A trace of confusion flashed across the black creature's large eyes.
Then it was replaced by a sudden warmth swelling inside its body—full, gentle, and overflowing.
"Hm? What's wrong, meow?"
Big Orange noticed the change in the Black Ball Beast and stopped kneading it. The cat leaned closer, emerald eyes filled with curiosity.
Just then—
A deep, pleasant hum suddenly resonated from within the Black Ball Beast.
Immediately afterward—
A dazzling light erupted from the center of its round body!
This was no longer the faint white glow mixed with black and red from the egg stage.
This light was pure, blazing white—radiant and filled with sacred power.
The brilliance surged like a tide, instantly swallowing the Black Ball Beast's outline and turning it into a brilliant cocoon of light.
The radiance overwhelmed every lamp in the hall, dyeing the entire room in dreamlike brightness.
"Meow?!!"
Big Orange jumped back in fright.
All its fur stood on end, its tail shooting straight upward.
Eyes wide, it stared at the glowing cocoon.
"W-what's happening, meow?! Did I do something wrong?!"
Under Big Orange's panicked gaze, the ball of light rapidly expanded and changed shape.
Within the glow, a faint outline shifted.
The thin newborn fur fell away.
The body grew slightly larger.
Two ribbon-like shapes seemed to sprout from the top…
The white brilliance reached its peak.
Then it receded like a tide, collapsing inward as though the creation at its center absorbed every last ray.
When the light finally faded—
The round Black Ball Beast was gone.
In its place stood a small creature slightly larger than a football.
Its body was pink and adorable.
A pair of long ears sprouted from its head.
Its eyes were bright red.
When it opened its mouth, tiny triangular teeth appeared—creating a strangely fierce contrast to its otherwise cute appearance.
"Hello! My name is Koromon!"
Koromon lifted its head, sparkling eyes looking up at the petrified Big Orange.
Like a bouncing ball, it hopped excitedly in circles around the orange cat.
Big Orange was completely stunned.
It stared at the pink creature calling itself Koromon like it was some kind of monster.
Just a flash of light—
And it had changed skins?!
Even its name had changed?!
The cat's worldview suffered a devastating blow.
Even as Koromon circled it happily, Big Orange didn't dare move.
Its whiskers trembled.
Its round face looked like it was about to cry.
"That scared the life out of me, meow!"
"What on earth did the Young Master bring back, meow?!"
The night grew deep.
The lingering echoes of soft music in the bedroom slowly faded.
Uchiha Anlan leaned against the headboard.
His beautiful wife—now wearing a thin purple nightgown—rested entirely within his arms.
His arm wrapped around her shoulders and back.
His hand rested gently on her waist and hips.
A possessive yet tender embrace.
Mikoto faced him, her body slightly curled as she nestled against his chest.
They could clearly feel each other's warmth.
And the steady rhythm of their heartbeats.
Anlan's chin rested lightly on the top of her soft hair.
Her faint floral scent filled his breath.
"Big sister~"
He smiled.
"Next time… I'll teach you how to play, alright~"
Mikoto blushed deeply.
"You… you've already bullied me this much."
"What else could I possibly refuse you?"
"Big sister is truly considerate."
After exchanging some intimate whispers between husband and wife—
Anlan suddenly sensed the change in the Black Ball Beast.
He lightly patted Mikoto's waist.
So it had already begun?
Mikoto moved slightly.
But seeing the momentary distraction in her husband's eyes, her face turned even redder.
Anlan certainly didn't want to discourage her enthusiasm.
He simply pulled her closer.
Time passed quietly.
After soothing the increasingly seductive beauty in his arms, Anlan finally slipped into a robe and stepped out of the bedroom.
Immediately—
A powerful aroma filled the air.
The smell of stir-fried oil, spices, and sizzling heat awakened the senses.
Anlan paused.
His gaze shifted past the living room toward the open kitchen.
As expected—
A shadow clone of Big Orange was busy cooking.
Meanwhile, the real Big Orange sat on the dining table, staring at Koromon.
The little creature was devouring food happily.
"Slow down, meow. No one's stealing your food… there's plenty."
Big Orange muttered softly.
Even though Koromon had explained many times that its transformation was natural growth—
The fat cat was still terrified.
So when Koromon said it was hungry, Big Orange immediately cooked a massive meal.
Better to keep it full.
Just in case.
Suddenly Big Orange's ears twitched.
It turned its head and saw Anlan approaching.
"Young Master!"
The cry sounded like pure relief.
Koromon immediately lifted its head from the food bowl.
Its ribbon-like ears perked up.
Oil still stained its mouth.
Its red eyes lit up.
"Anlan! I missed you!"
Koromon instantly abandoned its food and leapt from the table.
After several quick hops, it launched itself toward Anlan's shoulder.
Just before landing—
A hand grabbed its ear and lifted it into the air.
Koromon blinked in confusion.
Then Anlan flicked its forehead.
"You just evolved and you're already covered in food."
"Come on."
"I'll give you a bath."
Then Anlan glanced toward Big Orange.
"Finish up and get some rest."
"Tomorrow prepare some nourishing food for Mikoto."
"She needs to recover her strength."
Big Orange straightened its round body.
"Understood, meow!"
Anlan carried the dangling Koromon toward the bathroom.
