Chapter 524
I only made one mistake that every man in the world would make.
Chapter 524 I only made a mistake that every man in the world would make.
After breakfast, Kiyoshi said he had other things to do and left using a space-time ninjutsu.
Sasuke changed into his training clothes and went to the backyard.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Mikoto walked to the window.
Sasuke trained very hard, striving for perfection in every movement.
Mikoto looked at her son, a surge of pride welling up inside her, but it was quickly overwhelmed by another emotion.
If Naruto is also Kiyoshi's son, then what is Sasuke?
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Mikoto took a deep breath, composed herself, and walked towards the entrance.
The door opened, and standing outside was Naruto.
The black-haired boy wore an orange tracksuit, a bright smile on his face, and held two scrolls in his arms.
"Good morning, Aunt Mikoto. Is Sasuke home?"
"Yes, he's training in the backyard."
Mikoto smiled and turned to the side.
"Come in."
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Naruto took off his shoes and went inside, heading towards the backyard with practiced ease.
Mikoto watched his retreating figure, her gaze lingering on his black hair and black eyes.
She used to think Naruto looked like Kushina, but now that she looks closely, she realizes that his eyebrows, nose, and even the way he smiles all resemble Kiyoshi.
This discovery made her heart skip a beat.
Many of the things that were just speculations before are now being increasingly confirmed, making Mikoto feel that something is definitely not right.
So Mikoto turned around and went into the kitchen to start preparing fruit.
She washed the apples, grapes, and oranges, cut them into small pieces, and arranged them on a delicate porcelain plate.
Soon, she carried the fruit platter to the backyard.
On the training field, Sasuke and Naruto had already begun sparring.
It's still early; even after the practice session ends, there's still time to get to school.
Neither of them used ninjutsu; it was purely a taijutsu sparring match.
Sasuke's movements were more precise, and his talent in taijutsu could be said to far surpass Naruto's.
Naruto, on the other hand, used his Sharingan's dynamic vision to track Sasuke's movements.
Although Naruto has awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, he has not yet fully mastered its power.
Just like Sarada in "Boruto", even though she has awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, she still needs time to adapt before she can unleash her eye techniques.
"Sasuke, watch this!"
Naruto shouted and threw a straight punch at Sasuke.
Sasuke dodged to the side, and at the same time swept his leg towards Naruto's lower body.
Naruto jumped to dodge, but lost his balance in mid-air and fell to the ground in a sorry state.
"Haha, you're still a long way from being the worst!"
Sasuke smirked.
"hateful!"
Naruto got up and dusted himself off.
"Once I master the physical techniques my father... Uncle Kiyoshi gave me, I will definitely defeat you!"
"Uncle Qing Si?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"Did I give you the martial arts scroll?"
"Ok!"
Naruto pulled a scroll out of his pocket and waved it around proudly.
"This is the foundation of the Uchiha clan's fluid jutsu, as well as fire-style ninjutsu!"
A hint of envy flashed in Sasuke's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
He actually wanted more attention from his father.
However, considering that Kiyoshi was his father and Naruto was just an outsider, he was still thinking about it.
Sasuke felt much better.
"The Hokage is so kind to you."
He said it in a flat tone.
"Of course!"
Naruto didn't catch the sense of superiority in Sasuke's words and continued talking to himself.
"Uncle Kiyoshi... said I have a lot of talent, and that as long as I practice hard, I will definitely become stronger!"
Sasuke pursed his lips, about to say something, when he saw Mikoto walking over.
"Mother."
Mikoto carried the fruit platter to the bench by the training field and put the platter down.
"Take a break and have some fruit."
"Thank you, Mom."
"Thank you, Aunt Mikoto!"
The two children ran over, sat down on the bench, and began to eat fruit.
Mikoto stood to the side, her hands folded in front of her.
Her gaze moved between the two children, finally settling on Naruto.
"Naruto,"
She suddenly spoke, her voice gentle.
