Would you be willing, my lady, to share a pillow with me tonight?
Kangetsu ultimately couldn't bring himself to say this shameless line out loud.
Too abrupt.
You had to build some feelings first, didn't you?
More importantly, you couldn't just go acting reckless in front of Mikoto.
Mikoto, for her part, had a fairly good impression of the man in front of her.
Yes, her husband had been forced into an empty title, effectively sidelined. But her son had seized real authority.
And the Uchiha's situation had clearly improved.
According to her eldest, all of it was because of Kangetsu.
So Mikoto was genuinely grateful.
Kangetsu's attitude toward her was gentle, too. He even had a room cleared for her in his home, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
There was just one problem.
This man kept three stunning women under his roof.
And at night, the flirtatious chatter and far-too-lively noise drifting through the halls made Mikoto's ears burn every time she heard it.
It was indecent.
Couldn't they keep it down?
Worse, it went on forever, to the point she couldn't even fall asleep properly.
Mikoto shifted under the covers, then finally shoved a bit of cotton into her ears.
But even in her dreams, those sudden, bright bursts of laughter and raised voices would jolt her awake.
Eventually, she yanked the cotton out in frustrated embarrassment and tossed it aside.
Then, barefoot, she stepped on it twice like it had personally betrayed her.
Useless thing.
...
The next morning, Mikoto was up early.
She meant to speak with Kangetsu, but her eldest arrived first to "report work."
Watching her son's respectful, careful posture, Mikoto's resolve softened on the spot.
Fine.
The Uchiha were eating because of this man. Her son's position depended on this man, too.
With a quiet sigh, Mikoto returned to her room and seriously considered how she should carry herself while living under Kangetsu's roof.
She stared at her hands for a long moment, expression blank.
Hang in there.
Tonight, you're going to have to deal with all of that again.
At the same time…
...
Land of Fire, the daimyo's estate.
Asuma had a pipe between his teeth, and his jaw hung slightly open as he stared at the letter in his hands.
What?
The village was handing out cash?
And because he was the only one not in the village, he didn't get a share?
His fingers trembled. Asuma just stood there, stunned into silence.
So Konoha had produced a businessman, and that clothing venture he'd heard whispers about at the daimyo's estate… that was Konoha's?
And that tobacco business people had been hinting at, too… that was also Konoha's?!
Damn it.
How was it possible that the Hokage's own son was finding out this late?
He'd worked himself raw serving as a guardian ninja here for what?
To prove to his old man that he wasn't worse than his brother.
To earn money and show everyone he wasn't just living on the "Hokage's son" title.
And the second he left the village, the village started paying out?
How was that fair?
No.
He was going back.
But the letter acted like it could read his mind, because the next lines were practically shouting at him.
Do not return.
You still have to keep an eye on the Land of Fire side of the tobacco business.
You know your brother, right?
He's a complete idiot.
He tried to eat alone, got caught red-handed, and now Hokage-sama's in an awkward position because of it.
For a moment, Asuma looked like a man who'd just swallowed something he desperately wished he hadn't.
So the household got rich, but he couldn't even go home?
Why?
Just because his brother mattered more, he got to go back to Konoha and enjoy the good life?
And because Asuma was the less favored second son, he was supposed to keep grinding away at the daimyo's estate?
The gap was outrageous.
When he saw the specific numbers in the letter, Asuma's eyes nearly turned green.
With that kind of money, what couldn't you do?
Asuma decided it was time to think about himself.
His brother was his brother, sure. But Asuma wasn't inferior.
There was only so much family wealth to go around, and he wasn't about to let it all slide into his brother's pocket.
He quietly folded the letter away.
Was it possible…
That Konoha didn't only have one businessman?
Was it possible…
That if he inserted himself into the tobacco business, his old man would finally look at him differently?
Asuma's eyes shifted, and he found the idea more and more workable.
He'd spent years at the daimyo's estate. He understood how nobles did business.
And honestly, it wasn't that different from how the village worked.
If he took the field, he could do it too.
So Asuma requested leave from the daimyo's estate almost immediately.
Time to move.
...
Back in Konoha, at Kangetsu's home…
Kangetsu was in the middle of speaking with Mikoto—quietly checking on her comfort, making sure she had everything she needed.
Not flirting.
Definitely not flirting.
He lifted an eyebrow and let a faint smile tug at the corner of his mouth.
Mikoto blinked at him, eyes wide.
This man was… oddly handsome.
A shadow clone popped.
Not from damage. Kangetsu dismissed it himself, purely to deliver one message.
Asuma had inserted himself into the tobacco business.
Kangetsu almost laughed.
Well now…
Old man, this one isn't me setting you up.
This is your son throwing you under the cart.
He was thinking it through while absently toying with someone's fingers—an old habit, really, from being around Yukine and the others so often.
Then he looked down.
…Wait.
This wasn't Yukine.
Kangetsu met Mikoto's eyes and found her staring back, flustered and visibly mortified.
He cleared his throat.
A mistake. Not intentional.
Mikoto didn't listen. She turned and walked away quickly.
Only her ears had gone a soft, unmistakable red.
She wanted to scold him, but didn't dare.
Because this man was the Uchiha's benefactor, and her eldest son's pillar.
Mikoto exhaled another quiet sigh.
Her thoughts were a mess.
Across the room, Haruno watched the exchange, eyes glittering. A low, wicked giggle escaped her.
Kangetsu's expression said it all.
Her husband was having bad ideas again.
Haruno slipped closer and made a mischievous little gesture with her fingers, grinning like a fox.
"Well? Are you going to 'accidentally' let Mikoto-san hear it again tonight?"
Kangetsu lifted a hand with righteous indignation.
What was she even saying?
Was he that kind of man?
Haruno leaned in, tone sweet as honey.
"Black stockings. Interested?"
"Interested."
He didn't get the chance.
Because Hinata came trotting in on light steps, all bright-eyed and eager, with Tenten following along like a shadow.
Hinata gathered her courage, lowered her head, and—very carefully—settled against Kangetsu's lap as if she were staking a claim.
She grabbed the spot first so Tenten couldn't.
Her face was so red she looked one breath away from fainting.
Tenten immediately started fanning her to cool her down.
Kangetsu watched for a second, then frowned.
Fan all you want, but why are you doing it right next to my ear?
Tenten blinked, completely sincere.
"Eh? But I heard someone say this is how you blow 'pillow talk' in someone's ear."
Hinata wasn't about to lose.
This was her husband.
So she climbed onto his lap properly, then lifted one stockinged foot with shy determination.
"H-husband… please."
Kangetsu leaned back and let out a long sigh at the ceiling.
He'd said it before.
He wasn't into "tiny girl" nonsense. Not like that.
He wasn't going to indulge anything inappropriate, and he wasn't going to embarrass himself in front of Tenten.
But if it was just helping Hinata settle down, fixing her sock, or easing sore feet after training…
Fine.
He could manage that much.
(End of Chapter)
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