Mornings were a rush in the Uchiha household. Itachi, the elder son of the family, had departed from the house five years ago. He, along with his wife Izumi and their daughter, had relocated to Tokyo. Itachi was now at the helm of Uchiha Enterprises, a subsidiary branch of the main company founded by Fugaku years ago.
In Leaf City, Sasuke resided with his mother, Mikoto.
Mikoto was sipping her coffee and reading the newspaper while the maids served her breakfast. The sunlight greeted the living room through the enormous tinted window.
"Good morning, mother," Sasuke said as he pecked Mikoto's cheeks and sat beside her. He grabbed a croissant.
"Good morning, my dear son," she beamed as she lovingly ruffled his tresses.
"I will be leaving for Hokkaido tonight i have a meeting there"
Mikoto let out an exasperated sigh as she watched Sasuke engrossed in his work again. She couldn't help but feel frustrated that both of her sons seemed to always be preoccupied with their respective responsibilities.
"Looking very sharp today. Must be because you're so focused on your work," she quipped with a hint of playfulness, trying to offer Sasuke a compliment. He responded with a lighthearted scoff.
"You used to say the same thing to Itachi."
"Well, what can I say? Both of my sons are handsome. The elder one is off starting his own family now, and here I am with you while you're constantly buried in your company work."
As he sat at the breakfast table with Mikoto, he began to explain the situation to her. Suddenly, the shrill ring of the phone interrupted their conversation.
"Excuse me, I need to take this call," he said, gesturing a two-minute sign with his fingers before stepping away to answer the phone. It was Naruto, his assistant, calling to ask when Sasuke would be arriving at the airport.
Meanwhile, Mikoto finished her breakfast, ran her fingers through her cat's fur, and continued reading her newspaper, resigned to another day passing without her son's company.
"I have to leave now. I might be back late tonight," Sasuke said as he hugged Mikoto and departed from the mansion.
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As the evening wore on, Mikoto found herself with nothing to do and slowly grew bored within the walls of the vast, empty house. Her friends were all scattered across the country, living in different parts of the land, and with Sasuke now leading the Uchiha clan, the house felt even more deserted. Despite the grandeur of the estate, Mikoto still longed for her husband, Fugaku, and often found herself lost in memories of him. Even as she looked at her 25-year-old son, Sasuke, she couldn't help but see traces of Fugaku in his features.
Itachi, who had distanced himself from Tokyo after Fugaku's passing, had married Izumi and would make occasional visits with her to see Mikoto and Sasuke during vacations. These visits were cherished as they made the most of the time they could spend together.
She experienced a deep sense of solitude. Itachi seemed to be coping well on his own, but Sasuke was deeply impacted by his father's sudden death. At the tender age of 8, he was left shattered by the loss.
The night of his father's passing was a terrifying experience for Sasuke. The sight of blood on the floor and the haunting expression on his father's cold, lifeless face left an indelible mark on his young mind. His mother's distress only added to the overwhelming scene. There were unfamiliar figures in their home, each with striking eyes of an unusual hue - a shade that resembled either lavender or white.
As Mikoto pondered her lunch options, she turned to Sumi, the maid, expecting to hear the day's menu. However, their conversation was abruptly halted by the ringing of the doorbell.
The house guard, flinging open the mansion gates, inquired, "Whom do you seek, young lady?" His eyes rested upon a girl of approximately 18 or 19 years old, with midnight blue hair cascading down her back.
Despite the tired look in her lavender eyes and her barely audible voice, she bravely stated, "I am here to meet Mikoto Uchiha."
Upon recognizing her distinct eyes, Mikoto whispered, "Hyuga," and instantly made her way towards the weary young girl, who clutched a suitcase and had beads of sweat glistening on her face.
"Are you Mikoto Uchiha by any chance?"
"Yes, dear, I am Mikoto."
"I am Hinata Hyuga," she introduced herself and bowed. She hurriedly took a crumpled and worn-out letter from her bag and handed it over.
"Please read this letter. My uncle Hizashi told me to give it to you."
Mikoto retrieved her elegant reading glasses from the table, accepted the letter from the young girl with a gentle smile, and began to peruse its contents. As she read, her expression transformed, reflecting a complex interplay of emotions.
"Your family, I owe my life to them. They were there for me when no one else was. Your mother was my dearest, and your father may not be, but he is not unkind. Your mother, I owe her my life, and your uncle too."
Hinata's gaze lingered on the middle-aged woman, her features a haunting echo of her mother's. It was like looking into a past that had aged and changed, yet held the essence of someone she knew intimately.
The resemblance was uncanny, stirring a mix of nostalgia and curiosity within Hinata. She wondered about the stories etched into the woman's face, the laughter and sorrow shared in a life that paralleled her mother's own journey.
"I never got a chance to meet my mother, but after seeing her pictures, you kind of look similar to her," Hinata sat down on the couch and gave a small smile to Mikoto.
"Maybe you're right," Mikoto laughed and stroked Hinata's shoulder. "You must be tired after the long flight. I will tell the maids to put your suitcase inside your room. You'd better rest and sleep well. I will see you during dinner time."
Hinata nodded and before going to her new room she bowed at the uchiha matriarch she opened the door of her room.
The room was big enough Its high ceilings stretched upwards, painting a picture space. Within its walls, The moonlight poured in through the large windows, casting a cold glow that danced across the pale curtains that were flowing around because of the cold breeze of summer days. It was cold during the night.
After a long day, Hinata finally settled into the comfort of her bed. The night was quiet, and as she slipped into her soft nightclothes, a sense of calm washed over her.
At Least this place felt like a home to her.
For now maybe.
"I hope things go right for this time"