As the mood at the table grew increasingly somber, Uchiha Chen broke the silence, constantly searching for topics to discuss with Fugaku and Mikoto. He also casually asked how Itachi was doing with his training.
Fugaku told him that Itachi had been busy taking care of his younger brother lately and hadn't left the house in a long time.
Even when he occasionally went out to train, he was usually with Shisui. At this, Fugaku wore a pleased smile, saying he was very satisfied with Itachi's current state.
After all, he had already reserved Izumi for himself.
However, just then, Uchiha Chen seemed to suddenly realize something.
He seemed to have stood Izumi up today.
Thinking of Uchiha Izumi, who he had stood up, and how she might be feeling sad and hurt all alone right now, Uchiha Chen's excited mood immediately sank.
Sitting across from him, Uchiha Itachi noticed the sudden change in his expression. Though he was a little surprised, he didn't ask about it.
He gently picked up Sasuke, who was sleeping beside him, then stood and said goodbye to us. "Father, Mother, Uncle Chen, I'm full. Please take your time." With that, he turned and left the dining room.
Uchiha Chen was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice Itachi leave. He only thought to himself, I hope Izumi isn't too upset tonight. No, I should go apologize tomorrow.
As he thought, he instinctively pulled Mikoto into his arms, his palm roaming and caressing her delicate body as if it had a mind of its own.
Fortunately, Itachi was already long gone. If he had seen this, he might have rushed over and attacked him on the spot.
After dinner, for the sake of their future happiness, Uchiha Chen and Fugaku used the Transformation Technique to switch identities.
That night, Uchiha Chen pretended to be Uchiha Mikoto's loving husband and entered her room, then changed back to his original appearance. During the day, however, he had to switch back to Fugaku's identity and resume being his older sister's well-behaved little brother.
After a passionate night together, Uchiha Chen finished washing up the next morning with Mikoto's help. Then he kissed her fervently before putting on an unconcerned expression and sitting down to breakfast.
As he watched Itachi eating breakfast in silence, completely unaware of everything, he couldn't help feeling secretly pleased.
After breakfast, Uchiha Chen rose and strolled calmly out of the Uchiha Clan's territory.
When people greeted him along the way, he no longer responded coldly like the original owner had. Instead, he smiled and answered them warmly. Under the astonished gazes of numerous Uchiha clan members, he made his way to the bustling streets of Konoha.
Uchiha Chen wandered aimlessly, his thoughts drifting back to the day a month ago when he'd first met Izumi, at a dango shop.
She loved Three-Color Dango, so buying her a serving as an apology seemed like a good idea.
Having made up his mind, he turned and headed for a street lined with food shops.
Standing at the entrance to the street, he gazed at the lively, peaceful scene before him. Uchiha Chen suddenly thought of how, over a decade from now, Nagato Uzumaki would destroy it all with one Almighty Push. He couldn't help feeling that it would be a shame.
But then he remembered that he had already come to this world, so surely none of that would happen. After all, who knew how strong he'd become in another decade? He could just pluck Nagato's Rinnegan out and roll it around like a walnut.
The image made him laugh out loud, and he put those thoughts about the future out of his mind.
He took a deep breath and followed the route he remembered to the dango shop he'd visited before. After rubbing his slightly full belly, he finally bought two servings of Three-Color Dango and two cups of Red Bean Soup.
After paying, Uchiha Chen picked up the bag of food and was about to head to their usual meeting place to wait for Izumi when he suddenly heard a heated argument coming from an alley nearby.
Seeing that it was still early, he felt a sudden urge to see what was going on. With a light tap of his feet, he sprang up to a nearby rooftop like a phantom.
After hiding himself, he noticed another ninja nearby, looking down into the alley from above.
He paid no attention to the other ninja. The commotion wasn't just for him, after all, and the worst thing when watching the drama unfold was to have someone interrupt.
He lowered his head slightly and started watching. Three ninjas were facing off in the alley.
Two teenage boys had a girl ninja of about the same age surrounded. They kept shouting, "You're a horrible woman who's always messing around with venomous snakes! What makes you think you can take Yuko's place on our team?"
As they spoke, they seemed to think of someone, and their spirits began to sink.
Watching the two dejected, downcast boys in front of her, the girl trapped between them couldn't help letting a scornful smile curl her lips.
Her laughter rang through the narrow, shadowy alley, clear and sweet as a silver bell.
"What makes me think I'm qualified?
"Hmph!" The girl parted her lips and said coldly, "You two useless fools are the ones who gave me that qualification!
"If you hadn't abandoned her during the mission to chase after the enemy, how would she have run into their reinforcements and been brutally killed by one of their accomplices?"
At this, a mocking look flashed through the girl's eyes. She sneered, "And I haven't forgotten that, before she died, she left you a clue warning that her corpse was actually a trap.
"Thanks to that, you two idiots were lucky enough to survive and avoid being blown to pieces by an Explosive Tag. Otherwise, you'd have been blown to bits by now. And you still dare stand in front of me and spout nonsense?"
Uchiha Chen stared down at the spirited young girl. She wore a pair of incredibly alluring fishnet stockings, her long legs faintly visible beneath them. Two small, delicate mounds rose on her chest, promising to grow into impressive curves.
Her features were lovely, as if sculpted with exquisite care. Every time she parted her lips, a stream of scornful, contemptuous remarks poured out, driving the two boys before her to the brink of rage. They clenched their fists, itching to teach the arrogant woman a lesson.
Seeing that the two were ready to resort to violence when they couldn't win an argument, Anko couldn't help wearing a scornful smile. She thought to herself, These two idiots really think they can act so high and mighty. They should take a good look at themselves first!
After all, although they were about the same age, Anko had already become a Chunin at the beginning of this year. These two, though a year older than her, were merely Genin.
With that in mind, Anko reached into her ninja pouch and stared coldly at the two across from her. They had already raised their hands and were about to charge.
Without hesitation, she pulled out two gleaming Kunai and hurled them toward their faces with lightning speed.
The Kunai sliced through the air like lightning, cutting into their cheeks before flying out of the alley.
Before the two could react, Anko suddenly vanished from sight.
A pair of seemingly young but exceptionally nimble hands appeared silently beside their necks. Clutched in them were the same two Kunai that had just wounded the boys.
Blood trickled down the edges of the blades, drop by drop, and fell to the ground.
Before the two had recovered from their shock, they heard Anko speak in a chilling voice, her body radiating intense killing intent. "If those people had been willing to work with me, why would I have joined a bunch of trash like you?"
Her voice brimmed with resentment and fury, as though she were trying to vent every last bit of her frustration.
Anko thought of how she had been ostracized and shunned in the village ever since Orochimaru defected. The anger in her heart burned even hotter.
Her voice grew as cold as poison, carrying a note of grim resolve. "Now even trash like you, who don't know your place, dare provoke me. Do you really think I wouldn't kill you?"