"I?" Uchiha Mikoto shook her head. "Saigoji-sensei, I don't want anything." She had no interest in swordsmanship.
"Since i accepted Kushina's request, you can't be left out."
"Mikoto, is your Sharingan awakened?" Saigoji Youmu asked, as if recalling something important.
"Sharingan? Not yet." Although Mikoto was unsure why Youmu had asked, she answered truthfully.
"Well, that's easy. Mikoto, look into my eyes."
"Um?" Uchiha Mikoto met Saigoji Youmu's gaze. The moment their eyes locked, Boom! an overwhelming, terrifying aura enveloped her body.
"Well…" Mikoto felt her mind explode, her face paling as blood drained from it. Fear and despair flooded her senses. In her mind's eye, she was transported to a world of ice and snow, where countless dangerous creatures lurked in the shadows, waiting for their moment to strike. Amid the ruins, a strange mechanical figure with glowing red eyes slowly advanced toward her.
…
Horrific images flashed through Uchiha Mikoto's mind one after another, so vividly that it felt as though she were actually there. She felt as if those monsters and machines would tear her apart at any moment.
"Ah!" Uchiha Mikoto screamed, her pupils dilating to their limits. At that moment, her eyes transformed. The jewel-like pitch black shifted into a monstrous blood red, with a black tomoe rotating within—her Sharingan.
Simultaneously, the terrifying aura vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo…" Mikoto slumped against the tree trunk, panting violently, her face glistening with sweat.
"Mr. Saigoji, you…" Uzumaki Kushina's teeth trembled slightly as she hesitated to speak. Although Youmu's murderous aura had been directed at Mikoto, the close proximity left Kushina feeling its residual effects. Even the slightest touch of that pressure was terrifying.
"It's nothing, Kushina," Saigoji Youmu replied, gesturing toward Mikoto's eyes. "Look."
"Um?" Kushina turned her head to see Mikoto's scarlet pupils shining brightly. "Is this the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan?" She leaned in curiously.
HELP!!!
At that moment, Mikoto regained her composure. The world appeared clearer than ever in her newly awakened eyes. She could see pedestrians, buildings, and even the dust floating in the air with perfect clarity.
"How is it, Mikoto? Are you getting used to it?" Saigoji Youmu asked.
"Thank you, Saigoji-sensei." Mikoto stood up and bowed sincerely, finally understanding Youmu's intentions.
"You're welcome." Youmu waved his hand, signaling her not to worry. "Consider this a gift from me to you."
"Um." Mikoto nodded and settled back down obediently. After the brief episode, the three continued to chat.
Before long, noon approached, and they decided to leave the training ground for lunch. After eating, Saigoji Youmu arranged to meet with the two again at the training ground the following morning, concluding the day's training.
…
As dusk fell, the legendary Sannin, who were rarely together, invited Saigoji Youmu to join them at a tavern.
In a private room at the tavern, Tsunade rested her chin on her hand, slightly flushed from drink. "Hey, there are more and more tasks recently," she complained to Youmu and the others.
"Same" Jiraiya replied, leaning back in his chair and cradling his head in his hands. "Especially now that i have to mentor those kids."
"Hehe," Orochimaru glanced at Saigoji Youmu. "Among us, Youmu-kun has it the easiest."
"It can't be helped; who said that Youmu isn't a Konoha ninja?" Jiraiya remarked sourly.
"Speaking of Saigoji Youmu," Tsunade's interest piqued, "why did you agree to take on the old man's request to lead the students?"
"Honestly, it's been boring, so I thought it'd be okay to take them along," Saigoji Youmu replied as he lifted his glass and took a sip.