Uchiha Izumi stood in a purple dress, her pant legs rolled up, bare white feet submerged in the clear creek.
Her delicate toes rubbed against the smooth pebbles beneath the water.
She cast a sideways glance toward the surface, her large, expressive eyes shimmering with uncertainty and nervousness. She feared Inzuki would ignore her.
"You still remember the first mission we went on? The one where we had to choose a route?" Inzuki asked calmly.
As he spoke, his gaze met Izumi's.
She immediately turned her face away, avoiding eye contact. Memories rushed to her mind, and her cheeks flushed red.
During their very first mission, she'd gotten injured precisely because of a poor route decision. Back then, she had confidently patted her chest and insisted on her suggestion—only to lead the team straight into an ambush.
Ever since then...
It was as if she'd been cursed. Every time she faced a choice, she'd pick the wrong one without fail.
"But... the only reason I made it out of the village was because I chose to follow you," she muttered, head bowed, voice full of embarrassment. Her eyes darted nervously as she clasped her hands behind her back. Her toes scraped anxiously against a large river stone, polishing it to a shine.
"That choice was mine, not yours," Inzuki said plainly.
"We'll cross the mountains, pass through Kikyo Castle, and search for a medical-nin along the way. Tell the others we're moving out in five minutes—eat something, then prepare to leave."
His tone was calm, yet absolute.
"Yes, sir!"
Flushed and flustered, Izumi responded instinctively, standing at attention—only to suddenly slip and fall backward.
"Ah!"
Her eyes widened in panic as she cried out, flailing in a desperate attempt to regain her balance. Just before she hit the freezing water, she dropped her ninja sandals and grabbed Inzuki's right hand, clutching it tightly to steady herself.
"Phew…"
She exhaled in relief, the breath sweet and soft. Her wide eyes still shimmered with fear as her brows furrowed ever so slightly. She looked down and caught sight of the large river stone she'd been nervously rubbing with her toes—now polished smooth. Her heart pounded with lingering fear.
Inzuki glanced at her. At that moment, she looked like a startled fawn, completely lost. He didn't say anything and simply helped her ashore, still holding her hand.
Her palms were smooth, almost like jade.
Inzuki thought the texture wasn't bad at all.
As they stepped onto the dry pebbles lining the riverbank, the sensation of coarse grit returned to their soles. Regaining her senses, Izumi instantly let go of his hand. Her face flushed crimson.
Just then, the others—startled by her sudden cry—looked over from the camp near the creek.
Izumi, cheeks red as apples, scrambled to pick up her sandals.
Inzuki remained indifferent.
Izumi, still a bundle of nerves, nevertheless felt strangely secure while holding Inzuki's hand. For some reason she couldn't explain, she suddenly felt... guilty.
She had once admired Itachi. But the things he had done to the civilians of their clan—she truly couldn't accept.
When she compared him to Inzuki...
She remembered what Tamayo had said: Inzuki had led their clan members to die so that the rest of them might live. It was a painful, deliberate trade.
But Itachi—he had turned his blade on the innocent.
Izumi's expression dimmed. Shaking her head slightly to clear the thought, she quickened her pace to follow Inzuki.
The temporary camp was set up by the creek.
Several surviving Uchiha gathered around a small fire. Two rabbits sizzled on a spit, the aroma of roasted meat wafting through the air as fat dripped into the flames.
Nanami had gone hunting nearby with two of his teammates and returned with the game.
Ninjas were far more adept at wilderness survival than ordinary people. Even a low-ranked genin wouldn't starve if abandoned in the wild.
"Captain Inzuki, this rabbit's ready. Please eat first," Nanami said respectfully, offering the plumpest one.
It was rich and fatty, its golden skin crispy and glistening with oil.
Inzuki nodded and accepted the rabbit.
Nanami quietly returned to his seat.
The other eight Uchiha then divided the remaining rabbit. Within moments, even the bones were gone.
Everyone had oil on their lips, devouring the meat ravenously.
After starving for so long, just a few bites of roasted rabbit were enough to let them briefly forget the agony of losing their clan.
"Hey—aside from Brother Inzuki, look at the way you guys are eating! Like you've never seen meat before. And what's with this portion? You gave me a rabbit's head and butt? Nanami, c'mon—save some for me!"
Tamayo grumbled loudly.
He was lying flat on the ground, still wrapped in fresh bandages and visibly weak, though conscious.
No one paid him much attention.
Only his two subordinates moved to feed their team leader some meat.
In the corner by the fire—
Mikoto Uchiha watched the scene with a blank expression. Her face betrayed no emotion.
She hadn't received any food. The others had deliberately excluded her.
Though she bore no direct blame for the Uchiha Massacre, Mikoto had long since faded into the background after marrying Fugaku. She had been just a housewife, responsible only for household affairs, never involved in clan politics.
But to these survivors...
Her crime was being the wife of a weak clan head—and the mother of the traitor.
In the past two days, Mikoto had neither eaten nor drunk water. During their escape, she hadn't spoken a word. Her complexion had grown pallid.
"You're all feeding yourselves. Someone give the sister-in-law something to eat and drink!"
Tamayo suddenly shouted, chewing on a mouthful of rabbit meat.
The two subordinates feeding him exchanged confused glances.
"Sister-in-law?"
Nanami frowned. He wasn't quick-witted and genuinely didn't understand what Tamayo meant.
But the others were sharper.
Their gazes gradually shifted—to Uchiha Izumi.
Everyone knew Tamayo had only one older brother: Captain Inzuki.
But sister-in-law? That didn't make sense.
There were only two women in the group.
Izumi was the same age as Itachi, still young. She had rabbit meat in her hands too, so she clearly wasn't the sister-in-law.
Suddenly, Izumi felt everyone staring at her—like standing on stage beneath a spotlight.
Her face flushed again. She lowered her head, nibbling on the meat in silence.
But the next moment—
Everyone—except the still-confused Nanami—looked toward Uchiha Mikoto.
Their eyes widened as realization struck, and the rabbit meat nearly fell from their mouths.
They finally looked closely at Mikoto.
This woman, who had long been hidden behind the walls of the clan leader's estate, was undeniably beautiful.
Compared to the youthful and budding Izumi, Mikoto had a natural advantage: a mature, elegant beauty.
She wore a dark, modest dress. Her black hair fell like silk down her back, her face calm and composed even without makeup, exuding grace and refinement.
Her sleeves revealed flawless, fair arms.
Her fingers were slender, delicate as bamboo shoots.
Even her feet beneath her skirt carried a graceful arc.
Facing the open stares of these young Uchiha, Mikoto remained impassive, holding herself with the noble dignity of the clan leader's wife.
Everyone quickly averted their eyes.
None dared to disrespect her.
They could feel her aura—nearly tangible in its presence. One by one, they shrank back, no longer able to meet her gaze. She had once been the most untouchable woman in the clan.
"Wait... who's the sister-in-law again?" Nanami asked in confusion.
Tamayo, despite his injuries, had no trouble raising his voice:
"Uchiha Mikoto, of course!"