Her body stiffened for a moment, eyes widening, lips parting slightly as if unable to believe her own ears.
Her fingers gripped her sleeves tightly, knuckles whitening from the strain.
Her breathing grew rapid, her chest heaving, the sound of her heartbeat thundering in her ears like a storm.
"You're saying… you're letting me go?"
Mikoto's voice trembled, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.
Caught off guard by her own surprise, she instinctively turned, taking a step back until her back pressed against the cold wall.
The icy temperature snapped her senses into focus, if only slightly.
As Shimizu nodded, Mikoto's gaze shifted from shock to something more complex.
Her brows furrowed faintly, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came.
Her eyes darted uncertainly, glancing at Shimizu before quickly dropping, as if avoiding his gaze.
She had thought this time would stretch on endlessly.
Looking back now, it felt so fleeting.
She had begun to grow fond of being around Shimizu.
The feeling of being the sole focus of someone's attention, as if she were the only person in his world.
It was something Fugaku had never given her.
Fugaku was too rigid.
Rigid to the point of being dull.
His mind was always occupied with the Uchiha Clan and the Konohagakure Police Force, matters that likely meant more to him than she ever did.
At first, Mikoto hadn't minded.
A respectful, harmonious relationship was the ideal way for a husband and wife to live.
It should have stayed that way.
If she had never glimpsed the light, she could have endured the darkness.
But Shimizu had opened a new world for her.
Happiness. Exaggerated as it might sound, ten years with Fugaku didn't compare to ten days with Shimizu.
Bang!
Mikoto suddenly slammed her pale fist against the wall, the iron bars on the other three sides trembling from the impact.
Was this still the Uchiha Mikoto she knew?
Something inside her was gradually crumbling.
She had to suppress this impulse.
She had to return…
"Fine. Take me back. I won't say a word."
Mikoto's voice was hoarse.
Snap.
At her words, Shimizu snapped his fingers.
Outside the iron bars, the copper-wrapped candle hanging on the wall reignited.
Shimizu unleashed a Water Release, a torrent of water crashing over Mikoto's body, washing away the grime that clung to her.
He then tossed her a set of ninja clothing, urging her to put it on quickly.
Mikoto's heart was instantly flooded with a tangle of emotions—shock, hatred, resentment, sorrow, confusion, joy, relief, reluctance, and contradiction all intertwined.
But one emotion began to grow stronger: reluctance.
She didn't know why.
For a traditional woman like Mikoto, if she had lived in Shimizu's previous world, she might have known a certain saying.
The fastest way to a woman's heart is…
But that only worked on traditional women, and most women wouldn't fall for it.
Still, there was no denying that the first one always held a special meaning.
Watching Mikoto slowly put on the clothes, Shimizu nodded faintly.
Next, he had other matters to attend to. He could set aside Hyuga Ginka for now.
First, he would deliver the cloning solution to Uchiha Hazuki.
As for Miroku in the Land of Demons, Shimizu planned to send it by mail.
Ninja could take on missions too.
He intended to find a female ninja who seemed trustworthy for the task.
If a man were to tamper with the cloning solution and drink it, Shimizu couldn't predict the consequences.
There were no such cases to reference.
But one could imagine the outcome would be grim.
Life is nurtured in a womb, something men lack. The cloning solution might mutate, potentially killing them on the spot.
"Done."
Mikoto finished dressing, seeming to want to say something more.
Shimizu turned, unlocked the door, and led her out.
Mikoto had no choice but to follow.
When Mikoto stepped out of the chamber, the blinding sunlight made her squint.
Warm rays bathed her body, as if melting the cold that had accumulated within her over time.
Her steps faltered, and she took a deep breath. The fresh air, laced with the scent of grass and earth, surged into her lungs.
Through a gap in the window, she caught a glimpse of the azure sky—so foreign yet familiar.
Seeing Mikoto freeze, Shimizu scooped her up, closed the chamber's wooden panel, and activated a dark sealing jutsu that rendered it invisible.
The entrance and exit to this chamber were in a room on the first floor. With the window open, the greenery in the courtyard was visible.
"Come on out."
Shimizu frowned slightly, setting Mikoto down.
She had only been inside for a few days—how did she seem so dazed, as if lost in a trance?
The torture methods used on captured ninja were far crueler than this.
At the very least, during her time here, though Mikoto had no clothes, she was never cold, thirsty, or hungry.
Shimizu had always ensured she had ample food and water.
"Lord Shimizu!"
Guren, returning from the academy, spotted Shimizu in the living room and hurried over, excitedly sharing what she had learned that day.
Shimizu patted her head, telling her to go work on the training assignments given by her Chunin instructor.
"Who's this lady?"
Guren had never met Mikoto but sensed something odd about her.
Her face was flushed, as if nourished by something.
Like a vibrant flower, radiant after being watered.
