This textbook example of a tsundere reaction only fueled Uchiha Ren's mischievous streak.
Still, his teasing of this "Ruyan Cat" went no further than that.
At the end of the day, she was just a cat.
He might not have been the epitome of kindness and courtesy, but he wasn't so twisted as to violate his own cat. That would be a little too much of a personality breakdown.
But if it were a person...
A glint flickered in Ren's eyes. Well, that was hard to say.
As his thoughts wandered, his consciousness sank into the space within his Sharingan.
After charging the Cyan-White Stone Gate today, the bubble it returned was nothing special.
[Item: Ultra-Thin Black Velvet Stockings]
[Evaluation: Made from ultrafine elastic fibers softer than strands of hair. The fabric is dense and delicate, silky smooth to the touch, crystal-clear, and highly breathable.]
[Origin: A Certain Magical Index]
Even a "guide to developing superpowers" would have been nice, or a grimoire containing "Dragon King's Sigh"... Why was it always this kind of thing?
Ren grumbled inwardly. With a slight shift of his will, the exceptionally fine black stockings appeared in his hand.
They felt cool and silky, living up to their description. If only he could put them on Mikoto's long, shapely legs and have her use them on him...
Ren looked down at Ayan, who was still pretending to be calm as she licked her fur, and casually handed her the stockings.
"Take these back to the workshop and have the technical team study them carefully. See if they can figure out the material and weaving technique and mass-produce them."
Since gradually taking power, he had forged an extensive partnership with the Ninja Cat Clan.
By making knockoffs of all sorts of goods from other worlds, they had built the Konoha Ginza together, a thriving business that was now raking in money hand over fist and all the rage across the Land of Fire.
He didn't expect the technical team under him to climb the technology tree, and he didn't particularly care whether they could.
The Shinobi World had no soil for science, only endless fighting. Without decades of peace, there'd be no real technological breakthroughs.
In a world where immense power resided in the individual, his sole goal was to keep growing stronger until he could overwhelm a thousand foes alone and live forever.
These business ventures were merely necessary means of building up resources and influence to achieve that ultimate goal.
Put simply, they were a way to give himself and his family a better life.
So he wouldn't have to worry about putting food on the table, and could focus wholeheartedly on becoming the strongest.
"Got it, meow, young master."
Ayan answered, deftly rolled up the sheer black stockings, and tucked them into the little pink pouch on her stomach.
Then she changed the subject, bringing up the news that had arrived early that morning.
"We're not the ones who should be getting restless now. It's that man hailed as the 'Strongest Hokage.'"
Ren replied calmly, "The Old Clan Head will most likely be summoned by the Hokage around now to discuss sending the Uchiha into battle."
Ever since Mikoto took over the intelligence department, it had passed information to different people based on its importance.
Major news like the first strike of a Shinobi World War was relayed as soon as it came in to the three Uchiha elders, as well as Ren and Fugaku.
Of them, the only one whose status truly matched the Hokage's was the Old Clan Head.
"The Old Clan Head knows the clan's bottom line and what it wants."
"All we have to do now is wait and see what the Third Hokage decides."
As Ren finished speaking, the tempting aroma of food drifted lazily from the kitchen, perfectly stirring up their morning appetites.
Almost at the same moment, a light, familiar knock sounded at the entrance.
"Ren, I'm here."
Uchiha Mikoto's clear, gentle voice came from outside.
Ren rose to open the door. Morning sunlight poured in, illuminating the figure standing on the doorstep.
Mikoto wore the simple, elegant Uchiha clan uniform today. Its dark, high collar made her neck look slender. Her unadorned face still carried the rosy flush of early morning, though a trace of worry about the situation lingered in her eyes.
When she saw Ren, that worry was quickly replaced by a tender smile.
"Come on in. Breakfast is ready."
Ren stepped aside to welcome her in.
His right hand naturally took hers, while his left rested gently on her waist. He lowered his head and whispered with a smile in her ear,
"But next time, you should say, 'I'm home.'"
Mikoto's cheeks reddened. Her lips curved into a lovely smile as she softly answered,
"Mmm~"
Her reply was gentle and lilting, carrying a hint of shyness and the unmistakable warmth of an intimacy they both understood.
The morning sunlight fell just right across her lowered lashes, casting a tender shadow.
In the dining room, Daju was directing his Shadow Clones as they placed the last few dishes on the table.
The lavish breakfast nearly filled the tabletop: savory miso soup with evenly cooked rice grains and a rich aroma, golden tamagoyaki, perfectly grilled salmon, and several plates of refreshing pickles and fresh fruit.
Besides rice, there was even a small steamer of hot, generously filled buns with thin skins—a Chinese-style treat Daju had clearly gone out of his way to master to please his young master.
"Miss Mikoto, you're here, meow!"
The moment Daju saw Mikoto, he straightened up, doing his best to look more dependable.
But his eyes kept drifting toward Ayan as she sauntered over, giving away what was on his mind.
Mikoto knew about Daju and Ayan's situation too. She bent down and stroked his head.
"You've worked hard, Daju."
As the orange cat gazed at her in delighted disbelief, she smiled and gently set the Silver-spotted Cat in her arms down beside him.
Ayan pretended to turn away with an air of aloofness, but the tip of her tail tapped lightly against the wooden floor. In the end, she didn't move away.
For ten years, the two Ninja Cats had bickered and fussed their way through Ren's youth, and had left many fond memories in Mikoto's life as well.
Mikoto was glad to see Daju and Ayan together, too.
Once everyone was seated, Ren ladled a bowl of miso soup for Mikoto.
"Has there been any word from the Old Clan Head?"
Mikoto took the bowl in both hands and shook her head, blowing gently on the hot soup.
"Not yet. But the Old Clan Head made a point of telling us before he left. He looked very calm, so he must already have a plan."
She paused, lowering her voice.
"But the Senju Clan disappeared because of war, and now all sides are coming at us in force. I'm worried the clan will lose many people again..."
Ren picked up a tender piece of tamagoyaki and placed it on Mikoto's plate, his voice calm.
"It's precisely because this is dangerous that we have to seize the initiative and claim powers Konoha would never normally grant the Uchiha."
"It's time to shatter the Konoha High Command's illusions and give the clan a chance to be reborn, truly free, amid the fires of war."
Ren spoke with conviction.
Mikoto looked at him, the worry in her eyes gradually giving way to unwavering trust.
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling across the exquisite breakfast and illuminating the two people and two cats gathered around the table.
Beneath this seemingly peaceful, cozy morning, a new round of power plays between Konohagakure and the Uchiha Clan had officially begun.
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