"Wow… that smells amazing!"
Like a curious kitten following the scent of fresh fish, Uchiha Tsukiko quietly sneaked into the kitchen, peeking over the shoulder of the person cooking.
Uchiha Mikoto stood at the counter wearing a soft purple apron. Her long black hair was tied loosely behind her back, giving her a calm and gentle appearance.
In her hands, a knife moved smoothly.
Each piece of tofu was cut into perfect cubes.
"Aunt Mikoto, do you need help?" Tsukiko asked politely, placing her hands behind her back as she leaned forward.
Mikoto smiled softly but didn't turn around.
"No need," she said warmly.
"You little lazy cat. The biggest help you can give is simply not making a mess."
Tsukiko scratched her cheek sheepishly.
"Go wash your hands. Breakfast is ready."
"Also, Fugaku left early this morning for the Military Police headquarters, so it's just the two of us."
"Roger that!" Tsukiko said dramatically, giving a salute before rushing to wash her hands.
Soon, breakfast was served.
The table was simple but beautiful.
Steaming miso soup filled with tofu and wakame.
Golden grilled salmon with crispy skin.
A small plate of pickled plums.
And a bowl of freshly cooked white rice that shimmered with warmth.
Tsukiko's eyes widened.
"Whoa! This is way too luxurious!"
She clasped her hands dramatically.
"Sister Kushina might be the queen of desserts, but when it comes to comforting home cooking, Aunt Mikoto is unbeatable!"
"You really know how to flatter people," Mikoto laughed softly as she sat down.
"Go ahead and eat."
Tsukiko didn't hesitate.
She picked up a piece of salmon.
The salty flavor melted perfectly with the warm rice.
Her eyes nearly sparkled.
"This is amazing!"
Tsukiko stuffed another bite into her mouth.
"If I keep eating like this, Auntie might spoil my taste buds. What if I can't find anyone to marry later?"
Mikoto chuckled.
"Then Auntie will take care of you forever."
Tsukiko almost choked on her rice.
"Auntie, that's dangerous talk!"
Still, she finished the entire meal happily.
By the end, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach.
"Sigh… this is the burden of happiness."
"On one hand, a warm breakfast made by a beautiful woman."
"On the other hand, I have to go to work."
After reluctantly saying goodbye to Mikoto, Tsukiko slowly walked toward the Konoha Military Police headquarters.
---
As soon as she arrived, several Uchiha clan members were whispering among themselves.
When they saw her, their expressions became strange.
"Is that Tsukiko?"
"The one Hokage-sama personally taught the Flying Thunder God technique?"
"I heard Clan Head Fugaku called her a genius…"
"Didn't she stay overnight at the clan head's house yesterday?"
Tsukiko pretended not to hear.
She walked confidently past them.
Inside her mind, however, she was laughing.
Good.
The more rumors spread, the better.
That way, no idiot will dare provoke me.
After signing in and receiving her patrol assignment, Tsukiko stepped onto Konoha's busy streets.
Today's duty was simple.
Commercial district patrol.
Which basically meant watching people shop while eating snacks.
The perfect job.
But just as she passed a dumpling shop—
She felt something strange.
A cold presence.
Not killing intent.
More like a snake quietly watching from the shadows.
Tsukiko's eyes narrowed.
"Root again?"
Instead of reacting immediately, she calmly turned into a quiet alley.
Once inside, she leaned against the wall.
"Come out," she said coldly.
"I can already smell that rotten scent."
Three masked figures emerged silently from the shadows.
Root ANBU.
They surrounded Tsukiko in a triangle formation.
"Uchiha Tsukiko," one of them said emotionlessly.
"Lord Danzo requests your presence."
Tsukiko raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Tea invitation?"
"Or does he want to discuss human experiments again?"
"Do not resist," another ninja said, already drawing a kunai.
"This is an order."
Tsukiko laughed.
"Order?"
Her Sharingan activated instantly—three tomoe spinning slowly.
"The only people who can give me orders are the Hokage and my clan leader."
"As for Danzo…"
"Let that sewer rat stay underground."
"You're asking to die."
The Root ninjas attacked immediately.
Three blades struck from different angles at terrifying speed.
The coordination was flawless.
But Tsukiko didn't move.
Her eyes changed.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Crimson Moon."
Suddenly—
Time slowed.
The world became silent.
Everything around her moved like thick water.
Tsukiko walked calmly out of the attack formation.
She even flicked one blade gently with her finger.
"Not bad," she said casually.
"But still too slow."
She stepped behind the first ninja.
One clean movement.
A kunai sliced his neck.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Tsukiko walked toward the alley exit calmly.
Behind her—
Time returned to normal.
The three Root ninjas collapsed.
Three bodies fell almost simultaneously.
None of them even understood how they died.
"Starting trouble during the New Year…" Tsukiko muttered.
"How unlucky."
She adjusted her collar calmly.
Inside her mind, a familiar voice appeared.
[Ding! System calculating…]
Tsukiko rolled her eyes.
"Here we go again."
[Congratulations! Uchiha Mikoto's favorability has increased to 'Close Friend'.]
[Achievement unlocked: "Housewife's Thoughtful Little Helper".]
Tsukiko froze.
"What kind of title is that?!"
The system continued.
[Title Effect: Slight charm increase when interacting with married women. Easier to gain trust and care.]
Tsukiko almost spat blood.
"System… what kind of weird setting is this?!"
But secretly…
She was smiling.
A charm bonus?
That's actually pretty useful.
The system message continued.
[Special reward: Mangekyō eye fatigue removed. Optic nerves strengthened.]
A cool sensation flowed through her eyes.
The soreness disappeared instantly.
"Nice!"
Tsukiko snapped her fingers happily.
Then the system suddenly spoke again.
[S-Rank Mission Issued: "Warm Winter".]
Mission: Within one year, infiltrate Root headquarters and cause major destruction.
Reward: Fire Release mastery.
Failure Penalty: Public humiliation incident in front of Kushina and Mikoto.
Tsukiko froze completely.
"…What?"
Then she shouted.
"System! That punishment is insane!"
Her face turned pale.
"No way!"
"Even if I have to burn Root headquarters to ashes…"
"I'm completing this mission!"
She clenched her fists.
"Danzo… blame the system."
"Not me."
---
After leaving the alley, Tsukiko bought dumplings to maintain her normal routine.
Then she returned to the Hokage Residence.
Inside, Kushina sat on the floor struggling with knitting needles.
The red yarn looked like a tangled mess.
"Tsukiko! Perfect timing!"
Kushina waved desperately.
"Help me! This scarf is impossible!"
Tsukiko burst out laughing.
"Sister… are you making a scarf?"
"It looks more like a fishing net."
"Shut up!" Kushina yelled.
Tsukiko sat beside her.
Inside her mind, a new plan was already forming.
If Danzo wanted to cause trouble…
Then maybe it was time to cause trouble back.
Tsukiko casually asked while eating dumplings.
"Sister…"
"What would you do if someone tried to harm Brother Minato?"
Kushina's expression immediately changed.
Her eyes became sharp.
"Who?"
"Who dares to target Minato?"
Tsukiko shrugged casually.
"I'm just saying…"
"What if someone was plotting behind the scenes?"
"Someone who likes hiding underground…"
Kushina went silent.
Then she said slowly.
"…Danzo?"
Tsukiko quietly nodded.
And the air inside the room suddenly became much colder.
----------------------------------------
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