Chapter 66: Naruto at the Uchiha Clan Compound
Naruto rushed headlong into the Uchiha clan compound, occasionally passing by some Police Force members. At first, they considered scolding him for running around recklessly, but after recognizing him, they sensibly pretended not to see.
However, after running for a while, Naruto finally stopped, realizing that he was completely lost.
He wandered through the Uchiha compound, feeling a bit uneasy. Yet, he soon noticed that this place was different from the rest of the village. Though people were busy, they treated him just like a normal kid. They didn't hurl insults at him, and some elderly women even stopped to check on him, asking if he was lost.
This experience was entirely new to Naruto. Since the Nine-Tails Incident, the Uchiha clan had been forced to relocate to the village outskirts, isolating them from most other villagers. Their compound was mostly self-sufficient, with its own market and living facilities, making outside interaction minimal. As a result, many of the non-shinobi Uchihas didn't even know what Naruto looked like, only hearing vague rumors. Thus, they didn't associate this blond, blue-eyed child with the "fox demon" they had heard about.
While basking in this rare peace, Naruto suddenly heard a familiar, but somewhat cold voice.
"Dead last, what are you doing here?"
Naruto turned and saw Sasuke, standing at a corner with his usual cool demeanor.
"Sasuke? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, surprised but also relieved to see a familiar face.
"This is my home, idiot. Why wouldn't I be here?" Sasuke replied, trying to maintain his aloof, genius persona. Yet, the subtle hint of joy in his eyes gave him away.
"Oh, right! I forgot you lived here," Naruto said casually. Then he frowned, realizing something. "And hey! Stop calling me 'dead last'! I'm not weak anymore!"
Naruto had been working hard since moving into Kakashi's place, even learning some basic Taijutsu techniques. Though his theoretical scores hadn't improved much due to his poor school attendance, his combat skills had made noticeable progress.
Sasuke scoffed, "You still can't beat me. So yeah, you're still dead last."
"Hmph! I'll definitely beat you one day!" Naruto shot back, pouting.
Sasuke then glanced at him and asked, "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Oh, right! Kakashi-nii said we're here for a big feast, but… I kinda got lost…" Naruto admitted, scratching his head.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, then sighed, "You mean the clan banquet? Come on, I'll take you there."
---
As the banquet preparations continued, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto were already at the site, greeting guests. At Douhuan's suggestion, Sasuke had also been brought along, while Itachi had been sent to oversee clan businesses outside the village.
While helping to prepare, Mikoto noticed Sasuke approaching with a blond boy in tow. Curious, she called out, "Sasuke!"
Sasuke led Naruto over, and Mikoto greeted them with a gentle smile.
"Who's this?" Mikoto asked, though the bright blond hair already gave her an inkling.
"This is Naruto, one of my classmates," Sasuke introduced.
Naruto, despite being a bit rough around the edges, managed a respectful greeting. "Hello, Auntie! My name is Uzumaki Naruto."
Hearing the surname "Uzumaki", Mikoto's expression softened, and her thoughts wandered to memories of her old friend.
"Do you know me?" Naruto asked, tilting his head at her unexpected reaction.
Mikoto quickly composed herself and smiled. "Ah, I just heard Sasuke mention you before."
"What? I never said anything about him!" Sasuke immediately protested.
With a calm smile, Mikoto pushed his raised hand down and ignored his objection, turning to Naruto. "Naruto, right? You're always welcome to visit here. You can come anytime…" She trailed off, realizing that saying so openly might cause trouble.
Just then, a calm and authoritative voice interrupted, "It's fine. Let him come whenever he wants."
Turning around, Mikoto saw Fugaku approaching, accompanied by Uchiha Douhuan and Kakashi.
"Dad! Teacher!" Sasuke greeted them cheerfully.
"Kakashi-nii!" Naruto called out, brightening up.
Kakashi walked over and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Naruto, if I'm away on a mission, you can come over here and stay with Uncle Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto. You'll also have your Douhuan-nii to keep you company."
Douhuan gave Sasuke a playful nudge on the shoulder. "Remember, Sasuke, if a friend visits, you're supposed to be a good host. Didn't I teach you that?"
Sasuke gave a determined nod, "I know! Having friends from afar is a great joy!"
As the two boys ran off to play, Mikoto looked worriedly at the adults.
Douhuan reassured her with a gentle smile. "Relax, Mikoto-nee. It's different now. We don't need to worry about causing a stir just because Naruto is around."
Hearing this, Mikoto's tense shoulders finally relaxed. "So… I can help take care of him now?"
Kakashi chimed in, "Of course. You and Sensei's wife were good friends. I'm not great at raising kids, and sometimes I can't take care of him properly. It'd be a relief if you could help out."
Fugaku placed a hand on Mikoto's shoulder, offering his own support. "You've worried about this child for so many years. From now on, you don't have to be so cautious. Let people see that the Uchiha clan doesn't shy away from being associated with Naruto. We won't let anyone use a seven-year-old kid to make trouble."
Mikoto's eyes softened, filled with both gratitude and determination. At long last, she could openly care for the child of her late friend.
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