the two young faces—her only surviving children in this world.
"Mina... Kosuke..."
As though sensing her mother's presence, Kosuke's eyelashes trembled and his pink lips moved faintly.
Mina also murmured, "Mother," in her sleep, her little hand unconsciously clutching the hem of her mother's clothes.
Noticing her children stirring, Uchiha Aoba lovingly stroked both of their hair.
She picked up Kosuke with one hand while tucking Mina's blanket around her with the other.
At that moment, Uchiha Izuna, who had been rustling around outside the courtyard gate for quite some time, finally pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing this, Uchiha Aoba held the child in her arms and watched the small, tiptoeing figure with a smile in her eyes.
Feeling Uchiha Aoba's gaze upon him, Uchiha Izuna carried a Lunch Box, scratched his head awkwardly, and bowed. His voice was so soft that it seemed a passing breeze could scatter it away.
"Uchiha Izuna greets Aunt Aoba."
If Aoba's Chakra had not fully recovered by then, she nearly would not have heard what Uchiha Izuna said from several meters away.
Noticing Uchiha Izuna's gaze drifting toward Mina from time to time, Uchiha Aoba felt a flash of understanding, and the smile on her face deepened.
Uchiha Izuna carefully approached Uchiha Aoba and set down the Lunch Box in his hand.
Click~
The rich fragrance of food wafted out through the gaps.
"This is...?"
Facing Uchiha Aoba's confusion, Uchiha Izuna immediately answered softly, "Senior Aoba, this is food I brought for Mina, and warm milk for Kosuke."
Looking at the young yet exceptionally considerate boy, she said sincerely, "Thank you, Young Master Izuna."
Uchiha Izuna shook his head slightly and continued taking food out of the Lunch Box.
Before you continue