Beneath the setting sun, inside the house, Shirou and Mikoto stood facing each other.

  "Sister Mikoto!"

  As Shirou spoke, Mikoto gave him a gentle, understanding smile.

  "Shirou, this is the quickest way for you to join the higher circles of the cn."

  Looking at her, Shirou felt a warmth rise in his heart. Mikoto's concern for him was palpable.

  Kekkei Genkai Sickness.

  Those three words were a nightmare for any bloodline cn. For someone like Shirou—just a budding genius who had recently awakened his Sharingan—the cn wouldn't readily invest resources. Each dose of the cellur stabilizing serum cost between 100,000 and 200,000 ryo, sometimes even more, depending on physical condition and frequency of use.

  Dual Kekkei Genkai. In the proud Uchiha cn, the Sharingan reigned supreme. Anything else was seen as weak.

  Because of this, Shirou's unique heritage had little impact on the cn.

  Suppressing his frustrations, Shirou sighed inwardly, only to be distracted by confusion fshing across his face.

  "Sister Mikoto, what about Kushina?"

  At the mention of Uzumaki Kushina, Mikoto's smile turned wry.

  "Shirou, while I approached her deliberately for the cn's sake, Kushina is a pitiful person too. She knows I had ulterior motives, but we still became close friends."

  Despite being older than Kushina, Mikoto's fond smile softened her expression as she recalled their moments together.

  "You don't need to worry too much about this mission. It's mostly for show. I've already spoken with Kushina and made arrangements..."

  Shirou quickly realized how much effort Mikoto had put in for his sake. The Kekkei Genkai Sickness wasn't something Mikoto wanted to risk with him, so she had taken control of the situation, carefully orchestrating every detail.

  "Shirou, I'm not doing all this just for you. I have my reasons too," she admitted, her voice taking on a rare teasing tone.

  "When the old man is gone, I won't be able to hold things down by myself. I'll need your help."

  Mikoto was confident that within the next five or six years, she could consolidate Elder Setsuna's power and lead a united Uchiha cn.

  Shirou couldn't help but chuckle as he responded in kind.

  "Sister Mikoto, then the future of the cn will rest on the two of us."

  The two shared a ugh, the tension momentarily dissolving into camaraderie.

  As she prepared to leave, Mikoto's Sharingan fred, her eyes gleaming crimson.

  "Shirou, train hard. I'm preparing to become a Special Jonin."

  Her words left Shirou speechless.

  Watching her figure retreat into the distance, Shirou stood alone in the quiet house. Narrowing his eyes, he murmured,

  "Uchiha..."

  He rubbed his temples, a wry smile curling his lips. This extreme family, with all its complexities, was exactly what he wanted—ancient yet vibrant, ruthless yet resilient.

  In a world ruled by power, the Uchiha belief in strength over tradition felt far more compelling than the rigid hierarchy of the Hyuga.

  "When you ck the power to change everything, learn to blend in."

  A confident grin spread across his face. He truly loved it here.

  ...

  Later that night, Shirou found himself standing before Tsunade, who eyed him with her usual no-nonsense demeanor.

  "Coming to see me this te at night—what do you want to report?"

  Though Tsunade often appeared cold since the loss of her brother, Shirou bowed respectfully and began.

  "Captain Tsunade, the cn has learned about my Sharingan awakening and my dual Kekkei Genkai. Afterward, the cn head and elders met with me at Naka Shrine. From what I observed, the supposed divisions between them are little more than a facade."

  Tsunade scoffed. The Senju had long been aware of the Uchiha's tactics. Their internal factions were a calcuted act to maintain bance. Without the moderating influence of the two elder leaders, the Uchiha's infamous nature would have led them to self-destruct.

  But this guy—sent as a spy in the morning and already reporting back at night?

  "Captain Tsunade, they also ordered me to make secret contact with Uzumaki Kushina. They cimed she could act as a bridge between the cn and the vilge—a potential stepping stone for me into higher ranks..."

  At this, Tsunade's expression grew sharper.

  "They want you to contact Kushina secretly?"

  She felt her anger fre but quickly reined it in. This was Uchiha's way, always scheming for leverage within Konoha's inner circle.

  "Sister Mikoto reached out to me as well. She assured me this mission is only for appearances and has already informed Kushina. It's all been arranged..."

  Shirou revealed everything, omitting nothing. Partly because he did not need to fabricate details, but also because he needed Tsunade's trust.

  "Doesn't it hurt to betray your cn like this?"

  Tsunade finally asked, her sharp eyes boring into his.

  Shirou's face grew solemn.

  "Captain Tsunade, I am not betraying my cn! The Hidden Leaf Vilge was founded by the Uchiha and Senju together. Everything I do is for the good of the cn—and for the vilge!"

  His voice grew impassioned as his Sharingan slowly activated, the tomoe spinning in his pupils.

  "We live in a world of war! Poverty and hardship ravage the lives of shinobi! Have you seen how this endless conflict has scarred the vilge? The Uchiha cn has always sought to end this cycle. We have shed our blood to protect the vilge and fight for peace!"

  Tsunade blinked, stunned by his fervor.

  "Our real enemies," Shirou continued, his eyes bzing, "are those who seek to divide and destabilize the vilge!"

  For a moment, silence filled the room. Tsunade's expression softened, her usual stern demeanor repced with quiet seriousness.

  "I understand," she finally said.

  "I apologize for what I said earlier."

  Shirou was momentarily stunned. Tsunade—apologizing? But her character made sense of it. The future Fifth Hokage was nothing if not principled, owning up to her words and actions.

  Tsunade's brown eyes sparkled with determination as she addressed him again.

  "Go on. What's next?"

  Taking a deep breath, Shirou withdrew a scroll from his pouch. It was time to take the next step—and bring Tsunade fully to his side.