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Check out Chapter illustrations on Pixiv at unhinged_uchiha
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"Please forgive me, Hokage-sama… I wasn't able to find anything about a maroon-haired woman with whom Uchiha Kanzou may be having a secret affair."
Hearing the Spider-masked ANBU's report, Hiruzen was visibly stunned. "What?!" He frowned deeply, leaning forward in his seat. "You found nothing about such a woman?"
The ANBU nodded calmly. "Such a woman wasn't in that hot spring town… and not many people seem to have seen anyone matching that description. Especially, no one saw Uchiha Kanzou with such a woman."
Hiruzen's frown deepened, his fingers tapping restlessly against the desk. "Not many people saw Uchiha Kanzou with such a woman…?"
The ANBU hesitated for a brief moment before carefully asking, "Could it be… that Jiraiya-sama was mistaken?"
'Is Jiraiya mistaken?' Hiruzen murmured to himself, rubbing his chin as doubt flickered across his face. For a second, he wondered if the Sannin had been too drunk that night and had simply mistaken something. However, that explanation felt too convenient.
'It would be far too specific for Jiraiya to be mistaken about something like this…'
Jiraiya rarely interacted with the Uchiha Clan or Uchiha Kanzou directly, so there was little reason for him to misidentify Kanzou in particular. Moreover, Hiruzen still held great trust in Jiraiya's judgment and abilities. There was a reason Jiraiya was responsible for managing Konoha's intelligence network outside the village; he consistently brought back reliable information and rarely made careless errors.
For this reason, Hiruzen didn't think that Jiraiya would be mistaken. He'd much rather believe that Kanzou was using some trick than accept that his trusted subordinate had made such a specific error.
'Wait… trick… right!' he thought, his eyes narrowing. He looked at the ANBU and asked, "Is it possible that Uchiha Kanzou used Genjutsu or cleared up the memories of the townspeople?"
The Spider-masked ANBU shook her head slowly.
"This… I don't think that was the case," she replied respectfully. "I checked many people's memories, including the proprietress of the main hot spring inn, using my own Genjutsu. All I found worth noting was the presence of a disgusting, creepy man who tried to peek at the women's bath in the name of research, nothing else. Their memories seemed completely normal. Uchiha Kanzou doesn't even appear to have stayed there… let alone being with some maroon-haired woman."
Hiruzen fell silent, his frown deepening into a heavy scowl. He leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming against the armrest as he processed the report.
If even Genjutsu and memory alteration weren't involved, then what exactly had happened that night? Jiraiya's description had been far too detailed to be a simple mistake. Yet there was no trace of the woman, no record of Kanzou's presence, and no one who remembered anything out of the ordinary.
'Could Jiraiya really have been mistaken?' he wondered, his brow furrowed deeply.
As for the matter of the so-called 'disgusting, creepy man who tried to peek at the women's bath in the name of research' that the ANBU had mentioned? He ignored it completely. He obviously knew it was probably Jiraiya, but he didn't care. It wasn't the first or even the second time the Sannin had done something like that, and he had long since stopped concerning himself with Jiraiya's hobbies. His focus remained entirely on Uchiha Kanzou.
He had intended to use this incident to investigate whether Kanzou was betraying the village and gather solid proof, while simultaneously sowing discord between Kanzou and Mikoto. Yet now it turned out there wasn't even basic confirmation of the event.
'I got too anxious for nothing…' he sighed, already understanding that this particular matter would probably lead nowhere. At this point, there wasn't even solid confirmation that Uchiha Kanzou had stayed in that town for the night.
After all, according to the village's records, Uchiha Kanzou hadn't left Konoha at all. Officially, he had been in the village the entire time. So how could he have been with another woman in a distant hot spring town?
If they had managed to capture the woman in question or obtained clear statements from multiple townspeople who had seen them together, then perhaps something substantial could have been built up. But without any of that, no solid witnesses, no physical evidence, and no traces left behind, it was impossible to seriously accuse Kanzou of anything.
Shaking his head, the Hokage let out another tired sigh. "Alright… you may leave."
