Kushina couldn't help but burst out laughing, her giggles echoing through the room. Uchiha Mikoto also joined in, covering her mouth as she tried unsuccessfully to stifle her laughter.
Nawaki groaned, burying his face in his hands. *You just love to pick on me, huh?* he thought, casting a fleeting glance toward the front door. The thought of his older sister, Tsunade, came to mind. *On second thought, maybe it's better she stays on the front lines for now.* At least with her gone, Shinki's teasing was sporadic and not an all-day affair. With Tsunade, every moment could turn into a lecture—or worse, a sparring match.
Resigned to his fate, Nawaki fell silent and focused on finishing his meal without further protest.
As the sky darkened, Uchiha Mikoto glanced toward the door, unsure whether she should head home. Shinki noticed her hesitation and stood up.
"Come on, I'll walk you home. It'll help me digest," he said.
Mikoto's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, senior."
Kushina, eyeing the pile of dishes waiting for her, pouted. "I want to go too…"
Shinki chuckled. "Finish those dishes first, and maybe next time."
Kushina sighed in defeat as she trudged to the sink.
Outside, under the deepening blue sky, Shinki and Mikoto walked side by side. She kept her eyes lowered, her thoughts preoccupied. Shinki noticed and, after a moment, broke the silence.
"Mikoto, you're a good friend to Kushina. If you value that friendship, don't let family expectations or pressure get in the way," he said gently.
Mikoto looked up, her smile genuine but strained. The Uchiha clan had been clear in their expectations. She was encouraged to foster a stronger relationship with Kushina, with an unspoken hope that it might grow into something more. The weight of those implications made her heart heavy.
"The family said something, didn't they?" Shinki pressed, noting her hesitation.
Her cheeks flushed red, and she looked away, embarrassed. The truth was painfully clear, and she couldn't bring herself to deny it. Seeing her reaction, Shinki chuckled softly.
"I know these things aren't easy. But listen, nothing changes between us or with Kushina. You're welcome anytime, without any strings attached."
"Really?" Mikoto's eyes widened, hope flickering in their dark depths. The idea that things could remain simple between them lifted a burden she didn't realize she'd been carrying.
"Of course," Shinki assured her, his smile reassuring.
Relief washed over her, and she returned a small smile, more genuine this time. "Thank you, senior."
"You're not alone in dealing with this, you know," Shinki added.
Mikoto's curiosity piqued. "Not just me? Who else?" Images of her quieter friends, like Hyuga Mihui, flitted through her mind. Was she, too, being pushed by her family into situations beyond her control?
Shinki patted her head lightly. "You're still young. The politics and schemes of clans aren't things you should be losing sleep over. And if anyone puts pressure on you, tell them to come see me. Don't feel guilty—it's because of my position that you're caught up in this."
The warmth of his words stunned her for a moment. The way the ninja world worked, alliances were often sealed by shared interests or, more bindingly, through marriage. The Uchiha saw her bond with Kushina as an opportunity to form such an alliance, pushing her into roles she wasn't ready for.
They walked deeper into the Uchiha district, under the watchful eyes of clan members hidden in the shadows. Shinki ignored their stares, maintaining an air of composure as he escorted Mikoto home. Once there, he nodded and turned to leave.
"Senior!" Mikoto called out, jogging after him. He paused, surprised.
"Something else?"
She took a deep breath, searching his eyes. "Senior, isn't Hyuga Mihui from the main family? Why would she face the same kind of pressure?"
The Hyuga clan's focus on preserving their main family members was well-known. The idea that Mihui, a main family member, would be used as a political pawn surprised her.
Shinki's expression darkened subtly. "The Hyuga clan's situation is even more complicated than Uchiha's. Now, go on home."
Before she could ask more, he gave a small wave and disappeared into the night.
Mikoto stood there, digesting his words. The Hyuga clan's troubles were indeed greater than she realized. While Uchiha faced tension mainly from the Hokage faction, the Hyuga were caught in an even tighter web of political disdain, having alienated both major sides of Konoha's leadership.
Back at Kushina's house, the evening continued, but in the River Country Camp, the reality of war raged on. The battlefront between Konoha and the Sand Village was relentless, each side locked in a grueling stalemate. The camp was large and sprawling, a far cry from the confined quarters of the Rain Country Camp.
In her tent, Tsunade rubbed her tired eyes and unrolled a scroll from the village, sighing. Life on the front lines kept her busier than ever—researching antidotes, treating the wounded, cracking poisons, leading missions, and joining rescue efforts.
"What does the old man want this time?" she muttered as she unrolled the scroll. The Third Hokage often sent updates and pleas for her to rein in Shinki's antics.
But as she read the scroll, her eyes widened in disbelief. Even Tsunade, used to the absurd requests from Konoha, choked on her own breath and coughed, eyes wide with shock.
"What the—?!"
Even she, hardened by war and the political games of the village, found herself dumbfounded by what she read.
>>>>>
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