Naruto—Chapter 5: Sasuke's Face Turned Green

  After Uchiha Mikoto got angry, she didn't dispy any rage. Instead, she offered a kind smile and spoke in an exceedingly gentle tone.

  "Sasuke, I've told you so many times that you need to respect women and elders. Please don't joke about age~"

  Mikoto slightly raised her fist and gave Sasuke a gentle punch on the head.

  Bang!

  The light punch left a noticeable bump on Sasuke's forehead.

  "This is just a small punishment for you. If it happens again, I won't hold back next time."

  Uchiha Mikoto narrowed her eyes and smiled pyfully.

  "Ah!"

  After feeling the jab on his head, Sasuke yelped, covering his forehead with his hands and squatting down, unable to gather the strength to get back up.

  Despite her gentle exterior, Uchiha Mikoto possessed the spirit of a strong female shinobi from the Uchiha cn. Her battle prowess was formidable, especially after witnessing the tragic fate of her cn and awakening her Mangekyō Sharingan, which made her fighting capabilities even more impressive.

  Uchiha Ayato had no way of knowing just how powerful Mikoto had become, but he assumed she was likely at least as strong as two Kakashis.

  When Uchiha Mikoto used her simple punch, it nearly made Sasuke cry.

  When women became furious, they could be far more terrifying than men.

  Worried about being caught in Mikoto's rage, Uchiha Ayato quickly concocts an excuse to slip away.

  "Auntie, I want to buy some tricolor dumplings. I'll take a detour first; you and my brother should head towards home."

  Without waiting for a response, he sprinted off.

  Mikoto called after him.

  "Make sure to come back on time so that the food I prepare won't get cold!"

  Watching Ayato flee, Sasuke felt a bitter frustration creep in.

  This guy constantly clings to his mom and takes advantage of her, yet whenever she gets angry, he's the first to run away. How shameless!

  But now wasn't the time to dwell on his annoyance with Ayato.

  "Mom, I want to practice at the training ground too…"

  While Mikoto was distracted watching Ayato's departing figure, Sasuke murmured, trying to tiptoe away.

  However, Mikoto caught him in the act. She seized his colr with one hand, pulling him back with ease, and began to educate him with an oddly nurturing tone.

  "You're not a child anymore. Why are you so petty about your brother?"

  "Who said I'm jealous of him? I'm a Genin now! How could I be jealous?"

  Pride swelled in Mikoto when she heard his protest.

  "Ayato just received praise from the Sandaime-sama. He recognized him as a genius and made an exception for him to become a Genin!"

  To Sasuke, Uchiha Ayato was nothing but a zy weakling who spent his days avoiding hard work.

  How could a rookie, who helps with housework, compare to a dedicated practitioner like himself?

  In Sasuke's eyes, his mother's praise stemmed from favoritism, while Sarutobi Hiruzen's words were mere acknowledgments coming from an adult.

  He didn't care about Ayato being made a Genin; the only thing bothering him was how casually his mother mentioned bathing with him.

  Sasuke hesitated for a moment, heat creeping to his cheeks as he finally asked, "Mom, when you said you were going to take a bath with him... were you serious? Are you going to bathe with him?"

  Mikoto noticed his lingering concern and sighed inwardly.

  Oh, Sasuke's view is so limited. He can't see the big picture of our family's revival; he's only focused on his quest for revenge against Itachi.

  He can't see Ayato's potential and only fixates on trivial matters like her taking a bath with him.

  It's truly childish.

  "Yes, it's very common. You're being too sensitive! If you think Mom favors Ayato, I can help you wash your back tomorrow too!"

  Sasuke's face flushed as he turned away shyly.

  "I'm not a kid. I don't need you to do that!"

  To retaliate against Ayato, Sasuke belittled his brother as childish.

  But Mikoto firmly disagreed.

  "You're mistaken. Ayato is willing to change his mindset and become a Genin for our family's revival. He's much more mature than you realize."

  Sasuke struggled to find the right words to counter her, inadvertently echoing Uchiha Itachi's sentiments.

  "You keep talking about family all the time. You're so petty!"

  Mikoto had argued countless times with Sasuke about the importance of family versus individual ability.

  She believed he was merely going through a rebellious phase, coupled with his hatred for Itachi, which made it impossible for her to reason with him.

  With a heavy heart, she sighed again.

  "Yes, yes, you have the greatest potential. Please don't let Mom down, and don't become like your brother. You need to be a better shinobi than he is."

  Sasuke pounded his chest with confidence.

  "Don't worry, Mom. One day, I'm going to bring his head back!"

  "You don't need to go that far. I just want you to be safe…"

  "…"

  As the conversation grew serious, a silence settled between them.

  Mikoto adeptly changed the subject.

  "I need to prepare a big dinner for Ayato tonight, so we should head home now."

  Sasuke reluctantly repced Ayato and walked home alongside Mikoto.

  However, being the cool kid he was, he maintained a significant distance from her side.

  Mikoto didn't reach for him either.

  To any bystanders, Ayato resembled Mikoto's true son more than Sasuke did.

  As they walked in silence, Sasuke couldn't shake thoughts of Mikoto and Ayato bathing together.

  The more he pondered, the more irritated he became; one burning question nagged at him relentlessly.

  "Mom, When you bathe with that guy, you wrap yourself in a towel, right?"

  This was a critically important question for Sasuke.

  If Mikoto didn't cover herself with a towel, it meant Ayato could see her naked.

  Mikoto paused for a moment, pressing a finger to her lips as she considered.

  "...Well, even though Ayato is still a child, he's not a little kid anymore. I should go in wrapped in a towel this time."

  Upon hearing this response, Sasuke felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

  Does this mean that st time she wasn't wrapped in a towel?

  Has Mom been seen naked by him before?

  Sasuke's head swirled with confusion, akin to eating a bitter melon; his whole face contorted with disgust at the thought...

  ____

  Support me on [patreon.com/TheAbsoluteBeginning] for access to advanced chapters and exclusive content

  End of Chapter