The Spider-masked ANBU hesitated for a moment. "Hokage-sama… about that creepy man who tried to peek at the women's bath in the name of research…"
Hiruzen waved his hand dismissively. "Forget about that. Go, you must be tired from the mission. Rest for a while."
"I… I see…" The ANBU nodded and accepted his words without further question, then quietly left the office.
Once alone, Hiruzen rubbed his temples, deep in thought.
'I hope that the rumors do something…'
Without any proof, accusing Kanzou of being a traitor was impossible. There wasn't even valid proof of him having an affair. But he still hoped the rumor would at least create a crack between Kanzou and Mikoto. At this point, that was the only thing he could realistically hope for from all this.
If a crack forms between Kanzou and Mikoto... then that would still be a gain.
...
Uchiha Compound—
Click~
Locking the door of the mansion behind her, Mikoto adjusted the small shopping bag on her arm and began walking toward the marketplace.
'I wonder what I should cook for Kanzou-sama tonight…' she thought to herself, a soft, affectionate smile unconsciously forming on her lips.
Cooking for Kanzou had become one of her greatest pleasures ever since she started living with him. The way his expression would soften slightly when he tasted her food, it made her heart feel full and relieved. Right now, cooking for him was one of the few ways she could truly be useful to him. She wanted so much more than that. She wanted to serve him in every possible way, to prove herself worthy of becoming his wife… but that dream still felt distant.
Or rather, should she say that… it wasn't that the dream of becoming his wife isn't exactly distant. It was more tied to the terrible choice he had given her.
'My choice… haaah…' she sighed inwardly. Her hand trembled slightly around the handle of the shopping bag at the mere thought of it. He had explicitly told her she must make that decision if she was going to become worthy of being his wife… but how could she possibly decide something so horrifying?
The face of her Sofu-sama flashed through her mind, and a cold wave of fear and guilt washed over her. She felt too afraid to even dwell on that 'choice'.
'No… let's not think about it right now.'
She forcefully pushed the dark thoughts to the back of her mind, focusing instead on the task at hand. Thus, she continued walking toward the grocery stores, trying her best to maintain the gentle smile on her face even as she felt terribly uneasy in her heart.
The Uchiha Compound was different from the other clan districts in Konoha. Unlike most clans, the Uchiha lived in what was practically a self-contained village. They had their own shops, services, and small industries, everything a clansman might need, so they rarely had to leave the compound for daily necessities.
This had always been the case, so for her grocery shopping, Mikoto headed toward one of the shops within the Uchiha Compound.
As she made her way along the familiar stone path, Mikoto felt several eyes upon her. The clansmen coming and going bowed to her politely and respectfully, acknowledging her position as Elder Tadayoshi's granddaughter and the woman widely seen as the future wife of the current Patriarch.
Yet as they bowed, Mikoto noticed something strange in their gazes.
It was pity.
The people bowing to her were looking at her with clear, unmistakable pity in their eyes.
Well, it wasn't the first time she had received such looks. When the news of her broken engagement with Fugaku had spread, and later when the scandal involving Fugaku forcing her toward Kanzou had come out, she had felt many pitying gazes upon her. Today felt the same.
But unlike those previous times, Mikoto couldn't figure out the reason behind these pitying looks.
'Did something happen?' she thought, a faint unease settling in her chest.
She continued walking, trying her best to maintain a calm and graceful expression, but the strange, sympathetic glances followed her. Some clansmen quickly averted their eyes when she met their gaze, while others offered small, awkward smiles that only made her more anxious.
Mikoto's grip tightened slightly around the handle of her shopping bag. She couldn't understand it. Everything had seemed normal this morning. Kanzou-sama had left for the Police Station as usual, and she had spent the day taking care of the mansion.
So why… why were they looking at her with such pity today?
Mikoto continued walking, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling, but the answer came sooner than she expected.
As she arrived at the shopping district within the compound, the murmurs reached her ears before she even reached one of the shops.
"Poor Mikoto-sama… I really feel sorry for her…" A woman named Uchiha Nashiko, who is a civilian and the wife of Elite Jōnin Uchiha Makoto, murmured sadly while picking out some fresh produce.
Hearing those words, Mikoto froze mid-step. 'Sorry for me?'
Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly stepped behind a nearby wooden pillar, partially hiding herself while straining her ears to listen to the conversation between the women at the shop.
"Yeah… who would have thought something like this might happen again…" another woman sighed.
"First, she had to go through all that mess with Fugaku… and now this? I really feel so sorry for Mikoto-sama…" Uchiha Ahiru, the shop owner, added in a sympathetic voice.
'What… are they talking about?' Mikoto thought, her anxiety rising rapidly. Her fingers tightened around the handle of her shopping bag as a cold, unpleasant feeling settled in her stomach.
"I mean… the Patriarch having a secret affair… the news alone must have…"
'S-Secret affair?!!'
Mikoto's heart nearly stopped. Her eyes widened in shock as she pressed herself further behind the pillar, her breathing turning shallow.
"Definitely… she didn't come shopping for the past two days. She must have been hit really hard…" Uchiha Ahiru added with a sympathetic sigh.
'T-That's not the reason I didn't come shopping…! It's because… one day Kanzou-sama wasn't in the village, and the other day I was too exhausted after he—'
"How could the Patriarch even do this to Mikoto-sama…?" another woman said, her voice filled with disappointment and resentment. "Didn't he accept Mikoto-sama's confession? They're even living together… and yet the Patriarch… he's cheating on her? It's really… I thought the Patriarch was different from the others, but it turns out all men are the same…"
The group of women shook their heads, beginning to criticize men in general with increasing fervor.
Mikoto felt like the world was spinning. She didn't care about their complaints regarding other men. What mattered was what they were saying about her Kanzou-sama. They were calling him a cheater… saying he was having a secret affair behind her back.
'W-Why are they saying that Kanzou-sama is cheating on me… or having a secret affair?' she thought frantically, her mind reeling.
She didn't have to guess for long.
'Could it be… someone saw Kanzou-sama with the woman he spent the night with?'
A wave of discomfort washed over her. The matter that she believed was only known to her and a few people close to Kanzou had somehow been exposed to the general populace of the clan. Even though she should have been glad that the matter had been exposed and these rumors could possibly teach Kanzou a lesson to not go for more than one woman, Mikoto didn't feel good at all. Rather than feeling glad, she felt anxious now.
'Kanzou-sama… he won't suspect me, right?' she thought in a panic.
The possibility that Kanzou might think she had something to do with spreading the rumor, perhaps to defame him, gain sympathy, or to make him stop with his affairs, terrified her. She knew how sharp and ruthless he could be. Even the slightest suspicion from him would be devastating, as he might really discard her.
The mere thought of being discarded because of some suspicion that she had nothing to do with made her stomach twist in anxiety.
And to prevent that from happening, she felt the serious need to stop these rumors right away.
"We should… check up on Mikoto-sama later," Kasumi said softly to the other women, her voice laced with concern. "She must be going through a lot right now…"
"Why would I be going through a lot?"
Mikoto suddenly stepped forward from the side, deliberately making her presence known. Her voice was calm, clear, and steady.
Attracted by the words, almost all the women nearby turned their heads at once. When they saw Mikoto standing there, their expressions shifted to surprise and shock.
"Mikoto-sama?"
"Mikoto-sama!!"
While greeting her, the women also noticed Mikoto's expression. Her face looked quite… normal? Composed and graceful, as if her heart hadn't been crushed at all, which confused them.
Ignoring their gazes, Mikoto stepped closer, acting as though she had just arrived and wasn't affected by anything at all. She stopped in front of Kasumi and asked directly, her tone polite yet firm, "Kasumi-san… what did you mean by 'I would be going through a lot'?"
"That… Mikoto-sama… I…" Kasumi hesitated, flustered and at a loss for words. The other women around them also fell into an awkward silence, exchanging nervous glances with one another...
It was Nashiko, who had always maintained a good friendship with Mikoto, just like Kasumi, despite the difference in their ages, who spoke up, stammering hesitantly, "Mikoto-sama… haven't you… heard of the rumors?"
Mikoto tilted her head slightly, maintaining her graceful and composed expression as if the topic barely concerned her.
