Kagami Uchiha

Qile strolled leisurely along the streets of the clan compound, looking around at his surroundings with keen interest.

The Uchiha had begun building shops within the clan compound. It was clear that, though the Uchiha Clan seemed to have chosen Konoha and decided not to follow Madara in turning their backs on it, the reality was more complicated.

In their hearts, the clan members still resisted being treated as equals by the other clans and civilians outside their own.

It seemed that, in their eyes, only the Senju Clan—their sworn enemy for thousands of years—could regard them as worthy opponents and give them the respect and recognition they deserved.

This state of affairs was truly worrying! If they were content to shut themselves away and live comfortable lives of their own, wouldn't they be sitting around waiting for others to ostracize and suppress them?

This closed-minded attitude would inevitably have a seriously negative impact on the entire Uchiha Clan.

Just as Qile's thoughts began to drift, a slightly familiar, youthful voice suddenly called out to him. "Qile, Qile, where have you been these past two days?"

At the sound of the call, Qile instinctively turned toward it and saw that the person approaching was Kagami, who had gone with him to eavesdrop on the clan meeting a few days earlier.

Kagami jogged up to Qile, then lowered his head slightly, looking a little embarrassed. "I noticed you haven't been home these past two days! Did something happen? And... did the clan head punish you for what happened that day? I'm really sorry I left you there by yourself." After saying this, he couldn't help sneaking a glance at Qile to see how he'd react.

Qile gazed at Kagami, who stood before him with guilt written all over his face and didn't dare look up. Tsk, tsk, tsk. No wonder that White-Hair Tobirama has his eye on him! With a gentle personality like that, if word got out, nobody would believe he came from the Uchiha Clan, famous for its pride and coldness.

Qile waved away Kagami's apology as if it were nothing. Then, as naturally as could be, he threw an arm around Kagami, who was a few years older than him, and continued excitedly, "Don't worry about it. It's no big deal! I've been staying at the clan head's place these past two days. By the way, I'm meeting some friends for lunch today. How about coming with me?"

Qile's face was brimming with warmth as he spoke. Though he phrased it as a question, his actions had left Kagami no chance to refuse.

At Qile's invitation, Kagami instinctively glanced at the shoulder Qile had pulled him close by. He understood that Qile was showing him through his actions that he didn't need to worry.

He looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Friends? Are they members of the Uchiha Clan?"

He couldn't remember Qile knowing any other clan members besides him.

Qile smiled and shook his head. "No, the friends I'm meeting today are from the Sarutobi and Shimura Clans. You'll see when we get there. Come on, let's go." With that, he casually kept his arm around Kagami and led him toward the agreed-upon meeting place.

"Outsiders?" At the word, Kagami's eyes widened in surprise.

It had only been a few days since they'd last seen each other. How could Qile have already made friends with people from other clans?

Wait...

Kagami suddenly seemed to realize something. He stopped short, standing rigidly in place. Then he slowly turned to Qile, staring at him with a baffled, puzzled look. "Hold on! Did you just say you're staying at the clan head's place?"

Faced with Kagami's astonishment, Qile merely shrugged. His expression remained completely calm, as though there were nothing surprising about it.

Then he casually put his arm around Kagami's shoulders again and continued walking, smiling as he said, "Come on, don't look so surprised. Besides, even if you hadn't come to find me today, I was planning to look for you after lunch."

Kagami's doubts only grew. He stopped again and shrugged off Qile's arm, asking nervously, "Why were you going to look for me?"

Qile cleared his throat, put on a serious expression, and announced solemnly, "Ahem. I'm here to deliver an order from the clan head! Kagami Uchiha, starting today, you're to go to the clan head's home for training!" After saying this, Qile couldn't help letting the corners of his mouth curl upward.

Did it really matter whether Madara had actually said that? He'd already brought Kagami back. Was Madara really going to kick him out again?

Training alone was so dull, but having a companion would make all the difference.

Especially when that companion was Kagami. Heh, heh, heh... Just thinking about it was exciting!

At those words, Kagami stood frozen as if struck by lightning.

It wasn't that he disliked the clan head. Quite the opposite: a powerful excitement was surging through him.

What did it mean to train at the clan head's home?

It meant he could receive the clan head's personal guidance whenever he wanted!

Not everyone got an opportunity like that. For Kagami, who was determined to grow stronger and bring honor to his clan, it was a dream come true.

"Really, Qile? I can actually train at the clan head's home?" Kagami's eyes widened, his face flushed red as he asked in a voice trembling with excitement.

"Uh..." Looking at Kagami, so overcome with excitement, Qile couldn't help feeling awkward. His face was already so youthful, and now—

He'd expected Kagami to be excited, but he hadn't expected him to be this excited. He was practically turning into a red-skinned duck...

So Qile kindly reminded him, "The clan head's training is extremely grueling. You'd better be prepared."

But Kagami was far too excited to hear him. He straightened up without hesitation and declared loudly, "I'm always ready! For the everlasting glory of the Uchiha Clan, I'm not afraid of any hardship or exhaustion!"

As he spoke, Kagami instinctively reached out and carefully straightened his clothes, as if to show Qile just how much he respected his clan.

"First, you have to stand completely still for an hour and a half. Then you swing your sword two hundred times! Oh, and Hand Seals practice is a must, too!" Qile counted off the various training tasks on his fingers as he spoke.

Yet when the words reached Kagami, his expression didn't change at all. Still excited, he replied, "Even if I have to stand for half an hour longer than usual and swing my sword fifty more times, I can absolutely stick with it!"

Qile stared at Kagami, whose eyes burned with the resolve of someone determined to become Hokage, unable to believe what he was hearing. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. "Is... is that right?"

Just then, Yeling, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke. "Young Master Qile, look over there. Are those the two people?" As she spoke, she pointed in a certain direction.

Qile followed Yeling's finger and looked closely. Sure enough, two figures were standing in the distance, though their movements seemed rather odd and awkward.

But when Yeling spoke, Kagami didn't look where Qile did. Instead, he turned his head and looked at her.

A hint of confusion showed in his eyes. He was certain he'd never seen this woman in the clan compound, and the way she addressed Qile was unusual, too...

As if she'd sensed Kagami's gaze, Yeling smiled gently at him like a spring breeze, then said softly, "I'm Yeling, Young Master Qile's maid."

"She's not a maid. She's more like an older sister who looks after me!" Qile hurriedly cut in.