After being discovered by Miyako, Hakushi just wanted to find a hole to crawl into—he didn't want to see anyone.
Even though he usually had thick skin, at this moment he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, at a loss for what to do.
Ayane, on the other hand, calmly got off of Hakushi and gave him a reassuring look. She smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes, cleared her throat, and said, "Auntie, hello. Actually, what you saw just now isn't what you think. Hakushi-kun just got some sand in his eye, I was only helping him blow it out."
After saying that, she looked at Miyako with bright, pure eyes full of innocence, meeting her gaze sincerely.
"So that's what it was." Miyako breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest. "I thought little Hakushi was doing something to let Ruri down."
"How could that be, Auntie, you're such a tease. It was just sand in the eye, right, Hakushi-kun?"
Ayane pursed her lips and gave a gentle laugh.
"Yeah."
Hakushi followed along with Ayane's words.
"By the way, you are...?"
Miyako looked at Ayane—a girl about the same age as her daughter Ruri—thinking this kid was no ordinary person.
"I'm Hyuga Ayane, Ruri's best friend."
Ayane smiled naturally, giving the sense that her feelings were genuine.
"Then you two must get along very well."
"Of course. We've been fighting side by side as comrades since we were kids—sworn friends who've been through life and death together. We've always been close."
Ayane's tone remained sincere.
"Ruri must have caused you a lot of trouble, hasn't she?"
"Not at all. In fact, I'm the one who's caused Ruri a lot of trouble. There are so many things she has to take care of for me."
Incredibly, as Hakushi watched, Ayane and Miyako sat on the sofa, chatting and laughing. Both women sat with elegance and poise, exuding the refined aura of noblewomen.
What is going on?
He'd originally thought Ayane would be just like before—do her thing and then walk away without a care after getting what she wanted.
But the two of them ended up chatting like a close mother-daughter pair—no, more like close sisters.
They talked about everything from interests and hobbies to favorite clothing colors or local delicacies they liked.
In short, all the typical topics women chat about.
They'd completely forgotten his existence.
"Auntie Miyako, how about going to the hot springs with me next? I recently discovered a really nice inn nearby."
Ayane invited her.
"Sure, I happen to be free today too. Let's do it—and we can eat there as well."
Miyako thought for a moment and agreed to Ayane's invitation.
Before heading to the hot springs with Ayane, Miyako put the confidential documents she brought onto Hakushi's desk.
"Little Hakushi, here's the thing you wanted. I'll leave it here for you."
With that, as if the earlier incident had never happened, she left Hakushi's office chatting and laughing with Ayane.
Once the two of them were gone, Hakushi finally let out a breath; he'd been tense the whole time they were there.
Thankfully, nothing truly terrible had happened.
But it was good that the two of them left—now he could finally have some quiet.
Picking up the documents Miyako had left, Hakushi knew exactly what was inside—confidential information about the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Hakushi was extremely interested in the Mangekyo Sharingan, an advanced form beyond the normal Sharingan.
Unable to wait, he opened the document folder, took out the files, and spread them out to read.
At first glance—when he saw the requirements for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan—Hakushi's pupils shrank sharply, showing unprecedented gravity.
—To kill, or witness the death of, someone you hold most dear.
That was the condition for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan recorded in the file.
What kind of twisted, devilish awakening method is that?
All of a sudden, things became clear to Hakushi.
"So that's it... Back then, Ruri must have been forced by this. That's why she planned to leave the Uchiha Clan?"
If what's recorded here is true, then Hakushi could easily imagine the choice Ruri would make.
Gaining power by such means is undoubtedly a crooked and heretical way.
With Ruri's personality, there's no way she would do such an appalling thing, making her own Sharingan awaken into Mangekyo Sharingan.
Thinking of the Uchiha Clan ninja and their families who came later, Hakushi suddenly felt a heavy weight on his heart.
This kind of sinister, twisted awakening method must never be leaked, especially not to the Uchiha Clan members.
He couldn't guarantee whether there were fanatical power worshippers hidden among the Uchiha who followed Ruri.
Hakushi continued reading. Next came the records of the specific abilities unique to the Mangekyo Sharingan.
—A unique Pupil Technique possessed by the one who awakens the eyes.
Every ninja who awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan obtains their own special Pupil Technique.
Among them are the special Pupil Techniques of this Mangekyo Sharingan that Miyako passed on to him.
The left eye technique is called "Amenohoakari."
The right eye technique is called "Ponotsaki no mikoto."
At the end, there was a warning attached: "Use with caution."
"Amenohoakari... Ponotsaki no mikoto... If these Pupil Techniques listed here are real, they're actually terrifying..."
At the sight of the two abilities, a cold sweat broke out on Hakushi's face, and he fell silent for a moment.
If you ever got hit by something like that, you were basically done for.