Chương 156: Chapter 155
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Time passed quickly, and it was now the winter of Konoha's 51st year. A Japanese-style building stood quietly amidst the snow, appearing as the sole sign of life in the silent, frozen landscape. Under the eaves, crystal-clear icicles hung like strings of solidified raindrops, reflecting the warm glow of the winter sunset.
The bathroom was enveloped in a thick white mist, like a delicate painting shrouded in haze. Warm water cascaded from the faucet, hitting the tiles and transforming into tendrils of steam that drifted upward. The mirror, fogged with condensation, formed droplets that slid gently down its surface, leaving behind faint trails, as if narrating the room's silent story.
Amid the mist, two pale figures bathed together in the warm, intimate space. Time seemed to stretch as they held each other quietly in a large bathtub that nearly filled half the room. After what felt like an eternity, a slender white arm slowly reached out, searching until it found its mark, then moved with deliberate intent.
"Care for a bit more?"
Taking the sake cup offered to him, Toshiro raised it to his lips and drank deeply, savoring the taste. Not quite satisfied, he gestured to the figure in his arms, who promptly refilled his cup. He accepted the freshly poured sake but hesitated, his gaze lingering on the other person.
"Hmm~" came a soft, delicate hum in response. Only then did Toshiro down the sake, before lowering his head to capture the other's soft, red lips in a lingering kiss.
After an extended moment of intimacy, Toshiro felt the warmth in the room growing oppressive. He dispersed the fog that clouded his vision, revealing Uchiha Hana, her body half-submerged in the bathtub. As he looked at her, Toshiro couldn't help but reflect on how both she and Pakura possessed their own unique charms.
One was a delicate beauty, gentle and soft-spoken; the other was daring and strikingly alluring. Shortly after his last return to Konoha, Toshiro effortlessly captured Hana. She offered little resistance, submitting with unusual compliance. Whether it was due to Mei-nee's influence, a promise from her clan elders, or simply her own need for a man to rely on, Toshiro wasn't sure. After all, raising a young child alone is a burden most women would struggle to bear.
The relationship between Toshiro and Hana was more a matter of mutual need than genuine love. As the mist cleared, Hana remained composed, without a trace of panic. She calmly stood, retrieved a cigarette from a nearby box, lit it, and placed it between Toshiro's lips.
Hiss!
Toshiro slowly exhaled the smoke, wrapping his arm around Hana as she settled beside him again. He couldn't help but appreciate the plumpness of her body as he held her close. With a contented sigh, Toshiro reflected on how cigarettes, alcohol, and women truly were the perfect antidotes for a man's frayed nerves.
He could distinctly feel that his once-turbulent spiritual energy, which had been unsettled ever since unlocking the Mangekyo, had finally begun to stabilize in recent days. Of course, extreme emotions—whether excitement or sorrow—could still provoke a strong reaction, but in his daily life, it no longer posed a problem.
He couldn't pinpoint whether this newfound calm was due to the passage of time, the effects of White Zetsu's eye drops, the soothing combination of cigarettes, alcohol, and the woman in his arms, or simply the result of his regular meditation practice.
After finishing the cigarette, Toshiro and Hana shared the remainder of the sake, about half a bottle's worth. Once the bottle was emptied, they both stood and began to clean up.
"Are you heading back now?" she asked.
Toshiro frowned in mild displeasure as he watched Hana, now fully dressed.
"Yeah, I can't leave Mai alone at home. She'll be scared," Hana replied, her tone gentle. To soften his mood, she stood on tiptoe and gave him a lingering kiss.
"I've told you, you can move in here. No one in the clan will gossip about you," Toshiro insisted. "Even with Mai, I'd raise her as if she were my own daughter."
Despite their relationship, which had begun over a year ago, Hana had always refused to move into his home. Every time they were intimate, she would return to her place to care for her child. Toshiro had tried to persuade her numerous times, but to no avail.
"No," Hana said firmly, knowing that while she and Toshiro shared a relationship, he was not truly hers. Seeing her resolve, Toshiro knew there was nothing more he could do.
It wasn't that Uchiha Toshiro didn't acknowledge the situation, but he understood that being strong doesn't always mean you can do whatever you want. Take this situation with Hana, for instance. After she rejected his request, he turned to the clan elders, hoping they might help him find a way. However, the outcome was disappointing.
