"Aunt Mikoto, it's me."
Shinji answered.
Then he took four Scrolls from his person and handed them to Sasuke. "These contain four Ninjutsu. When this term ends, I'll come check your progress."
Sasuke's face lit up. "Huh? Are they really powerful Ninjutsu?"
"Hmm... I suppose so."
Shinji thought for a moment. "You can share these four Ninjutsu with your best friend. Consider it... my way of making up for lying to you?"
"Yes!!!"
"All right, stop training and go get some rest." Shinji patted Sasuke on the head and turned to leave.
A little while later.
Uchiha Mikoto and Shinji sat across from each other.
Watching Shinji wolf down his food, Mikoto propped her chin on her hand, looking helpless.
"Slow down. No one's going to steal it from you... You've been like this since you were little."
"Aunt Mikoto, I can't get food this good when I'm away." Shinji made short work of the table piled high with dishes.
Uchiha Mikoto shook her head. "I knew you'd come home, so I prepared it in advance."
"..."
Shinji paused mid-bite. "Oh... you did?"
"Shinji..."
"Hmm?"
Uchiha Mikoto's tone suddenly turned serious. "Look up at me."
Shinji had no choice.
He met Mikoto's stern gaze.
"After that happened, I was so distraught I couldn't think straight. But... the way Fugaku acted made me feel something wasn't right."
"..."
Shinji wiped his mouth, looking troubled. "So..."
Uchiha Mikoto finished for him with a sly smile. "So one lie needs another to cover it up. Isn't that right, Shinji?"
"Ah... it's come back to bite me!"
Shinji shook his head. "Aunt Mikoto, since you've already guessed, just wait. When the time comes, you'll see him."
Uchiha Mikoto quietly breathed a sigh of relief. "I understand. You've all grown up and have things you