"Momoko, let's go to the bedroom."
"Yes... whatever you say, Lord Raizen."
Momoko's face was a deep shade of crimson.
Once they reached the bedroom, she bashfully hid herself beneath the covers. Raizen set aside his bath towel and approached the bedside with a gentle smile. "Miss Momoko, I'm here."
"Lord Raizen... please be gentle."
That night, Raizen was enveloped in tenderness.
Early the next morning, Raizen woke with the first light of dawn. Gazing at Momoko curled up in his arms, he couldn't help but smile, his hand gently stroking her silken hair.
Perhaps sensing his movement, Momoko's lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes. As their gazes met, a brilliant blush immediately rushed to her face.
"Lord Raizen!" she whispered, hiding her face beneath the sheet in embarrassment.
Raizen shifted, peeling back a corner of the sheet to look at her radiant, flushed face. "Momoko, it's still early. Let's sleep a little longer."
Momoko's eyes blinked softly. "Lord Raizen..."
Raizen leaned in closer. "Miss Momoko..."
That "little longer" turned into another hour of rest.
Eventually, Raizen rose and began to dress. "Momoko, you rest well. I'll go prepare something to eat."
"I'm so sorry, Lord Raizen," Momoko said, her face full of apology. "My body... it's a bit uncomfortable. I cannot serve you while you dress."
"It isn't your fault, Momoko. It was my own clumsiness—I didn't know how to properly cherish such a delicate flower."
Noticing the red stains on the bedding, Raizen felt a surge of genuine apology. He spoke softly, "Just rest, Momoko."
"Mhm!" Momoko nodded, her heart warmed by his consideration.
After washing up, Raizen prepared to go out for supplies. Having been away for so long, his house was devoid of food. As for Sasuke, the boy usually ate out, so there were no groceries in his quarters either.
"Uncle, you're awake!"
As Raizen stepped outside, Sasuke came running out from the neighboring house.
"Sasuke? Don't you have to go to the Academy today?" Raizen asked curiously.
"It's the weekend, Uncle. We're on break," Sasuke replied.
"Huh? What's wrong with your eyes? They're dark and swollen... didn't you sleep well last night?" Raizen noticed Sasuke's eyes looked like a panda's and asked out of concern.
"Uh... I just had a nightmare," Sasuke said, looking away a bit guiltily.
"Is that so?" Raizen was skeptical, but he didn't press it. Given that Sasuke had survived Itachi's Tsukuyomi torture, nightmares were to be expected. "Go back and catch up on some sleep. I'm going out to buy some food."
Raizen patted Sasuke's head. The boy let out a long yawn and nodded.
"Wait for me to get back," Raizen said before heading out.
Once Raizen was gone, Sasuke let out a small, weary sigh of admiration. "Uncle is amazing... that creaking and thumping lasted until the middle of the night."
A tired but excited smile spread across Sasuke's face. "With an uncle this capable, the revival of the Uchiha clan is just around the corner!"
The more powerful his uncle was, the faster the Uchiha would return to glory.
Not long after Raizen left, Momoko dressed and got up. After washing, she walked to the door with a slightly gingerly gait.
Sasuke, who was waiting by the gate for Raizen's return, saw Momoko emerging from his uncle's house. He immediately scrambled over with enthusiasm.
"Good morning, Auntie!" he shouted.
"Ah!" Momoko was startled by the sudden title. "Sasuke... I-I'm not your aunt yet! You've misunderstood!" Her face burned with awkward embarrassment.
"You are my aunt. There's no mistake," Sasuke insisted solemnly. He stood before her and gave a deep, respectful bow. "Good morning, Auntie. Thank you for your hard work!"
He then ran into the house, dragged out a stool, and placed it down. "Auntie, please sit."
Next, he sprinted back inside and brought out a glass of warm water. "Auntie, you must be thirsty. Drink some warm water; it'll soothe your throat."
Seeing Sasuke's earnest hospitality, Momoko felt a wave of warmth. "Sasuke, you're such a thoughtful child." She sat on the stool, looking at him with maternal affection.
"I'm back!"
At that moment, Raizen walked in carrying a large bag of groceries.
"Welcome back, Lord Raizen," Momoko stood up to greet him, but her legs felt weak, and she nearly stumbled.
In a flash, Raizen was in front of her, supporting her by the arms. "Momoko, are you alright?"
"Thank you, Lord Raizen. I'm fine," she said, looking at him bashfully.
"Uncle, let me help you with those," Sasuke chirped, taking the bag from Raizen's hand.
"Momoko, why are you up so soon? You should be in bed resting," Raizen said with a touch of gentle reproach.
"Forgive me, Lord Raizen... I wanted to greet you at the door when you returned," she whispered, lowering her head.
"Let me help you back to the room."
"Thank you..."
"Now, lie down. I'll feed you breakfast."
Raizen settled her onto a lounge chair, then went to the living room to hand a breakfast set to Sasuke. "This is for you. Eat up, don't go hungry."
"I'm not in a hurry. Uncle should go take care of Auntie Momoko!" Sasuke waved his hand, signaling Raizen to go back to her side.
"Auntie Momoko?" Raizen glanced at Sasuke in surprise, then chuckled. "Since when did you become so perceptive, kid?"
Raizen remembered that in the original story, "Second Pillar" Sasuke was utterly disgusted by romance. In his eyes, there was no room for anything but hatred. He had even been willing to stab Karin, his loyal follower, for the sake of revenge. He had never shown concern for women.
Why the sudden change?
"Uncle, I'm seven years old now. I'm very mature," Sasuke said.
Perhaps it was the butterfly effect of Raizen's arrival. Or perhaps, because the massacre had only just happened, Sasuke hadn't yet endured five years of soul-crushing isolation. The hatred hadn't yet fully corroded his childhood innocence.
Raizen shook his head, not overthinking it. He grabbed a bowl of lean meat porridge and walked back into the bedroom.
"Momoko, open up. I'm going to feed you."
Raizen gently blew on a spoonful of porridge to cool it before bringing it to her lips.
Seeing such a tender and attentive Raizen, tears welled in Momoko's eyes. She opened her mouth slightly, chewing slowly. "Thank you, Lord Raizen... you are far too good to me..."
"Momoko," Raizen said warmly, "I will take good care of you from now on."
"Mhm... Momoko will work hard to give you a big, healthy son!"