"Is it related to that?" she asked, pretending as though she already knew everything. Then, with a calm, almost disappointed tone, she continued, "Don't tell me… You all actually believe what the rumors are saying about Kanzou-sama?"
"Hm?" The women around her were stunned into silence. From Mikoto's calm demeanor and her choice of words, it seemed as though the rumors weren't true at all.
"Mikoto-sama… could it be… the rumors are…?" Kasumi asked hesitantly, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of hope.
Mikoto smiled gently, though only she knew how much effort it took to keep her voice steady.
"Of course they're false," she said clearly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Kanzou-sama is not having a… secret affair."
She paused for the briefest moment, making sure her emotions didn't fluctuate on her face. The word 'secret' left a bitter taste in her mouth. She wasn't lying. Kanzou really wasn't having a secret affair. He wasn't having an affair that was... a secret. He had openly admitted to spending the night with Natsuhi. He had even told her directly without hesitation.
Although it still hurt deeply, knowing the man she desperately wanted to marry was railing at other women, she could not allow anyone to slander him, especially not by framing it as a shameful, hidden betrayal when he had never tried to hide it from her in the first place.
The women exchanged bewildered glances, caught off guard by Mikoto's firm denial and composed attitude.
"So please… don't indulge in such baseless rumors. It's disrespectful to Kanzou-sama."
The women immediately looked flustered and guilty.
"Yes… yes… we apologize… we were just… um, concerned…"
"Yeah… I was also wondering how the Patriarch could do something like that to you… It turns out that it was not true at all…"
"So… is that really true…? I always feel that all men are the same… could it be that the Patriarch is really different…?"
Most of the women seemed relieved and somewhat reassured by Mikoto's firm denial. However, it was only Kasumi who noticed something subtle: Mikoto's fist clenching tightly for a brief moment at her side.
Kasumi's eyes flickered with uncertainty. She wasn't sure whether Mikoto was simply angry because of the rumors about Kanzou… or if she was feeling a deep heartache that she was desperately trying to hide.
...
Around the same time, somewhere else in Konoha—
A young woman with pale, flawless skin, large silver-grey eyes, and soft red lips walked gracefully through the busy streets. Her long silver-white hair was styled in a sleek bob that framed her face, while the rest flowed smoothly down her back. She wore a white kunoichi outfit featuring a kimono-style top layered over a mesh undershirt, black fitted shorts, and white thigh-high stockings secured with black bands.
She also wore a Konoha forehead protector that marked her identity as one of the village's kunoichi.
She had just returned from a mission and was probably making her way home, hoping for some much-needed rest when suddenly, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Uroko."
Recognizing the voice instantly, her expression flickered for the briefest moment before she stopped and turned gracefully.
"Shinnosuke-sama," she greeted politely, bowing her head.
"Sigh… How many times have I told you? Call me Shinnosuke directly. Using such honorifics… it feels too distant between us."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke chided the kunoichi in front of him with a slightly exasperated yet affectionate tone.
"I... couldn't possibly speak to you so casually like that..." Uroko looked down apologetically and added with rosy cheeks, "It's... embarrassing and shameful..."
Shinnosuke's heart thudded heavily in his chest as he looked at Uroko's slightly rosy cheeks and her somewhat submissive, elegant appearance.
She always had this effect on him.
"Ahem… w-well, I'll let it slide this time…" he coughed, feeling a little embarrassed himself. Then, trying to sound confident, he said, "Come on… I'm about to go eat some barbecue. Come with me."
Without waiting for an answer, he reached out and grasped her hand.
Uroko's expression flickered for the briefest moment at the sudden contact, but she didn't pull away.
Shinnosuke noticed that she didn't withdraw her hand and let out a silent sigh of relief. It had taken him a lot of courage to do that. 'Fortunately…'
Just as he was feeling glad about the small progress, a young boy nearby suddenly pointed in their direction and loudly said to his mother, "Look… look, Okaa-san… that guy and girl are holding hands!"
"Don't look, son… that guy is definitely a pervert… holding a woman's hand before even being married… how indecent…"
"Wait a minute… such an ugly guy holding the hand of such a beautiful woman? Are you sure it's not a creep trying to take advantage…?"
