Stepping Up! (Seeking Flowers, Rewards!)

Kushina Uzumaki had been hesitant at first, but upon hearing Uchiha Mikoto's words, she immediately changed her mind. She grabbed Mirai Uchiha's hand and said boldly, "I already introduced myself up there, so you should know my name. Since you're so sensible, this young lady will reluctantly agree to be your friend!"

Listening to Kushina Uzumaki's tsundere tone, Mirai Uchiha smiled slightly, nodded, and said, "Then is it alright if I call you Kushina from now on?"

"Mm, we're friends, aren't we? If I'm not called Kushina, what else would I be called?" Kushina Uzumaki nodded and said nonchalantly.

Uchiha Mikoto, standing to the side, saw the two of them holding hands and refusing to let go. She immediately lost her temper, tugging desperately at Mirai Uchiha's arm as she said indignantly, "Let go! Why are you always grabbing onto my Brother Li's hand!"

Kushina Uzumaki seemed to have locked horns with Uchiha Mikoto. She pouted stubbornly and retorted, "I won't let go! Li is my friend, what's wrong with holding his hand!"

"I told you to let go!" Uchiha Mikoto's eyes were red with anger; she was on the verge of throwing a punch.

"I won't!"

"Let go!"

Kushina Uzumaki wasn't very big, but she was surprisingly strong. As she continued to increase her grip, Mirai Uchiha felt as though his hand was about to lose circulation. Just as he was about to stop their bickering, he noticed Uchiha Fugaku, who had been watching the show from the side, tugging at his clothes. When he turned his head, he saw Uchiha Fugaku signaling to him repeatedly.

"Is something the matter?" Mirai Uchiha couldn't understand what Uchiha Fugaku wanted, so he had to ask out loud.

Uchiha Fugaku sighed helplessly, stood up, and looked at Kushina Uzumaki. "Ahem, classmate Kushina, could you please let go of his hand? I have something to discuss with Li!"

Upon hearing this, Kushina Uzumaki glared at Uchiha Fugaku, assuming he was looking for trouble again. However, seeing that he was a member of Mirai Uchiha's clan and someone she didn't know, her expression softened slightly. She released Mirai Uchiha's hand, tilted her head back, and said, "Since you're so polite, I'll lend Li to you for a moment!"

Hearing this, not only did Uchiha Fugaku's mouth twitch, but Mirai Uchiha's face also darkened. What did she mean by "lend him to you"? When did things reach that point? Uchiha Mikoto, standing nearby, was so angry she was gnashing her teeth. She had grown up with Mirai Uchiha and Uchiha Fugaku; in terms of their relationship with Mirai Uchiha, who could be closer than she and Uchiha Fugaku? Hearing Kushina Uzumaki's words, it sounded as if she and Mirai Uchiha were incredibly close.

After stepping outside the classroom with Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Fugaku immediately pouted and said with dissatisfaction, "I'm telling you, Li, you are the number one genius of the Uchiha Clan as recognized by my father. Getting so close to someone from another village, doesn't that make the Uchiha Clan lose face? I think you should stop associating with that Kushina Uzumaki. Besides, didn't you see that Mikoto really doesn't like it?"

So that was what Uchiha Fugaku had to say. Mirai Uchiha shook his head, glanced at Uchiha Fugaku, and said indifferently, "Fugaku, if anyone else said this to me, I would definitely beat them until they were looking for their teeth on the floor. Don't ever say such things again, understand? Especially not in front of Kushina Uzumaki!" When he watched Naruto in the past, he had always liked Kushina Uzumaki and Konan the most. However, for the Mirai Uchiha of his previous life, these were just fictional characters; no matter how much he liked them, there was nothing he could do, as real life had to go on. But now it was different. He had arrived in this world, and Kushina Uzumaki was standing right in front of him, alive and well. He would never miss this opportunity, nor would he allow anyone to insult the person he liked.

"Li, you... if my father finds out, he will definitely scold you!" Uchiha Fugaku hadn't expected Mirai Uchiha to be so extreme. With no other choice, he tried to use his father as leverage.

"Fugaku, what I just said applies to everyone, even Uncle Uchiha Hao is no exception. My life is my own, and who I choose to be friends with is my own business!" Mirai Uchiha said calmly. After speaking, he ignored the stunned Uchiha Fugaku and walked straight back into the classroom. By this time, the "war" between Uchiha Mikoto and Kushina Uzumaki had mostly ceased, and both were resting with their heads on their desks; clearly, arguing was also an exhausting endeavor.

After class, Uchiha Fugaku went home alone, which was unusual, as he didn't follow Uchiha Mikoto. Mirai Uchiha knew he must have gone to report to Uchiha Hao. Children were like that—they couldn't keep secrets and ran to their parents for everything. Mirai Uchiha didn't care. All unfairness was caused by a lack of personal ability, but now that he possessed this power, with his Sharingan, Uchiha Hao wouldn't be able to restrict him so much.

Mirai Uchiha and Uchiha Mikoto walked home together, while Kushina Uzumaki went alone; they lived in different directions, so they didn't walk together. However, after leaving the school gate, Mirai Uchiha heard a commotion in the nearby bushes.

"You bastards, do you think I'm afraid of you just because there are more of you? If you have the guts, come at me! This young lady will take you all on!"

Hearing this voice, Mirai Uchiha's expression darkened instantly. It was Kushina Uzumaki's voice. Ignoring Uchiha Mikoto beside him, Mirai Uchiha rushed into the bushes. He immediately saw two or three male students surrounding Kushina Uzumaki, mocking her loudly, while one of them was grabbing her hair.

"You bastards, who gave you permission to touch her!" Mirai Uchiha stepped forward and grabbed the male student who was pulling Kushina Uzumaki's hair. In pain, the student let go and began to wail.

"Mirai Uchiha, let him go right now, or we won't be polite! Don't think we're afraid of you just because you're the top student. Let me tell you, there are three of us here. Do you really think you can beat all three of us at once?" A slightly chubby student stood out, pointing at Mirai Uchiha and speaking viciously.

Hearing this, Mirai Uchiha was instantly enraged. His black pupils turned blood-red in an instant, and a single tomoe appeared in each eye. He turned his head and stared coldly at the chubby boy, saying indifferently, "Try saying that again!"

The two students who hadn't attacked felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar. Looking at Mirai Uchiha's strange eyes, they were terrified. They had never heard of a person's eyes changing color, let alone manifesting tomoe shapes. They were just children; how could they have heard of the Sharingan?

"A monster!"

The two screamed in terror and turned to run, disappearing in an instant. Seeing this, Mirai Uchiha pushed away the boy who was crying in pain. Without even a threat, the boy turned and ran for his life.

"Brother Li... the... the Sharingan!" Uchiha Mikoto pointed at Mirai Uchiha's pupils, too shocked to speak.

Mirai Uchiha was stunned for a moment, then realized he had been so angry that he had unconsciously activated his Sharingan. Seeing Uchiha Mikoto's shocked expression, Mirai Uchiha felt helpless, but he didn't mind too much. He had planned to tell Uchiha Hao about awakening the Sharingan in a while to secure more freedom and various benefits anyway; this was just a little ahead of schedule.