Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 142: Shocked
A DAY LATER - IN THE MORNING
UZUMAKI RAIKEN HOUSE
Mikoto opened her eyes and saw the body of her husband in front of her, thinking back of what they did last night brought blush on her face. She could not help but reach out and trace his face gently with her finger, following the line of his jaw with a touch so light she was afraid it might wake him.
'I really love you,' thought Mikoto in her heart.
Suddenly she noticed her husband eyelid twitch slightly. She quickly drew her hand back and shut her eyes, doing her best to steady her breathing and pretend she was still asleep.
A long moment of silence passed.
Then she heard him.
"You can open your eyes," said Raiken, his voice low and rough from sleep but carrying that familiar warmth that always made her chest feel full.
Mikoto did not move for another second, hoping he would believe her. But then she heard him let out a quiet laugh and she knew she had already been caught.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Raiken was looking at her, his head resting against the pillow, watching her with that lovely steady gaze she had come to know so well. There was no teasing in his expression, only something genuine that she did not quite have a word for.
"How long have you been awake," she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"When you touched my face," he replied simply.
Her cheeks flushed and she looked away for a moment, suddenly feeling shy in a way that made no sense given everything they had already been through together.
Then she felt his hand reach over and cover hers gently, his fingers wrapping around her own without saying anything more.
She did not look away again after that.
SHOCKED GRANDFATHER
Uchiha Hikaku did not have any schedule today because he had pushed all his meetings and work aside, having decided to stop by the house of Raiken to check on Mikoto.
He knocked once and the door opened shortly after, but the woman standing in front of him made him take a full step back.
His granddaughter, Uchiha Mikoto had become taller than him and not just by a little. She had always been short, reaching around his chin at most, but now she was standing clearly above him, her frame no longer the slight and delicate one he remembered. Her posture was straight and her overall body carried a quiet strength that reminded him, unsettlingly of Raiken.
Hikaku blinked once, then blinked again before rubbing his eyes to make sure he was not dreaming.
"Kai," he muttered under his breath, attempting to release a Genjutsu out of pure instinct, but nothing changed.
He knew then that what he was seeing was real, this was truly his granddaughter standing before him.
'Is this really my granddaughter,' thought Hikaku, his eyes travelling slowly from her face down to her feet and back up again as if his mind was still refusing to accept what he was seeing.
"Grandpa?" said Mikoto, tilting her head slightly with a smile.
She already knew why he looked the way he did, the change in her height alone was enough to shock anyone who had known her before.
"You..." Hikaku opened his mouth and then closed it again. He pointed at her, then lowered his hand, then pointed again. "What happened to you?"
"Husband taught me a new jutsu," replied Mikoto simply, as if growing twenty centimeters overnight was the most normal thing in the world.
Hikaku turned his head slowly toward Raiken who was standing quietly to the side, arms folded, saying nothing with the calm expression of a man who saw absolutely no issue with what he had done.
"You did this?" said Hikaku.
"It is better if she is stronger," replied Raiken calmly.
Hikaku stared at him for a long moment before releasing a breath of relief.
He then looked back at Mikoto and after a long pause, a warm smile spread across his face.
"You look strong," he said softly. "Your grandmother would have been proud."
KUSHINA RETURN
Many people had come to congratulate Raiken and his wife after hearing the news of the pregnancy. Since morning until evening, visitors arrived one after another, each bringing gifts for Raiken family, and as the Clan Leader and War Hero of the Second Great Ninja War, there was simply no way to turn any of them away. The stream of people had been endless, each one warm and genuine in their congratulations, but even the most patient man had his limits.
By the time the last guest had finally left, the house was filled with gifts stacked in every corner and Raiken was lied on the floor due to exhaustion treating the guest.
"Is that the final guest?" asked Raiken, looking toward his grandfather in law.
Hikaku just laughed at the expression on his face.
"Hey wake up," teased Hikaku. "You are still young so how can you be tired like this?"
"Did not expect there would be this many," replied Raiken.
He then stood up and began inspecting the gifts he had received, but before he could finish, the front door was knocked by someone whose presence he recognized immediately.
"Brother, brother I am back from the mission," said Kushina from behind the door. "I heard my sister in law is pregnant."
Before Raiken got married, Kushina and him had lived together under the same roof. However Raiken had decided to build a separate house right beside their original home, wanting to give both himself and Mikoto the space and atmosphere a married couple deserved. Perhaps in a few years his sister would find someone of her own and he would not have to explain his reasoning twice.
Luckily he had purchased an empty plot of land right beside his house and had even added a room for Kushina in case she ever wanted to sleep over. At first she had sulked at the idea of living apart even if the distance was no more than three meters, but she eventually accepted it after hearing his reasoning and had since made a habit of sleeping over from time to time.
During the war especially, when Mikoto had been left alone in the house, Kushina had stayed with her almost everyday.
She also has taste the freedom of bringing the friend over his home, especially Maruku. Which when she was living with her brother she couldn't do it due to her brother special status.
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There is 30 advanced chapter on my patreon.
Chapter 168: I Love You Too
Chapter 169: Speech Marriage
Chapter 170: Hunt Madara
Chapter 171: Absolute Peak
Chapter 172: I Come To Bargain
-patreon.com/zorojurown