Naruto: The heir of the Hoshino clan.

A heavy atmosphere enveloped them. Seiji didn't know what to think or say. Sera gave him time to process her words, while she herself seemed to reflect on the conversation that was about to unfold.

Seiji's heart felt heavy. His mother's words made him doubt everything he had believed throughout his short life.

In particular, a shadow began to consume the image he had of his father. Seiji had always seen him as a kind, charismatic, and loyal man... to Konoha.

But now, the revelation not only of the darkness within Konoha but also the distortion of his perception of the man he had always admired and tried to emulate left him in shock. Everything seemed like an absurd lie to hide the origins of his parents.

With Sera's words, Seiji could understand, to some extent, his father's motivations for trying to hide his mother's Senju lineage. However... why had his father been so insistent on hiding his connection to the Uchiha?

Moreover, why the constant emphasis on staying away from his own clan? To the point of repeatedly stressing in his letters that Seiji should avoid them.

Taking a moment to think, Seiji remembered Satsuki's words and the old Uchiha tradition.

Seiji clenched his teeth, and for the first time in his life, a deep hatred reflected in his eyes as he thought of his father.

Sera looked at him curiously, noticing his expression.

"Mom... before you tell me about Dad's secret... I have a question..."

Seiji hesitated for a moment, as depending on his mother's answer, he felt something within him would change forever.

"Who... planned Kay's death? Was it a plan to make me awaken the Sharingan...?"

Sera sighed upon hearing his words. She looked at Seiji and responded with a pained expression.

"You know, love. Your father might have been a bastard, manipulative, a womanizer... but... I don't think he was truly evil."

Sera smiled sadly and continued:

"He was a hypocrite, and he knew it. I reminded him every day. Remember when I mentioned he promised to save my family? Well... a little before proposing to me, he told me about them... apparently, they were in the hands of a man named Danzo."

Upon hearing Danzo's name, Seiji's eyes widened, recalling the man who had instilled so much fear in him.

"That man, Danzo Shimura... according to your father, was the one who handled the things Hiruzen considered 'unethical' for someone like the Hokage..."

Sera smiled bitterly and continued:

"Your father... knelt before me and apologized. Apparently, he had never intended to keep his promise. He said... that over the years, he remembered his promise and tried to fulfill it..."

Seiji saw tears well up in his mother's eyes as she remembered her family.

"According to him... by that time, he had already tried to get close to Danzo and managed to enter the place where they were being held... Kasuya didn't want to tell me what condition my mother and sister were in... but, in his words... death was their salvation."

"So, Seiji, sweetheart... yes, your father was trash. I married him because he was all I had left and all I knew. The love I felt for him was my reason for existing and my only attachment to Konoha."

Sera looked at him with pity and continued:

"As for your question... I assume Kay was the name of your cat... yes, his death was part of your father's plan to make you awaken the Sharingan."

"He had countless plans for a purpose he couldn't fulfill on his own. While his motivations might have been 'good,' he had no qualms about committing repugnant acts."

Seiji clenched his fists upon hearing his mother's words. He didn't know what his father's ultimate goal was or what his own role in his plan was. However, Seiji didn't plan to obey blindly. He wouldn't be a pawn in his father's plan, which had caused Kay's death.

Sera sighed as she saw the look of hatred on Seiji's face.

"Kasuya always said that members of the Uchiha clan were too emotional... now I understand what he meant. At least you, my son, have a reason that justifies it... and you don't have that arrogance that characterizes them."

"However, love... don't hate your father too much. He was a man broken by knowing too much... and not being capable enough to achieve things on his own... But don't take my word for it, haha, I'm a little crazy in the head. Maybe that's why I agreed to marry him."

Seiji clenched his teeth. In his mind, he felt a bit of resentment toward his mother, who continued to defend his father.

"Mom... why did you agree to Dad's plan? Did you also want me to awaken the Sharingan?"

Sera blinked, confused, then looked at him a bit offended.

"Obviously, I was against it, but my death came after giving birth to you. I couldn't intervene in what he did afterward."

"Seiji, let's not talk about those things anymore. Come on, tell me a bit about your life. I'm curious about how you've lived up until now."

Seiji hesitated for a moment, as there was still resentment within him over Kay's death. But he decided to obey his mother, as her face held an expectant and loving expression.

Seiji told her about his life up to that point.

His lonely life in the Hoshino compound, his days listening to stories about his father's life from people in the village, and how, from time to time, they would ask him about sealing techniques.

