Bathed in the morning sun, Naraku walked out of the hospital alone, carrying several bags.
Then, a crucial question came to his mind: where would he stay tonight?
He certainly couldn't go back to his biological father's house, nor could he stay with Kakashi.
Did he have to buy a house now?
He didn't have that much money.
Even though he found that a large sum of hospital fees—paid by an anonymous donor—had been refunded upon his discharge, it still wasn't enough to buy property.
Perhaps he should just rent a place for now.
Just as he stood at the hospital entrance contemplating life, a soft, kind female voice spoke beside him.
It was a voice he had heard somewhere before.
"What are you thinking about, Naraku?"
"Huh?"
Naraku quickly turned his head.
Uchiha Mikoto stood in the sunlight, carrying a small shoulder bag and smiling gently at him.
"M-Madam... Good morning."
Recognizing her, he quickly bowed his head in greeting.
Mikoto observed Naraku carefully.
Even though he had been discharged, many bandages still covered his limbs, and his cheeks were pale and bloodless.
Most importantly, he looked utterly drained, like a flower bud that had withered before it could bloom.
The first time they met, Naraku had been reserved, but his eyes were full of vitality.
Now, his gaze was dim and his spirit was broken.
Having been warned by Kushina, she had looked for answers and noticed many abnormalities.
Mikoto, who already doted on Naraku, was now filled with self-reproach.
It was just as Kushina had said; the child had suffered a devastating psychological blow.
She wished she had observed him more carefully during her previous visits.
When Naraku looked up, she quickly hid her worried gaze and responded with a smile.
"Good morning."
"Madam, are you here at the hospital for...?"
"I've reminded you many times, call me Aunt Mikoto."
Mikoto's tone was gentle, but it carried an undeniable firmness.
Naraku never argued with his elders, so he obediently corrected himself.
"Aunt Mikoto."
"Naraku is truly a good child. I'm sorry to tell you this just now..."
Mikoto slightly pulled open her jacket, revealing her swollen belly beneath her dress.
"As you can see, Auntie actually has a baby in her tummy, and I came today to see if he's healthy."
She then made another request.
"Naraku, could you come with me? I'm a little lonely by myself."
Naraku nodded seriously and managed a small smile.
"Okay."
Time flies so fast; Itachi is almost due.
While thinking this, he stayed considerately by Mikoto's side, attending to her every need.
Only after the check-ups were completed and the baby was confirmed to be healthy did Naraku prepare to leave.
"Aunt Mikoto, I'll be going now."
"Wait a moment."
Mikoto grabbed Naraku's wrist.
He immediately froze, afraid of hurting her if he pulled away.
He completely forgot that Uchiha Mikoto was a Jonin herself.
"Naraku, you haven't answered my question yet. What were you thinking about at the entrance earlier?"
Naraku smiled shyly.
"Nothing, just a small matter."
"Then I have something I'd like to ask of you, may I?"
"Of course, please tell me what you need."
"Before this child is born, Naraku, would you be able to accompany me for my check-ups? Your Clan Head is always so busy he doesn't even come home, and I'm always alone..."
As she spoke, Mikoto sniffled and looked ready to shed tears.
Her acting was overly dramatic, and she even went as far as badmouthing her own husband.
Naraku was speechless as he watched her.
"Aunt Mikoto, your acting is worse than a daytime soap opera. My intelligence won't allow me to fall for this."
"Wuwuwu..." Mikoto wiped her eyes, intensifying her act.
"I'm really so pitiful..."
"Alright, alright, I give up."
Naraku's expression turned urgent, and he nodded in agreement repeatedly.
"Okay, I'll always accompany you, Aunt Mikoto."
Seeing how easily he agreed, Mikoto pressed her advantage.
"Then, Naraku, could you stay with Auntie for a while? I'm so scared being home alone—"
Naraku realized then: coming to the hospital so early was actually an ambush.
Seeing him hesitate, Mikoto intensified her efforts, even making her voice sound deliberately cute.
"Please, Naraku, you're the only one I can rely on~"
Naraku silently covered his face.
"O-Okay..."
"I surrender, please stop this technique..."
Following Mikoto home, Naraku realized she had already prepared a room for him.
She had been waiting for him to move in.
Moreover, the location was somewhat secluded, so he wouldn't be disturbed.
