However, what was bound to happen eventually did happen.
Just as Shigure was explaining some basic precautions to Shaoyu, the door to the Japanese-style room was suddenly pulled open with such force that it shook the door frame.
A middle-aged woman, dressed in a luxurious but dark-colored kimono, with her hair piled high and a beautiful face but covered in frost, stood at the door. She was none other than Mizunotsuki Shigure Chiyo, the principal wife of the Yuki Clan Chiyo.
She had clearly received the news, perhaps through a servant tipping her off, or perhaps through spies within the mansion who were already aware of her presence.
Her gaze, like an icicle, instantly pierced the unfamiliar boy who had appeared in the room. Especially when she saw Shaoyu's black hair, which resembled that of Mizunotsuki Shigure, the anger in her eyes almost burst forth.
"Shiyu!"
Chiyo's voice trembled slightly as she tried to suppress her anger.
"Tell me, who is this wild boy?! Where did you bring him from?! What do you want?!"
A hint of embarrassment and headache flashed across Mizunotsuki Shigure's face, but he quickly composed himself, stepped forward, tried to block his wife's view, and said in a deep voice.
" Chiyo, calm down. His name is Yu, he is... my child. He has been lost for many years, and now that he has been found, he should return home."
"Your child?!"
Chiyo's voice suddenly rose, filled with unbelievable sarcasm.
"How come I had no idea I had a son besides Ling?! What kind of bastard child did this vile woman give birth to?! How dare you bring him back to the family! Bring him into the main house! Where do you put me and Ling?! Where do you put the reputation of the Yuki Clan?!"
Her questions came like a machine gun, filled with long-suppressed resentment and the anger of being betrayed at this moment.
If it weren't for his status, this would probably have become common knowledge by now.
Shi Yu's expression also turned grim. He lowered his voice, his tone carrying an undeniable authority.
" Chiyo! Watch your words! It's a fact that Yuki Clan's veins! As for the past... I am the one who is guilty."
"But now that the child has returned, the family should accept him! I have made my decision, there is no need to say more! From now on, Yu is a member of the Mizunazuki Clan, living in the east wing, and you must not deliberately make things difficult for him!"
"You...!"
Chiyo trembled with rage, pointing at Shigure and glaring fiercely at Shaoyu, who kept his head down as if frightened. Her eyes were filled with disgust and hatred.
She knew all too well that once her husband made a decision, it would be difficult to change it.
Unable to vent her anger on her clan chief husband, she transferred it all to this suddenly appearing illegitimate child.
"Okay... okay! You've made up your mind, right?"
Chiyo took a few deep breaths, her chest heaving violently, and finally suppressed the urge to go berserk.
"Since the clan leader insists on this, what can I, as his wife, say? But, Shiyu, don't expect me to acknowledge him! And don't even think about letting him appear in formal occasions, lest he tarnish the reputation of the Yuki Clan direct line!"
After saying that, she gave Shaoyu one last look, as if he were looking at something filthy, then suddenly turned around and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor with a gust of cold wind.
Silence returned to the room, but the atmosphere became even more somber.
Mizunotsuki Shigure rubbed her temples and said wearily to Shaoyu.
"You've seen it all. This is the first hurdle you'll face after 'coming home.' My wife... she just can't accept it. The east wing has been prepared; try to stay there as much as possible. I'll assign a trustworthy but loose-lipped old servant to take care of you; that seems more reasonable."
"Avoid the family training grounds and other public areas for now. Remember, keep a low profile, be patient, and observe."
"Yes, Father."
Shaoyu kept his head down, his gray-blue eyes calm and still in the shadows, as if the fierce conflict just now had nothing to do with him.
Shiyu was leaving, and before she did, she glanced at Shaoyu.
Kumogakure... really accept us?
Shaoyu smiled.
"Of course, our Third Raikage is incredibly envious of you Kekkei Genkai ninjas."
Just kidding, I'm craving it too.
He didn't say those words aloud.
Mizunotsuki Shigure nodded; at this moment, he could only trust Shaoyu.
The Third Mizukage's Blood Mist Policy is terrifying!
During the first few days after settling down on the east side of the main house of the Yuki Clan, Uchiha Shaoyu perfectly played the role of a timid and introverted illegitimate son.
He rarely left that secluded little courtyard, and whenever a member of his clansmen passed by and cast a curious or disdainful glance, he would quickly lower his head and avoid them.
The old servant who delivered the meals was a taciturn old man with cloudy eyes. He seemed to care nothing about the family's affairs, but simply brought simple meals on time, which suited Shaoyu's needs perfectly.
As agreed, Mizunotsuki Shigure did not pay much attention to Shaoyu, as if she only took him back out of a sense of blood responsibility, and then ignored him after settling him in.
This, in turn, gradually solidified the rumors within the clan that he was out of favor, further diminishing Shaoyu's presence.
As expected, the matriarch, Yuki Clan Chiyo, ignored him, never setting foot in the east wing, and strictly forbade her confidants and sons from contacting Shaoyu, as if he were a stain that needed to be isolated.
It's time to move on to the next step.
Shaoyu needs a more plausible and less suspicious identity to access the core information of the Kirigakure, which will also facilitate his future actions.
Being a medical ninja is undoubtedly an excellent choice. Hospitals are hubs of information, providing access to ninjas from all walks of life.
Thus, through what seemed like an unintentional arrangement by Mizunotsuki Shigure and with the tacit approval of her family, Shaoyu was given an opportunity to go to the Kirigakure Hospital to take the basic apprenticeship exam.
The assessment was simple, consisting of identifying several common herbs and performing basic wound cleaning and bandaging.
For Shaoyu, who possesses the keen observation skills of Six Eyes and unparalleled chakra control, this test was child's play.
The chief examiner, a middle-aged Chunin the hospital, had a serious expression. After carefully examining the simulated wounds treated by Shaoyu, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
This child is very talented.
"Hmm... the technique is rough, but the intuition is good, and the chakra control is... more stable than I expected."
The female doctor checked a box on the evaluation form, her tone indifferent.
"You can stay, starting with the lowest-level menial tasks and observation. Remember, the hospital is not a place to play around; every bit of negligence could cost a wounded person their life."
"Yes, Doctor! I will definitely study hard!"
Shaoyu quickly bowed, his gray-blue eyes revealing a mixture of gratitude and a hint of fear.
And so, a little over a month later...
" Mizunotsuki Uha," originally considered a stain on the Yuki Clan's reputation as an illegitimate child, successfully entered the Kirigakure Hospital and became one of the many low-level medical apprentices.
He wore an inconspicuous gray apprentice robe and performed basic tasks every day, such as cleaning instruments, moving medicinal materials, handling medical waste, and observing simple surgeries.
Quiet and hardworking, he was quickly taken for granted by the busy hospital staff.
(My data usage dropped a lot during the Chinese New Year holiday (˘̩̩̩ε˘̩ƪ)