However, when he mentioned Kurenai's visits, Sera smiled with amusement and a hint of coldness in her eyes. This piqued Seiji's curiosity, and he decided to ask why his mother had allowed Kurenai to get close to his father, according to Kurenai's words.

"Oh... about that... you know your father was a sealing genius, right? That's why we can talk now. This is a seal he created, and although it's temporary, it allows us to have a conversation as if I were still alive. Well, the reason for that is, in part, thanks to the truth your father told me."

Sera hesitated and, with resignation, continued:

"The truth is, there are too many inconsistencies in his words over the time I knew him... But, in short... he could see the future... or so he claimed. Though I think it's a lie, it's true that he knew information he shouldn't have."

Seiji's eyes widened, a bit incredulous. After all, the ability to see the future sounded too absurd.

"But you can ask him later... since, after I 'disappear,' he'll be the one to speak with you next. Remember to be careful and not believe everything he says..."

"As for why he allowed a 'relationship' with Kurenai, it's related to his ability to see the future. Apparently, Kurenai was destined to be Asuma's partner, Hiruzen's son... and he just wanted to mess with them a bit, even if they never found out, haha."

Sera had a playful expression on her face, with a smile that seemed to stretch from ear to ear.

Seiji, for his part, was surprised to learn that, if his father's ability to see the future was true, Kurenai was "destined" to marry Hiruzen's son.

"Keep telling me about your life, love."

Upon hearing his mother's request, Seiji continued.

Quickly, Seiji caught her up and told her about his encounters with Shisui, Naruko, and Hiruzen.

"Your father said in his letters... that you would seek out a blonde girl with little fox whiskers..."

Seiji nodded, wondering what kind of objective his father had in mind by making him get close to the Kyūbi's jinchūriki.

Sera had a conflicted expression on her face and murmured with sorrow:

"So it was a girl, huh... an orphan... so Minato and Kushina are dead... just as he said."

"What do you mean...?"

Seiji asked, confused, not understanding the meaning behind his mother's words.

"Kasuya said that the parents of... Naruko? Were destined to die... though he had promised he would try to prevent it... I guess in the end, he decided not to try."

Seiji no longer knew what to think about his father. His mother sometimes said he was good, and other times she said things like this.

"Seiji, no matter what your father says about Naruko, treat that girl with kindness... Kushina... was something like a friend of mine..."

Sera sighed, a bit annoyed. She seemed to have a complicated relationship with Naruko's mother. Seeing the look on her son's face, Sera smiled and said:

"You know... if I hadn't kept your father in check back then... that girl Naruko might have been your sister... Let's just say Kushina's husband was someone who focused too much on work and neglected his wife a bit..."

Seiji decided to ignore the story about his father. He already knew about his father's tendencies with women.

Seiji continued recounting the events after meeting Naruko.

His mother, Sera, looked at him a bit strangely as he talked about his interactions with Naruko, Satsuki, and Sakura. Sera sighed and frowned.

"I guess... I won't have to worry about you being alone in the future... I thought about the possibility, but I had hoped you'd be more like me than him..."

Afterward, they continued talking. Seiji felt that this would be a memory he would cherish for years to come.

"Ah... I can feel it... I'm about to disappear... Seiji, love, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. Also, don't forget my request... okay?"

Seiji could feel tears forming in his eyes as he watched his mother say goodbye.

"Mom... Were you happy with Dad...? Did you love him, and did he love you?"

Seiji asked, his voice hoarse. With the multiple revelations about his father, he was afraid that his existence was nothing more than another piece in his father's plan.

"Love, don't worry. My last years were quite happy... I did love your father... As for whether he loved me, I think he did..."

Sera seemed to hesitate and continued:

"He wanted to leave you a gift that would help you become stronger... and he told me he planned to leave you his eyes... though he didn't tell me where he would leave them..."

Seiji hesitated, as he didn't understand why he would need a second pair of Sharingan. He had already awakened his own.

Sera, seeing his confusion, smiled coldly and added:

"There's a more powerful version of the Sharingan... But to access it, you need to experience immense pain..."

Seiji looked at her, wondering what kind of pain could cause something like that.

"Do you know how he awakened it? It was very simple, love... He was the one who killed me... so yes, by the expression he made... I can say he loved me quite a bit... Oh, it's time. Goodbye."

With those words, Sera said her farewell, and her figure disappeared from the place.

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