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Evidently, Sawara Kiri didn't care much about what Konan thought.
He just wanted Bond Points.
Therefore, as long as he could grasp the general direction of relationship development, he felt that other minor issues were more or less acceptable.
It would be too unnatural for a captured female prisoner to be so eager to offer comfort.
Bonds never relied on one-sided care; they were more about a two-way journey between two people.
Sawara Kiri had a deep understanding of this point.
After a busy night, he first returned to Megumi's home to sleep. Upon waking, he received an invitation from Namikaze Minato to have a meal.
After a simple wash, he noticed his beard was a little long.
Just as he was shaving, he heard Megumi's footsteps approaching from the kitchen.
"Do Minato and Kushina have something important?"
"You just finished being busy yesterday, and now you're rushing out again."
Megumi, who had been with him for many years, had long since grown from the slender young girl she once was into a full-figured, mature beauty, thanks to Kiri's careful nurturing. This was not only due to her physical growth and refined appearance, but also to changes in her temperament and demeanor.
At this moment, Megumi stood beside Sawara Kiri, watching him lather his face, while she chattered, and meticulously retrieved a razor from the drawer for him without needing to be asked, carefully shaving the fine hairs around the edges.
"Perhaps it's something urgent, and it's been a while since we've eaten together."
Uchiha Megumi's movements were incredibly gentle. Even just standing there enjoying the service, Sawara Kiri couldn't help but comfortably narrow his eyes, his mind wondering if there was new intelligence about the clone of Nagato who escaped last night.
It seemed that because he personally experienced a battle with him, Minato had been very attentive to Nagato's intelligence these past few days.
"Speaking of which, I heard Kushina say that they are starting to prepare for pregnancy recently."
"Even Minato's recent missions have been suspended."
Megumi spoke as if unconcerned, but Sawara Kiri, who was narrowing his eyes, stiffened slightly upon hearing her words.
They had been together for over seven years. From a few years ago, Megumi would often subtly bring up the topic of children. Several times, he even found small holes poked in the safety products he prepared, which almost scared him into a cold sweat.
But when he tried to subtly dissuade her, he would always only receive Megumi's gentle smile and a slightly dangerous glint in her eyes.
Clearly, Megumi was very eager to contribute to the prosperity of the Uchiha Clan—at least more proactively than Sasuke, who in the original timeline clamored about revitalizing the Uchiha.
"Preparing for pregnancy, huh? That's really not a good time."
"I heard that children born to female Nine-Tails Jinchuriki will also have fox-like whisker marks on their faces."
He tried hard to change the subject.
Then, Uchiha Megumi's gentle expression paused slightly, and even her eyes deepened a bit.
"That would indeed be a bit ugly."
It seemed Megumi had no intention of delving deeper into this topic.
Noticing this change, Sawara Kiri secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
God knows when the Ōtsutsuki would attack. His few weaknesses right now were actually only the people around him.
If he were to experience what Namikaze Minato encountered in the original timeline, with his personality, it wouldn't be impossible for him to instantly turn dark.
He was not an easygoing person like Minato.
However, just as Megumi seemed to be about to end the topic.
The razor in her hand suddenly turned, pressing against Sawara Kiri's neck like a Kunai. Her body pressed tightly against his back, and her other hand quickly gripped his shoulder, holding him in place.
Sawara Kiri's body instantly stiffened, and an alarm blared in his mind.
In the mirror, Uchiha Megumi's eyes, which had already turned a scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan, were reflected.
The cold razor blade pressed against his neck, sending a chilling sensation.
"Kiri."
"What about that woman they mentioned… Tenten, wearing an OL outfit in your office?"
"Her name is 'Konan,' right?"
Uchiha Megumi's tone was as gentle and soft as ever, and even her delicate body pressed against his back was so elastic, a stark contrast to what she was currently doing.
Sawara Kiri's azure eyes instantly widened, and his whole body tensed up.
It's over.
Sawara Kiri is in big trouble!
Who on earth leaked such confidential information?!
However, facing Megumi's question, Sawara Kiri still maintained a serious demeanor, calmly stating:
"Konan?"
"Are you talking about that captive?"
"And a female captive?!"
Uchiha Megumi's voice suddenly rose an octave, her eyelids slightly lowered.
