Naruto's hesitation made Fugaku sigh inwardly. He had no choice but to steel himself and pick up his chopsticks to eat.
Sasuke, holding his chopsticks hesitantly, glanced at his mother and muttered, "Mom, why didn't you make tomatoes? They're my favorite."
Mikoto smiled gently at him but remained quiet, her gaze lingering on both Sasuke and Naruto. Memories surfaced in her mind—if Kushina were still alive, Naruto and Sasuke would have likely become friends much earlier. Naruto wouldn't have been shunned by the village, and perhaps the Uchiha wouldn't be at odds with the higher-ups.
As a Jōnin, Mikoto was fully aware of the tensions brewing in the village and within her own clan. Yet, she couldn't influence Fugaku's decisions.
Her dream had always been a simple one: to be a good wife, take care of her husband, and watch her children grow up in peace. She never desired more than that.
Naruto felt slightly uneasy under Mikoto's gentle gaze, but he couldn't deny that her cooking was excellent. The food was delicious, prepared with fresh ingredients, and held a warmth he rarely experienced. It reminded him of what home might feel like.
After he finished a bowl of rice, Mikoto smiled and asked, "Are you full? There's still more in the kitchen if you'd like."
Naruto nodded, then said with a sincere smile, "Aunt Mikoto, your cooking is amazing. If I had parents, I think their food would taste like this."
A heavy silence fell over the table. Fugaku, Sasuke, and Mikoto all stopped eating for a moment.
Fugaku, despite his stern exterior, respected Minato Namikaze as both a formidable opponent and a man of principle. The thought of what could have been—if the Fourth Hokage and Kushina had survived—lingered in his mind. If they had lived, the village's current state might have been vastly different.
Sasuke, on the other hand, simply felt a deep sympathy for Naruto. Naruto was better than him in many ways—stronger, more resilient—but unlike Sasuke, he had no family, no home to return to.
After dinner, Mikoto called Fugaku to the kitchen under the pretense of washing dishes. Once alone, she hesitated before saying,
"Honey… do you think we should talk to the Third Hokage about adopting Naruto? He's just a child, and he's never known what it's like to have parents."
Fugaku sighed and shook his head. "You know that's impossible. Only the Hokage has the authority to oversee a jinchūriki's guardianship."
"But the Third Hokage is failing him," Mikoto argued quietly. "The village treats Naruto like a monster, but he's the son of Minato and Kushina. A hero's child shouldn't suffer like this."
Fugaku's expression darkened. "Mikoto, forget about it. It won't happen."
In truth, Fugaku had no interest in taking in the jinchūriki. He had bigger plans—plans that required controlling the jinchūriki's power, not raising him as a son.
As the night deepened, it was time for Naruto to leave.
The Uchiha family stood at the door, watching him go. There was no invitation to stay overnight, nor any pretense that there could be.
Naruto understood. Being invited for dinner was already a stretch within the Third Hokage's tolerance. Staying the night? That would trigger an all-out confrontation between the ANBU and the Uchiha police force. And no matter the outcome, he would be the one to suffer the consequences.
Walking alone through the Uchiha district, Naruto observed the clan members around him, wondering if he'd run into another arrogant Uchiha who might pick a fight.
If anything happened to him here, the fallout would be catastrophic—potentially as disastrous as the Nine-Tails' attack years ago. The village might retaliate against the Uchiha, and the tension between them and the Hokage's faction would spiral out of control.
Shaking his head, he pushed the thought away. No Uchiha would be foolish enough to act against him outright.
While many in the clan harbored resentment, most understood the consequences of such recklessness.
As he finally exited the Uchiha compound, Naruto sensed multiple presences lurking in the darkness. The familiar ANBU duo was watching him, but there were others—root operatives hiding in the shadows, their chakra signatures unmistakable.
Even Kurama, usually defiant, remained silent. The fox knew better than to provoke attention under so many watchful eyes.
Naruto returned to his small apartment, the unease slowly fading as he settled onto his sofa. He stared at the ceiling, reflecting on his visit.
Beyond the free meal, he had memorized a portion of the Uchiha district's layout and tested his resistance to genjutsu.
From what he could tell, illusions cast by a single or double tomoe Sharingan had little effect on him. However, a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan—and especially the Mangekyō Sharingan—would be far more dangerous. Even with Kurama's assistance, there were limits to his resistance.
At that moment, a system prompt echoed in his mind:
[Uchiha Mikoto's affection for you has reached the level of recognition. You have obtained the skill: 'Housekeeping and Cooking Proficiency'—a domestic ability perfected by an Uchiha Jōnin who abandoned her ninja life to become a housewife.]
Naruto blinked, momentarily dumbfounded.
"…What the hell kind of reward is this?"
Sure, it was nice, but it wasn't exactly useful. He already knew how to cook and clean—he had to, since no one else would do it for him.
Still… Naruto didn't dislike it.
This skill wasn't just about cooking. It meant that someone in the world acknowledged him.
Even if it was just Sasuke's mother.
Just as he was processing the thought, his senses picked up a presence outside.
A familiar chakra.
The Third Hokage.
Naruto sighed. The old man had come to check on him again.
When a knock finally came, Naruto opened the door, giving Hiruzen a puzzled look.
"Grandpa Hokage, didn't you just come by yesterday? Why are you here again?"
Hiruzen looked at Naruto, his face weary.
Naruto had no idea how much trouble he had caused by visiting the Uchiha. The village had nearly mistaken it for a prelude to a coup. Danzo and Root had already stirred up chaos over it.
If Naruto hadn't left the Uchiha compound safely, civil war might have erupted.
But the boy in front of him had no clue.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly and forced a small smile. "I forgot to bring something. But, Naruto… I'm curious. What did Sasuke's parents say to you during dinner?"
Naruto tilted his head, grinning.
"Could it be… Grandpa Hokage already knows that Sasuke and I are friends, and you came here to give me a present?"
Hiruzen's eye twitched.
If he could go back in time, he would slap himself for ever encouraging Naruto to make friends.
Of all the kids in the village… why did it have to be an Uchiha?
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