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Late night.
Looking at the bright full moon above, Sawara Yuki sat by the veranda in a white gauze nightgown, feeling quite sleepy, staring blankly into the distance.
"Why hasn't Kiri returned yet?"
The girl mumbled softly.
She had been sitting there ever since Kiri rushed out of the bathroom in a hurry, throwing on his clothes and running out.
Because the battle on the Village's outskirts was extremely quiet, Yuki still didn't know what Kiri had gone to do.
Moreover, he had only been out for a short while when Tsunade, who was drunk in the hall, was also called away by Anbu who suddenly appeared; now she was the only one left at home.
Therefore, even though Yuki was indeed very sleepy, she still sat quietly by the veranda, waiting.
Two slender, fair little legs dangled and swayed over the elevated wooden corridor; the girl, who was only a tiny tot in Sawara Kiri's memory, had now gradually blossomed, showing a hint of maturity.
But after waiting for a long time, Yuki didn't see either of them.
Could it be that a war was about to break out again?
But, who were they fighting this time?
Kiri must be really tired.
Sawara Yuki also had worries unique to a young girl.
After forcing herself to stay awake and wait for a while longer, faint footsteps gradually came from outside the door, startling the drowsy girl awake. She ran over on her wooden clogs, clattering, to open the door.
Then, she saw Tsunade, also looking sleepy, swaying towards the house door.
"Clang."
Yuki silently closed the door again.
"Hey! You brat, open the door for me!"
It wasn't until a good while of knocking outside that Sawara Yuki reluctantly opened the door and let Tsunade in.
"This is my home, and you locked me out?"
"Do you even respect me as your teacher anymore? Damn it!"
As soon as she entered, Tsunade complained—it was clear that much of her original alcohol scent had dissipated by then; she was simply very sleepy from being woken up in the middle of the night.
"Why hasn't Kiri returned?"
However, she had barely spoken two sentences before she was silenced by Yuki's question.
Tsunade stood at the door, stammering for a long time without speaking.
"Uh..."
Sawara Yuki, who had been somewhat drowsy just now, was immediately startled awake by Tsunade's strange demeanor.
The girl's eyes widened, her expression one of disbelief, as if she couldn't believe it:
"Injured?!"
"How could that be? Why didn't I hear anything?"
Kiri's fighting style was always very grand and open, and the enemies who could compare to him were not much different; even in the center of the Village, there shouldn't have been no sound at all.
"...Not exactly."
Tsunade knew that Sawara Kiri had been dragged away by that wicked Uchiha brat, but Yuki was still so young; how could she tell her such a thing?
She still needed to maintain some face as a teacher.
However, seeing her like this, Yuki became even more worried: "Where is he now? Konoha Hospital? Or the infirmary? Where did the fighting break out..."
Even after seeing Tsunade's still leisurely appearance, which subconsciously ruled out most possibilities, Yuki still couldn't help but ask around.
Seeing the brat's questions piling up and her mood worsening, Tsunade, who had been hesitant just a moment ago, suddenly became impatient with her demeanor. She waved her hand, with a sense of throwing caution to the wind:
"Oh, it's none of your business!"
"He has a special mission; he probably won't be back to sleep tonight!"
"Eh—?!"
Sawara Yuki stood frozen, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her head.
"Tsk."
Tsunade strode into the room, kicked off her slippers, picked up a beer from the fridge, and gulped down a few mouthfuls, clicking her tongue with a hint of irritation.
Somehow, the thought that the brat was in such a state outside today because he hadn't balanced things well between two Uchiha women suddenly made Tsunade feel displeased. When she found out he wasn't home tonight, this irritation intensified.
Now, with Yuki's questions adding fuel to the fire, the frustration in her heart was even more palpable.
And then, recalling what he had said to her on the street a few days ago, she suddenly felt a surge of rage, thinking, 'You even tricked an innocent old woman like me?'
No.
It seems he didn't trick her.
—Tsunade, and them.
So it was 'them'?
The more Tsunade thought about it, the more her anger surged. She gulped down the beer in her hand, crushing the aluminum can with a crunch, and muttered resentfully:
"That smooth-talking brat."
"All his skills are used to coax women."
"And they're all Uchiha women, no less!"
"Damn it!"
Early morning, Megumi's residence.
