She wanted to share more of Fugaku's burden.
Mikoto, dressed in a ninja outfit—a green vest over a black trouser that accentuated her shapely thighs as she stood up—was in a ninja uniform. The shadows in the dim light made her facial features appear even more defined.
Seeing it was Mikoto, Fugaku immediately said softly,
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you."
There was mutual affection between them, just a matter of time before they confessed their feelings.
In Fugaku's view, it was only a matter of time.
Kiyoshi hadn't walked far when he heard someone calling his name.
When he turned around, he saw a woman with a gentle appearance.
"Lady Mikoto,"
Kiyoshi said.
Despite Mikoto's usual housewife demeanor, the official guidebook, *The Book of Formations*, clearly stated that she was a retired Jonin.
And a Jonin already placed her among the upper echelons of the ninja hierarchy.
"Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, will be here soon. Let me take you back to your room first,"
Mikoto suggested.
"Okay."
Kiyoshi nodded, silently following behind Mikoto, half a step behind.
He had been in the Uchiha clan for a month and already knew his room well.
Mikoto, however, offered to lead the way.
The two walked for a while, rounding a corner.
Mikoto suddenly said,
"The Sharingan is a rare bloodline limit. I'm afraid it's considered strange by people in the Land of Lightning, and you've received a lot of strange looks from outsiders, Kiyoshi."
She turned her head slightly, lowered her head, and looked at Kiyoshi, who was shorter than her.
Before Kiyoshi could say anything, Mikoto gave him a gentle smile and said,
"Also, you don't need to call me 'master,' it's too formal. You can call me 'sister.' If you've been wronged, you can come to me and confide in me."
Mikoto's words were full of concern for Kiyoshi.
"Mikoto-sister… Mikoto-sister, you're so kind. It's been a long time since anyone has cared about me."
Kiyoshi was moved.
He paused, seemingly thinking about something, and added,
"However, no one else has seen my scarlet eyes, and no one has done anything to me."
[The Art of Speaking (White)] was still activated.
Kiyoshi's words were sincere,yet his heart remained perfectly calm.
Even at this moment, she didn't forget to test him.
Mikoto was a housewife after retirement, but now she was a true Jonin.
And ninjas were never a "righteous profession."
Beyond the surface-level adventures, there was much darkness hidden beneath.
Poisoning, espionage, assassination… these were the constant themes.
"I see, that's wonderful,"
Mikoto smiled gently.
Children of a few years old are most likely to unconsciously reveal information.
It seemed Kiyoshi might indeed be an innocent person.
Mikoto relaxed slightly, but remained vigilant; she would have to observe him for a long time to see the truth.
The two continued walking and soon arrived at Kiyoshi's room.
"Wait a little longer, they should be here soon."
"Okay."
Kiyoshi waited inside, while Mikoto went out.
"Next, we need to find a way to improve our strength."
His peaceful days wouldn't last much longer.
The Third Shinobi World War was about to break out.
Konoha might even be invaded up to Kikyo Mountain at the gate, and not far ahead would be the village itself.
The Cloud Village might be a good point of entry.
Knowing they had lost the Uchiha bloodline, they sent spies to "accidentally" meet Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi didn't choose to report them.
In Konoha, where class distinctions were already solidified, winning over the Cloud Village could bring him more benefits.
After pondering for a moment, Kiyoshi closed his eyes and began his chakra refining training.
A panel appeared before him.
]Entry: Muscle Memory (White)]
[Requirement Achieved: Repeat a tedious training exercise to establish a subconscious habit.]
[Progress: 99%]
[Effect: After repeating a large number of movements, your muscles gradually change, becoming accustomed to these movements, which can be used reflexively without conscious thought.]
[Your muscle memory is 10% higher than that of an average person.]
[Currently, incorrect muscle memory cannot be erased.]
[Note: Further advancement is possible.]
This is the entry that Kiyoshi is about to obtain.
Kiyoshi looked at the words on the semi-transparent panel and continued. If things went as expected, he would obtain this entry within three days.
Since entering Konoha, he has been constantly refining his chakra every day.
This is an ability with immense potential.
As long as he possesses this entry, Kiyoshi will learn anything much faster than an average person.
Currently, [Muscle Memory (White)] cannot erase incorrect movements and requires Kiyoshi to correct them.
Since it specifically states that "incorrect muscle memory cannot be erased at present," then after future advancements, it may be possible to passively correct it.
Furthermore, since his muscle memory is currently 10% higher than that of an average person, this value may be even higher later.
Reaching the point where a single memorization is enough for the body to permanently imprint it.
Half an hour later.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kiyoshi."
Mikoto, who had been gone for a while, re-entered the room.
Behind her were two female ninjas.
The one in the lead was a voluptuous woman with long blonde hair tied back and a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
Kiyoshi recognized her at a glance.
106 centimeters.
That was the stature only Tsunade possessed.
One of the legendary Sannin.
The second female ninja, following behind Tsunade, had short black hair and looked like a very quiet girl.
Shizune.
The little follower who often followed Tsunade.
Kiyoshi calmly analyzed the information.
It was now after the Second Shinobi World War. Tsunade had lost her lover, Kato Dan, and suffered from hemophobia.
Therefore, she took extra care of Kato Dan's niece, Shizune.
"This is Tsunade, and this is Shizune."
Mikoto introduced them to Kiyoshi one by one.
"Hello."
Kiyoshi's tone was humble, even towards Shizune, who was a little younger than him.
"Show me your Sharingan."
Unlike Tsunade's pretty face, her words were full of impatience.
Clearly, she wasn't happy to be here with the Uchiha.
Hearing this, Kiyoshi closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his left eye was crimson, a tomoe (a type of eye ornament) emerging and slowly rotating.
His right eye was completely black, like an ordinary person's eye.
"That's rather strange."
Tsunade's red-nailed fingers pressed against Kiyoshi's eyelids, pulling them wider.
Up close, Kiyoshi could smell Tsunade's delicate fragrance.
After about five minutes, Tsunade withdrew her hand.
"Any changes?"
"I feel my physical abilities are getting stronger."
"Anything else?"
Tsunade stared at Kiyoshi.
Her great-grandfather was a master of Uchiha research, having compiled a lot of data, which Tsunade knew a little about.
These Uchiha, once they awakened their Sharingan, would undergo a drastic personality change.
Was Kiyoshi's change only partial?
"Nothing else,"
Kiyoshi said sincerely.
Tsunade then continued examining Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi, unfamiliar with medical ninjutsu, could only let Tsunade touch and look at him.
Following behind Tsunade, Shizune, who had remained silent until now, secretly glanced at Kiyoshi out of the corner of her eye.
(End of Chapter)