Going Home with Uncle

Someone had suddenly told him they knew who his father and mother were, and that they had been heroes who protected Konoha?

He was so curious that he scratched at his ears and cheeks, wishing he could find out immediately.

"Then come home with Uncle. Once we get home, Uncle will tell you."

"Um... okay."

Naruto agreed without hesitation.

Although this uncle did not look like a good person, a feeling in his heart told him that this uncle would not hurt him!

With the plan changing at the last minute, Takuya did not eat any ramen. He led Naruto out of the street, through a small forest, back to the Uchiha Compound, and finally arrived before a magnificent gate.

"We're here. Come on, let's go inside."

Noticing Naruto's reluctance, Takuya spoke softly.

Naruto looked up fearfully. "Uncle, you really aren't a human trafficker, are you? This is the first time I've known there was such a remote place in the village. We even had to go through that really scary little forest..."

Several black lines appeared across Takuya's forehead. Naruto's words only strengthened his resolve to move the Uchiha Compound back.

Mm, he would bring it up at the meeting tomorrow. They needed to move, fast!

"Come on, we're already here. Let's go, let's go."

Takuya gently nudged Naruto along.

Naruto had no choice but to brace himself and walk inside. After crossing a courtyard, he saw lights shining from the inner rooms.

Takuya pushed open the door and glanced around the entryway. When he did not see Mikoto, he called out, "Mikoto, I'm home!"

Thumping footsteps came from the ceiling, and a voice arrived before its owner. "Welcome home!"

Uchiha Mikoto came down the stairs and saw her husband bending over to change his shoes. Beside him stood a skinny little "beggar."

Mikoto recognized the little beggar's identity at once. Surprise flashed through her eyes as she immediately looked at Takuya, her gaze seeming to say, Didn't you say we weren't allowed to contact Naruto? Why did you bring him home?

Seeing her husband wink at her, Mikoto suddenly realized—right, the Hokage who had issued that order was already dead. Her husband was now the Hokage!

After pausing for a moment, she warmly walked over, gently crouched down, and patted Naruto's little head. "Hello, Naruto. I'm a good friend of your mother's. You can call me Aunt Mikoto."

Naruto's little mouth fell slightly open in disbelief. Other than Hokage Grandpa, he had never felt warmth from anyone else!

This pretty big sister is so nice, Naruto thought.

"Are you really my mother's friend?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then do you know where my mother is?" Naruto looked at Takuya beside him. "Uncle, didn't you say you'd tell me once I came here? You can tell me now, right?"

Takuya exchanged a glance with Mikoto. Just as he was about to say the names Minato Namikaze and Kushina, he saw Naruto point ahead in shock the next second, stammering, "Sa... Sa... Sasuke! Why are you here?!"

Naruto shouted.

Sasuke, who had just come out of the bathroom, also wore a surprised expression. He immediately resumed his aloof look, crossing his arms over his chest instead of pulling up his pants.

"Idiot, this is my home. I should be asking you why you're in my house."

"You bastard... you."

Naruto ran over and started bickering with Sasuke.

Sasuke's sudden appearance completely drew Naruto's attention away.

Amusement filled Takuya's eyes. As expected of the reincarnations of Indra and Asura's Chakra. Their timing for being drawn to each other was perfect.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Takuya told Mikoto in the entryway that he wanted to bring Naruto home and adopt him.

Mikoto agreed with both hands raised.

She and Kushina had been close friends. Seeing her best friend and her husband die to protect Konoha by sealing away the Nine-Tails, while their descendant suffered cold stares and scorn in the village, living like a little beggar, had long been unbearable to her. But the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had warned the Uchiha Clan not to approach Naruto. Though she could not stand it, she had been powerless under the Third Hokage's pressure.

To be realistic, she could not destroy the Uchiha Clan just because she wanted to care for her best friend's son.

She was not that generous.

But things were different now. The Third Hokage was dead, and her husband was Konoha's Fifth Hokage.

She could openly and properly take care of Kushina's child, Naruto!

Mikoto glanced at Naruto, who was noisily arguing with her son Sasuke, and a smile appeared on her lips. "These two children really look like a pair of brothers."

A question mark appeared on Takuya's forehead.

One had black hair, the other blond hair, and one even had two little whisker marks on his face. Where exactly did she see Sasuke and Naruto as brothers?

Mikoto suddenly thought of something and hurried away from the entryway. Before long, she brought out several plates piled high with snacks and fruit, smiling as she called, "Naruto, come here. Auntie has delicious things. Don't be polite."

Naruto had never seen so many delicious things. At home, he only ate instant noodles and drank expired milk. Whenever he wanted to buy something tasty, those shopkeepers would not sell it to him.

His eyes shone as he looked at all the unfamiliar snack packages. He swallowed helplessly. "Big sister, can I really eat these?"

Hearing Naruto's form of address, Mikoto giggled. She affectionately patted Naruto's little head, grabbed a huge handful of snacks, and stuffed them into his arms. "Here, eat up, eat up. Don't be shy. Auntie has lots more delicious food at home."

Naruto grinned foolishly.

Sasuke, standing nearby, was unhappy. If Naruto called his mom big sister, did that not make Naruto a generation older than him for no reason? Was Naruto trying to take advantage of him? No way!

Sasuke snorted. "You, who told you to call my mom big sister? Call her Auntie, got it? You ill-mannered brat!"

The moment he finished speaking, Mikoto smacked him.

"Ow!"

Sasuke covered his forehead and looked at his mother in confusion.

"Sasuke."

Sensing the displeasure in his mother's eyes, Sasuke shrank his neck and did not dare say anything else. Only after Mikoto turned and left the hall did he angrily sit down at the table. He glanced at the foolishly grinning Naruto and, out of spite, grabbed snacks from the bowl and started eating too.

Naruto glared, and the two began fighting over them again.

Takuya could not be bothered with the two little brats. He walked to the kitchen doorway and called for Mikoto. "Mikoto, is there anything to eat? I haven't had dinner."

Mikoto was washing a pot. "Honey, sit down for a while. I'll make you dinner right away. Oh, has Naruto eaten?"

Takuya thought of Naruto running out of Ichiraku Ramen. He had probably eaten, right? He casually replied, "I think he had ramen before we came back."

He had eaten ramen, but how long ago had that been?

So Mikoto made a separate meal for Naruto as well.

"Naruto, dinner's ready."

Mikoto brought over steaming, fragrant food and gently called Naruto over to wash his hands and eat.

Naruto, who had been trading insults with Sasuke, froze on the spot when he saw the exquisite food suddenly appear before him.