The elders showcased the Uchiha clan's notorious stubbornness, refusing to assist him no matter how much he tried to persuade them. They insisted that, as a prominent figure in the Uchiha clan, he couldn't marry a woman who had been previously married, claiming it would tarnish the clan's reputation. How that made sense was out of his common sense barrier.
Toshiro found this perplexing, considering the Uchiha clan already had a dreadful reputation in Konoha. It was enough that they weren't openly condemned by everyone.
What made the situation even more absurd was that this group of elders had prepared a massive stack of photos, each accompanied by a detailed description of how gentle, considerate, and virtuous the women were. They urged him to pick one and marry as soon as possible.
This was enough to exasperate Toshiro, a Kage-level Shinobi who had once faced the rampage of the Nine-Tails without flinching. The idea that, with the arrival of peace, all the marriageable women in the clan were already taken, leaving only twelve- or thirteen-year-old girls for him to consider was infuriating. Some of them were still in the sixth grade at the Ninja Academy.
Toshiro couldn't help but think there was a reason why even academy students were so engrossed in the love games of their generation.
"Wait a minute! Go to the living room and wait for a moment. I'll be there soon!" he said, noticing the puzzled expression on Hana's face.
Seeing her confusion, Toshiro added, "I have something for you."
Since she had chosen to be with him, he felt it was his duty, as a man, to provide some form of protection.
Not long after, Toshiro emerged from his study, holding an ornate sandalwood box.
"This isn't for you—it's for Mai," he said, noticing the hesitation on Hana's face and cutting off her protest before she could voice it. He knew that if he offered the gift directly to Hana, she might refuse, but if it was for Mai, she would likely accept it.
"Have Mai wear this all the time. It will be very beneficial for her health."
Toshiro carefully opened the palm-sized box, revealing a pendant inside. The pendant was suspended from a simple yet durable red cotton cord, the same type used in crafting ninja armor. Though the cord had no special properties beyond its strength, the true value lay in the pendant itself.
It was a small green gem, about the size of a pea, and it appeared exceptionally valuable. Even as it lay quietly in Toshiro's hand, the warmth it radiated was unmistakable.
"This pendant is the result of my secret technique, where I crystallized a significant amount of Yang Release Chakra," he explained. "For ordinary people, especially children, wearing it can nourish the body, enhance chakra quality, and improve physical vitality to some extent."
Toshiro had based its creation on the legendary necklace left behind by the First Hokage. He had invested considerable time and effort into condensing the Yang chakra and senjutsu chakra, and it was only after achieving this that he could incorporate the necessary sealing techniques to make the pendant effective. However, he acknowledged that his sealing techniques were still far inferior to those of the First Hokage, allowing him only to seal the chakra in the crystal using the most stable seals known to him. Because of this, the pendant's effectiveness would only be maintained for a limited period of time.
In five or six years at most, the chakra within it will be depleted, making it somewhat of a temporary boost.
"Isn't this... too valuable?" Hana, being a ninja herself, immediately recognized the pendant's value. The Yang Release and Sage Chakra it contained were rare and difficult to harness, a feat beyond the capabilities of even normal Kage level individuals.
"Since you've chosen to be with me and still prefer to live separately, this is the least I can do," Toshiro replied, handing the pendant to her. "I'll make a few more of these and give you another one when they're ready."
Now that he had the ability to create such items, he intended to make one for each of his close friends.
"Thank you~," Hana responded softly.
Hana was genuinely moved. This pendant was beneficial for both adults and children, and the fact that Toshiro had made it specifically for her showed how considerate he was. She had decided to be with him not just because she didn't dislike him but, more importantly, to secure a better future for her daughter, Mai. But now..
"If you really want to thank me, words alone won't suffice," Toshiro said, pleased that Hana accepted his gift. It felt rewarding to see that his efforts were appreciated.
He leaned in and whispered a few words in her ear. Instantly, a deep blush spread across her face, traveling up her neck and settling at the base of her ears.
"Hmm~"
Her soft, shy response was almost inaudible. If Toshiro hadn't been so attuned to his senses, he might have thought he imagined it.
Without further hesitation, he scooped Hana into his arms. Her surprised exclamation echoed as he carried her into the bedroom.
What followed was a lesson in how to play Landlord, though perhaps with a twist only they would understand.
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