"Your Clan Head has been especially busy lately, not coming home for weeks at a time, so don't feel constrained, Naraku."
Looking at Mikoto's smiling face, Naraku couldn't help but feel that Fugaku had been kicked out by his wife.
"Sorry, Fugaku. In return, I will take good care of your wife."
Naraku apologized to his Clan Head in his heart.
Mikoto glanced at her watch.
"It's almost time for lunch. To celebrate you coming to live with us, we'll prepare a feast."
"No need, Aunt Mikoto, I can eat anything..."
Under Mikoto's gentle yet disapproving gaze, Naraku's voice grew softer and softer.
Just as he looked like he expected a scolding, a slender, soft hand gently stroked his head.
"Be good to yourself, Naraku."
Mikoto looked at him with loving tenderness; her maternal radiance was evident.
"No matter what happens, you must take care of yourself. Otherwise, if Sakumo-senpai wakes up someday, he will be very sad too."
"...Mm."
Naraku sniffled, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and then smiled.
"I'll cook for you, Aunt Mikoto. You rest well."
Mikoto didn't dampen his enthusiasm; instead, she put her hands to her mouth, feigning surprise.
"Oh, Naraku can cook? How amazing! Then I'll just wait?"
"Yes, you just need to wait a little while."
Naraku walked into the vegetable market with his basket, skillfully picking fresh produce.
Back when he was in school, if Sakumo wasn't home, he and Kakashi would often go grocery shopping and cook together.
That lasted until they both graduated and became shinobi, and their free time vanished.
Even so, whenever they had a chance, they would make time to train or cook for each other.
"Kakashi must be having a tough time now too..."
Naraku, holding a white radish, was lost in thought until someone patted his shoulder.
"Hey, Naraku?"
"Hmm?"
Naraku looked to his left.
Uchiha Fuyo, dressed in his Police Force uniform, stood beside him, pointing at the radish.
Two of his teammates behind him were looking on curiously.
"You've squeezed it until it's soft."
"Ah, I'm sorry, I keep getting distracted today..."
Naraku handed the radish to the shopkeeper for weighing, offering a soft, apologetic look.
"I'll pay for it."
"Don't worry about it," the shopkeeper said kindly.
She gave him a few extra greens and put everything into his basket.
"Little Shinobi-san, you look unwell. You need to eat more."
"Thank you."
Naraku paid and was about to leave when his basket was suddenly taken from his hand.
Uchiha Fuyo whispered a few words to his teammates.
The two Police Force members nodded and left first.
Fuyo weighed the basket in his hand, gesturing for Naraku to lead the way.
"Fuyo-senpai, I'm fine on my own."
"As a junior, you should obediently accept a senior's kindness. Even if you're a genius, you're no exception."
Fuyo's forceful attitude left Naraku at a loss.
He didn't insist on refusing and silently began walking back.
"Have you moved back to the Clan compound?"
"Yes, Fuyo-senpai."
"That's good. Everyone actually wants to see you more often."
Fuyo smiled almost imperceptibly.
"You're a big name among the Uchiha."
"I..."
Naraku wasn't happy about the praise.
He lowered his head and softly retorted, "I'm just a useless guy..."
"If you're useless, then what am I? I only awakened my two-tomoe Sharingan at nineteen."
Fuyo's large hand covered the top of Naraku's head, vigorously rubbing his hair.
The gloomy boy swayed from side to side, grabbing Fuyo's wrist and begging softly for mercy.
Fuyo let go, and while Naraku tidied his hair, the older man spoke seriously.
"Many people have always cared about you, Naraku."
"At the same time, you are also the hope of those who love you."
"Therefore, you must never give up on yourself."
Naraku looked up at the fan crest on Uchiha Fuyo's uniform.
The encouragement was so gentle it made Fuyo seem unlike the stereotypical Uchiha.
From then on, Naraku's impressions of his clan members gradually came to life.
Some were eccentric, some were cold but warm-hearted, and some were mature and considerate.
In Konoha, the Uchiha had always been a clan defined by labels from the outside world.
But every Uchiha was actually a real, complex, living person.
They shouldn't be born to be mere backdrops for heroes, or tragic history for a legend.
They lived genuinely and diligently in this world, just like everyone else.
Naraku walked past Uchiha Fuyo, took a few more steps, and then turned back with a slight smile.
"Let's go, Fuyo-senpai."