"Shiki, don't forget your promise to Auntie."
Uchiha Mikoto paused, then said with a smile, "Come over and play whenever you have time."
Visit the Uchiha?
How was that any different from visiting Arkham Asylum?
Shihui Aburame watched her retreating figure and shook his head slightly.
Among all the ninjas in the Uchiha Clan, only a handful were normal.
The crazier they were, the stronger they became. That was no joke.
"Shiki."
Tsunade closed the door and looked at him.
"What is it, Teacher?"
Shihui Aburame looked up, but the towering mountains blocked his view, leaving only a lonely southern hemisphere in sight.
"Be careful when you're out playing."
Tsunade's words carried a pointed meaning.
Konoha's higher-ups had studied the Uchiha Clan quite thoroughly.
One person deserved enormous credit for that.
That was Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, the man you could safely credit whenever you came across a forbidden jutsu whose inventor you didn't know.
His classic line was, "You inherently evil Uchiha brat."
He had said that because he understood the true nature of the Sharingan.
The Sharingan required intense emotions to awaken and evolve.
The best-or rather, the fastest-method was to witness friends, family, or loved ones dying right before one's eyes.
That left plenty of room for manipulation.
Whatever else might be said about the Uchiha Clan, its leader, Uchiha Fugaku, certainly knew this.
If Shihui Aburame became Sasuke Uchiha's friend, he might end up as material for awakening his eyes.
The final outcome would be death by suicide, with eight stab wounds in the back.
"I understand."
After a brief start, Shihui Aburame nodded.
"But you don't need to worry too much."
Tsunade raised her chin slightly and said confidently, "You're my student. No one in Konoha would dare hurt you."
"Teacher, you're so amazing."
Shihui Aburame delivered the line in a monotone.
"You little brat."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and flicked his forehead. "Not sincere enough. Try again."
"Big sis, you're really amazing."
Shibi Aburame tilted his head as he spoke.
Tsunade's heart fluttered, and she instinctively glanced at Shizune.
Only after seeing that she hadn't noticed did Tsunade glare at Shihui Aburame.
"Don't go calling me that."
Tsunade clenched her fist and waved it before his face as she spoke.
Faced with that sandbag-sized fist, Shihui Aburame very decisively followed his survival instincts.
He couldn't withstand a punch backed by fifty years of training.
"Go take a bath."
Tsunade bent down and vigorously rubbed his cheeks as she spoke.
Her clothes immediately swayed from side to side.
"Okay."
Shihui Aburame took off his sunglasses. "I'll go right now."
"That little brat."
Watching him go, Tsunade smiled for no particular reason.
She suddenly turned her head and met Shizune's eyes.
"What did you see?"
Tsunade asked, her expression stern.
"I didn't see anything."
Feeling guilty, Shizune hurriedly shook her head.
Tsunade stared at her for two seconds, only letting her off once beads of sweat appeared on her face.
Shizune sank onto the sofa and let out a breath.
She wiped her forehead.
Lady Tsunade really had changed.
But it was a good thing.
Shihui Aburame's face surfaced in Shizune's mind.
Who wouldn't like such a good-looking child?
After his bath, Shihui Aburame changed into a kimono-style set of pajamas.
He went upstairs and returned to his room.
But when he opened the door, he unexpectedly found Tsunade there.
What was going on?
Were they sleeping together?
How would he get any sleep, then?
"Teacher."
Shihui Aburame took off his shoes and walked inside.
"Drink your milk before bed."
Tsunade picked up the milk on the bedside table and handed it to him.
Shihui Aburame gulped it down.
Tsunade took the empty glass, left the room, and closed the door behind her.
Shihui Aburame scratched his head.
This really was something a mother would do.
A new day began.
After eating, Shihui Aburame headed to the Hyuga Clan alone. After school today, Hinata Hyuga would have to face the so-called cockroach demon trio.
Whether she could succeed remained unknown.
If she succeeded, she wouldn't be far from completing her achievement.
Shihui Aburame rubbed his chin.
He needed to find a way to encourage her.
"Big brother."
Hanabi Hyuga's voice came from nearby.
Shihui Aburame looked up.
At the entrance, Hanabi Hyuga held Hinata Hyuga's hand with one hand and waved to him with the other.
Two adorable little girls standing together meant twice the cuteness.
Shihui Aburame walked over and casually slipped a lollipop into Hanabi Hyuga's hand.
Hinata Hyuga's gaze lingered on that lollipop for two seconds.
When she came back to her senses, there was one in front of her too.
"Thank you, Shiki-kun."
Hinata Hyuga's cheeks reddened slightly as she took the lollipop.
Oh my, you're blushing. Let your little sister have a look.
Hanabi Hyuga immediately gave her an appraising look.
"Hanabi."
Noticing her gaze, Hinata Hyuga felt even more embarrassed.
"I'll head back, then. Bye."
Hanabi Hyuga turned around with a smile and skipped away, leaving tiny footprints in the snow.
"Your little sister's pretty cute."
Shihui Aburame remarked casually.
"Mm."
Hinata Hyuga lowered her head and answered softly.
"You haven't forgotten, have you? About the cockroach bullies."
Shihui Aburame looked at her as he asked.
"N-no, I haven't."
Hinata Hyuga trembled, a hint of panic in her voice.
She wasn't ready.
Although Shihui Aburame had told her to think of them as radishes, that was impossible.
She had the Byakugan, not the Sharingan. She couldn't cast genjutsu.
Besides, she hadn't awakened her Byakugan yet.
"Then I'm counting on you, Hinata."
Shihui Aburame walked beside her toward school.
"I... I'll do my best!"
Hinata Hyuga raised her voice a little, as though trying to bolster her courage.
Following behind Shihui Aburame, she began silently repeating "radishes" again.
When they reached the classroom, Shihui Aburame's eyelid couldn't help twitching.
He saw an unknown bright-green creature.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Naruto Uzumaki in a green bodysuit.
He held his head high and puffed out his chest, like a fighter jet among roosters.
Now his art style really was on a whole other level.
"Shiki-kun!"
Ino Yamanaka popped out from behind Shihui Aburame.
She greeted him with a beaming smile, like a beautiful cosmos flower.
"Huh?"
Ino Yamanaka froze for a moment, then asked, "Why is Naruto dressed like that?"
"That's so ugly."
Kiba Inuzuka didn't mince words.
"What do you know? This is hot-blooded youth!"
Brimming with confidence, Naruto Uzumaki declared loudly, "It won't be long before I beat all of you and become the top student in class!"
Training with Might Guy, he really did feel he had improved.
Surpassing himself was just around the corner.
"Idiot."
Sasuke Uchiha curled his lip.
Had he even put in the groundwork before talking about meeting at the top?
He glanced at Shihui Aburame.
Last night, his mother had said she had taken care of it for him, and that the exchange would follow the Uchiha Clan's way of doing things.
"Sasuke, when the time comes, I'll fight you for second place first, then go after Shiki."
Naruto Uzumaki was already imagining his wonderful future.
"Who's second?"
Sasuke Uchiha stiffened his neck, his face immediately turning red. "I only lost two matches because I wasn't careful."
What followed was a string of incomprehensible remarks about how a ninja losing two matches didn't count as losing, and how he would win them back later.
Shihui Aburame really couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.
What a nutcase. He made me laugh out of nowhere.
Although Naruto Uzumaki didn't understand, he started laughing too when he saw him smile.
A merry atmosphere immediately filled the classroom and the space outside it.
Another chapter in two minutes.
(End of chapter)
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