"Your aunt has always been curious about what kind of person your father was."
"!"
Naruto almost dropped the orange in his hand.
He stiffly turned his head to look at Mikoto.
Aunt Mikoto had a gentle smile on her face and a calm look in her eyes, as if she were just asking a casual question.
But Naruto felt that those black eyes seemed to see through something.
"I...I don't know."
Naruto lowered his head, his voice slightly flustered.
“I have never met my father. My mother said that he died when I was very young.”
"Yeah."
Mikoto's voice was devoid of emotion.
"Kushina must have had a tough time."
"Um……"
Naruto responded softly, his fingers unconsciously twisting together.
Sasuke, who was listening nearby, suddenly interjected:
"Naruto's father must be Uchiha."
"Huh?"
Naruto was taken aback.
"Otherwise, how would you have the Sharingan?"
Assistant Zuo said, of course.
"And it's the Mangekyou Sharingan. Your mother is from the Uzumaki clan, so she wouldn't have the Sharingan. Therefore, your father must be an Uchiha."
As he spoke, a smug smile appeared on his face:
"But even if your father is an Uchiha, he's definitely not as powerful as my father."
Naruto's expression froze.
He looked at Sasuke's proud face, then secretly glanced at Mikoto.
Aunt Mikoto was still smiling, but Naruto keenly sensed that there seemed to be something cold hidden beneath that smile.
"Um... Sasuke, let's continue training."
Naruto stood up and tugged at Sasuke's sleeve.
He didn't want to continue the conversation.
Even Naruto didn't want to ask Sasuke who his father was.
Sasuke also sensed the subtle change in the atmosphere. He glanced at his mother and noticed that although Mikoto's expression was gentle, there was something in the depths of her eyes that he couldn't understand.
It's a bit... scary.
"Okay, okay."
Sasuke also stood up.
"Let's go practice shuriken over there. We should leave after a little more training."
The two children left in a hurry, leaving Mikoto standing alone by the chair.
The smile on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold calm.
Mikoto looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling slightly.
She knew Naruto was lying.
She knew Sasuke was right.
Kiyoshi is indeed the strongest.
But that's precisely why she's in even more pain.
If Kiyoshi were just an ordinary man, she might have been able to use the power of the Uchiha clan to coerce him and use her status as his wife to restrain him.
They even used their pupil techniques to imprison and restrain him.
But Kiyoshi is the Hokage, and the strongest Hokage in history, an existence that transcends all rules.
In his presence, the so-called family, status, and title all seemed pale and powerless.
Mikoto took a deep breath, turned around, and went back into the house.
She needs to calm down.
We also need to... confirm some things.
The sun was shining brightly in the afternoon.
Mikoto changed into an outfit for going out, the fabric of which was embroidered with an exquisite Uchiha fan pattern.
She tied her long black hair into a ponytail, then carried a food box out of the house.
The food box contained freshly made tricolor dumplings and red bean soup, some of Kushina's favorite foods.
Not long after, she stopped in front of Kushina's house and looked up at the ordinary-looking building.
Mikoto took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock on the door.
"coming."
Kushina's voice came from inside the house, followed by footsteps.
The door opened, and a red-haired woman appeared in the doorway.
She was wearing a casual T-shirt and trousers, her hair casually tied in a ponytail, and when she saw Mikoto, a look of surprise still flashed in her eyes.
"Mikoto? What brings you here?"
"I made some of your favorite dishes."
Mikoto held up the food box and smiled.
"Is it convenient for me to come in?"
"Of course, please come in."
Kushina stepped aside.
Mikoto went inside and changed into slippers.
The living room was very tidy, with a few cushions on the sofa and a photo of Kiyoshi and Kushina on the TV cabinet.
It appears to be a photo of a mission.
However, besides these, there are also many photos of Kushina with other people.
For example, Naruto, Mikoto, Mito Uzumaki, Tsunade, etc., so it doesn't seem too abrupt.
