บท 51: Chapter 51:- That was surprisingly easy
As the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Kenshin stirred awake. He found himself sandwiched between Akane and Kana, both still deep in sleep.
Kana's head was resting on his shoulder, her breathing steady and peaceful, while Akane was curled up on his other side, her hand still lightly resting on his chest.
He realized that any movement on his part would wake them both, so he remained still, savoring the quiet moment.
When Kana and Akane finally began to stir, Kenshin greeted them with a soft smile, which they both returned. They shared a quiet breakfast, the atmosphere comfortable and light. But as they were finishing up, a knock on the door interrupted the tranquility.
Shizune stepped in, offering a polite bow before delivering her message. "Tsunade-sama would like to see you guys," she said, her tone gentle but firm.
Kenshin exchanged a glance with Kana, who nodded, already prepared for what was to come.
As they arrived at Tsunade's office, Kana took a deep breath, gathering her resolve. Once inside, Tsunade greeted them with her usual calm authority.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Kana took a deep breath and expressed her desire to formally adopt Akane.
Tsunade's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. "Why do you want to go through the formal process? You already acknowledge her as your daughter."
Kana hesitated, her mind racing for the right words. How could she explain that the adoption was about more than just formalities? That it was about making Kenshin and Akane's relationship easier to accept by others?
She swallowed nervously, unsure how to explain the true reason behind her request without revealing too much. She glanced at Kenshin, who gave her a subtle nod of encouragement.
Sensing his mother's struggle, Kenshin quietly leaned over to Shizune and whispered, "Could you explain our situation to Tsunade-sama? She might understand better if it comes from you."
Shizune's eyes widened slightly in surprise but quickly nodded in understanding. She stepped forward and addressed her mentor.
"Tsunade-sama, Kenshin and Akane... their relationship has developed into something more than just siblings. Because they weren't raised together, the closeness they developed over time led to romantic feelings."
Tsunade's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and contemplation crossing her features. She looked between the three of them, clearly considering the implications.
"I see," she finally said, her voice steady. "So, you believe making her your adopted daughter, it would make it easier for the public to accept their relationship, and eventually their marriage?"
Kana nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Yes, that's the main reason. We want to ensure that when the time comes, it won't be as difficult for others to understand."
Tsunade remained silent for a few moments, weighing her decision. Finally, she nodded. "Very well. I'll approve the adoption. But know that this won't be an easy road. You'll have to be prepared for it.
To be honest, I'm not very comfortable with this. But since you, their mother, are okay with it, I have no right to deny it."
Kana smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. We understand."
'That went surprisingly smooth. It's almost like plot armor, except in real life.' Kenshin thought, surprised by how readily Tsunade agreed.
As they were about to leave, Akane hesitated, her earlier thoughts resurfacing. After sending Kenshin and Kana back home, she turned to Tsunade, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Hokage-sama, may I ask you something... personal?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Of course, Akane. What is it?"
Akane fidgeted slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Well... I saw a photo of you when you were younger, and your bust was, um, a lot like mine is now. But... it's much bigger now, and I was wondering if there's, um, something you did... or maybe a jutsu?"
Tsunade blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question. She then let out a hearty laugh, her earlier seriousness giving way to amusement.
"Ah, I see. You're wondering about... that. Well, Akane, let's just say that some things come with time, and some... well, they're just genetics. But if you're really curious, we can discuss it later."
Akane nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed but also relieved. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
As Akane exited the Hokage's office, she found Kenshin and Kana waiting for her in the hallway. The tension from earlier had dissipated, leaving behind a sense of relief and accomplishment. Akane offered them a small smile as she approached.
"Why did you stay behind? Is everything okay?" Kenshin asked, his voice laced with concern.
"It's nothing serious. I just had something I needed to ask her. Anyways, let's go."
"Okay."
The three of them began walking back home, the morning sun casting long shadows as they made their way through the village streets.
As they turned a corner, they saw Maki approaching them. She walked with her usual confident stride, a small smile on her lips as she saw them.
"Maki!" Akane called out, waving her hand.
Maki nodded in acknowledgment, her voice carrying a note of affection beneath her usual composed tone. "Akane, Kenshin, and you must be Kana-san."
Kana smiled back at her. "That's right. Maki-chan, it's nice to meet you. Akane-chan told me a lot about you."
"I hope it was the good stuff." Maki returned the smile before turning her attention back to Akane. "I was hoping to run into you today. I wanted to talk about introducing your brother to everyone tomorrow."
Akane blinked, a little surprised. "You mean our friends? From the academy?"
Maki nodded. "Yes, I think it's time. We're rarely all in the village at the same time these days. And they've been curious ever since Ino told them all. It'll be good for him if he can make friends with them."
Kenshin exchanged a glance with Kana, who gave him an encouraging nod. "I'd like that," he said, his voice steady. "It's about time I met her other friends."
Maki smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Great. Just be prepared—they'll have a lot of questions."
Akane chuckled, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Well, this brat can handle it. And besides, it'll be nice to catch up with everyone."
Maki's expression softened. "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you, Akane. It's been a while since we all got together."
As they continued walking, Maki fell into step beside Akane, her voice dropping to a more casual tone. "How have you been holding up with everything, Akane?"
Akane glanced at her, sensing the underlying concern in Maki's question. "It's been a lot to process," she admitted. "But having Kenshin and mom with me makes it easier."
Maki nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That's good. Just remember, you're not alone in this. I'm always here if you need someone to talk to."
"Or if you need someone to beat some sense into this guy after you two have a fight." She said, grabbing Kenshin's collar from behind before quickly letting him go, leaving him utterly confused.
Akane smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Maki. That means a lot."
As they approached the Uchiha compound, Maki gave them a small wave before turning to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Take care, all of you."
"See you tomorrow, Maki!" Akane called out as Maki walked away, her figure soon disappearing around a corner.
Once they were alone again, Kana turned to Akane, his eyes filled with warmth. "You have good friends, Akane-chan."
Akane nodded, feeling a deep sense of contentment. "I know. I feel grateful to have a friend like her."
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. As always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.
And sorry for not uploading yesterday, I kinda forgot to set the timer.
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