The Uchiha

Mirai cried out in his mind, but Uchiha Itachi didn't notice anything. A moment later, Mirai gave an awkward smile and asked, "Why did you suddenly think of me?"

"Because you're very famous at school now, Cousin Mirai. Mother asked me about you, so I told her the truth. Then she talked it over with Father. They thought it wasn't good for you to live outside the Uchiha clan's residential district all by yourself, so they wanted you to come back and live with the clan."

I don't want to go back. Mirai thought that, but didn't say it aloud. It was understandable, really. The Uchiha clan was one of the most prominent families in Konoha Village and controlled Konoha's Military Police Force. They had their own residential district. Some clan members lived elsewhere, but there weren't many. Though Mirai was a member of the Uchiha clan, he was, at most, a distant relative.

"I'm doing fine where I am, and I'm free. I don't like having too many restrictions, so I wouldn't be used to living in the Uchiha district," Mirai said, waving his hand.

"Then you don't plan to go back and see them?"

"Uh... Of course I'll go." Well, if it's my fate, I can't avoid it. I'll deal with what comes later when it comes. The Uchiha clan head was bound to summon me sooner or later. Without my connection to Cousin Itachi, it might have happened later, but for now, I can only go.

Soon, Mirai faced his second opponent. This time, he didn't use the same approach as before, but still defeated his opponent swiftly and decisively, earning another Point. Then he defeated one more opponent and gained another Point.

Mirai earned a total of three System Points in the strength test, which was a pretty good haul. Seven students remained by the end of the matches, so Nakamura announced that the test was over. He didn't seem to intend to determine a first- or second-place winner. Perhaps he thought leaving seven students standing would give everyone else more motivation to work hard.

After school, Mirai went with Uchiha Itachi to the Uchiha clan's residential district. It covered a large area. Compared with the rest of Konoha, there was no obvious difference in prosperity between its different parts; everything was much the same. But the three characters at the entrance—Uchiha—carried a different weight.

The Uchiha clan and the Hyuga Clan were the two great clans of Konoha Village. Their Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan and the Sharingan, were famous throughout the Shinobi World.

The Uchiha clan controlled Konoha's Military Police Force, a combination of police and street enforcement. Even in the modern era, police and street enforcement together would be an unbeatable combination. Naturally, everyone was afraid of them.

Soon, Mirai followed Uchiha Itachi to a large house. Having a mansion like this in Konoha was quite a display of wealth. They went in through the gate. The courtyard was spacious, with some training equipment scattered around. It seemed that Uchiha Itachi trained here regularly.

When they reached a room on the right, Uchiha Itachi called out, "Father, Mother, I'm home."

"Is that Itachi? Come in." Uchiha Itachi slid the door open, and Mirai saw a beautiful woman sitting inside. Her belly was slightly rounded, and she kept rubbing it from time to time. The child she was carrying had to be Uchiha Sasuke. This woman was probably Uchiha Mikoto.

Beside her sat a stern-looking man whose expression never seemed to change. If Mirai wasn't mistaken, he was the head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke's father, Uchiha Fugaku.

"Father, Mother, I brought Cousin Mirai back."

"Mm. Come in," Uchiha Fugaku said flatly, his expression unchanged.

When Uchiha Mikoto heard that Mirai had come, a smile spread across her face. "Is this Mie's child? Come in and let your aunt have a look." Mirai's mother in this body was named Uchiha Mie, Uchiha Mikoto's younger sister. Mirai hadn't known there was a connection like this.

Mirai and Uchiha Itachi went inside together. Uchiha Itachi's mother looked at Mirai with affection in her eyes. "You poor child. My name is Uchiha Mikoto. I'm your mother Uchiha Mie's older sister."

"I heard about it from my cousin Itachi, but my mother never told me," Mirai said to Uchiha Mikoto.

Uchiha Mikoto gave a wry smile. "Perhaps she still resents me. I discussed it with Fugaku. You're still young, and you can't be left without anyone to look after you. Why don't you live here from now on? You can go to school with Itachi and have some company."

"Stay here," Uchiha Fugaku added at last.

"Uh... Well, I still want to live where I am," Mirai said. Ordinarily, once the head of the Uchiha clan had spoken, a clan member could hardly refuse. But Mirai had no intention of living here. Too many ties would affect his judgment in the future, so he refused decisively.

Uchiha Fugaku opened his eyes wider and looked at Mirai. "Why?" Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Itachi were watching him too, as if they wanted to know the answer.

"I've lived there for a long time, and I know everyone there very well. I'm on my own, free and unrestricted. I'm not used to the atmosphere here. I prefer living where I am," Mirai said.

Uchiha Fugaku looked into Mirai's eyes. After a moment, he said, "All right. Since that's your decision, I won't force you."

Mirai breathed a sigh of relief. No wonder Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke aren't much for smiling. Just facing Uchiha Fugaku's unsmiling face every day would do that to anyone. I don't want to end up like them.

"It's your first time here, Mirai. Stay for dinner before you leave. I'd like to have a good chat with you," Uchiha Mikoto said with a smile, then got up to cook.

Only Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Itachi, and Mirai remained in the room. The atmosphere was a little awkward, but neither Uchiha Fugaku nor Uchiha Itachi seemed to feel any awkwardness at all. They acted as if they were used to things being this way.

Before long, Uchiha Fugaku broke the silence. "Itachi, how did you do on today's strength test?"