A faint scent of oil already wafted from the kitchen; the pan-fried cutlassfish was golden-brown on the outside, and the pressure cooker hummed.
Sawara Kiri stood in front of the counter, skillfully flipping the pan. When the cutlassfish in the pan was almost done, he picked them out one by one into serving dishes. There were also two bowls of miso soup on the counter.
Just as he turned around, intending to scoop out the red bean rice from the pressure cooker, a soft, warm sensation suddenly came from behind him, as if continuous mountains were pressed flat against his back. The scent of lavender shower gel from her hair was very distinct, and two slender, fair arms wrapped around his waist, holding him tightly.
The girl behind him first leaned against his back and took a deep breath, then rested her chin on his shoulder, her voice soft and languid:
"Kiri-kun."
Sawara Kiri turned his head and saw Uchiha Megumi leaning against his neck, looking at him intently with her sparkling, dark eyes, her cheeks still flushed.
"Are you clean?"
"Go set the chopsticks on the dining table first; breakfast is ready."
"Mm."
He didn't know if it was because he had been particularly vigorous last night, but Miss Megumi this morning was like a completely different person compared to when she hugged him last night. Her entire being exuded an indescribable sense of satisfaction, and her clinginess was far greater than usual—normally, she didn't seem to dare to stick to him so openly.
"Where's Mom?"
Megumi asked Sawara Kiri in the kitchen while picking up the chopsticks.
Sawara Kiri gave an awkward laugh: "Auntie said she wouldn't delay our work and went to work early today... Also, she might not have slept well last night; her eyes were a bit heavy when she left."
Hearing this, even Uchiha Megumi, with her usually cool demeanor, felt her cheeks flush.
Now that she thought about it carefully, her crying last night might indeed have been a bit loud, and the bed was also a little old.
Moreover, her room was only separated from the downstairs room by one floorboard; any slight movement would probably be easily heard downstairs, right?
As soon as she thought of this, Megumi seemed to feel a bit embarrassed. The chopsticks in her hand fell onto the table with a 'clatter,' and she stammered softly:
"I, I'll talk to Mom later?"
"Pfft."
Seeing Megumi's rare embarrassed look, Sawara Kiri couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Actually, he had wanted to say something when he noticed someone was home at Megumi's place last night, but Megumi at that time seemed to be unable to hear anything, dragging him forcibly into her room.
Even now, Sawara Kiri still remembered his astonished expression when he first walked into Megumi's room and saw the room full of photos.
But after looking at them all night, he seemed to have gotten used to it.
"Kiri-kun!"
Hearing his laughter, Megumi called out somewhat impatiently, but compared to her chilling demeanor last night—'If you don't come into the room with me, I'll kill you'—it was practically seduction.
"Yes, yes."
"Oh, don't forget to wash the bedsheets."
"Thump, thump, thump."
A series of light footsteps came from behind him. Megumi, like an enraged little lamb, crashed into his arms. He held a bowl in one hand and quickly wrapped his other arm around her, her forehead almost hitting the kitchen counter.
He then coaxed her for a good while before she finally calmed down and sat properly across from him at the dining table.
However, even though he had just been subjected to a small tantrum, Sawara Kiri inexplicably felt that the current Megumi was much easier to get along with than usual.
She was no longer the gloomy Uchiha Megumi, who would go to any lengths and efforts to stay by his side, always strung taut. Instead, she had finally begun to develop her own personality, unreservedly showing her desire to stay by his side, and daring to display her tiny, insignificant little temper—the 'Sawara Megumi.'
This subtle change, when applied to her, brought about a world of difference in how she felt to him.
At this moment, the girl sat upright in her chair, her left hand subconsciously touching her slightly bulging lower abdomen, which was fuller than usual, like a farmer caressing the gradually ripening wheat ears in early autumn, anticipating a bountiful harvest.
Her heart was full.
Even the Yin Chakra, which usually stirred restlessly at the slightest provocation, was completely soothed by this contented and joyful emotion.
When she noticed Sawara Kiri's gaze, she suddenly looked up and met his eyes, a smile gracing the corners of her lips.
Sawara Kiri put down the red bean rice and sighed inwardly.
There was no escaping now.
However, it wasn't a loss.
He thought to himself, his peripheral vision glancing at the panel in front of him.