"This is Mikoto-nee, the wife of our clan leader."
Guren immediately grew more reserved, worried about showing any disrespect that might affect Shimizu.
Shimizu was just an ordinary clan member, but this was the clan leader's wife!
"No… no need to be nervous."
Mikoto tried to muster a smile.
In the past, she could always smile warmly at children, but now it felt forced.
What was it?
Had she been in the chamber so long she forgot how to smile?
Or was it… reluctance?
"Go on in."
Shimizu urged her along.
Guren ran off to the courtyard to train.
Shimizu led Mikoto to the entrance of the courtyard.
Looking at the Uchiha compound, with clan members coming and going, Mikoto felt as if she were in a different lifetime.
Everything that had happened seemed like it was just yesterday.
She was back to being that housewife.
"Mikoto-nee, it's best we keep this between us. I've already forgiven Lord Fugaku, and I'll work diligently."
"…Alright."
Finally, she had achieved the result she wanted.
A small comfort settled in Mikoto's heart.
At the very least, she had helped Fugaku.
She knew how much Fugaku wanted Shimizu to pass village intelligence back to them.
When she last spoke with Shimizu, she had desperately hoped for this outcome.
Now it had come to pass.
Was she happy?
Yes, she was.
But not as happy as she had imagined.
Mikoto didn't know what was wrong.
It was as if something was off with her.
She considered going to the hospital.
Then she realized Konohagakure's hospital didn't have doctors for psychological issues.
Maybe her condition was normal?
As Mikoto's expression shifted subtly, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Lady Mikoto."
Nohara Rin, head lowered, lost in thought, didn't notice until she neared Shimizu's home and looked up to find the Uchiha clan leader's wife standing there.
"Hello."
Mikoto greeted politely.
"It's getting late. See you next time."
Shimizu smiled at Mikoto, his eyes carrying an unspoken meaning.
Mikoto's heart trembled. She lowered her head and hurried away.
At that moment, Shimizu extended his hand and softly said:
"Release."
An invisible memory flooded back into Shimizu's mind.
He had dispelled the Shadow Clone at Fugaku's house.
Fugaku was still at the Konohagakure Police Force at this hour, and Mikoto would only be at home washing clothes or cooking.
There was no risk in dispelling the clone abruptly.
"?"
Nohara Rin looked at Shimizu with confusion.
She instinctively felt he was hiding something from her.
But she quickly brushed it aside.
Today, she had seen a girl approach Kakashi, asking him to hang out.
It was normal. Kakashi was handsome and skilled.
Rin knew he often dealt with such things.
In the past, she would casually step in to help him out of those situations.
Now, she no longer had that right. Perhaps it was best for Kakashi to find a woman who could truly be there for him.
"How's the task I gave you?"
Shimizu was asking about the mission to escort the package to the Land of Demons.
"It's done."
Rin replied flatly.
Following Shimizu's instructions, she had selected an all-female team to deliver the cloning solution.
One of them, with striking purple hair, was named Uzuki Yugao.
"Keep up the good work."
With that, Shimizu sent Rin back to continue her experiments on eye cloning, following the previous progress.
Shimizu himself retreated to his bedroom for a long nap.
His Shadow Clones had been training and researching tirelessly, and the accumulated fatigue, even with his remarkable stamina, was catching up to him.
He needed a good rest.
The next day.
Shimizu woke up and opened the simulator.
[Current simulation count: 1. Would you like to start the Perfect Life Simulation?]
"Start."
Shimizu said directly.
He wanted to see what would happen on this trip to Kirigakure.
[Ding, Perfect Life Simulation in progress…]
[Day 1: Nothing notable happens. You miss Mikoto's presence.]
[Day 2: Tensions rise in the village. Even average Chunin and Genin have caught wind of the news, quietly cursing Kirigakure's madness. You remain noncommittal and continue your duties at Konohagakure's hospital.]
[Day 3: Hyuga Ginka seems unable to make up her mind. Having just experienced Mikoto, you're in no rush, so you extend her deadline slightly, planning to deal with it later. For now, you keep Hyuga Nobuhiko's matter on hold at the hospital.]
[Day 4: Guren has an accident while practicing her Crystal Style ninjutsu. You treat her, and her eyes sparkle with admiration, almost glowing. You can't help but think kids are easier to sway than adults.]
[Day 5: Fugaku, as usual, piles pressure on you. You listen with growing impatience.]
[Day 6: You run into Shisui, who seems lost. He's with his father, taking him out to bask in the sun. A few years ago, Uchiha Kagami was still in his prime, but now he looks frail, not from lingering effects of amputation but from a withered spirit, lacking the will to live.]
[Day 15: Mikoto and Kushina are shopping together when Mikoto suddenly feels nauseous. Kushina suspects she ate something bad and tells her to be careful. Mikoto forces a weak smile. She catches sight of you passing by.]