Kirito couldn't hide his shameless grin, "Maybe it's because I lost my parents young and grew up lacking a mother's love. When I'm around a mature, beautiful, and kind woman like Mikoto, I have no resistance. I think I began to like her from the moment I first saw her."
He then silently counted down in his mind: five, four, three, two, one. Right on cue, he heard a loud crash and the sound of dishes breaking from Mikoto's room.
"Mikoto!" Kirito quickly approached her door, knocking with concern. "Are you alright?"
The door creaked open, and there Mikoto stood, stepping gingerly over shattered dishes on the floor. She shook her head and walked out, bowing formally to Izumi. "I'm so sorry, Izumi."
Izumi hurried forward to support Mikoto. Ever since learning the truth about the Uchiha massacre from Kirito, any resentment she once held against Mikoto had melted away. She saw Mikoto now as a tragic figure, a woman who had suffered greatly.
The two women made amends, offering comfort to each other, leaving Kirito momentarily sidelined. That night, as a price for his "wandering heart," Kirito took on all the housework, watching his two "wives"—big and small—form an unspoken alliance.
As he scrubbed the dishes, Kirito's mind drifted to Tsunade. He remembered her fierce demeanor, her battle-worn scars, and the complicated entanglement that led to the loss of his innocence. With Mikoto now pregnant, he couldn't help but wonder if Tsunade might also be…
Meanwhile, in the Land of Fire, in a remote hot springs inn:
"Hah… Hah…" Tsunade stifled yet another yawn.
Beside her, Shizune put down her travel bag, casting a concerned look. "Lady Tsunade, are you alright?"
Tsunade rubbed her nose, feeling it tingle. "I've been yawning a lot recently, probably because I haven't had any sake in days."
She rummaged around inside her cloak, pulling out a collection of odd items—playing cards, a ninjutsu scroll, various coins—almost like a treasure trove. Finally, she retrieved a small, stainless-steel flask.
"Found it!" Tsunade opened the flask, bringing it close to her lips, only for Shizune to snatch it away. "Lady Tsunade, I've told you that drinking is off-limits for someone in your condition! Wait… This isn't sake?"
Curious, Shizune took a small sniff and a taste. It was just juice.
"Of course." Tsunade's cheeks turned pink, her hand unconsciously resting on her abdomen.
Like Mikoto, Tsunade was also pregnant. She had been surprised to learn this just two months ago, and it had been a shock that altered her life entirely.
This unexpected story had begun shortly after Kirito left. Distraught, Tsunade had taken the money Kirito had left and, in a half-hearted attempt to relieve her frustration, decided to gamble. Oddly, rather than losing, she had found herself on an unusually lucky streak, bankrupting several casinos along Tance Street. Her good fortune was startling enough that she soon suspected something unusual. Later, she discovered she was pregnant.
Initially, Shizune had suggested terminating the pregnancy, thinking it might be best for Tsunade's reputation. But Tsunade had refused, determined to keep the child. After the loss of her younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan Kato, she didn't want to lose another chance at family.
"Lady Tsunade, are you sure about this?" Shizune asked, concern evident in her voice. She was tempted to find Kirito herself and make him take responsibility.
"Do you even know his real name?" Tsunade asked, her voice calm.
Shizune hesitated. "Well… No."
Tsunade poured herself a cup of tea and continued. "Do you know what he looks like? Can you describe him accurately?"
Again, Shizune shook her head.
"Exactly." Tsunade shrugged. "We're not intelligence specialists. With nothing but a vague memory, we'd be searching for a needle in a haystack."
Shizune opened her mouth to suggest going back to the Leaf Village for help, but Tsunade cut her off. "Enough, Shizune. Don't even bring that place up."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade." Shizune sighed, but she still looked annoyed. "So, are we really just letting him off the hook?"
"Of course not!" Tsunade's fist clenched, the teacup in her hand shattering. "The next time I see that guy, I'll make him pay!"
Shizune watched her master's anger with a mixture of exasperation and sympathy, especially as Tsunade turned and punched a nearby wall, leaving a massive dent. "Lady Tsunade, was the wall really to blame?"
On the other side of the world, back in the Rain Village, Kirito sneezed just as he was setting out plates of food for Mikoto and Izumi.
"Are you alright?" Mikoto asked, handing him a bowl of rice.
Kirito chuckled, "Probably just someone thinking about me. Maybe Tsunade?"
His mind raced. Perhaps he would check in on her soon—assuming she was still in Tance Street. He'd have to be cautious around her; a punch from Tsunade was a danger few could endure.
While Kirito contemplated his next steps, Danzo, after months of recovery, was welcoming a new child into his household.
Deep underground at the Root facility, Danzo had meticulously selected the child's other parent from his strongest subordinates, choosing one with an affinity for Wood Release in hopes that the child would inherit it.
"Lord Danzo," a Root medical-nin said, bowing. "The fetus is stable and progressing well."
Danzo nodded approvingly. "Good. Do you think this child will inherit Wood Release?"
The medic hesitated before replying, "We can't be certain until the child is born, but we've observed that this child's mother, your first child has Wood Release cells with a genetic makeup strikingly similar to yours. The odds seem favorable."
Danzo nodded, a rare glint of satisfaction crossing his face. For years, he had made countless sacrifices and endured much to secure a future generation of Wood Release users. This child, he hoped, would carry on his legacy.
While Kirito had unexpectedly brought new lives into the world, Danzo was moving forward with his own plans for the next generation, determined that his sacrifices would yield the results he desired.
(End of this chapter)
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