"Uchiha Megumi's Deep-Seated Knot (Completed)"
"Knot Points + 5"
"Bond Level Up ↑"
"Uchiha Megumi Bond Level: Five → Six"
"First Completion of Deep-Seated Knot"
"Can randomly choose one: [Death Exemption x1] OR [SS-Rank Ability (Growth Type)]
This was the first time he had seen such generous rewards.
However, because the timing yesterday was too rushed, he was so focused that he completely missed what Megumi's 'Deep-Seated Knot' was.
Fortunately, once a knot was completed, it was completed; the reward wouldn't be withheld just because he hadn't accepted the quest.
Sawara Kiri ate his meal, chatting idly with Megumi across from him, while pondering the special reward.
His current rating within the system was at the very top of S-rank; he only needed one more ability to reach SS, which would most likely be the level of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara in their prime, or perhaps Six Paths Madara?
However, he still had to face the impending assassination from the Ōtsutsuki Clan, which could appear at any time.
In the future Kakashi and the others experienced, he had already died.
Therefore, this danger absolutely could not be ignored.
But how exactly would this so-called [Death Exemption] be executed?
Sawara Kiri pondered, his gaze constantly flitting between the two abilities. However, after noticing 'Growth Type' appended to the SS-rank ability, he finally made his decision.
A growth-type ability that couldn't become an immediate combat force was somewhat of a hindrance.
Heaven knew how long it would take him to maximize this so-called growth type?
He thought to himself, ultimately choosing the first option.
[Death Exemption x1]
However, after obtaining this ability, no changes appeared on his body; only some light particles integrated into his body, and then there was no further reaction.
"Hmm?"
Sawara Kiri looked down strangely.
He found nothing.
"Kiri-kun?"
Uchiha Megumi, who was picking up her miso soup, noticed his confused expression and softly prompted, "What's wrong?"
Sawara Kiri froze at her words, then remembered Megumi was still in front of him—he hadn't considered Megumi an outsider at all—and only then did he suddenly react, saying casually:
"Ah, nothing."
"Maybe I saw wrong."
"Is that so?"
Uchiha Megumi paused at his words, then followed the direction he had just looked, glancing under the table.
Then, she saw her own bare, fair feet on the floor, her gaze lingering for a moment, revealing a hint of understanding.
Kiri's preferences were indeed a bit strange.
Not only did he press her legs onto his shoulders, but he also touched and bit them. She didn't know what was so good about it.
But there was nothing she could do.
What could she do if he liked it?
When Sawara Kiri finished eating and placed his empty bowl on the table, pondering how to use the remaining Knot Points, a subtle, delicate sensation suddenly came from her calf under the table.
His gaze paused, and he looked under the table.
Then, he saw the girl's slender, fair leg, just inches away across the table, curling her pinkish-white toes, gently rubbing against the side of his calf.
Sawara Kiri looked up again and saw that Megumi, across the table, had also put down her empty bowl at some point. Her slender figure stretched in a long, cat-like yawn, outlining a beautiful, graceful, winding curve in the bright sunlight reflecting from outside the French window.
When her hands lowered and rested on the table, her dark, peach-blossom eyes met his gaze like hooks, shimmering with light.
Sawara Kiri subconsciously put on his usual gentlemanly facade, trying to change the subject:
"By the way, Megumi."
"Your Mangekyo Sharingan ability..."
However, before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Megumi's voice:
"Kiri-kun."
"Hmm?"
"I missed you."
The gentlemanly facade, which had only lasted a few seconds, suddenly crumbled.
The girl was so direct; what more could he say?
Before Megumi could react, he suddenly stood up, picked the girl up by the waist, and then there was a low gasp, followed by a mischievous laugh, as if he had succeeded in a prank.
"Kiri-kun?"
"Hmm?"
"I like you."
"Thump, thump, thump."
Sawara Kiri's footsteps quickened as he went upstairs.
By the time the two received Anbu orders again and appeared at the Hokage Building, it was already noon.
Looking at their refreshed and energetic appearance, Tsunade scanned their faces carefully with suspicious eyes, but found no flaws.
The silence in the office lasted for a few seconds.
Finally, Orochimaru broke the deadlock.
"Kiri-kun, please explain."
"What is your relationship with that attacker?"
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