She wasn't some naive Ninja World rookie who hadn't seen the world. The moment she connected this identity with that outfit, dozens of ways to play flashed through her mind—most of which they had tried together at home.
"That's right, she holds a very important piece of intelligence!"
However, Sawara Kiri's incredibly sincere tone couldn't help but make Uchiha Megumi feel a bit of doubt, and the razor pressed against his neck loosened by half a point.
Noticing this slight movement, Sawara Kiri immediately pressed his advantage, speaking rapidly:
"She and two other Moon Organization Ninja are childhood friends. The one named Nagato possesses the legendary Rinnegan, and even Minato suffered a considerable loss in the Hidden Rain Village. That guy was the one who acted at the time."
"In order to extract enough intelligence from her, the interrogation department used many methods these past few days, but couldn't get much out of her. They had no choice but to come to me!"
"Now, after I promised that if she could provide enough intelligence, I would let her stay in Konoha, I finally got some key information. However, she seems not content with this and plans to continue climbing up through my channels."
The moment these words left his mouth, Sawara Kiri clearly felt Megumi's grip tighten by a few points, and even her scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan began to spin rapidly.
"But you know me, Megumi!"
Sawara Kiri stared directly into the mirror, looking righteous:
"How could I do something that betrays you?"
His divine skill had been perfected; when he lied, let alone blushing, his eyes didn't even show the slightest change.
However, Uchiha Megumi's razor remained unlowered. She turned her head playfully to stare at his cheek, her voice growing even softer:
"That 'Konan' is from the Moon Organization?"
"She wouldn't have anything to do with that lunatic, Uchiha Hikari, would she?"
As his partner, Uchiha Megumi had enough confidence in her own appearance, identity, and strength.
Even the current Fourth Hokage, that old woman from the Senju, could never compare to her—a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan that would never run dry was enough to make her one of the top-tier combat forces in all of Konoha.
The only one she needed to be wary of was that person who was like her… or even more extreme in terms of ocular jutsu abilities.
That was her threat.
As for Konan?
Although Uchiha Megumi was still threatening him, she secretly didn't think Kiri would care much about such a casually captured common woman.
"Absolutely not!"
Sawara Kiri's voice was incredibly firm when he spoke: "Their trio has actually fallen out with Uchiha Hikari."
"The reason they went to the Hidden Rain Village this time was to establish their own base."
"It just so happened that Minato ruined their plans."
"…"
A long silence fell in the washroom.
Finally, the razor moved away from his neck, and Megumi let out a soft snort:
"I wouldn't expect you to dare."
"Phew."
Sawara Kiri instantly let out a long breath in his heart.
"However, you need to come home early these next few nights."
"Eh?!"
"You wouldn't actually want to do something to her, would you?" Megumi's tone became a bit more dangerous again.
"Megumi, do you really think I'm that kind of person?"
Sawara Kiri suddenly looked at her seriously.
As if unable to bear his serious gaze, Megumi instinctively averted her eyes, but still insisted:
"In any case, you must be home by six every evening—our home!"
"If you have an outdoor mission or urgent overnight matters, you must report them, unless it's an emergency."
Only when it came to her possessiveness of Sawara Kiri was Uchiha Megumi always incredibly stubborn.
Even though Kiri and she were now a well-known couple in the Village, Megumi still harbored an extremely strong sense of crisis.
What Konan or anyone else might do was their business.
As for ensuring Kiri's body was drained every day so he wouldn't have the energy to go out and fool around, that was her own business.
The outside world was truly too dangerous. Every day Kiri went out, she worried he might encounter some bad woman trying to trick him into bed.
"Oh, by the way, the Science Department recently invented a new type of pager and is planning to give it to the Security Force…"
"That won't do!"
Sawara Kiri immediately said firmly, "As Konoha's high-ranking officials, we absolutely cannot use public resources for private gain. We must never set such a bad precedent!"
"Hmph."
Megumi hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not insist on her opinion.
She had witnessed Kiri's various management efforts for Konoha and knew how much he valued rules.
Only when she stopped speaking did Sawara Kiri finally relax completely.
He had passed this hurdle.
However, his office had been locked for the past few days, and even various official documents were left at the door, all to prevent Konan from contacting the outside world.
Who on earth leaked this matter?
When he finds out, they're definitely in for a bad time!
"Achoo!"
A certain unnamed Interrogation Jonin suddenly sneezed for no reason.
