Wanting to Get Engaged to Mikoto?

"What method? What method could you possibly have?" Tsunade shot Mirai Uzumaki a suspicious look.

Mirai Uzumaki glanced at the bathrobe Tsunade had pulled back on, a wicked grin curling at his lips.

He lowered his head and whispered something into Tsunade's ear.

Veins bulged on Tsunade's forehead as her anger flared. "You brat, where did you learn such a filthy idea? Was it from Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya:???

"Ahem." Mirai Uzumaki gave a dry cough. "Don't worry about where I learned it. Just tell me whether you're willing or not?"

"This is a method that can get your proposal approved at the Jonin Summit, you know? Are you sure you don't want to hear it?"

Tsunade clenched her fists. "Fine! I'll take it off!"

"If I find out you dared to lie to me, just wait until you're torn into pieces, brat!"

Mirai Uzumaki smiled. "Don't worry. It'll definitely work!"

"Come to my room!"

"Okay!"

The two entered Tsunade's bedroom one after the other.

"Lie down on the bed!"

Mirai Uzumaki did as he was told, ready to enjoy himself.

By the bed, Tsunade bit her lower lip. A complicated look flashed through her eyes, but in the end, she convinced herself with the thought, This brat is only seven. He doesn't understand anything. It should be fine.

Then she took off her bathrobe, leaving herself completely bare.

From Mirai's angle as he lay there, Tsunade's entire body seemed to be radiating holy light!

Oh no, his nose was a little itchy. Was he about to get a nosebleed?

Hold it in!

Fortunately, little Mirai's functions had not yet loaded, so he did not embarrass himself too badly.

Mirai was only treating his eyes to the view.

Then Tsunade leaned over, pressing her chest against Mirai's body. "I just push back and forth like this, right?"

"Mm-hmm!" Feeling the soft touch, Mirai Uzumaki nodded in satisfaction.

Half an hour passed, and Tsunade's full-body massage was over.

"That's enough, you little pervert! Now tell me your method, immediately!"

Mirai Uzumaki felt like he was about to ascend to heaven. Tsunade's service was truly subarashii!

He slowly sat up, then leaned close to Tsunade's ear again and whispered a few words.

A trace of suspicion flashed through Tsunade's eyes. "It's really that simple?"

"Why not try it and find out?" Mirai shrugged.

"Fine!" Tsunade gritted her teeth and nodded. "If your method doesn't work, you know the consequences! Just wait, brat!"

Bang—

Having wrapped herself in a bath towel, Tsunade slammed the door behind her and left.

Mirai Uzumaki did not care. He had already enjoyed himself anyway, and if the method failed, Tsunade could not possibly beat him to death.

At worst, she would beat him half to death. That would still be worth it.

Elsewhere, at Mikoto Uchiha's home.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was rather gloomy.

Izumi Uchiha sat across from her older sister, gripping a piece of tonkatsu with her chopsticks. She took a fierce bite, then chewed viciously, as though the pork cutlet held some deep grudge against her.

Her chewing grew faster and faster, her cheeks puffed out, while her gaze wandered as though she had no idea what she was thinking about.

Mikoto's parents sat at the head of the table. They exchanged several looks, each seeming to want to speak but holding back.

Only Mikoto still wore her gentle smile, as though she had noticed nothing at all.

Every now and then, she placed some food into Izumi's bowl and softly said, "Eat slowly, Izumi. Don't choke."

Izumi gave a muffled "Mm," but did not slow down in the slightest.

Finally, Mikoto Uchiha's father—Masao Uchiha—put down his chopsticks and cleared his throat.

"Mikoto, there's something... I want to talk to you about."

Mikoto looked up at her father's slightly awkward expression. She vaguely sensed what was coming, but her face remained calm. "Please go ahead, Father."

"This afternoon, the clan head... Yamamoto Uchiha came by." Masao carefully chose his words, rubbing his fingers against his knee. "He proposed marriage on behalf of his son, Fugaku."

The moment he finished speaking, Izumi's chewing abruptly stopped.

She looked up, a piece of unchewed pork still in her mouth. Her eyes widened roundly as she stared at her father in disbelief before turning to look at her sister.

Mikoto's expression froze for an instant, but she quickly recovered her gentle smile.

"A marriage proposal?"

"Mm," her mother continued beside her, her tone carrying a trace of unease.

"Clan Head Yamamoto said that Fugaku has always had a good impression of you, and he hopes our two families can become relatives by marriage.

