Uchiha Compound, Chiyo's home.
An enticing aroma drifted from the kitchen, the savory fragrance of braised prawns mingling with the spicy scent of Pepper Stir-fried Pork, while the rich chicken broth bubbled away in the clay pot.
Chiyo wore an apron, his spatula dancing in his hand. His movements were so practiced that he looked less like a ninja and more like a professional chef.
To celebrate Mikoto unlocking her Mangekyō Sharingan, Chiyo, who usually avoided cooking fumes, had made an exception today.
"Chiyo-niichan, is it time to flip these prawns?"
Mikoto stood curiously nearby, holding a porcelain plate. Her Three Tomoe Sharingan gleamed faintly, as though she wanted to see through every pattern on the prawn shells.
"Wait another ten seconds."
Without even turning around, Chiyo flicked his wrist. The prawns in the wok flipped over in perfect unison, oil splashing as the aroma grew even richer.
Just then, the doorbell rang brightly.
Mikoto frowned slightly, set down the plate, and went to answer it.
The moment she opened the door, a head of fiery red hair came into view.
"Mikoto-nee!"
Kushina Uzumaki beamed, carrying a bag of fresh fruit in her hand.
"I heard Chiyo-niichan was personally cooking for Mikoto-nee, so I came over to mooch a meal!"
The instant Mikoto saw Kushina, her pupils suddenly contracted.
Her Three Tomoe Sharingan transformed at once, and her Mangekyō Sharingan opened uncontrollably, the clover-shaped pattern slowly turning in her eyes.
Kushina's smile froze on her face, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out across her back.
She instinctively took half a step back, nearly dropping the bag of fruit in her hand.
Inside her, the Nine-Tails, bound by golden chains as it slept, opened its scarlet beast eyes as well, full of vigilance.
"M-Mikoto-nee?"
Kushina swallowed and called