"Shh… don't you see that face? Although it's ugly… It's the son of Sandaime-sama…"
"Gosshh… it's the Third Hokage's son… no wonder… it makes sense now…"
Shinnosuke didn't have the heart to listen to any more. He was already mortified after the first few words. His face burned with embarrassment as he quickly withdrew his hand, cursing the brat inwardly for ruining his good moment.
'Damn brat… destroying my good moment… where do these kids always pop out from whenever I try to do something with her…?'
He sneaked a glance at Uroko and felt slightly relieved when he saw she only looked a little embarrassed. There didn't seem to be any disgust or rejection in her expression.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he said, "Let's go eat some barbecue… you are free now, right?"
Uroko, who had originally been heading home to rest after the mission to take it easy for a while, didn't mention it. She simply nodded gently. "Okay…"
Shinnosuke's mood immediately brightened. He led her toward the most famous and expensive barbecue restaurant in the village, happily explaining some details about the mission he had completed not long ago.
Uroko walked a step behind him quietly, listening without much comment. In the moments when Shinnosuke wasn't looking, she discreetly wiped her hand on the side of her clothing and let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh. At the same time, her silver-grey eyes glanced back at the gossiping people who were still talking about Shinnosuke and calling him ugly, and noticed their figures slowly fading into fog as the two left.
Shaking her head, she followed Shinnosuke as the two soon arrived at the Barbecue house... and were naturally given a place to sit despite the heavy crowd and people having to wait in line.
As the son of Hokage, how could Sarutobi Shinnosuke be made to wait in line? Whoever can wait... but not the young master of Konoha...
So, soon enough, Shinnosuke and Uroko were seated at one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in Konoha. Thanks to the waiter's knowing wink and quick thinking, they were even seated side by side on the same cushioned bench rather than across from each other.
"Ahem… it looks like the place is too crowded today… We can only sit side by side…" Shinnosuke said, trying to hide his excitement.
"It's… alright," Uroko replied softly, her body shifting a little. "I hope Shinnosuke-sama doesn't mind me sitting next to him…"
"N-no… definitely not… how could I mind… gulp…" Shinnosuke's throat bobbed visibly as his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the soft, generous curve of her chest, partially covered by Uroko's hand as she adjusted her kimono top.
Feeling his stare, Uroko let out a small, flustered exclamation, quickly covering herself more. "S-Shinnosuke-sama…!!"
"W-what… nothing! I wasn't staring…" Shinnosuke hurriedly averted his eyes, his face turning red as he changed the topic. "Anyway, let's order! Bring us the most expensive barbecue set!"
While waiting for the food to arrive, he tried to keep the conversation going. "You were out on a mission recently, right? What kind was it?"
"You know I can't reveal the details to anyone…" Uroko turned him down with a gentle smile.
"It's okay… my old man wouldn't mind," Shinnosuke said with a confident grin.
However, Uroko remained firm and didn't budge. Shinnosuke sighed dramatically. "Stingy…"
Uroko shook her head lightly. "It's a code… I can't disclose the details. It could jeopardize trust and my job," She smoothly changed the subject. "How is the wound on your chest…?"
Shinnosuke's expression darkened instantly. His hand moved up to clutch the front of his shirt where the burn scar from Kanzou still remained. Physically, it no longer hurt, but the memory of that searing pain, the humiliation of being held and having that hot iron rod pressed on his chest, still burned in his mind.
His fist clenched tightly.
Uroko noticed the sudden tension and apologized softly, "I am sorry for reminding you of something painful…"
"It doesn't matter," Shinnosuke growled through clenched teeth. "Sooner or later… I'll be sure to take my revenge on that bastard…"
Uroko's silver-grey eyes flickered for a brief moment, but the change went unnoticed by Shinnosuke as she said to him gently, "You shouldn't do anything risky… going after him… it'll only get you into trouble…"
"Don't you have any confidence in me?" Shinnosuke pouted, looking slightly hurt.
"Even Hokage-sama is not so confident in himself…" Uroko responded calmly.
"That old man… Humph! Who cares about him…" Shinnosuke snorted, clearly bitter about his father, who didn't do anything to help him get revenge against Uchiha Kanzou and was actually told off for thinking of revenge.
