The following afternoon, inside Chiyo's office at Konoha Guard Unit headquarters.
Chiyo leaned back in his chair, eyes closed as he rested.
Not far away, Mikoto Uchiha was carefully reviewing and marking the files in her hands.
After reading for nearly another ten minutes, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
She had clearly encountered a problem in the files.
She raised her head, about to ask Chiyo, only to discover that he had already fallen asleep.
Judging by how soundly he slept, he had probably been out for quite some time.
"Chiyo-niichan has been working so hard lately."
Mikoto murmured softly, a trace of heartache flashing through her eyes.
Ever since her Chiyo-niichan had become Clan Leader, he seemed to have grown busier and busier. Even when she brought him dinner at night, his door would be locked.
He must have been working tirelessly for the Uchiha and not gone home.
With that thought, her gaze fell upon Chiyo's robe beside him.
She quietly walked over, picked up the robe, and gently draped it over Chiyo.
Looking at the sharply defined profile of his face, her gaze grew even softer.
Unable to resist, she reached out to touch Chiyo's face, only to see his brow suddenly tighten.
Before her slender hand suspended in midair could retract, it was caught by another hand.
Mikoto froze at the sudden movement, even forgetting to pull her hand back.
"Mikoto!~"
Only upon hearing Chiyo's voice did she come back to her senses.
A hint of shyness appeared in her eyes.
"Chiyo-niichan, y-you were awake all along?"
Chiyo yawned, feeling completely refreshed.
He had slept from after lunch until now!
That felt great!
Recently, he had been running back and forth between Tsunade and Nonō, often staying busy until the middle of the night.
Nonō in