"Soren-sama — save meow!"
The moment Uchiha Soren returned home with his two wives, he was greeted by a frantic, warbling cry from a chubby orange cat — its desperate mews scraping like hot needles against the pale hand that had just attempted to pet it.
"Soren-sama, I can't handle Hikari — she even, she even…"
The wavering meows drew Minamoto Kaori and Uchiha Zhili past Soren toward the source.
Uchiha Hikari stood frozen, hair a wild mess, face drained with the panic of a child caught doing something "forbidden." Her hands hovered guiltily over the trembling Juno.
For three seconds, the women stared.
Then — upon recognizing one another as fellow cat-lovers — the tension vanished.
Kaori, warm and sisterly, stepped to Hikari's side and gently took her small hand, placing it under Juno's chin.
"Stroke here. Juno likes this."
"…Eh? Thank you."
"I'm Minamoto Kaori. You can call me Sister Kaori from now on."
News of Hikari's past had already reached the women of the household. Kaori's gentle blood-jade eyes softened as she ruffled Hikari's hair — a kindness echoing the loneliness she herself once knew.
Hikari did not flinch. When that warm hand smoothed her hair, she bowed her head slightly — a warmth she hadn't felt since before the clan's torment. The tightness in her expression loosened; a tiny, hesitant smile flickered.
Seizing the distraction, Juno wriggled free.
His freedom lasted two seconds.
Two hands scooped him up again — and he found himself staring into Zhili's smiling face.
"Madam Zhili…" the cat mewed pitifully, extending his paws for mercy — only to be dropped neatly back into Hikari's lap.
"I'll go cook. You two talk."
Kaori gave the sulking cat a sympathetic pat. "I'll help too. Hikari, watch some television with Darling, okay?"
She glanced at the girl's plain hospital clothes. "After dinner, come with me to choose clothes. A pretty girl should be dressed nicely."
When Kaori left, the lingering warmth faded — and Hikari's cool, guarded expression returned.
An old black-and-white movie flickered on the television. Soren gestured to the seat beside him.
"Come sit. I'm sure Juno told you a few things already."
Hikari stood before him, holding the protesting cat like a shield.
"Yes, Young Lord. From today on… Hikari will be your servant."
Soren laughed softly.
"'Master'? Sit down. I don't treat clan members like tools."
She sat carefully, stealing a glance at Soren's side profile. She remembered it clearly — the face she'd seen upon awakening, smiling gently, speaking softly to her.
"In the Warring Era, even the Uchiha were shaken," Soren said. "Whether our ancestors were right or wrong is irrelevant now."
"I am the clan's ruler today. As long as a clan member hasn't committed wrongdoing, they share in the clan's honor. No one will ever use you as a weapon again."
"And you don't have to call me 'master.'"
Ignoring Juno's wounded, betrayed expression, Soren continued:
"We are bound by blood. If you like… you may call me brother."
Hikari's breath caught.
"Brother…?"
The word was strange — warm — and terrifyingly gentle. She tried again.
"Brother."
Soren grinned and tousled her hair, messing up her long locks.
"Adorable."
The frost cracked; a blush crept across Hikari's pale cheeks.
"Smile more. If you scowl too much you'll turn into an old witch."
He flicked her forehead lightly, eliciting a tiny yelp, then reclaimed Juno.
"Small punishment: you're forbidden from using the Sharingan on family members. And Juno is family too."
Juno's look of grateful relief lasted less than a heartbeat.
"Only I may use the Sharingan to… examine Juno's secrets." Soren said sternly.
Juno mewed in disbelief and fled, deciding he would avoid Soren for at least three days.
"Zhili, Kaori — Juno ran off! Skip her portion for tonight!" Soren called to the kitchen.
Then he turned to Hikari, whose expression had sunk again.
"If you call me 'brother' ten times, I'll give you Juno's summoning contract."
Her eyes widened.
Temptation vs. dignity.
Youth vs. desire.
Temptation won.
In the softest kittenish voice, she whispered:
"…Brother… brother…"
"Too quiet. Again."
She shut her eyes and repeated it ten times, louder each time.
Satisfied, Soren handed over a neatly sealed summoning scroll.
Her face lit up.
"Now," he said, "go call Sister Zhili and Sister Kaori from the kitchen. We're having a welcome party for you. You're family now."
"Family…?"
Hikari froze.
Warmth. Confusion. Overwhelm.
She blinked rapidly, breath unsteady.
Soren smiled.
"Take your time. Settle in slowly."
"The past is over. From today onward, we're your strongest support."
"In the next few days, Kaori will show you around the clan and the village. Go anywhere you like. Let's build new, happy memories."
Hikari's eyes shimmered.
"Brother — Hikari understands."
Her footsteps bounced happily as she ran toward the kitchen.
Far away, at the Senju territory, a distant Flying Thunder God kunai trembled — a silent summons tugging at Soren's senses.
He leaned back into the sofa, closing his eyes.
Tonight would not be a quiet night.
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