Mikoto's gaze lingered on the photo for a few seconds before shifting away.
"Please sit down, I'll make some tea."
Kushina walked towards the kitchen.
Mikoto sat down on the sofa and placed the food box on the coffee table.
She looked around; the house reflected Kushina's taste in every detail.
Warm colors, green plants everywhere, and brightly colored abstract paintings hanging on the walls.
It was completely different from her traditional Uchiha mansion.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Kushina came over with a tea tray and sat down opposite her.
"What brings you here today?"
"miss you."
Mikoto said softly, "Open the food box."
"Try this, my newly learned recipe for red bean soup."
Kushina looked at the delicate dumplings and the steaming red bean soup, and said happily:
"You're still so considerate."
Mikoto didn't reply, but simply pushed the bowl in front of Kushina.
"Naruto went to train with Sasuke today."
Mikoto suddenly spoke, her tone casual.
"That child is making rapid progress."
"Yeah……"
Kushina's hand paused.
"Sasuke is also very strong; Naruto always loses to him."
"But Naruto is very persistent and doesn't get discouraged when he loses."
Mikoto smiled.
"That's a lot like his father."
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat oppressive after those words.
Kushina looked up and met Mikoto's eyes.
Mikoto was still smiling, but there was no smile in the depths of her dark eyes.
"Mikoto, you..."
"Kushina."
Mikoto interrupted her, her voice still gentle, yet carrying an undeniable force.
How many years have we known each other?
"...More than twenty years have passed."
"More than twenty years."
Mikoto repeats.
"In all these years since Naruto was born, have I ever asked you who Naruto's father is?"
Kushina's face paled.
"I haven't asked because I respect you, and also because we are best friends."
Mikoto continued, her fingers gently stroking the rim of the teacup.
"However, Sasuke told me that Naruto had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan."
She raised her eyes and looked directly at Kushina:
"Now, can you tell me? Who exactly is Naruto's father?"
Kushina opened her mouth, as if to say something, but no sound came out.
Her fingers gripped the hem of her dress tightly, her knuckles turning white, her eyes darting away, avoiding Mikoto's gaze. Her guilty expression said it all.
Mikoto's heart sank to the bottom.
Although I had already guessed the answer, I could only truly feel it after seeing it with my own eyes.
Even now that it's confirmed, she still feels a suffocating pain.
She put down her teacup and stood up.
"I understand."
"Mikoto, let me explain..."
Kushina also stood up and said urgently.
No explanation needed.
Mikoto interrupted her.
"I understand."
She walked to the entrance and put on her shoes.
But in the instant she turned around, Kushina saw a fleeting chill in her eyes.
Mikoto's Mangekyou Sharingan had been revealed at some point.
At this moment, an eerie red light flickered on the Mangekyou Sharingan.
It was an emotion that Kushina had never seen in Mikoto's eyes before.
"Mikoto..."
Kushina's voice trembled slightly.
"Thank you for the tea."
Mikoto opened the door and walked out without looking back.
The door closed gently, leaving Kushina standing alone in the living room.
…………
It takes about fifteen minutes to get from Kushina's house to the Hokage Building.
During those fifteen minutes, Mikoto walked very slowly.
She needs time to process her emotions and think about what to do next.
Questioning Qing Si?
Will you make a scene? Or will you pretend you know nothing and continue playing the role of a gentle and virtuous wife, just like before?
Mikoto doesn't know.
All she knew was that she was going crazy.
Jealousy clung to her heart like a poisonous vine, tightening its grip until it almost suffocated her.
The Mangekyou Sharingan was faintly heating up; she could feel that power yearning to be released, yearning to transform all her jealousy and resentment into tangible chains to bind everything that caused her pain.
Her pupil power is increasing rapidly.
Perhaps due to long-term oral and internal use of "Seiji Cells", Mikoto's body has also undergone many changes.
Her eye power limit had long been as vast as the "Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan".
Now, further changes have occurred.
When they arrived at the Hokage Building, Mikoto withdrew her Sharingan.
"Lady Mikoto, the Hokage is currently working."
The gatekeeper ninja said respectfully.
“I know, I need to talk to him about something.”
Mikoto's voice was gentle.
"No need to announce it, I'll go up myself."
"Yes."
Mikoto walked into the building and came to the Hokage's office. She didn't knock on the door immediately, but stood there and took a few deep breaths.
He ran his fingers along the hem of the clothes, smoothing out a slight wrinkle.
Then, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Kiyoshi's voice came from inside the door.
Mikoto pushed open the door and entered.
The office was much the same as when Kushina came yesterday, except that all the documents on the desk had been cleared away.
It's unclear whether Kiyoshi handled it himself or assigned Minato Namikaze to help.
"Mikoto? What brings you here?"
Mikoto closed the door, walked to the desk, and instead of going around to Kiyoshi as usual, stood opposite him with her hands folded in front of her.
Kiyoshi noticed something was wrong. He put down his pen, leaned back slightly, and rested his head on the chair.
"what happened?"
Qing Si asked.
Mikoto looked into his eyes, her reflection shimmering in those deep black pupils.
So many years have passed, and this man is still breathtakingly handsome, and still...heartbreaking.
"I just went to see Kushina."
Mikoto spoke, her voice calm.
"Really? Is she alright?"
Qing Si arrived.
"very good."
Mikoto nodded.
"Naruto is with her too."
Mikoto stepped forward, placed her hands on the desk, and leaned forward slightly.
This movement caused her kimono collar to open slightly, revealing more of her fair skin, but she didn't care at all.
"Seiji."
She looked him straight in the eye and asked, word by word.
"Naruto is your son, isn't he?"
Kiyoshi looked at Mikoto in silence.
The village is only so big, and Mikoto isn't stupid.
They simply chose to deceive themselves to block out the truth.
When Naruto awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan, he didn't reveal it.
Sasuke was present this time, so Mikoto found out as well.
Children can't keep secrets.
Kiyoshi knew that day would come sooner or later.
However, besides Naruto, who is also a lightning bolt, he also has Kaguya Otsutsuki and Hagoromo Otsutsuki in his household.
Kiyoshi guessed that if Mikoto knew, she would be even angrier.
Mikoto didn't urge Kiyoshi, but simply maintained that posture, waiting for Kiyoshi's reply.
She could hear her own heartbeat, one beat after another.
Finally, Kiyoshi spoke.
"Yes."
In short, it's simple, direct, and without any explanation or cover-up.
Mikoto felt as if her heart had been stabbed, the pain so intense that she could barely stand.
But she held on, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the pain to stay awake.
"When did it start?"
Mikoto's eye power unconsciously emanated, even forming a semi-transparent "Susanoo Rib".
It just hasn't fully taken shape yet.
"Later than Sasuke, I suppose."
Kiyoshi said.
"And what about your relationship with Kushina? Am I the third party who came between you two?"
"No."
Kiyoshi stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of her.
"I just made a mistake that every man in the world would make."
"Let's talk somewhere else."
Why change locations?
Before Mikoto could finish speaking, Kiyoshi had already grabbed her wrist.
His movements were slow, even gentle, but Mikoto found herself completely unable to break free.
Those fingers were long and strong, and their warmth emanated from the skin.
"This place is not suitable."
Kiyoshi watched as a crimson hue began to appear in her eyes.
"You want to vent, I'll give you space, but not here."
Before the words were even finished, the scene in the office began to distort.
The space rippled like water, and Mikoto felt a slight dizziness. The next moment, she found herself standing in an unfamiliar forest.
Afternoon sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Qing Si released her hand, took a few steps back, and gave her enough space.
"Now you can speak."
Kiyoshi said.
"You can also do anything you want."
Mikoto stood there, her heart pounding with turmoil.
Her black hair was a little messy during the transmission, with a few strands sticking to her sweaty forehead.
