CHAPTER 41: MIKOTO UCHIHA

The training ground was quiet, broken trees and shattered stone scattered around the battlefield.

Sasuke lay unconscious, defeated, pride wounded but alive.

A gentle breeze stirred the dust as Naruto stood calmly, cloak fluttering slightly behind him, his eyes still glowing faintly from the afterglow of power.

Not far away, hidden in the shade of a tree, Mikoto Uchiha watched silently.

She had come to check on Sasuke but had witnessed far more than she expected.

The blonde boy standing over her son… he was strong—unbelievably strong. But there was something else in his eyes. Not arrogance. Not cruelty.

Warmth. Sadness. Purpose.

Her heart twisted as she looked at him. That hair… those eyes… that smile—faint, but real.

No… it can't be.

As the others rushed to Sasuke, Mikoto stepped forward slowly. Naruto turned, sensing her presence.

He didn't recognize her, but he could tell by the way she looked at him—this wasn't just a normal villager.

"You fought him well," Mikoto said softly, eyes never leaving his face.

"I didn't want to hurt him," Naruto replied with quiet honesty. "But he needed to understand that he's not alone."

Mikoto's gaze softened further. Her voice trembled ever so slightly.

"You remind me… of someone I once knew. A dear friend."

Naruto blinked. "Really?"

Though Naruto know who is she but still act as dumb to avoid suspicion

Mikoto stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "She was strong… fiery… had a heart bigger than anyone else I ever met. And like you… she never backed down when it came to protecting others."

Naruto's expression shifted. A strange warmth filled his chest.

"…What was her name?" he asked.

Mikoto smiled sadly, brushing some dust from his shoulder. "That's a story for another time."

She leaned in just slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're her son. I'm sure of it."

Naruto looked puzzled, but the moment passed quickly as the others called to him.

As he turned to go, Mikoto watched him, eyes filled with emotion. She hadn't expected this. Not today.

But now that she knew—she couldn't turn her back on him.

Few Days Later

The warm dusk settled softly over the garden. Naruto stood beside Mikoto, his expression calm, a soft smile on his lips.

He held the small plate of food she had made, comforted in a way he didn't fully understand.

"You're welcome here anytime," Mikoto said gently, still brushing a hand through his hair with quiet affection. "No reason needed."

But before Naruto could respond, a voice, low and clipped, rang out:

"Naruto."

He turned.

Izumi Uchiha stood at the edge of the path, arms crossed, her sharp eyes fixed on Mikoto's hand resting in his hair. She walked forward with slow, deliberate steps, her gaze never softening.

Naruto brightened. "Hey, Izumi! You're here."

She didn't smile.

"You said you'd be home by now," she said, stopping beside him. Her eyes flicked to Mikoto's hand, now slowly retreating. "I came to get you."

Mikoto tilted her head slightly, offering a polite smile. "He stayed a little longer. We were just talking."

Izumi's eyes narrowed just a fraction. She moved subtly in front of Naruto, her body language calm but clearly shielding him.

Her hand found his wrist.

"We should go," she said, her voice quiet but firm.

Naruto looked between them, confused but sensing something was off. "Uh… sure."

Mikoto watched with a kind smile, unaware of the storm swirling inside Izumi.

But as Naruto turned away, Izumi glanced over her shoulder, casting a sharp glare toward Mikoto.

There was no anger in it—just possessiveness, protectiveness… and jealousy.

To Izumi, Mikoto's tender gesture had felt too intimate, too warm. That kind of touch didn't belong to someone outside their world. Naruto was hers—the one person who saw her, trusted her, lived with her. She wouldn't let anyone else slip into that place.

Mikoto blinked as the gaze passed over her, puzzled.

She felt no hostility… but something had shifted.

And as the two walked away, Izumi still holding Naruto's wrist firmly, Mikoto sat alone in the soft rustle of garden leaves.

That girl… she's close to him. Very close.

But Mikoto didn't yet realize—just how much she meant to Naruto already, or how much more complicated things were about to become.

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