Bab 10: Mikoto's Obsession!
After the Third Shinobi War, the Village of Konoha went through some shocking changes.
Previously, due to the war, the whole village looked like a barricaded training ground. The borders were heavily guarded and the children of the village were made to attend the academy at a very early age.
This caused most of the current Shinobis to be extremely cold and heartless. Even though most of the shinobis of the village keep a happy and carefree smile over their faces, only they knew the pain and heartache they went through during the war.
Most of the resorts and entertainment places of today were cold and grey armouries. Some were torture centres to find out the information of the enemy nation and some places were a prison to hold the enemy shinobis.
Even the Academy of the village wasn't so uplifting and cheerful in its construct.
The walls were plain and the classes were made of wooden chairs and tables.
But now, everything had changed considerably!
Eio, who was held by a baby carrier, looked around! There were many shinobis in standard battle uniforms moving around. Some were rushing towards the exit of the village while some chatted happily with their counterparts.
At a distance, he could see a red building with a wide roof constructed on top of it. On the front of the building, a character denoting to the word 'Fire' could be seen written in brilliant strokes.
That is the Ninja Academy!
Meanwhile, Asuka wore a pair of casual blue pants and a cream top. Her hair was tied into a low ponytail and she held a small bag in her hand.
She went inside a wooden building that kept on producing a tantalizing and spicy aroma.
"Oh! You finally came!"
Asuka saw the dark-haired Mikoto. She was wearing a long black skirt and a light-blue shirt was covering her upper body. She held a similar dark-haired boy in her arms and her baby care could be seen placed on the seat next to her, alongside a small bag.
"Hello, Mikoto-san. I hope you were not waiting for too long!"
Asuka greeted and sat on the next chair and placed her stuff near her. She also picked Eio and placed him in her arms and slowly rocked him sideways.
"Not at all. I just arrived!"
Mikoto smiled gracefully.
Before she could speak anything, a small girl wearing a red frock came from the other side of the counter and smiled innocently.
"Ah~ Beautiful Sister, finally! Big Sister Mikoto has been waiting for an hour!"
She smiled and shook her head in a mature manner. She then looked at Asuka seriously with her big cute eyes.
"It isn't good to make others wait for you for a long time!"
Even though some of her words felt off, Asuka could clearly understand her and her smile had been frozen.
She felt a little awkward and checked the time on her watch!
"Hmm? I'm right on time."
Asuka felt weird and looked at Mikoto to find her forehead covered in cold sweat.
Mikoto saw Asuka looking at her wristwatch and then looking at herself with a questioning look and immediately felt pressured!
"Ah... oh... that... it's like this... I just like to arrive early to be on time."
She explained with a blushing face.
Asuka smiled at Mikoto and quickly waved her hands.
"Ah! It's not a problem. It's just that I feel incredibly guilty now!"
Asuka wanted Mikoto to save some of her face, but she was internally screaming!
"1 hour.... friggin 1 hour early! Why? Are you that FREE!???"
Asuka only kept her thoughts to herself. She was a young woman in her prime and absolutely loved to gossip. This situation right here was an absolute gossip material.
But Asuka knew better, she immediately changed the subject.
"Mikoto-san, I heard from my husband that your eldest son is finally admitted to the academy."
She tried to start a conversation and smiled at the little girl. Asuka knew who the identity of the little princess.
"Can you call your dad for us? I am very hungry!"
Asuka spoke with a gentle voice.... but in reality, she wasn't hungry. She just loved the food here and it didn't matter to her if she had a full stomach.
Such small things like 'being full' or 'not hungry' couldn't her from eating good food.
"Yes!"
The girl ran away. Her presence did bring this shop a certain sense of liveliness.
Mikoto smiled at the little girl's antics and continued the conversation. After all, which mother didn't like to praise her kids?
"Yes, he was just admitted to the academy."
Speaking of her son, Mikoto's face glowed unknowingly.
She started talking about the various jutsus he can perform at such an age and how he even takes care of her youngest son, Sasuke, when she isn't around.
"Wow, she doesn't look like this, but she really loves to talk about her son."
Asuka thought in her heart and smiled naturally. She was also waiting for the day when her Eio starts going to the academy and boy, will she brag....
At this time, the door from the other side of the counter slid open and a middle-aged man, around forty years of age, walked out with a polite smile.
"If it isn't Mikoto-san, how can this old man be of your service?"
In a white outfit and white hat, the man smiled kindly and started to process the boiled noodles.
"Hello, Teuchi-san, this is Asuka Hozai."
Mikoto smiled politely and introduced Asuka. Even though Asuka had been to this restaurant before, she had just ordered food and actually never specialised with the owner before.
"Yes, I remember. Hozai-san and her husband are one of the regulars here."
Teuchi nodded and took the lid off the steamer and placed another batch of noodles to cook.
"Yes, your Ramen is the best in the village. Of course, we will come here."
Asuka smiled, too.
"So, what can I get you?"
Teuchi finally asked their order.
"I want seaweed ramen!"
"Me too!"
Asuka spoke and Mikoto followed immediately.
They both smiled at each other as they placed the same order.
Teuchi smiled and started to prepare two bowls of seaweed ramen for the duo.
"Say, Teuchi-san, Ayame is already five years old, isn't she?"
Mikoto started to converse with Teuchi as Asuka listened from the sidelines.
Asuka had just met the young princess in a pink frock. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of having a daughter.
A cute little ball of energy playing around the house with a peal of bell-like laughter. Her cute and beautiful face creating small dimples on her cheeks as she smiled cutely. Oh... doing her hair to make her look cuter and bathing with her... ah.
Asuka's eyes were already glazed slightly.
"Alright! Do it till we have a daughter!"
Asuka had already made her mind.
She loved Eio, but having a daughter was a completely different thing.
"Yeah, time passes too quickly! That angel has already grown so much!"
Teuchi also let out an unprofessional, yet, kind smile.
"Yes, time is always like that! Flowing past our fingers during happiness while stuck at our foot during our hardships."
Asuka commented lightly and closed her eyes as she smelled the aroma of Seaweed Ramen.
Unknown to them, an hour had already passed by quickly.
Seeing the bowl of Ramen placed in front of her, Asuka felt an itch in her stomach.
"Enjoy."
Teuchi smiled as he looked at their reactions and started to clean up the chopping board.
Before Mikoto and Asuka could dig in, another person entered the restaurant.
"Haaa~ Sorry! I woke up a little late!"
A red-haired beauty wearing a pair of black pants and a green top with her hair tied into a high ponytail walked and apologized to Asuka and Mikoto.
She was Kushina!
Mikoto didn't express herself and Asuka looked at her wristwatch again.
"One came an hour early and one arrived an hour late.... I am the only normal one...."
Asuka thought silently.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Broughtwaorld
Broughtwaorld Hey guys, when I wrote this chapter, I felt satisfied. It wasn't a fighting scene or a love scene, but I think I was able to keep it from draining all the momentum of the previous chapters...
Anyway, all I want is to say that it is this kind of chapter that got missed during the previous novel.
Heck! I completed a Naruto verse in only a hundred chapters and did not explore anything.
I hope you all can see the change I want to make and support this rewrite too.
You guys stay well!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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