"..."
Ruri took one of the pacifiers from Ichihime's embrace and placed it back in the baby boy's hand, letting him suck on the pacifier.
The baby boy stopped crying, and the sound of sucking on the pacifier could be heard.
Ichihime, the baby girl, noticed that one of her pacifiers was gone from her mouth, realizing that her 'spoils' had been taken.
She grabbed the edge of the cradle with her little hands and began to shake it vigorously, as if trying to break the cradle, while glaring at Ruri with her distinctly colored eyes.
The baby boy immediately started coughing, likely unable to properly drink milk due to the vigorous shaking of the cradle.
"Waaaaahhhhh!"
The baby boy began to cry his heart out once more.
Ruri had to admit, these siblings really showed no signs of being in sync at all.
"Ichihime, don't bully your brother. You're the younger sister, you have to learn to give him a break."
Ruri held down the shaking cradle, stroking Ichihime's small head, speaking gently into her ear.
Even though she knew Ichihime wouldn't understand the meaning of the words, Ruri still offered her comfort in this way.
It took Ichihime quite a while to settle down, hugging the bottle, her eyes still restlessly wandering about as if hunting for something interesting.
Ruri sighed tiredly.
It's just too exhausting.
In the past, executing missions with only two hours of sleep a day didn't make her feel this worn out. Now, just taking care of two babies for half a day feels like it's wearing her out completely.
The baby boy was easier to handle; Ichihime's temperament, however, was far too domineering.
Take the night-time toilet issue, for instance; she never called out but would directly wake her brother from a deep sleep, crying loudly enough to alert the adults that she needed to use the bathroom.
After hastily finishing lunch, Ruri asked Amatsuyo to stay home and look after the two babies, while she went out to train, promising to return promptly at six in the evening.
Having spent the past year focusing on nurturing the babies, there hadn't been much time for training, and now every day's training time was squeezed out from an already packed schedule.
Sometimes, when the two babies were too troublesome, she had to give up training in the afternoon to focus her energy on caring for them instead.
◎
"I'm jealous."
In the laboratory, Ayane voiced this sentiment.
"What?"
Hakushi, holding a test tube by the table, turned his head toward Ayane, puzzled.
"That child's future is surely extraordinary."
Ayane spoke affirmatively.
Hakushi thought for a moment, then understood whom Ayane was referring to.
"There's nothing to be jealous of. Actually, I hope Ichihime's abilities can be a bit more ordinary. The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. Given her potential, I can't predict where she might end up based on my current knowledge. The pressure she'll face in the future is unimaginable."
Hakushi shook his head while speaking.
In his understanding, Ruri and Ayane were already considered the most outstanding geniuses of their kind.
What's more, they possess very special Kekkeigenkai in the Ninja Realm.
However, according to Hakushi's knowledge, even during their childhood, neither of them showed such exaggerated potential.
Up to now, Ruri and Ayane's chakra could not reach Tailed Beast Level, not even close.
Ruri's Three-Tomoe Sharingan didn't awaken until after twelve, and she began training Immortal Technique after fifteen.
But Ichihime is different.
Less than two months after birth, she possessed chakra nearing Tailed Beast Level, along with the monstrous talent of being born with Three-Tomoe Sharingan... Hakushi simply cannot predict to what extent Ichihime can grow if she learns Immortal Technique.
But this also means that the burden on Ichihime will be extremely heavy.
Hakushi is quite sure about this.
"What is the fundamental cause for Ichihime exhibiting such anomalies?"
Ayane asked in bewilderment.
Hakushi, just like before, shook his head and said, "How would I know? From a scientific perspective, it's just a sudden mutation of extraordinarily low probability. Since beings like Tailed Beasts, which are purely irrational chakra entities, can be born as a form of life, occasionally there might be one or two humans who surpass common sense."
It's not that Hakushi doesn't want to explore the causes, but there's simply no suitable entry point, nothing to trace.
Since this is a matter with no trace, Hakushi can only let it unfold freely and observe the outcomes later.
Anyway, with the dual constraints of sealing techniques and medication, there's no need to worry about Ichihime's rampage.
Hakushi held a proportion chart in hand and began formulating a new drug.
While he was frowning in thought, something soft pressed against his back.
"…Ayane, what are you doing?"
Hakushi could feel his body heating up and sensed a natural physiological response.
"Wait, my research isn't finished yet…"
"Then go ahead and study my body. You've done it before anyway."
Ayane's laughter came from behind, extending such an invitation.
Hakushi put down the test tube in his hand, finding it hard to withstand such teasing.
"Let's go to the lounge."
In the end, he couldn't control his physiological response, feeling he wouldn't have time to conduct research all afternoon.
"Okay…"
Ayane nodded in agreement.
Then, the two began kissing, gently and carefully caressing each other's body parts, and gradually moved towards the lounge inside the laboratory.
Originally, it was a single-occupancy lounge prepared by Hakushi to prevent fatigue during research.
Ayane lay on the bed gasping for breath, her face flushed, her gaze affectionate, with her clothes half undone adding to the allure.