The next morning, Haruki watched the large screen in front of him. It displayed an empty, silent room.
A moment later, Yuta appeared behind him.
"Master Haruki, the arrangements have been completed," he reported.
Haruki turned his head slightly. "Good. When Mikoto arrives, have her wait in this room."
"Understood." Yuta nodded and vanished once more.
Haruki turned his attention back to the computer and created a new document.
[Sharingan Experiment]
[Individual: Mikoto Uchiha]
[Initial Means: Illusion]
[Stimulation Content: Clan Massacre]
[Result: Pending…]
In the original series, Mikoto was portrayed as gentle and kind, deeply valuing her husband and sons.
On the night of the Uchiha massacre, she offered no resistance to Itachi. Instead, she simply asked him to take care of Sasuke.
Haruki glanced at the screen again.
Mikoto was already waiting at the door. He stood up and changed into a white lab coat.
There were many ways to trigger an illusion, but the most typical method was through eye contact.
"Mikoto."
She turned at the sound of his voice. When she saw him dressed in white, she was momentarily dazed.
'No wonder Kushina keeps talking about marrying Sensei…'
That brief moment of distraction was all it took for her to fall into the illusion.
But she didn't realize it.
"Sensei," Mikoto greeted after regaining her focus.
"Follow me," Haruki said, pushing open the door and stepping inside. He reached for a scroll on the bookshelf.
"You haven't learned any B-rank ninjutsu yet, have you?"
"No," Mikoto admitted, shaking her head.
Despite being an Uchiha, her talent had never been outstanding.
Moreover, She was just a Genin. Learning C-rank jutsu was already above the norm. Most Genin only mastered the three bodies techniques and basic shuriken technique.
By normal standards, she, Minato, and Kushina were already prepared for the Chunin Exams.
"I'll teach you a few B-rank Fire Release techniques from the Uchiha clan in advance," Haruki said, tossing her the scroll.
Mikoto's eyes brightened as she caught it. "Thank you, Sensei!"
"I've explained everything. You can practice with Minato, Kushina, and the others for now," Haruki added.
"Yes!" Mikoto nodded, her excitement clear.
Haruki then took Mikoto to the third training ground.
With the help of three coloured pills and his medical ninjutsu, her training wrapped up in just two weeks.
Once they reached the border, the three of them took on numerous missions, their strength making them stand out.
After the war, they were all promoted to Chunin.
Mikoto eventually rmarried Fugaku and they had two sons, Itachi and Sasuke, just like in the original timeline.
She loved them dearly.
But happiness never lasted long.
The Uchiha clan began planning a coup.
And then, tragedy struck.
Itachi, having fully embraced the Will of Fire, turned against his own people.
Mikoto stood frozen as the air filled with screams. Blood splattered everywhere, painting the moon a deep crimson.
"No… NO!" She reached out in desperation, but all she could grasp was Fugaku's fallen body.
Itachi's face remained emotionless as he drove his blade straight through six-year-old Sasuke without hesitation.
Warm blood splattered across his face, mixing with his silent tears.
"...Mom."
In a blink, he appeared in front of her, his sword raised. But just as he was about to strike, his hand faltered.
"It's okay, Itachi." Mikoto gave him a broken smile, reaching out to grasp his hand. Then, she pulled the blade forward, straight into her stomach.
She knew.
She knew he had been brainwashed by the village elders, forced to choose between the village and his clan.
She hated that he had chosen the village over his own family but there was nothing she could do.
She hated how her clan had been cast aside and mistreated by the villagers but there was nothing she could do.
She wished she could have helped Fugaku, who had been caught between duty and loyalty but there was nothing she could do.
She was powerless.
Helpless.
Talentless.
'If only I had been just a little stronger…'
That was her final thought as blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.
Back in the real world, Mikoto let out a wild, gut-wrenching scream, like someone on the brink of madness, or like a weak person crying out in despair.
Blood trickled from her eyes as an overwhelming power surged through her body.
The illusion shattered, breaking apart like fragile glass.
She gasped for breath, her vision swimming as she took in her surroundings. The room was familiar yet unfamiliar.
'What…? Wasn't I just at home?'
'Wait… was that all… an illusion?'
A wave of exhaustion hit her, especially around her eyes.
"Stop using your Sharingan," Haruki's voice came from in front of her. "With your current chakra reserves, keeping it active for too long will drain you completely."
"Sensei?" Mikoto forced a tired smile. "What… what just happened?"
"You were in an illusion." Haruki's tone was calm as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Mikoto exhaled slowly and deactivated her Sharingan.
Her body felt heavy, and when she glanced down, she realized her clothes were completely soaked in sweat. Even though it had been just an illusion, the emotions she experienced had been painfully real.
'Who the hell comes up with something so cruel?!' her gaze instinctively snapped toward Haruki.
"It wasn't me," he said, as if reading her thoughts. "The illusion was set up by Kawagoe Yuta."
Mikoto frowned. "Who's that?"
"A jonin skilled in genjutsu." Haruki shrugged, completely selling out his subordinate. "If you're pissed off, feel free to challenge him."
Mikoto narrowed her eyes.
"But," Haruki continued, "you've only just awakened your Sharingan. It's not stable yet. I'd recommend waiting a bit before picking that fight."
Mikoto suddenly smiled. "Sensei, aren't you going to explain yourself?"
Haruki sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask. But since you want to know, I'll tell you."
"The Sharingan awakens through emotional stimulation or, to put it simply, by experiencing love and then losing it."
Mikoto was momentarily stunned. That explained why the illusion had been so extreme.
"But how do you know this, Sensei? My clan's records don't mention anything like that." She narrowed her eyes, watching him closely.
Haruki smiled. "The stone tablet at Naka Shrine."
Mikoto frowned. She wasn't familiar with the tablet's contents, but Naka Shrine was sacred to the Uchiha clan.
"Now that you've awakened your Sharingan, you are qualified to read the inscription, at least a part of it. It might answer some of your questions." Haruki paused before adding, "But I'd advise you to wait until you're stronger before taking a look."
He then flashed a knowing smile. "As for how I know all this… it's complicated."
"And frankly, you're not strong enough yet to hear that explanation."
Mikoto exhaled, taking a deep breath. "I get it."
After a brief silence, she hesitated before asking, "Sensei, that illusion… everything I saw… it was fake, right?"
Even now, just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine.
"Of course it was." Haruki grinned, narrowing his eyes. 'Since it won't be happening'
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Sparky's Note: Soldiers, keep the story moving forward with your [Power Stones]