Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Fugaku Uchiha walked along the cobblestone streets within the clan's territory, his pace neither fast nor slow.

A boy was following a few meters behind him.

The boy's name was Feng, and he claimed to be an Uchiha orphan who had been separated from his family and living away from home.

This is the third week that the boy has been placed in a remote courtyard in the clan's territory.

For the past three weeks, he has been like an insect trapped in a transparent glass box, his every move being silently observed.

However, this insect's performance was rather uninteresting.

He gets up before dawn every day and does basic physical training in the small courtyard.

Clumsy movements and mediocre endurance.

Then, he would practice shuriken. His results were even more appalling; eight out of ten shots missed the bullseye, and the remaining two were also off target.

He never complained, and he never slacked off.

After training, he would sit under the eaves in a daze, or draw incomprehensible patterns on the ground with a twig.

When a member of his tribe passes by outside the wall, he will look up and give a slightly shy, yet somewhat ingratiating, smile.

That smile was as pure as morning dew, without any impurities.

This flawless ordinariness made Fugaku frown even more deeply.

"Lord Fugaku."

A member of the guard unit strode over and reported in a low voice, "As you instructed, we have examined him using the clan's secret techniques. His bloodline... is fine."

Fugaku paused for a moment.

Blood ties cannot be faked.

A boy with Uchiha blood flowing through his veins.

He waved his hand, signaling his team members to step back, then stopped and turned to look at the boy.

Feng seemed startled by his sudden gaze, instinctively taking a half step back, his hands nervously clutching the faded hem of his clothes, his head lowered, unable to meet his eyes.

"Starting today, you can move out of that yard."

Fugaku's voice was devoid of emotion. "You are free to move around within the clan's territory. But do not leave the village, understand?"

The boy suddenly raised his head, a hint of confusion flashing in his black eyes before they were filled with immense, unbelievable ecstasy.

"Yes...yes! Lord Fugaku!"

He nodded vigorously, his voice trembling with emotion, "Thank you! Thank you!"

Fugaku Uchiha didn't say anything more and turned to continue walking forward.

Behind him, the young Feng raised his hand, wiped his eyes haphazardly with his sleeve, and then took a step forward, cautiously following behind, like a fledgling bird being allowed to leave its nest for the first time, full of curiosity and timidity about everything around it.

He looked at the houses lining both sides of the street, the red lanterns hanging under the eaves, and the clansmen dressed in clothes with the clan emblem of round fans talking and laughing naturally with the villagers in other clothes.

A young Uchiha man with a ponytail was arm in arm with a ninja from the Inuzuka clan, pointing at a newly opened dango shop by the roadside and arguing about whether the new wasabi flavor was heresy.

A Hyuga woman, holding a child, was smiling as she asked a passing Uchiha housewife how to quickly dry damp clothes on a rainy day.

All of this was completely different from the knowledge that Black Zetsu had implanted in him about Konoha's deep suspicion of the Uchiha clan.

There were no barriers, no wariness, only a warm atmosphere called life that felt unfamiliar to him.

His eyes revealed a deep sense of awe and longing.

---

Mikoto Uchiha was carrying a shopping basket, preparing to go to the newly opened ecological farm direct-sale store to buy some fresh tomatoes.

Itachi was very well-behaved today and didn't cry or fuss, giving her some rare time to herself.

As she turned the corner, she saw a boy who looked somewhat familiar.

The boy, who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, was wearing old clothes that didn't fit him very well. He was squatting on the ground, carefully handing a small piece of jerky to a wary stray cat.

It's that child who's been the talk of the clan lately, the one who returned from the Land of Wind.

Mikoto slowed her pace.

The ninja cat let out a low whimper, hesitating to go forward.

The boy wasn't in a hurry; he simply maintained that posture, a gentle smile on his face, and whispered something.

His profile looked exceptionally handsome in the sunlight, but he was too thin, with a pallor that suggested long-term malnutrition.

His black eyes were bright, like washed obsidian, but there was always a hint of timidity and unease in them, making him look like a frightened little animal.

In the end, the ninja cat couldn't resist the temptation of the food, quickly snatched the jerky, and ran away in a flash.

The boy looked at his empty hands and smiled contentedly.

"Hello there."

Mikoto walked over.

Upon hearing the voice, the boy froze, turned around, and saw it was her. He quickly stood up, hastily patted the dust off his pants, and bowed deeply to Mikoto.

"Hello... Hello."

His voice was soft and a little hoarse.

"My name is Uchiha Mikoto."

Mikoto introduced herself with a gentle smile, a smile that carried a reassuring power. "Your name is Feng, right?"

"Yes...yes, Misaka-sama."

Feng's head drooped even lower.

"Don't be so formal."

Seeing his nervous expression, Mikoto felt a sudden pang of pity. "I heard you just got back not long ago. Are you settling in?"

"I...I'm used to it!" Feng nodded vigorously. "This place...is great, a million times better than I imagined. Everyone...is so kind to me."

He spoke haltingly, as if struggling to find the right words.

Mikoto saw the purest gratitude in his eyes, and a trace of inferiority that he couldn't hide.

This child must have suffered a lot out there.