"Mikoto… Mikoto…!"
The elder hurried through the compound the moment he returned to the Uchiha clan.
He pushed open the door of his home with an energy no one his age should've had.
"Grandpa? Why did you come back so late? The food's already cold…"
A gentle voice floated from the entrance.
Uchiha Mikoto stepped out gracefully, her expression soft with worry and mild annoyance.
"Mikoto, come here."
The elder instantly took her wrist and guided her inside. After they sat down, he smiled with barely contained excitement.
"Grandpa has found someone for you."
"Grandpa—! Why are you saying this again?"
Mikoto immediately interrupted him with a helpless sigh.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time.
Each time, the elder tried recommending another "young talent from the clan."
And each time, Mikoto rejected them all — their arrogance and superiority seeped through everything they did, and none of them were her type.
"Wait, wait, don't worry," the elder said hurriedly. "This time, the person I want to introduce is not from the Uchiha."
"Eh?"
For a moment, Mikoto was stunned.
Her grandfather always selected Uchiha youths.
Always.
The idea that he picked someone from outside the clan was completely unexpected — enough to spark her curiosity.
Who could possibly catch her grandfather's eye?
"He's the one all our clan's hot-headed brats have been fixated on lately… Yagami."
"Grandpa… you mean… that Yagami?"
Mikoto stared, disbelief washing over her face.
In the Uchiha clan right now, that name was nothing short of explosive.
"Yes!" the elder confirmed joyfully.
Mikoto's thoughts immediately flashed back—
A shirtless man. Surprise. Embarrassment. Her seeing far more than she should have seen…
Her cheeks flushed red in an instant.
"But Grandpa…" she murmured, lowering her head. "He… he's not from the clan."
She didn't finish.
The elder already understood.
"Hahaha, he did embarrass a few of our youths," the elder said with a wave of his hand, "but that matter will settle soon enough."
Then he noticed Mikoto's head remained lowered, her hair hiding her expression.
"Mikoto… why are you looking down?"
"N-No reason…"
The blush only deepened.
The elder saw her reaction and beamed.
"So you're not rejecting the idea?" he asked brightly.
"…"
Mikoto didn't answer.
But her silence was all the confirmation he needed.
That night, Mikoto barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Yagami's silhouette.
He had humiliated the clan.
He had caused trouble.
He had forced her grandfather to apologize multiple times.
And yet… she didn't feel even a spark of resentment.
If anything, remembering that glimpse of him — the confidence, the presence — sent a strange flutter through her chest.
Logically, she knew the conflict came from the clan troubling him first.
Yagami simply responded.
Her heart, however, refused to calm down.
Elsewhere in the village…
Yagami tossed and turned the entire night.
Maybe it was the thrill of finally being pursued after so many years alone.
Maybe it was because he genuinely found Mikoto beautiful.
Whatever the reason, he couldn't sleep.
…
The next morning
A groggy Yagami was jolted awake by knocking on his front door.
He cracked it open with half-lidded eyes to find Kakashi standing outside.
"Yagami-sensei?"
Kakashi tilted his head, confused.
On their last mission, even during overnight watch rotations, Yagami never looked this exhausted. Why was he yawning today?
"Oh… Kakashi."
Yagami straightened up, rubbing his face awake.
"Today, practice the same way as yesterday. I have something important to do, so I might not be around."
"Yes, Yagami-sensei."
Kakashi sighed, but obediently accepted.
Since his teacher was busy, he'd simply practice alone — maybe he could even cut thirty strings today.
After parting ways, Yagami went back inside, looked up at the wall clock—
Then immediately began washing up.
Today wasn't normal training day.
Today, he was going to a woman's home for a meal.
He needed to make a good impression.
And for the first time in a long time…
he actually cared.
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