Two hours later, Sawara Kiri and Megumi arrived together at an old-established Akimichi Barbecue Restaurant on First Street.
From a distance, Kushina could already be seen extending her arms at their table, waving happily towards them and shouting loudly:
"Kiri! Megumi-chan!"
"Over here! Over here!!"
Namikaze Minato also smiled and greeted them from the side.
After leaving the house, Megumi transformed from her usual cold and stern demeanor into a clinging little bird, tightly holding Sawara Kiri's hand like a protective animal, as if her entire body wanted to hang on him.
Noticing Kushina in the distance, she then smiled and waved.
Only Sawara Kiri's expression was slightly stiff.
Fortunately, Naruto in the original timeline most likely inherited his mother's genes; mother and son were almost cut from the same mold of cheerfulness, and this subtle balance was instantly broken, his mouth uncontrollably curving into a grin:
"Today, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Uchiha Megumi seemed to have thought of something, and her gaze suddenly sharpened:
"Kushina."
"Could it be that you're already pregnant so quickly?"
"Huh?!"
These sudden words immediately made Kushina, who had just had a cheerful, husky-like expression, blush deeply. Her eyes involuntarily darted around the empty barbecue restaurant, and she said shyly:
"Megumi!"
"How can you say such things out loud… It's not that fast at all!"
Namikaze Minato, standing nearby, noticed Kushina's forehead was practically steaming with embarrassment and quickly tried to smooth things over:
"Actually, Kushina's Level 1 Jinchuriki Control Certificate passed."
"Starting this month, we no longer have to live in the sealing grounds."
At this point, Minato turned to look at the blushing Kushina, a happy smile spreading across his face.
The Level 1 Jinchuriki Control Certificate was one of the reform projects in recent years, specifically designed for Jinchuriki. Future Jinchuriki would transition from the original brutal pressure tests to a systematic and formalized approach.
Even if they were no longer around, the Village's Jinchuriki could learn to control and communicate with the Tailed Beast within them, step by step, like students.
There would no longer be absurd situations like Naruto and Gaara experienced in their childhood in the original story.
Among them, the Jinchuriki Control Certificate was divided into three levels, with 'Level 1' being the highest, indicating that Kushina had become a perfect Jinchuriki, capable of smoothly reaching a consensus with the Tailed Beast—this was also one of the guidance suggestions given by Sawara Kiri.
This one thing alone raised Minato's Bond Level with Sawara Kiri by one.
This love-struck fool was beyond saving.
"Hehe~!"
Despite her embarrassment, Kushina couldn't help but laugh when Minato mentioned it.
For ordinary people, having a spacious residence might not be a bad thing, but for Kushina, who had been designated as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki since childhood and was under constant Anbu surveillance, it was like being released from prison.
At least, when she and her husband slept at night, no one would be taking notes outside anymore.
"That's truly great news."
"No wonder you chose this time."
Sawara Kiri's voice was concise, but Minato couldn't stop scratching his face with a laugh.
Ever since he felt hopeless about becoming Hokage, he had practically dedicated all his thoughts to his wife, so it was only natural for him to have such ideas.
For Minato, an orphan, having a complete family was practically one of his lifelong dreams.
On the contrary, when Megumi saw the blissful smile on Kushina's face, she secretly reached out from under the table and pinched Kiri's leg.
She wanted it too!!
Sawara Kiri endured the pain in his thigh and quickly changed the subject:
"You've told the good news, what about the bad news?"
Hearing him bring this up, Namikaze Minato's expression suddenly became solemn, and he lowered his voice:
"Last night, Lord Fourth received letters from the Land of Earth, Lightning, and Wind."
"The Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, using the Hidden Mist Village incident as a pretext, hopes to have a formal discussion with Lord Fourth, and for this, wishes to convene a Four Kage Summit."
"Furthermore, the various countries have also expressed their hope to use this opportunity to hold a Chunin Exam after a ten-year interval."
"At the same time, according to intelligence transmitted by our Anbu."
"All countries have begun to increase military production and prepare for full-scale war."
Namikaze Minato's voice grew softer and softer, keeping it within a range only they could hear.
Upon hearing this, even the most optimistic Kushina's expression became much more serious; they all clearly understood what this meant.
Minato said calmly, "According to the assessment of the Jonin Class Staff Department."
"The Third Great Ninja War might be about to begin."
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