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Chapter 7 - Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki

By the time Yuzuru left Tarou's house, the sky was completely bright.

Walking the streets of the clan grounds, he saw early risers already starting their day.

From breakfast stalls along the road, fragrant steam curled into the air.

Drawn by the smell, and with nothing in his stomach all night, Yuzuru stopped at a bun shop. "Boss, ten buns."

"Sure thing. Twenty Ryō, and I'll toss in one extra. Come again if you like it."

The buns were plump and pale, their skins already slicked with oil.

Yuzuru bit in; scalding heat and rich broth filled his mouth.

"Delicious."

Eating as he walked, he soon reached the alley near his front door.

After a few steps, he felt eyes on him.

He looked up and met the soulful stare of the breakfast shop owner across the way.

On the table by the door sat a neatly packed breakfast, clearly set aside for him.

"Uh… Auntie Yuriko, what a coincidence. I was just about to come for breakfast."

Yuzuru scratched his head, forcing a sincere smile.

The well-timed belch he barely swallowed put a faint flush on his face.

"It's all right, Yuzuru. Don't force yourself."

Uchiha Yuriko glanced at the buns in his hand and waved calmly.

"No forcing at all."

"These buns were a gift from a friend."

"They were too enthusiastic; it was hard to refuse."

Yuzuru set down money on the table, picked up the packed meal. "Auntie Yuriko, I've got something to do. I'll get going."

Watching him beat a hasty retreat, Yuriko chuckled and shook her head. "What a cute kid. I think he blushed."

Only after turning into the alley did Yuzuru let out a long breath.

He'd bought breakfast from Yuriko's shop since he was small. If he was ever delayed, she'd even set some aside for him.

Today, with his past-life memories just awakened, he'd simply forgotten.

Mortifying.

'It's just buying breakfast somewhere else, so why does it feel like betrayal…'

Muttering, he met a gray-haired grandmother coming the other way.

"Yuzuru, I have some vegetables at home that I can't eat all of. I put them by your door, so remember to take them inside."

It was his neighbor, Uchiha Riko.

She had a happy family with two sons and a daughter, and because Yuzuru's parents had died early, she often looked after him.

Even though he could support himself now, she still brought him fruit and vegetables from time to time.

Yuzuru straightened her collar and smiled. "Grandma Riko, thank you. Please remember to take a cane with you when you go out in the future."

"Cheeky brat, I'm not so old I can't walk," she scolded with a smile.

Farther on, he ran into a few more familiar faces.

"Yuzuru, were you on night duty again? You're still young—rest more."

"Got it, Grandpa Shuhei."

"Big Brother Yuzuru, look! My dad bought me a bunch of candy. Do you want some?"

"Good kid. Too much candy rots your teeth, so I'll just take one."

"Waaah, Brother Yuzuru is mean…"

"Yuzuru, stop bullying Tekka."

"…"

As he walked, Yuzuru found himself smiling more and more.

The Uchiha were a clan full of warmth, and most people got along well.

Even with his past memories awakened, he felt no distance from them.

Yet a clan like this had ended in annihilation…

A chill glinted in his eyes.

This time, he would give the Uchiha a different ending.

At his door, a silvery laugh rang out.

Looking up, he saw a gentle-faced, black-haired girl and a redheaded girl coming out of the house across from his.

"Yuzuru, what are you doing here?"

The redhead sounded surprised to see him.

Yuzuru arched a brow. "Kushina, this is Uchiha territory. I should be the one asking you that, don't you think?"

"I'm here for Mikoto."

Kushina answered, then asked curiously, "Is this your place?"

Yuzuru nodded. "That's right."

"Wow! So you and Mikoto are neighbors—no wonder you two are so close!"

Kushina lit up like she'd found a new continent. "Yuzuru, can we come in and sit for a bit?"

At her bright energy, Yuzuru stepped aside to let them in.

Even before his memories awakened, he and Mikoto had been close because they were neighbors.

Calling them childhood friends wouldn't be a stretch.

By extension, he was on good terms with Mikoto's best friend, Kushina.

When Kushina first came to the village, people often bullied her; Yuzuru had stood up for her more than once.

Compared to the boisterous Kushina, Mikoto gave him a gentle smile. "Yuzuru, are we disturbing your rest?"

Before he could answer, Kushina blinked. "Rest? This early in the morning?"

Mikoto explained, "Yuzuru works in the Police Force and often pulls night duty. You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

Mikoto's father led the third squad of the Police Force, so she knew there had been a clan assembly last night.

Though Yuzuru didn't look tired, she still gave Kushina a subtle reminder, lest her boundless energy run wild.

He understood her intent and couldn't help feeling a little moved.

Mikoto really was gentle—always making him feel cared for without trying.

Hearing the reminder, Kushina hesitated. "Maybe we should visit another day. Mikoto and I could go shopping instead."

Yuzuru waved a hand. "Since we've run into each other, come in for a bit."

"I bought extra breakfast. Let's eat together."

The moment he saw Kushina, a few plans had flickered through his mind.

Her identity was special.

As the next Nine-Tails jinchuriki, her comings and goings were constantly monitored.

Because Uzumaki Mito was still alive, Kushina wasn't overly restricted in the village, but Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others certainly didn't want her too tangled up with Uchiha shinobi.

If he could leverage Kushina's position to show the clan just how wary Konoha's leadership was of them, it would definitely help his future plan to move the entire clan.

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