Her fair and delicate face was flushed, not from shyness, but from anger and pain.
"You brought me here thinking I would calm down?"
Mikoto's voice trembled.
"Kiyoshi, you know me too well, and you know me too little."
She raised her hand, her fingertips tracing the corner of her eye.
Kaleidoscope Sharingan!
"My eyes,"
She spoke softly, her voice tinged with self-mockery.
"It was because of you that I awakened, you know that?"
Kiyoshi looked at her quietly without saying a word.
A massive amount of chakra erupted from Mikoto's body. The chakra was so dense it was almost tangible, swirling around her.
The crisp sound of bones growing could be heard.
The ribcage took shape first, followed by the spine, sternum, and skull, and the outline of a half-skull appeared in the chakra.
"I've been holding back these past few days."
"I told myself, 'Take a step back and you'll see a brighter future. Naruto is innocent, Kushina is my friend, and you...you care about me.'"
The Susanoo continued to expand, giving rise to flesh and blood, a meridian system, and even armor.
"But the more I think about it, the angrier I get."
Mikoto raised her hand and aimed it at Kiyoshi.
"you belong With Me!"
The moment those words were spoken, Susanoo's complete form was created.
A chakra giant, over eighteen meters tall, appeared in the arena.
He held a long sword formed from chakra in his right hand; the blade was narrow and gleamed with a cold light.
The long sword slashed down.
It's just the simplest and most direct vertical split.
But the power contained in this strike was terrifying; wherever the blade passed, the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp, explosive sound. Even before the blade arrived, the oppressive force had already caused the ground to crack.
Kiyoshi did not dodge.
He stood there, looking up at the falling giant blade, without even mobilizing his chakra.
His long black hair was blown about by the wind from the sword, and his Hokage robe fluttered in the wind.
Clang!
The deafening clang of metal colliding was deafening.
The chakra sword struck Kiyoshi's arm directly.
This is the part that Mikoto specifically chose.
Because this is not a vital location.
Unfortunately, Mikoto discovered that she couldn't cut through it at all!
She knew Kiyoshi was strong, but she hadn't expected him to be this strong. Her Susanoo's attack, powerful enough to split a small mountain, couldn't even break through Kiyoshi's defenses?
"Let's continue, Misaka."
Kiyoshi said.
"Let out all your anger, jealousy, and resentment."
Mikoto gritted her teeth, and Susanoo withdrew its long sword, changing to a horizontal slash.
This time, a layer of flame adhered to the blade.
Wherever the flames passed, the vegetation on the ground instantly turned to ashes, and traces of melting appeared on the surface of the rocks.
Qing Si still didn't move.
Currently, only physical techniques or "immortal techniques" can break through Kiyoshi's defenses.
Mikoto's current attacks are actually using chakra.
Seeing that Kiyoshi was unharmed no matter how she attacked him, Mikoto was completely dumbfounded.
Why is Kiyoshi... completely unharmed?
How is this going?
Is he still a ninja?
Amidst her confusion, Susanoo's chakra surged like flames as her emotions fluctuated violently, causing the giant's size to expand from eighteen meters to twenty meters, and then to twenty-two meters.
Then Mikoto refined a large amount of chakra and slashed at Kiyoshi with all her might.
The chakra-formed sword light engulfed Kiyoshi's figure.
Then, it dissipated.
Kiyoshi remained standing there, without moving an inch.
The ground beneath his feet was intact, and everything within a three-meter radius of him was unaffected.
Three meters away is a huge ravine that is ten meters deep and a hundred meters long.
The difference is clear.
Mikoto was stunned.
She hovered in the "Complete Susanoo," her Mangekyou Sharingan staring at the figure, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Her all-out attack couldn't even get Kiyoshi to mobilize his chakra for defense?
"Why……"
She murmured.
Kiyoshi shook his head.
Such is the cruelty beneath the Six Realms.
This is the power system of the ninja world.
(End of this chapter)