Above Konoha, the sunlight was wonderfully warm.
The entire village of Konoha was bathed in sunlight, looking peaceful and harmonious.
Yet beneath that harmonious atmosphere, a secluded corner of Konoha seemed somewhat out of place.
This was the Uchiha Clan's residential district.
At this moment, it was a desolate sight. The old houses, steeped in the traces of time, looked weathered and worn, while the surrounding courtyards seemed far dimmer than before.
"Creak..."
Just then, a small figure slid open the door by the entrance corridor and stepped inside.
"I'm back..."
The child's calm voice brought a faint trace of life to the otherwise empty, silent house.
Upon hearing it, a woman with faint wrinkles on her face hurried out from deeper within the house, her expression filled with kindness and affection as she said gently, "Sasuke, you're back!"
Hearing her question, Sasuke raised his head. There was no expression on his cold little face as he merely nodded lightly.
As if recalling something, the woman quickly said, "You must be hungry. I'll go prepare some food right away."
Hearing her words, Sasuke's gaze grew complicated, but he remained silent.
After a while, the woman laid out a table full of steaming dishes. The two sat across from each other at the table, yet neither spoke.
The woman repeatedly seemed as though she wanted to say something, but each time the words reached her lips, she appeared to think of something and stopped herself.
After taking a bite, Sasuke gently set down his chopsticks. His eyes remained fixed on the tabletop before him rather than on the woman as he said evenly, "I passed the genin test. I'm a member of Team 7 now, under Kakashi-sensei..."
Hearing Sasuke's words, the woman's eyes lit up, and she said with some relief,