How could he move on like that? There is no way he'll sit silently... sooner or later, he'll be sure to return the favor to Uchiha Kanzou for the scar.
Not long after, the barbecue arrived, filling the table with the sizzling aroma of premium meat. They began to eat while chatting about lighter topics, and the atmosphere between them seemed to ease a little…
Until some words from the people at the next table reached their ears, instantly freezing them both.
"Forget about the rumor of Uchiha Kanzou having an affair… I heard something even more exciting…" one person said in a conspiratorial tone.
"Eh… what could be even more exciting?"
"Hehehe… It's the rumor about…" the person paused dramatically, looking at his squadmates to build tension before dropping the bomb, "It's the rumor that Hokage-sama… and Elder Utatane… they have a secret leg with each other…"
"Ehhh…? H-Hokage-sama and E-Elder Koharu…?"
Both Shinnosuke's and Uroko's expressions changed drastically.
Shinnosuke was about to immediately stand up and silence the person spouting such nonsense when he felt Uroko's hand gently but firmly press down on his fist, stopping him.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to stay seated, realizing that causing a scene here would only make the situation worse. So he sat back down, jaw clenched, as the people at the next table continued talking without restraint.
"H-How could Hokage-sama and Elder Koharu have a leg?"
"Hehehe… how could they not…? Otherwise… why do you think Utatane Koharu is still an Elder? Is she really that capable? I doubt it… She is just an old hag who only knows how to get pregnant and give birth. It must be because she is Hokage-sama's secret lover… that's why he keeps her around despite her uselessness. It's not for advice in running the village… It's probably for… You know what…"
"Is Hokage-sama really that kind of person…?"
"Doesn't that make his wife pitiful…?"
"Now that we're talking about this… how about I tell you something else that my cousin's brother's neighbour's squadmate's teacher's wife's brother's master's sister told me… In fact, I even heard that many of Elder Koharu's children were fathered by Hokage-sama himself…"
"Hisss…"
"R-Really…?"
"Come to think of it… several of them do look a lot like Hokage-sama… all of them are as ugly as him and his other two sons... and look like monkeys..."
"Hey... you shouldn't say that..."
"R-right..."
"But about this rumor that I've heard… it's not just Hokage-sama having a leg with Elder Koharu. I even heard there are a few other women as well, both in the village and outside…"
"I didn't expect Hokage-sama to be that kind of person…"
Shinnosuke couldn't take it anymore. He slammed his hands on the table and shot up, glaring at the gossiping group.
"Why don't you tell me what kind of person my old man is…!!!!"
The shout instantly silenced the entire restaurant. Everyone, the gossipers and those who had been minding their own business, turned toward him with wide eyes.
"Ahh… this… we… were just…" the people in question stammered, suddenly looking panicked in the face of Hokage's son.
But Shinnosuke wasn't having any of it. He stormed over and slammed his hand on their table before grabbing one man by the collar.
"Why don't you speak now?"
He was furious. Even though he was often angry at his father, that didn't mean he would allow others to talk shit about the Hokage.
"Slandering the Hokage… do you know the consequences for that…?" Shinnosuke growled.
The man whose collar he was holding panicked. "This… I… I…"
His companion, however, wasn't as scared. He grabbed Shinnosuke's wrist. "Let go of him!"
"You were slandering Hokage …!!! And now you want to—" Shinnosuke scowled, his temper flaring.
"We were just gossiping among ourselves… are you saying it's wrong to do that?" the companion shot back.
"Right… you were gossiping… but about the Hokage-sama…" Shinnosuke said through gritted teeth.
"So what? Can we not gossip about the Hokage-sama?" the man challenged.
"Obviously not…! Don't you know that's tantamount to becoming a traitor…?" Shinnosuke snapped.
"Haaah… as if… where does it say that gossiping about Hokage-sama is tantamount to becoming a traitor? In your asshole where you stick your nepo daddy's dick daily?" the companion argued back.
"You… are daring to argue with me…" Shinnosuke's temper flared wildly.
