In the spring of Year 53, a bolt of thunder split the skies of the shinobi world—Orochimaru had defected!
That day, Konoha was shaken like never before. The Third Hokage's former favorite student, one of the legendary Sannin, had suddenly vanished without warning, leaving behind a wrecked laboratory and countless unanswered questions. The higher-ups were furious, and the Anbu were dispatched in full force, but they were already too late to catch him. When the news broke, the entire shinobi world was in an uproar. The other great villages began stirring, while undercurrents surged within Konoha itself.
Yet amid all the chaos, low, mocking laughter echoed through the Uchiha district. They watched the higher-ups' panic with cold amusement, their lips curling in scorn. The Third Hokage had lost an arm, and Konoha's foundations were finally beginning to crumble.
And the mastermind behind it all—the Uchiha Young Clan Head who had plotted from the shadows, then boldly marched into the Hokage Building to confront the two advisors—Uchiha Qing Xuan was now receiving the most fervent cheers from his entire clan!
"Lord Qing Xuan! The hope of the Uchiha!"
When the three accompanying Jonin recounted the Young Clan Head's brilliant performance in the Hokage's office, the young leader's standing in the hearts of his clansmen soared to unprecedented heights!
But this time, nobody shouted that they wanted to give Qing Xuan a bunch of kids.
Because Clan Head Fugaku wouldn't allow it.
At that moment, in the entryway of the clan head's home...
"Clatter, clatter! Slurp, slurp!"
The sound of someone eating with absolutely no table manners rang out once again.
Itachi shoveled rice into his mouth as he watched Qing Xuan wolf down his food, finding the sight as appetizing as ever.
But today, he didn't have much of an appetite. Too many questions weighed on his mind. He wanted to know what had happened in the clan district over the past two days. Shisui hadn't told him much, but he knew it all had something to do with this younger cousin from his uncle's family.
But before he could speak...
"Who is this child?"
Fugaku's sharp gaze settled on the black-haired girl sitting beside Qing Xuan, who looked to be about his age. She wore a blissful smile, but something about her put Fugaku on his guard. There was no child like her in the Uchiha clan, and she seemed far more than she appeared.
"Haku. Minazuki Haku."
Qing Xuan wiped his mouth and took a moment to introduce her.
"Minazuki?"
It was an exceedingly rare surname.
Hearing it, Itachi thought of his Leading Jonin, Minazuki Yuki.
Fugaku frowned and considered the name for a moment. He didn't recognize it either. No major clan in Konoha—or anywhere in the shinobi world—had that surname.
"She's from the Snow Clan of Kirigakure. Father rescued her during the Bloody Mist upheaval and left her in my care as a bodyguard! She's already been registered with the Third Hokage! She's absolutely loyal and trustworthy!"
Minazuki was only a name used in fanfiction, so of course it wasn't common in the world of Naruto.
Yet after hearing Qing Xuan's explanation, Fugaku's doubts didn't fade. If anything, he grew more confused.
Liu Yun's letter to him hadn't mentioned this girl at all.
So where had she come from?
"I am Lord Qing Xuan's tool."
The girl, who had been sitting formally beside Qing Xuan, spoke up.
Her gaze was clear, and her voice was bright and matter-of-fact. Her words stunned everyone at the table.
Who called themselves someone else's tool? Itachi was taken aback. But Qing Xuan's next words surprised him even more.
"Mm, that's right! Haku is my most capable tool."
The guy had admitted it without the slightest hesitation!
But that wasn't all. To Fugaku and Itachi's surprise, Haku showed no displeasure at all. Her smile even grew brighter, as if Qing Xuan's approval made her very happy.
"Of course, if you ever change your mind, we can be friends, playmates, or even family or something."
Qing Xuan didn't care much about labels. He tossed out the suggestion casually. It didn't matter whether Haku accepted it, as long as she was happy.
"No! I only want to be Young Master's tool."
True to her characterization in the original story, Haku firmly refused.
Fugaku rubbed his forehead, his head beginning to ache. He really didn't want to deal with this kid's tangled relationships. If the girl was loyal, then he could let Qing Xuan do as he pleased.
That was what he thought as he straightened up slightly and said to Qing Xuan in a serious tone, "I've been watching how you've been doing lately. The clan has had especially high praise for you this time."
Itachi raised his eyes to look at his father. He had never seen him look so proud—not even when Itachi had graduated early from the Ninja Academy.
"To achieve so much at your age... As expected, you're Liu Yun's son!"
Even Mikoto was taken aback to hear such praise from Fugaku. The usually stern man, who wasn't good at expressing his feelings, had said this in front of everyone. It showed just how pleased he was with Qing Xuan.
But Qing Xuan froze. He stopped eating and stared at Fugaku in shock. "Huh? Shouldn't you have said, 'As expected of my son'?"
So offended that he couldn't even keep eating, he complained, "Why? I've been working so hard, and you still won't spare me a second glance! All you see is Itachi! What makes us so different?"
Itachi stood rooted to the spot at the sudden accusation. He couldn't understand why Qing Xuan was so dissatisfied when their father had just praised him so highly.
"I told you! Stop picking on Itachi!"
Fugaku's head hurt even more. This kid's personality was worse than Liu Yun's had been as a child. He was a handful all day long. Couldn't he just eat in peace for once?
"Haah... I really must not be your real son. You can't even make a sincere compliment..."
Qing Xuan poked at his rice with his chopsticks. His woebegone sigh made Mikoto struggle to hold back a laugh.
She reached out and gently ruffled Qing Xuan's hair, smiling as she comforted him. "How could you not be his real son? You're Itachi's little brother, after all!"
She was truly fond of Qing Xuan.
Itachi had inherited Fugaku's calm and steady nature. Though he had displayed a terrifying talent unlike that of other children from a young age, he never quite seemed like a child.
Most of the time, the two of them were either silent or silent. The place hardly felt like a home.
But ever since Qing Xuan had arrived, everything had changed. He could be a little rambunctious, but he had turned their home upside down in the best possible way.
And with a face just like Itachi's, Mikoto truly raised him as her own son.
"Really?"
Qing Xuan suddenly grew a little bashful. He lowered his head and asked softly, "Then can I call you Mom?"
For some reason, a pang of sadness suddenly rose in Mikoto's heart. She immediately replied, "Of course..."
"Of course not!"
A domineering shout suddenly rang out from outside, rudely shattering the warm atmosphere.
"Uchiha Qing Xuan! Your real mom is right here!"
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