"So, what exactly did you tell your son?"
In the underground research lab, Kushina eyed her best friend—dressed in a sleek black chiffon dress—with curiosity. "You made him so angry I thought he was about to strangle that little rascal to death!"
"I just told him the truth." Mikoto blinked innocently, her gaze drifting to the side. "I didn't expect little Sasuke to react so strongly. How strange."
"Ohhh, the 'truth,' huh?"
Kushina narrowed her eyes, immediately picking up on her friend's unnatural expression. "Mrs. Mikoto, has anyone ever told you you're being a total 'green tea' right now?"
Yhe term "green tea"was something she'd picked up from Yuto—and it fit this woman perfectly.
"Huh? Me?" Mikoto tapped her lower lip and tilted her head. "Am I?"
Kushina let out a cold laugh. "If you jumped into the Naka River for a bath right now, the entire village of Konoha could enjoy some premium Iron Goddess tea."
"Pfft—" Mikoto couldn't hold back a giggle, covering her mouth. "You've really been corrupted by that little rascal of yours!"
"Don't change the subject! What did you actually say?" Kushina grabbed her shoulders, eyes burning with sincerity. "We're best friends, right? You're seriously keeping secrets from me?"
"I did tell him the truth—from the Edo Tensei to being kept in the Soul Pearl." Mikoto's cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her voice. "But… Sasuke might've misunderstood something during my explanation."
"Misunderstood?"
"He thought Yuto and I had already…"
"—HISS!"
Kushina sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening. "How the hell did you explain things for him to misunderstand that badly?! And at that little rascal's age, there's no way he could even—wait. Did you deliberately phrase things to make Sasuke suspicious?!"
She stared hard at her best friend, brows furrowing.
"Of course not! Do I look like that kind of person?" Mikoto puffed out her cheeks in mock indignation.
"You didn't…" Kushina paused, then deadpanned, "But the way you're acting right now is making my suspicion levels skyrocket!"
"N-No, really!"
"Then why won't you look me in the eye? Ohhh, I see. So this is the newlyweds meeting the… the son, huh?"
"W-What? Don't be ridiculous, Kushina." Mikoto's expression twitched uncomfortably.
"Ridiculous?" Kushina bared her teeth in a grin. "Some people act all refined and proper on the surface, but behind closed doors? Wow. And here I am, dead, getting backstabbed by my own best friend! I was here first, you know!"
"Kushina…"
Realizing her friend might actually be upset, Mikoto opened her mouth to apologize—only for Kushina to abruptly switch gears:
"So. How are you gonna make it up to me?"
"Huh?"
"You stabbed me right in the heart. Don't I deserve compensation?"
Mikoto suddenly realized—she'd walked straight into a trap. Her sweet, fiery best friend had learned how to scheme. But with no way out, she could only sigh.
"Fine. What do you want?"
*The next morning.*
"Time to wake up, Young Master Yuto~"
Still half-asleep, Yuto was roused by a soft, feminine voice.
When he opened his eyes, he found Uchiha Mikoto—dressed in a maid outfit—straddling him, her face beet red. Hands braced against his chest, she stammered:
"Would you like to bathe first… or eat me?"
—*HISS.*
The sight nearly launched Yuto off the bed. Staring blankly, he croaked: "Mikoto, what is this?!"
"Y-Young Master, you must answer first." Mikoto seemed to be fighting for her life against embarrassment, her head practically steaming.
"Then… I'll bathe first?" Sensing something very off, Yuto chose the safer option.
"Phew."
Mikoto exhaled in relief—then vanished into Yuto's body in a flash of light.
"?"
Before Yuto could process this, Kushina's raucous laughter echoed in his mind:
"HAHAHAHA! Mikoto, you nailed it! That maid outfit I made with spirit particles suits you perfectly!"
"SHUT UP! I've fulfilled your 'compensation'!" Mikoto's voice was a mix of fury and humiliation.
"What 'compensation'?" Yuto tried to join the conversation.
"Adult matters! Kids shouldn't ask!" Kushina shut him down instantly.
"Tch."
Yuto rolled his eyes, got dressed, and headed to wash up.
"You're meeting your eldest son today~" Kushina's teasing voice piped up again from the Soul Pearl. "How about a… historical reenactment?"
"I SAID SHUT IT!" Mikoto sounded ready to combust.
Yuto could vividly imagine her now: a flustered, red-faced gentlewoman—absolute peak scenery.
Meanwhile, outside the Akatsuki hideout in Amegakure...
"Danzo wants me dead?"
Uchiha Itachi—sporting a scratched-out Konoha headband and the Akatsuki's black-and-red cloak—frowned at the masked man before him.
"Not just you. He's also targeting your little brother." The masked man stood on the steps nearby, tone indifferent. "The one assigned to the job is his new subordinate… a remarkable young man."
A cold glint flashed in Itachi's eyes. Sasuke was his one unshakable line.
But he didn't let anger cloud his judgment. Calmly, he replied:
"I don't see Danzo's motive for killing me. Still, I appreciate the warning."
He turned to leave.
"You've already received Danzo's message, haven't you?" The masked man didn't stop him, casually adding: "The contact's name is "Hayashii Yuto"—the assassin he's sending after you."
Itachi froze.
He had gotten Danzo's missive, which mentioned someone would meet him in Amegakure.
So… the old bastard really was trying to kill him?
Itachi wasn't worried about himself. He could handle some lone assassin.
But if Danzo dared lay a finger on Sasuke—Itachi would drag him to hell personally.
Of course, this all hinged on the masked man's words being true.
Itachi deeply distrusted this shady figure—in his mind, this guy was more dangerous than Danzo. Their current "cooperation" was just a temporary facade.
Still, the situation was murky. No matter. Once he met this "contact," everything would become clear.
*Rustle—*
A flurry of white paper descended from the sky, interrupting his thoughts.
Konan, clad in the same Akatsuki cloak, materialized. Her pale golden eyes swept over the two men as she stated flatly:
"Pain has called an emergency meeting. You're both required at headquarters."
"Emergency meeting?" The masked man sounded puzzled.
"A new member has joined the Akatsuki."
"Another one?"
Now both men were thrown. They'd just recruited Orochimaru two days ago—another already?
"Pain personally issued the invitation," Konan clarified.
"Oh?" The masked man's crimson right eye narrowed. "Who could possibly interest our leader that much?"
"His name is Hayashi Yuto." Konan didn't mince words.
"Hayashi Yuto?"
Itachi's frown deepened. Why did that sound familiar?
…Wait.
His gaze snapped toward the masked man.
Wasn't that exactly who he'd just named as Danzo's subordinate? How was he now being recruited by Pain?
The masked man was equally baffled.
'What the hell?'
A Root agent joining the Akatsuki? Since when did Nagato have the audacity to poach Danzo's men?
_____
_______
Show your support with Power Stones guys!
For every 10 Power Stones I'll drop 1 Bonus Chapter as Thank-You
Every 10 Power Stones =1 Bonus Chapter
[email protected]/Raven_scroll (30+ Advance Chapters)