Chapter 26
Asakawa Naoki didn't expect it would be so easy to get Uzumaki Kushina's hair. The girl was even smiling happily when he asked for it, clearly pleased that he showed interest in something of hers.
Afternoon classes at the Ninja School resumed as usual, but having only eaten two lunchboxes, Naoki didn't push himself to his limits. He controlled the intensity of his practice, and by the time the final bell rang, most of what he'd eaten had already been transformed into essence — refined into mana, and absorbed into his body. Without the Qi Refining Technique as a foundation, his progress wouldn't have been nearly this quick.
"Ding ding ding!"
The bell signaled the end of class, and the second-year students were free for the day.
"Let's go," Naoki greeted casually, leaving the classroom with Kushina.
Neither of them had made many friends since enrolling. Every day after class, they left together — Kushina carrying her schoolbag home, dutifully reviewing her lessons, while Naoki would return to continue his training. Even if he did take textbooks home, they'd collect dust.
He thought it would be another ordinary day, but as they reached the school gates, the sight of a girl standing there made him pause.
On the road home, several boys stole glances at her, their eyes filled with admiration. Dressed in black, her long, straight hair shimmered in the sun. Her skin was fair, features soft, and though she was only around ten years old, her beauty was already apparent. It was easy to imagine how stunning she'd grow up to be.
"Who's that?"
Kushina's eyes narrowed slightly. Something about the way the girl was looking at her made her uneasy — a vague sense of hostility she couldn't explain.
Then it clicked.
It wasn't hostility toward her in general… it was because of Naoki.
The way the girl's gaze brightened when she spotted Naoki, the expectation in her eyes, made Kushina's chest tighten inexplicably. Was she his sister? No… Naoki had never mentioned having one. A girlfriend? No way — too young for that. A childhood friend? Possible, but it still made Kushina restless.
While her mind spun with speculation, Naoki approached the girl calmly.
"It's Mikoto. What did you want to talk about?" he asked, his voice even.
Uchiha Mikoto. Older than him, likely in a higher grade, which explained why they'd never crossed paths before now. If she was waiting at the gate, it meant she had business with him.
"Mikoto?" Kushina repeated quietly, eyes flicking between the two of them. He called her by name, as if they were close. How long had they known each other?
Noticing the curiosity between them, Naoki gestured casually. "This is Uchiha Mikoto. She's a few years ahead of us here."
Then, glancing toward Kushina, he added, "And this is Uzumaki Kushina, we're both second-year, Class 1."
"So she's an upperclassman," Kushina muttered, realization dawning. Uchiha… no wonder she looked so graceful.
"It's nice to meet you, Mikoto. Just call me Kushina."
"Likewise," Mikoto smiled politely. "I'm in Class 1, Grade 4. Just Mikoto's fine."
The brief introduction done, Mikoto turned to Naoki. "Naoki, thank you for helping me yesterday. My grandfather wants to thank you in person. Could you come by my house?"
Naoki's first instinct was to refuse. He wanted to get home and train. But after a moment's thought, he nodded. Better not to offend someone from the Uchiha clan. If Mikoto was with him, he doubted any elder would try anything foolish.
"Then… see you tomorrow," Kushina said. But for some reason, saying goodbye felt strangely unpleasant today.
As Naoki left with Mikoto, an odd silence settled over them. Neither spoke, yet it wasn't awkward — both comfortable in the quiet.
Naoki realized as they walked that the Uchiha clan's district lay in the same direction as his own home. No wonder he'd run into Mikoto before. He also sensed a subtle gaze trailing them — likely a hidden Uchiha guard assigned to protect her.
As they neared the Uchiha compound, Naoki remembered something important.
If he didn't get Mikoto's hair now, it might be hard in the future since they weren't in the same grade.
"Mikoto," Naoki said suddenly, "could you give me one of your hairs?"
"Huh? What for?" Mikoto tilted her head, genuinely curious.
Without hesitation, she plucked a long, dark strand — longer than her arm — and handed it to him.
"For my collection," Naoki smiled. "And just call me Naoki."
"Alright, Naoki-kun," Mikoto chuckled. "You're an odd one, collecting hair."
"I'll give you one of mine too, so it's fair," Naoki said lightly, pulling out a strand and offering it to her.
"Thank you, Naoki-kun. I'll keep it safe." Mikoto carefully tucked the hair into her schoolbag, treating it like something precious.
Naoki watched the scene, feeling a little helpless. Of course, he couldn't explain that he needed it for training. He'd have to come clean eventually, but not now.
A few minutes later, Mikoto pointed ahead. "Here we are — this is our Uchiha district."
Naoki glanced over and saw a small, self-contained village within the village. Neatly arranged houses, its own commercial street, and clansmen with Uchiha emblems on their backs going about their business. It was well-organized and self-sufficient.
If Konoha was a large, thriving village, then the Uchiha compound was a perfectly managed miniature version of it — a village within a village.
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