As the young master of Konoha, hardly anyone ever dared to challenge him. People almost always followed his orders without question. But today, of all days, this random bastard was arguing back, and right in front of Uroko, no less. As a hot-blooded man, how could he swallow such humiliation? Uroko already wasn't fully confident in him. If this nobody walked all over him now, it would bruise his ego beyond repair in front of the woman he likes.
As a man who wanted to look cool in front of the woman he was trying to woo, Shinnosuke didn't hesitate.
Using his trained 'young master fist,' he raised it and slammed it straight into the face of the man who was holding his arm.
BAAMM!!!
Once the first punch was thrown, things were bound to escalate. The controversy exploded instantly, drawing even more attention as people began whispering furiously.
"What's going on…? How come they're fighting?"
"It was related to some gossip… about Hokage-sama…"
"What gossip is it about Hokage-sama?"
"Ahh… didn't you know…? There's a rumor that Hokage-sama has a leg with Elder Koharu and some other women…"
"Hiss… is Hokage-sama that... that kind of person…?"
Shinnosuke didn't even realize that his outburst and the punch had only made the rumor spread faster. The controversy was already blowing up, and it would soon spread across the entire village, and possibly beyond.
Uroko, who had been watching everything quietly, sighed inwardly. 'Hokage-sama wouldn't be happy about this…'
She stood up swiftly, grabbed Shinnosuke's wrist, and spoke firmly. "Shinnosuke-sama… let's go."
Before he could react, she pulled him along and disappeared from the restaurant with a swift Body Flicker Technique. The speed was so fast that most people in the restaurant, including Shinnosuke, barely had time to register what happened.
Even though Shinnosuke was taken away, the damage had already been done. The rumor that was barely there had gained new life.
"Sarutobi Shinnosuke fought over it like that… perhaps… there might be some truth to the rumors…"
"After all... there is smoke without a fire..."
"So... Hokage-sama... is he really that kind of person...?"
If Kanzou had been here, he would have thanked Shinnosuke for his excellent contribution. But since he was already on his way home after a long day's work, he would probably do that later.
...
Patriarch's Mansion, Uchiha Compound—
As Kanzou entered the house, he immediately noticed Mikoto waiting for him right at the entrance. The moment she saw him, she bowed deeply, her forehead touching the floor, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Kanzou-sama… I… I didn't do it…"
Kanzou tilted his head slightly, confused at her action. "Didn't do what?"
"The… the rumors…" Mikoto answered quickly, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "I swear I didn't… I really didn't… So… so please…"
"Ohh… I know you didn't," he replied casually, removing his sandals.
Mikoto blinked, visibly relieved. "You know…?" Then curiosity got the better of her. "Does that mean… You know who spread it?"
"Yeah… it's Sarutobi Hiruzen," Kanzou answered plainly while walking further inside.
"It's the Hokage…!!" Her expression turned colder, a flash of unhappiness crossing her face. The fact that the old man was spreading such defaming rumors about Kanzou-sama made her blood boil.
"Don't care about that," Kanzou said, reaching out to pat her head gently. "Is the dinner ready?"
She relaxed under his touch like a kitten. "I see… Yes, it's ready…"
"Well then, let's go. I'm kinda hungry," he said, heading toward the dining area.
"Haii…" She immediately followed behind him like an obedient wife.
On the way, Kanzou suddenly asked, "By the way… did you manage to make a choice…?"
She stiffened, understanding what he was talking about, and answered stammering, "N-not yet…" She quickly explained, "I was too anxious about the matter of the rumor… I… I couldn't think about anything else…"
"Is that so…?" Kanzou murmured, glancing at her. He could clearly see the fear, guilt, anxiety, and unwillingness swirling in her eyes. It was obvious she had thought about the choice he gave her, but she still couldn't bring herself to reach a decision.
He didn't pressure her immediately. Instead, he simply said, "Then think about it next…" Then, with a calm but firm reminder, he added, "But… don't take too much time. Because time doesn't wait for anyone."
Mikoto's heart thudded as she grasped the meaning of his words. Gripping the edge of her maid uniform, she lowered her head and nodded obediently. "I… I see…"
.
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A/N:
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If you like this story, then you might also like my other story: One Piece: The Incubus' Adventure. Give it a try.