Fugaku took a sip of the potion, the scalding liquid sliding down his throat and into his stomach.
He felt a warmth spread through him, and the urge to cough lessened considerably.
Turning to look at his wife, who had always followed him dutifully without complaint, he said, "How's the matter I asked you to handle last time—winning over Shimizu?"
"Shimizu's been… well, it seems he hasn't had much free time lately," Mikoto replied cautiously.
She had gone to great lengths to learn that Shimizu might enjoy gourmet food and fine cuisine. She'd even scouted a perfect location, but just as she was about to act, Shimizu had been sent off to the battlefield. Now that he was back in Konohagakure to rest, she'd heard he'd been tirelessly working to heal Obito's hands, leaving her no chance to approach him.
Fugaku let out a faint sigh. "Right now, the Third Hokage holds Shimizu in high regard. Do you know what he said to me?"
Mikoto shook her head. As a woman who had long retired from the ninja life and settled into domesticity, how could she possibly know such things? The bits of secretive village intel she was privy to came solely from Fugaku's occasional disclosures.
"He wants Shimizu to join the Anbu!" Fugaku said in a low, serious tone.
Shimizu's excellence had far exceeded his expectations.
And it had even sparked… a twinge of jealousy in him.
If Shimizu were here now, he'd probably look at Fugaku with disdain.
In The True Legend of Itachi, when Itachi achieved outstanding results, Fugaku's pride as a ninja prevented him from genuinely rejoicing in his son's success. To Fugaku, even though Itachi was his own child, he was also a ninja of astonishing talent. At times, Fugaku would forget Itachi was his son and find himself envying his prodigious gifts.
Fugaku was a deeply conflicted and twisted man.
Unfortunately, Mikoto, who had always deferred to her husband, failed to notice anything amiss and simply followed his lead.
"Shimizu's truly a genius. Beyond his medical skills, his combat abilities are just as formidable," Fugaku continued.
"Is… is that so?" Mikoto replied, a hint of doubt in her voice. She had never seen Shimizu fight.
All she knew was that Shimizu had performed well in the Chunin Exams—something Fugaku had mentioned to her in passing.
"As a mere Chunin, he defeated Nendo, a ninja from Iwagakure renowned for his explosive techniques. Even the Jonin Miwaka Yejo wasn't a match for Kari, yet Shimizu managed to overcome him."
Fugaku knew Kari's reputation was somewhat inflated, but Shimizu's ability to calmly analyze intel and defeat him was undeniable. That kind of talent was something Fugaku could never have matched. At Shimizu's age, Fugaku hadn't come close to such accomplishments. He couldn't even fathom how strong Shimizu might become as he matured.
For the Uchiha clan, this was a boon—a valuable asset in their struggle against that mysterious man.
Yet the jealousy gnawing at Fugaku's heart refused to subside.
After a long pause, Fugaku managed to calm himself slightly.
"But this is also an opportunity. It's a fact that Root is keeping tabs on us. Perhaps we can turn this to our advantage—have Shimizu join the Anbu and monitor Konohagakure on our behalf."
"That… wouldn't that be too much to ask of the boy?" Mikoto hesitated as she spoke.
Wasn't Shimizu already burdened with too many tasks?
She vaguely knew Fugaku had assigned Shimizu some kind of mission, though she wasn't privy to the details. Between the tasks Fugaku had given him before, the internal Anbu missions from the Hokage, and now this new surveillance duty Fugaku was proposing, Shimizu was juggling three responsibilities. And that didn't even account for his regular shifts at the hospital, where he frequently treated patients and healed injuries.
"It's for the sake of the clan," Fugaku replied. "Though Shimizu doesn't seem too keen on it. His vision is too narrow—he needs a broader perspective to serve as a bridge between the village and the clan. Since my health keeps me from going out, you'll have to take my place and win Shimizu over."
Fugaku waved a hand, signaling Mikoto to drop any further objections.
At this stage, there was no one more suitable than Shimizu.
They'd have to push him a little harder for now. Once the tensions between the Uchiha and Konohagakure were resolved and the crisis with that mysterious man was averted, Fugaku would grant Shimizu a long break to set him free.
"Alright," Mikoto nodded.
Though she felt it was somewhat unfair to the boy, there was no other choice. She imagined Fugaku had his own struggles, and making such a decision must have weighed heavily on him too.
In their brief exchange, it seemed Shimizu's fate had been quietly sealed.
…
"Sister Mikoto, this is your first time visiting my home, isn't it?"
At Shimizu's house, a guest had arrived.
"Haha, yes, because Sister Mikoto's been so busy," Mikoto said with a smile, nodding as she handed Shimizu the gift she'd brought.
She slipped off her shoes and stepped inside from the entryway.
In the past, Shimizu had just been a little orphan to her. Knowing he'd been adopted by Yezuki, she hadn't paid him much mind. Her favorable impression of him had only grown as he began to reveal his talents and even helped alleviate her worries about an illness.
But the thought of visiting Shimizu's home had never crossed her mind. If not for Fugaku's request, she might never have come in her lifetime.
Mikoto was a traditional housewife. Even accepting Shimizu's medical treatment had been at Fugaku's urging. Visiting a man's home casually could invite gossip—especially now that Shimizu was growing taller and more handsome, blossoming into a striking young man.
"Please, sit, Sister Mikoto," Shimizu said, placing the gift on the counter before heading to the kitchen to fetch tea.
His tea-brewing skills had become increasingly refined, particularly his knack for gauging the perfect temperature for women. He knew exactly what warmth would be comfortable and enjoyable for them.
Mikoto thanked him, gently blowing on the tea before taking a small sip.
The liquid brushed her lips, glistening faintly in the sunlight as if she'd applied a vibrant coat of gloss.
"Your skills are impressive, Shimizu," she said. "Just like your massage techniques."
The only bond between Shimizu and Mikoto had been that of a technician and his client. Now, she seized on this connection as a starting point to close the distance between them.
"Oh, it's nothing special—just a humble skill," Shimizu replied, taking a sip of the tea he'd brewed.
It tasted good, thanks to the high-quality tea leaves he'd splurged on. With Fugaku's frugal nature, there was no way he'd buy such things to entertain guests. Shimizu had sunk all twenty-five thousand ryo he'd earned into this batch. If it hadn't turned out well, he'd have been ready to take a blade to someone.
"Shimizu, you're so talented yet so modest," Mikoto continued, exchanging pleasantries and praising his virtues.
Shimizu responded in kind, playing along with her.
Once they'd finished their cups of tea, Mikoto deemed the moment right.
She shifted slightly, adjusting her posture by moving her full hips into a more comfortable position.
With a gentle parting of her lips, she asked, "Shimizu, have you ever thought about joining the Anbu?"
In that instant, she posed the same question Sarutobi Hiruzen had asked Shimizu some time ago.
Shimizu toyed with his teacup, lifting his gaze to meet Mikoto's calmly.
Back then, his response had been a polite refusal—followed by an admission that he'd love to join, but Lord Fugaku had piled too much work on him already. Sarutobi Hiruzen had laughed, clapping Shimizu on the shoulder and assuring him he'd find a way, as long as Shimizu genuinely wanted in.
Now, it seemed the Third Hokage had gone to pressure Fugaku.
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