Uchiha Toru

"I heard. Shimizu's brought back the bastard he had with a woman from outside the clan."

"Hmph, what a disgrace to Uchiha blood!"

"They're just up ahead."

Two men chatted as they walked, eyeing the figures ahead.

Up ahead, a black-haired man in civilian clothes limped into the Uchiha compound, accompanied by a white-haired child.

The two men followed them at a distance of twenty or thirty meters, muttering under their breath, "Hmph, little bastard. He didn't even inherit the Uchiha's black hair."

Just then, the white-haired child in front silently looked back.

The two men behind him were both startled.

"That kid..."

"He's so perceptive!"

The white-haired child had a striking head of white hair, with white lashes and brows above his eyes. He also had a pair of brilliant, star-blue Azure Heaven Eyes. His handsome features made it hard to tell whether he was a boy or a girl.

His large eyes swept over the two men, making them feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles, as though he could see right through them.

The child turned back and continued helping his father into the Uchiha Clan's compound.

"Hmph! It was just a coincidence."

"Exactly. How could a child possibly notice the two of us?"

Feeling embarrassed, the two men tried to justify themselves as they slunk away.

"What is it, Toru?"

The ailing Uchiha Shimizu looked down and noticed what his son had just done. He asked him about it.

The child named Toru looked up, smiled, and shook his head. "Nothing, Father."

Uchiha Shimizu nodded slightly. He knew his son had always been mature for his age, so he didn't press him.

Under the unusual gazes of many Uchiha Clan members, the pair arrived at the clan head's residence. After waiting a short while at the entrance, the doors opened, and they went inside.

"Clan Head."

Uchiha Shimizu and Toru bowed respectfully to a ninety-degree angle.

The young man before them sighed and helped them back up.

"Just call me Fugaku. You were my senior at the Academy, after all."

Uchiha Fugaku then led them to their seats and asked, "How have you been these past few years?"

Uchiha Shimizu coughed, and Toru stood up to pat his father on the back, trying to ease his suffering.

"Back then, I left the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, and things ended badly between us. If my wife hadn't passed away and I weren't nearing the end of my own life, I wouldn't have come to ask you for help."

Fugaku glanced at the white-haired boy behind Shimizu, already guessing the reason.

"It's because of the child, isn't it?"

Shimizu pulled Toru to his side and spoke sincerely. "The clan cast me out back then. In a fit of anger, I left Konoha. It was only because of the clan that the village didn't brand me a rogue ninja, so I'm still grateful to it."

"I don't expect the clan to forgive me. I only ask that it accept this child. He's innocent."

Fugaku let out a long sigh. "Ah, why did it have to come to this? If you'd just followed the clan's instructions and married one of the clan elders' daughters back then, you wouldn't be in this situation now."

Shimizu fell silent.

Fugaku gave in helplessly and spoke again.

"Very well. What's the child's name?"

"Toru," the white-haired boy answered, his eyes clear and bright.

Fugaku nodded. "Uchiha Toru, starting today, you're a member of the Uchiha Clan."

"How old are you?"

"Five," Uchiha Toru answered.

Fugaku looked at Shimizu. "I'll arrange for the boy to attend the Ninja Academy. Don't worry."

"Thank you, Clan Head." Shimizu bowed in gratitude.

"I kept your house for you, but no one's cleaned it in a long time."

"Then we'll take our leave, Clan Head."

Shimizu struggled to his feet and left with his son's support. Fugaku watched them go, his expression complicated.

Shimizu and his son arrived at a rather secluded house.

Though it was out of the way, the property was spacious. Aside from being a little run-down, it was a decent place to live.

A small stream burbled nearby, while birds chirped among the surrounding trees.

Uchiha Toru helped his father onto the bed and told him to rest while he began cleaning the house by himself.

Just then, Shimizu began coughing violently and suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood.

Uchiha Toru immediately put down his broom, hurried over, and used a handkerchief to wipe his father's mouth.

After a moment, Shimizu spoke weakly, a faint smell of blood on his breath.

"Toru, you have to become strong. Only by becoming strong can you take control of your own life in this world."

"The room on the left is my study. There's a cabinet beneath the left side of the desk. I left you a gift in it that can help you grow stronger."

"I'm an aloof person, and I'm not good at dealing with people. I only have two friends in the village."

"One is Uchiha Fugaku, and the other is Yuhi Shinku. If you run into trouble, go to them. They'll help you for my sake..."

Shimizu took a long time to finish. His voice grew weaker and weaker, until even his breathing began to fade.

That night, Uchiha Shimizu died at home, aged twenty-five.

Uchiha Fugaku arranged the funeral, but few guests came.

Aside from Fugaku's wife, Uchiha Mikoto, there was only one other man.

Yuhi Shinku, a Konoha jonin, wore the green vest of a Konoha jonin and looked dusty from the road, as if he had just rushed over after completing a mission.

After exchanging a few words with Fugaku and his wife, Yuhi Shinku went to Uchiha Shimizu's grave.

Uchiha Toru knelt before the gravestone in silent mourning. He neither cried nor made a fuss, seeming so mature it broke the heart.

"Child."

Yuhi Shinku patted Uchiha Toru on the shoulder.

Uchiha Toru turned and bowed. "Hello, Uncle Shinku."

Yuhi Shinku looked surprised.

"How did you know I was Yuhi Shinku?"

Uchiha Toru explained, "Father said he only had two friends in Konoha: Uncle Fugaku and Uncle Shinku."

Looking at Uchiha Toru's blue eyes, Yuhi Shinku said, "Don't worry, child. I'll treat you as my own."

Uchiha Toru bowed again.

After the funeral, Uchiha Toru returned home.

The house had been cleaned from top to bottom. The spacious residence felt terribly empty with only him living there.

The bloodstains in the master bedroom had been washed away, and even the last trace of his father's presence was gone.

Uchiha Toru felt lonelier than ever. He knew he didn't belong to this world.

After a while, Uchiha Toru went to his father's study. The bookshelves were lined with all kinds of books. He went straight to the desk his father had mentioned, opened the cabinet, and took out a wooden box.

Inside were several books and a sheet of paper that looked ordinary: Chakra Extraction Method, Fire Release Ninjutsu Collection, Water Release Ninjutsu Collection, Genjutsu Collection and Notes, Uchiha-Style Ninja Tool Manipulation Technique, and the chakra test paper. These were the gifts Uchiha Shimizu had left for his son.