"You're twelve this year. If you get engaged first, then marry a few years later, that would be just right..."

Mikoto did not answer immediately. She lowered her eyes, and the fingers holding her chopsticks tightened slightly.

So that was it!

The reason Fugaku had suddenly appeared in the school hallway that day and acted as though asking, "Why did you agree to someone else's promise?" was because his family had already been preparing to propose.

Yet he had not said a single word at the time.

He could have told her in advance, asked for her wishes, and given her room to choose, but he said nothing.

Without even informing her of the engagement, he had presumptuously questioned her decision as her "fiancé."

Mikoto's brows furrowed slightly.

And she remembered that little Kurenai-haired brat as well.

Those sparkling eyes when they linked pinkies, and the serious expression on his face when he said, "For six years, no boyfriend, no fiancé, and no getting married."

Though the promise seemed childish, she had agreed to it herself. Since it was something she had promised, Mikoto Uchiha would not go back on her word.

"Father, Mother," Mikoto raised her head. Her face still bore a gentle smile, but her tone carried an indisputable firmness. "I refuse!"

The dining table fell silent for a moment.

Izumi finally swallowed the pork in her mouth. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out. She merely loosened her grip on her chopsticks slightly.

"Mikoto," her mother said anxiously, "you're only twelve. You don't have to marry into their family right away. It's only an engagement for now.

"We've met Fugaku a few times. He's steady and dignified, and he's the clan head's son. In the future, there's an eighty percent chance he'll become the head of the Uchiha Clan. If you marry him, you'll become the clan head's wife..."

"Mother," Mikoto interrupted softly but clearly, "I don't like him. And I'm only twelve this year. I only want to focus on training in Ninjutsu and completing my studies. I want to become an outstanding Uchiha ninja.

"As for an engagement, I don't want to consider it for now."

Masao fell silent for a while, then sighed. "Clan Head Yamamoto has already made the proposal. If we reject him outright, it would be difficult in terms of... face."

"Father, my marriage is my own matter." Mikoto's voice remained gentle, but the determination in her eyes did not waver in the slightest. "If Clan Head Yamamoto feels slighted because of this, then we can only ask him to be understanding."

Listening from the side, Izumi had unconsciously stopped moving her chopsticks.

She looked at her sister's gentle yet stubborn profile, and an indescribable feeling rose in her heart.

Could someone get engaged at twelve?

Then, since she was seven, would she also have this sort of thing arranged for her in a few years?

She suddenly thought of Mirai Uzumaki, that Kurenai-haired, annoying bastard who always wore a wicked grin.

The time before last, he had used chains to tie her up in midair. Last time had been even worse—he had pinned her to the ground, and his hand had been there!

If... if she had to marry someone in the future, then if it were him, maybe it would not be so bad?

Her face turned bright Kurenai at once. She hurriedly lowered her head and shoved a huge mouthful of rice into her mouth, wishing she could bury her entire face in her bowl.

No, no, no!

What was she thinking?!

That guy had even pinned her down in front of the entire class today and touched... no, pressed her to the ground! She should hate him!

Izumi Uchiha's mind was a complete mess, and her heart raced so fast that even she found it baffling.

Her mother was still trying to persuade Mikoto. "Mikoto, how about considering it a little more? It's only an engagement for now. It won't affect your training or studies. If you really don't like him once you grow up, then later..."

"Mother." Mikoto shook her head, her gaze gentle but resolute. "I said it already. I don't want to consider an engagement for now.

"If Clan Head Yamamoto asks again, please have Father tell him the truth."

Masao exchanged a glance with his wife. In the end, they could only sigh and say nothing more.

Izumi secretly glanced at her sister's expression—that gentleness tempered with sharpness made her suddenly feel that her sister was amazing.

She lowered her head and ate her rice, but the Kurenai-haired boy's face and his words, "I'll be waiting," surfaced in her mind again beyond her control.

Izumi forcefully shook her head, flinging away those messy thoughts. Then she picked up the biggest piece of tonkatsu and took a vicious bite.

"What's wrong, Izumi?" Mikoto noticed her odd behavior and asked softly.

"N-Nothing!" Izumi's voice was muffled, but the tips of her ears quietly turned Kurenai. "I just think today's tonkatsu... tastes pretty good."

Mikoto watched her lower her head and eat furiously. She smiled slightly and did not press further.

Izumi was only seven, yet she already had little thoughts of her own! Still, Izumi having little secrets she kept from her big sister was just unbearably cute!