Digimon had evolution stages.
From birth onward they were generally divided into six stages:
Baby I
Baby II
Rookie
Champion
Ultimate
Mega
The Black Ball Beast had been Baby I.
Koromon was Baby II.
Its next stage would be Agumon.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Some Digimon evolved into alternate forms—Armor forms, Hybrid forms, even Ultra forms.
Some remained in the same stage but changed their nature entirely, creating variants such as X-Forms.
At this stage, evolution could branch depending on development.
For example—
The Vaccine-type Agumon.
Or the Virus-type Black Agumon.
Anlan rolled up his sleeves and adjusted the water temperature.
Thinking about the future.
Digimon evolution was filled with unknown possibilities.
Without something like a Digivice to lock its development—
The only thing he could rely on was his ocular power.
Koromon was placed on a slip-proof mat.
It looked around curiously.
"Anlan."
Its voice was childish but clear.
"This place is wet and warm."
"It's different from where we eat."
"This is a bathroom," Anlan said while running warm water over it.
"It's used for cleaning."
"Bath?"
Koromon tilted its head.
Its ribbon-like ears swayed.
"Like rain?"
"In the Digital World, sometimes cleansing rain falls."
"It washes away excess data."
Warm water soaked its pink body.
Koromon squinted comfortably.
"This temperature… feels like the warmth of your hand."
Anlan smiled faintly.
He lathered soap gently and began washing it.
Especially the oily face and ears.
"You remember the data ocean?"
Koromon relaxed.
"Only fragments."
"Light."
"Warmth."
"Anlan's presence."
"And the food Big Orange made just now!"
"It was delicious!"
"That 'delicious' feeling doesn't exist in the data records. It's very new!"
Its voice became excited.
But it stayed still as Anlan washed it.
"Anything else you remember?"
"For example, how you came here?"
Koromon went quiet.
Searching its newborn memories.
"Nothing else."
"I only remember warmth flowing into me."
"Then I woke up and saw you."
Koromon lifted its head.
"I wanted to get close to you."
"Your presence is the most familiar."
"The most comforting."
"Anlan…"
"I want to stay with you."
"For my whole life."
Anlan wrapped it gently in a soft towel.
"How long is a lifetime?"
Koromon fell into deep thought.
"I don't know."
"Then we'll take it slowly."
"We have plenty of time."
"But now it's time to sleep."
Koromon yawned.
"Good night, Anlan."
"Thank you for your light… and Big Orange's light…"
Its voice faded into soft breathing.
Anlan carried Koromon to a side bedroom used by the ninja cats.
Big Orange slept soundly there.
A faint glow flickered within its body.
Big Orange's light?
Courage? Hope? Light?
Interesting.
So Koromon could evolve even without his ocular power.
Perhaps he didn't need to worry about it evolving incorrectly.
With that thought—
Anlan left.
He did not return to the bedroom with Mikoto.
Instead he entered a quiet training room.
He sat cross-legged.
Continuing his training in the Summoning Technique.
Slow accumulation would eventually bring the results he desired.
Meanwhile—
On the first floor of the Ginza building—
Inside a brightly lit conference room with sealed doors—
The atmosphere was tense.
On one side of the long table sat several nobles.
Luxurious clothing.
But pale faces.
Sweat dripping down their temples.
Behind each one stood a fully armored Uchiha shinobi.
Across from them sat three figures calmly.
Uchiha Tekka.
Uchiha Yakumi.
Uchiha Yashiro.
Before Yashiro lay a finished document.
The Petition of the People.
His Sharingan was active.
Scarlet pupils locked onto a noble.
No hand seals.
No sound.
Just eye contact.
Genjutsu.
"Tell me," Yashiro said calmly.
"What do you truly think of the Uchiha?"
"And what do you truly think of the Petition of the People that you signed with your own hands?"
The noble's lips trembled.
His voice flowed like sleep-talking.
"The Uchiha… are monsters."
"Monsters who command lightning."
"They truly kill people."
"We must obey."
"As long as we can live… and keep what remains of our wealth."
"The Petition?"
"It's a life-saving charm."
"A token of surrender to the monsters."
"As long as they don't drop lightning on my head…"
"I'll pay money."
"A lot of money."
Yashiro turned to the next noble.
Another genjutsu.
"The Uchiha's power…"
"It can change the entire balance."
"Infinite City already belongs to them."
"This Petition…"
"Perhaps… it isn't a bad thing."
"The strong deserve everything."
"If we follow the strong… we gain more."
Finally—
Yashiro turned to a younger noble.
Genjutsu pierced his mind.
The man's face twisted with suppressed hatred.
"Monsters."
"Executioners."
"I'll pretend to surrender…"
"Then report them to the Daimyō."
"Have them all killed!"
"The Petition?"
"It's humiliation!"
Before he could finish—
The Crimson Guard behind him dragged him away.
His fate was obvious.
Yashiro slowly closed his Sharingan.
"You two may leave."
"Remember this."
"Before these eyes…"
"All lies are meaningless."
The remaining nobles staggered away like men spared from execution.
The conference room fell silent.
Only the Petition of the People remained on the table.
A document filled with public gratitude—
And complicated human hearts.
A quiet footnote marking the beginning of a new era.
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