Without You, It's Important

Although she still could not determine with certainty whether the scene unfolding before her eyes was real or merely an illusory dream.

The keen instinct unique to shinobi, buried deep within her heart, kept sending her a powerful signal—believe what was happening before her.

Because if it was real, then a simple kiss could unravel the doubts that had haunted her for so long. No matter how she looked at it, it was hardly a loss.

Besides, her body was still entirely at the other person's mercy. What she would face next was already obvious.

Right now, the only thing she wanted to understand was this: what exactly did the so-called "obstacle" Uchiha Chen had mentioned mean?

With the resolve of someone who had decided to throw caution to the wind, Pakura abruptly turned her head without hesitation. A strand of vivid orange hair at her temple brushed across Uchiha Chen's eye like a light, soft feather.

The instant he reflexively closed his eyes, warm, supple lips swiftly moved close.

Pakura, who had grown up in the boundless desert and was as beautiful and captivating as a thorny rose, seemed at that moment to have had every sharp thorn forcibly cut away. Having lost all strength and courage to resist, she could only try to capture his heart with her beauty.

Yet Pakura's kiss was no more than a dragonfly touching the water, separating the moment it made contact.

Clearly, though, such a fleeting kiss did not satisfy Uchiha Chen.

In an instant, she felt a chill across her chest. The large hand that had been pressed protectively over her heart had somehow moved to the back of her head, pulling her closer and deepening the fiery, lingering kiss.

"Mm~"

Soft nasal sounds rose intermittently between them, like a melody