At Kaito's house, he glanced at Terumi Mei, who was acting delicate and charming, and then at Tsunade, who carried herself with her usual fiery, tsundere-like pride. His head throbbed already.
Turning his gaze to the three other women smirking at his misfortune nearby, Kaito glared at them.
"The two of you can't keep acting like Kushina's three daughters—every time you meet, you start pinching at each other. Look at what happened today, half of Konoha will probably know by tomorrow!"
"Not me!" Terumi Mei and Tsunade both snapped at the same time.
Kaito blinked, then the two women locked eyes, glaring daggers at each other.
"Alright! Enough! Hurry up and eat. After dinner, go home!" Kaito rubbed his temples in frustration.
"I just arrived in Konoha, I don't even have a place to stay. Let me sleep here," Terumi Mei said softly, her voice almost pleading.
"Hmph! Shameless. And you call yourself Mizukage?" Tsunade snorted coldly.
Seeing another quarrel brewing, Kaito snapped, "Fine! All of you can sleep here tonight. But no more arguments, both of you! Tomorrow, we'll move."
"Humph!" they both huffed, turning away.
That night was perhaps the most comfortable and yet the most uncomfortable sleep Kaito had ever had.
The next morning, he urged everyone to wake up and prepare for the move. Calling it a "move" was an exaggeration, though. His old house contained little of value. Kushina's home already had everything he needed, so he only gathered some spare clothes and a few personal items left behind by Hinata and Ino.
The move was small and swift. Later, familiar faces like the Twelve Guardians of Konoha and Kakashi visited to celebrate his housewarming. They even held a modest banquet.
At the banquet, the single men like Shikamaru couldn't help but envy him as they watched the busy girls flutter about the house.
Even Nara Shikaku's father, Shikake, felt a twinge of envy. It wasn't just Kaito's identity—his strength and presence far outshone most of them.
"Kaito! Today is your housewarming! Let me offer you a toast!" Shikake raised his cup.
"Of course," Kaito smiled knowingly. He could already see where this was going.
As soon as he downed his drink with Shikake, Choza stood up, "Kaito! I wish you harmony and happiness in life!" He drained his cup in one go.
One after another, Asuma, Inoichi, and the others followed suit. Their plan was obvious—to get Kaito drunk.
But Kaito accepted each challenge without hesitation. His face remained calm and steady, showing no signs of worry. With the resilience of his Sage body and his drinking tolerance from his past life, how could he possibly lose?
The alcohol in Konoha was mild compared to the stronger drinks he once knew, no stronger than beer.
In the end, it wasn't long before Asuma, who had the weakest tolerance, collapsed. Then others soon followed.
By the time the banquet ended, it was deep into the night. Kaito's face held only the faintest trace of a blush.
When Kaito opened his eyes the next morning, he was momentarily stunned by the unfamiliar ceiling. Then, as he shifted slightly, the warmth surrounding him explained everything.
Terumi Mei rested peacefully on one side, her arm draped around him, while Kushina clung to his other side. Both women held him closely, their bodies pressed lightly against him.
Feeling the softness at his arms, Kaito's face flushed, his mind instantly sharpening. Morning wasn't the best time to be in such a situation—especially with two women lying against him.
He carefully slipped out of bed. By the time he made his way to the dining table, Tsunade had already gone to the Hokage's office, and Hinata and Ino had also left. Only a warm meal remained, neatly prepared.
After eating, Kaito decided to head to the Hokage's office.
"You want the Sharingan? What do you need that for? Your strength doesn't rely on something like that." Tsunade frowned at him. "Did you drink too much last night?"
Kaito shook his head. "I want to conduct an experiment."
The spiritual power within him had reached its limit. To ascend and break through his limits, he needed to absorb more energy, and he had a hunch that doing so could solidify his mastery of the Eighth Gate. But absorbing energy directly was far too slow.
He recalled that the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan and the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan both carried immense spiritual energy. If he could draw from one of them, it might be the breakthrough he sought.
"You're serious about this?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"Yes."
"You're not planning to transplant the Sharingan, are you?"
"No. Just a test. If it doesn't work, I'll return it to you immediately."
Seeing his sincerity, Tsunade finally nodded. "Fine. When the Uchiha clan was destroyed, the Third Hokage kept several Sharingan in storage. I'll fetch one for you."
She left swiftly, her curiosity piqued.
Moments later, she returned, holding a glass container filled with nutrient solution. Inside floated a Sharingan, its tomoe spinning gently as if watching.
"No tricks. You'll use it right in front of me. If nothing happens, it goes back." She handed it to him firmly.
"Relax. I only want to see if my idea works." Kaito held the container, immediately sensing the dense spiritual energy emanating from the eye.
Opening the container, he carefully removed the Sharingan, placing it in his palm. Closing his eyes, he let his spiritual body perceive it.
Within his mindscape, he saw the black energy radiating from the Sharingan. It leaked slowly, but undeniably, and Kaito could feel its power.
"I was right," Kaito murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Now… can I absorb it?"
His spiritual body reached out. Wisps of black energy began streaming into him, drawn like rivers to the sea.
The starlike energy was breathtaking, like countless meteors streaking through his mind. Each strand was purified as it passed through the storm of black lightning that surrounded his spiritual self, becoming pure energy before being absorbed.
As the suction deepened, the Sharingan's energy dwindled steadily, shrinking in Kaito's grasp.
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