Naruto: Saving the Universe by Stealing Attributes

After quickly finishing the last bite of his dango, Mirai started heading outside. Noticing this, Shisui hurried to catch up. He was still very curious about this remarkable senior within the clan.

The two soon arrived at the clan grounds. It was around eleven in the morning, and the villagers, having worked hard all morning, were ready to take a break. Most wore relaxed smiles, clearly looking forward to some rest. When they saw Mirai, many greeted him with a smile.

"Mirai, I heard you recently pulled off something amazing on the front lines!"

"Haha! That's our clan's prodigy for you, making us all proud!"

"There's talk going around that you faced off against a Kage-level enemy and two Jonin without a scratch—and even defeated the Jonin! Incredible!"

"Mirai, you're the pride of the Uchiha. Just remember to stay safe out there."

Though most of the Uchiha are known for their rebellious nature, they naturally respect strength. Mirai's achievements were a point of pride for many, making him quite popular among his clanmates.

After greeting everyone, Mirai led Shisui to his place.

"Wait here for a bit—I'm going to make us something to eat," he said, then turned and headed to the kitchen.

On the front lines, he'd mostly been relying on soldier pills to replenish his strength. Now that he was finally home, he figured he'd treat himself to a proper meal.

Soon, the smell of delicious food filled the room. Mirai carried dish after dish to the table: braised pork belly, steamed sea bass, spicy stir-fried chicken, twice-cooked pork, a whole roasted lamb leg, and a few simple cold side dishes. Shisui's eyes widened in amazement.

It smelled incredible!

"You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Mirai set down a pair of chopsticks in front of Shisui. "I didn't have time to prepare much, so let's make do with this."

"Um…" Shisui nodded, feeling a bit stunned. Not prepared much? This feast was "not much"?

"Alright, let's dig in!" Though Shisui initially wanted to show some restraint, the mouth-watering aroma was too tempting. He picked up a piece of the braised pork belly and placed it in his mouth, his eyes widening in surprise. The meat melted on his tongue—rich and flavorful, yet not greasy.

This taste… was amazing!

Seeing Shisui's expression, Mirai couldn't resist any longer and started digging in with equal enthusiasm. Being shinobi, their appetites were large, and soon they had cleared the entire table.

Once he was full, Shisui seemed to snap back to reality, scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Thank you for the meal, Mirai-senpai."

The meal had opened up a new world for Shisui. He hadn't realized food could be so delicious.

"By the way, when I came back, I noticed a lot of the clan seemed to be giving you unfriendly looks. What's that about?" Mirai asked, looking at Shisui.

Shisui hesitated, then sighed. "They think I'm just sucking up to people in the village. They call me the disgrace of the Uchiha clan…"

Recalling Shisui's actions in the dango shop earlier, Mirai immediately understood the situation.

"Mirai-senpai, I just want our clan and the village to get along," Shisui said, feeling a bit aggrieved.

"Everyone thinks the Uchiha are hot-tempered and arrogant. I just want to change that perception."

After hearing Shisui out, Mirai stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Shisui, what you're doing is pointless."

A crestfallen look appeared on Shisui's face. "Even you think that, Mirai-senpai?"

"I'm just stating the facts."

"But then… what am I supposed to do?" Shisui lifted his gaze, eyes filled with confusion. The villagers didn't accept him, and his own clan resented him. Was he supposed to let the tension between the village and the Uchiha fester indefinitely?

"Shisui, what do you think of me?"

Startled by the question, Shisui replied respectfully, "Mirai-senpai, you're an exceptional ninja. You're the pride of the clan, and even people outside the Uchiha hold you in high regard."

He added, with a hint of admiration, "If only I could be like you."

"Do you see me going out of my way to please people?"

Shisui seemed to catch Mirai's point and responded quietly, "N-No…"

Mirai nodded. "Groveling for approval will only lead others to look down on you. If you don't respect yourself, how can you expect respect from others?"

Shisui was silent for a moment, still unsure. "But if we don't try to change things, the distance between the village and the Uchiha will only grow. If this continues, the tension might become irreparable."

Mirai's expression softened, a hint of surprise in his gaze. Kids in this world really do mature early, he thought. Shisui was already worrying about the future.

"Mirai-senpai, what do you think?" Shisui asked, looking up with a hopeful expression.

Mirai smiled faintly. "Shisui, why not consider it from another angle?"

"Hm?"

"You keep thinking about changing the Uchiha. But why not think about changing the village?"

Shisui froze, stunned. Change… the village?

"Mirai-senpai, I don't understand what you mean. Isn't changing the village a bit… extreme?"

"Shisui, do you think the issues between the Uchiha and the village are solely the Uchiha's fault?" Mirai asked. "Or, to put it another way, do you think the blame lies entirely with our clan?"

Shisui pondered for a while before slowly shaking his head. "I don't know for sure, but I don't think it's just our clan's fault. Many of our clan members might seem proud or aloof, but they're actually good, kind-hearted ninja."

Mirai nodded approvingly. "Exactly."

"You're young, and there are things you don't fully understand yet. But if you're willing to listen, I can tell you why things have become the way they are between the village and the Uchiha."

Now that Mirai's strength had grown, he no longer needed to tread so cautiously. Since he'd decided to take Shisui under his wing, he felt it was time to reshape Shisui's understanding of the world.

As Mirai's gaze settled on him, Shisui's expression turned eager and expectant. Maybe, he thought, Mirai-senpai could offer answers different from anything he'd heard before.

"Mirai-senpai, please… tell me everything you know."

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