Chapter 130: Lolis Are Great
Sasuko stood behind Yu, carefully scrutinizing Kaguya.
The woman's ethereally cold temperament was certainly distinctive, but what concerned her most was the familiarity in how this woman looked at Yu.
"Teammate?" Sasuko raised an eyebrow slightly. "I haven't completed registration yet. How could I have a teammate?"
Kaguya calmly presented a document. "This is the registration notice signed by the Fifth Hokage. Starting today, we both belong to Team Seven."
Sasuko accepted the document and skimmed it quickly, confirming Tsunade's handwriting and seal, though the doubts in her heart hadn't completely dissipated. "Team Seven? Who's the jonin instructor?"
"Uzumaki Naruko."
Hearing Naruko's name, Sasuko's expression eased somewhat. If that little blonde was leading the team, the arrangement seemed more reasonable.
But she still stared at Kaguya, pressing further. "Did you know Yu before?"
This question left Kaguya momentarily speechless.
According to Yu's requirements, she should conceal their acquaintance, but she wasn't skilled at improvising explanations.
"Uchiha Yu is quite famous in Konoha." Yoya's clear, childish voice chimed in opportunely, resolving her mother's awkwardness.
Sasuko recalled what Naruko had revealed previously and grudgingly accepted this explanation.
Yet some doubts still lingered—there was something odd about this mother and daughter.
Though suspicions remained, seeing the official documents presented, Sasuko temporarily set aside those thoughts.
She stepped aside to clear the path, bowing slightly. "I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Please, come in."
Kaguya merely nodded lightly without further comment. As far as she was concerned, delivering the document completed her task, and she was about to turn and leave when—
Yoya gently tugged her mother's hand. She realized Kaguya had been sealed away so long she'd become unfamiliar with human social etiquette.
The little girl looked up, showing Sasuko a sweet smile. "Then we'll trouble you."
This appropriate response finally made the situation more natural.
Yu observed quietly from the side, noting that Kaguya seemed less adept at interpersonal interactions than her young daughter. Likely this brusque attitude had initially caused Sasuko's misunderstanding.
He looked at Kaguya, speaking gently. "Please, come in."
Kaguya met his gaze briefly, remaining silent, but her footsteps followed Yoya's into the house.
Sasuko also carefully observed the interaction between Kaguya and Yu. Seeing both their expressions remained normal with nothing unusual in their exchange, her doubts finally eased somewhat.
After reaching the living room, Yu turned and returned to his room, deliberately leaving space for the three women. It was time for Sasuko to start learning how to interact with strangers.
The living room fell into subtle silence.
As Sasuko poured tea for her guests, her gaze inadvertently swept across Kaguya's refined profile.
"Miss Kaguya isn't a Konoha native, is she? I don't recall seeing you before."
Kaguya accepted the teacup and simply gave a soft "Mm."
Seeing this, Yoya immediately responded in her clear, childish voice. "We just moved here from elsewhere. Mother doesn't talk much usually—please don't mind."
Sasuko smiled faintly and turned toward the little girl. "Little sister is so well-mannered. How did you meet the Fifth Hokage?"
This question made Kaguya's movements pause slightly. But Yoya calmly set down her teacup. "Lady Tsunade approached Mother directly. She said Konoha currently needs personnel and especially needs experts like Mother."
Sasuko nodded with a smile. "I see."
This smooth exchange secretly surprised Sasuko.
This child appeared no more than six or seven years old, yet her manner and speech were so appropriate, every response perfectly deflecting her probing.
Kaguya sat quietly to the side throughout, occasionally lifting her teacup for a light sip. That transcendent composure actually made Sasuko feel her probing was somewhat excessive.
"As teammates," Sasuko changed topics, "would Miss Kaguya mind sharing what type of jutsu you specialize in?"
This time Kaguya finally spoke. "All of them."
Two simple words, yet carrying unquestionable confidence.
This statement struck Sasuko as rather odd. She couldn't tell if it was genuine versatility or arrogance. All of them?
Yoya quickly added, "Mother means she's dabbled in various elemental jutsu." Sasuko smiled.
Now she could see that Miss Kaguya truly wasn't good with words, while her daughter was exceptionally lively, adorable, and well-mannered.
She simply shifted the conversation to Yoya instead. "What's your name, little one? How old are you?"
Yoya feigned innocence. "I'm called Yoya. I'm seven years old."
Sasuko looked at Yoya's innocent, cheerful face, and her wariness relaxed another degree.
She pushed the dessert plate closer to the girl. "Try these, little Yoya. They were made fresh this morning."
"Thank you, Sister Sasuko." Yoya obediently picked up a piece of dessert and nibbled it in small bites, her manner quite proper.
Sasuko turned to Kaguya, her tone becoming more formal. "Since we'll be working together as teammates from now on, I'd like to understand Miss Kaguya's combat style. After all, we'll need to coordinate during missions."
Kaguya set down her teacup, her pure white eyes looking calmly at Sasuko. "You don't need to coordinate with me."
This statement was too direct, leaving Sasuko momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
Yoya hastily swallowed her mouthful of dessert and explained, "Mother means she'll adjust flexibly based on battlefield conditions, so teammates don't need to deliberately match her rhythm."
Sasuko nodded thoughtfully, but still felt this mother and daughter were peculiar in every way. The mother seemed mature yet ignorant of social norms, while the daughter, though young, was unnaturally perceptive.
"Speaking of which," Sasuko asked with apparent casualness, "is Yoya enrolled at the ninja academy?"
Yoya set down her dessert and gently shook her head. "I haven't started school yet. Mother says to wait until I'm a bit older..."
Sasuko nodded in understanding. "I see."
Sasuko conversed with the mother and daughter for a while longer.
Most of the dialogue was handled by Yoya, the little girl.
Kaguya seemed to realize she wasn't good at this type of socializing, so she sat quietly to the side, occasionally lifting her teacup for a light sip, allowing her daughter to respond on her behalf.
Though Yoya appeared young, her manner and speech were exceptionally appropriate.
She could always catch every topic Sasuko tossed out perfectly, sometimes innocently recounting their first impressions of Konoha, other times curiously asking about academy anecdotes. Those large, pure white eyes sparkled, and combined with her exquisite little face, naturally evoked affection.
"Little Yoya knows so much—how impressive." Sasuko couldn't help praising her and added another dessert to the girl's plate.
"It's all from Mother's usual instruction." Yoya answered obediently, sneaking a glance at Kaguya beside her.
Kaguya nodded slightly, essentially confirming this explanation.
As the conversation deepened, Sasuko's fondness for Yoya became increasingly obvious.
She was frequently amused by the little girl's childish yet clever remarks, her earlier doubts and wariness having dissipated considerably.
This intelligent, adorable little loli was indeed hard not to like.
Yoya also keenly sensed Sasuko's softening attitude and worked even harder to display her innocent, endearing side.
She knew that the more she acted like an ordinary child, the more it would dispel the other's suspicions.
***
20+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces