Want to Get Engaged to Mikoto?

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

Mirai glanced at the bathrobe Tsunade had pulled back on, a mischievous smile curling his lips.

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

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

Jiraiya: ???

"Ahem." Mirai coughed dryly. "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 through the Jonin Summit. Are you sure you don't want to know?"

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

"If I find out you dared to lie to me, just wait till you're in pieces, brat!"

Mirai smiled. "Don't worry, it'll definitely work!"

"Come to my room!"

"Yes!"

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

"Lie down on the bed!"

Mirai did as 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 that this brat was only seven and didn't understand anything, so it shouldn't be a problem.

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

From Mirai's angle on the bed, Tsunade's entire body seemed to be radiating holy light!

Damn, his nose was a little itchy. Was he about to get a nosebleed?

Hold it in!

Fortunately, little Mirai's functions hadn't loaded yet, so he didn't embarrass himself too badly.

Mirai was only treating his eyes to the view anyway.

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

"Mm-hm!" Feeling that soft touch, Mirai nodded in satisfaction.

Half an hour later, Tsunade finished giving him a full-body massage.

"That enough, you little pervert? Now, tell me your method. Immediately!"

Mirai felt like he was about to ascend to heaven. The service from grown-up Tsunade was simply subarashii!

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

Suspicion flashed through Tsunade's eyes. "It's really that simple?"

"Why don't you try it and see?" Mirai shrugged.

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

Bang—

Having put her bath towel back on, Tsunade slammed the door and left.

Mirai didn't care. He'd already enjoyed himself, and even if the method didn't work, Tsunade wouldn't actually beat him to death.

At most, she'd beat him half to death. Still worth it.

Meanwhile, at Mikoto Uchiha's home.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat gloomy.

Zhili sat across from her sister, holding a piece of fried pork cutlet in her chopsticks. She took a hard bite, then chewed viciously, as if the cutlet had some deep grudge against her.

Her chewing grew faster and faster, cheeks puffed out while her eyes drifted aimlessly, 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, both wanting to speak but holding back.

Only Mikoto still wore her gentle smile, as if she hadn't noticed anything.

Every now and then, she put some food into Zhili's bowl and said softly, "Zhili, eat slowly. Don't choke."

Zhili gave a muffled "Mm," but didn't slow down in the slightest.

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

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

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

"During the day, Clan Head... Yamamoto Uchiha came by." Masao chose his words carefully, rubbing his fingers against his knee. "He came to propose marriage on behalf of his son, Fugaku."

The instant he finished speaking, Zhili's chewing abruptly stopped.

She raised her head, still holding an unchewed piece of pork cutlet in her mouth. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at her father, then turned to look at her sister.

Mikoto's expression stiffened for an instant, but she quickly regained her gentle smile.

"A marriage proposal?"

"Yes." Her mother picked up the conversation, her tone carrying a trace of unease.

"Clan Head Yamamoto said Fugaku has always thought highly of you, and he hopes our two families can become in-laws.

You're twelve this year. You can get engaged first, then marry in a few years. That would be just right..."

Mikoto didn't answer immediately. She lowered her eyes, her fingers tightening slightly around her chopsticks.

So that's how it was!

That day, Fugaku had suddenly appeared in the school hallway and acted as if he had the right to ask why she had agreed to someone else's promise because his family had already been preparing to propose.

Yet he hadn't said a single word about it at the time.

He could have told her beforehand, asked what she wanted, and left her room to choose, but he had said nothing.

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

Mikoto's brows furrowed slightly.

And she remembered that little redheaded brat.

Those sparkling eyes when he hooked pinkies with her, and the serious expression on his face when he said, "For six years, you're not allowed to have a boyfriend, a fiancé, or get married."

Though that promise seemed childish, she had agreed to it herself. Since she had given her word, Mikoto Uchiha would not go back on it.

"Dad, Mom." Mikoto raised her head. Her face still bore that gentle smile, but her tone carried an unquestionable firmness. "I refuse!"

The table fell silent for a moment.

Zhili finally swallowed the pork cutlet in her mouth. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, the hand gripping her chopsticks quietly relaxed a little.

"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 first.

We've met Fugaku a few times. He's steady and generous, and he's the clan head's son. He'll most likely become the next head of the Uchiha Clan. If you marry him, you'll be the clan head's wife..."

"Mom," Mikoto interrupted gently but clearly, "I don't like him. And I'm only twelve. I just want to focus on practicing Ninjutsu and finishing my studies. I want to become an outstanding Uchiha ninja.

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

Masao was silent for a while, then sighed. "Clan Head Yamamoto has already made the proposal. If we reject him outright, it may hurt his pride..."

"Dad, my marriage is my own business." Mikoto's voice remained gentle, but the determination in her eyes didn't waver. "If Clan Head Yamamoto's pride is hurt over this, then we'll just have to ask for his understanding."

Zhili listened from beside them, and before she knew it, her chopsticks had stopped moving.

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

Could someone get engaged at twelve?

Then when she was seven, would she also be arranged into something like that in a few years?

She suddenly thought of Mirai Uzumaki, that annoying redhead with the smug 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, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it were him?

Her face turned bright red in an instant. She hurriedly lowered her head and shoveled a huge mouthful of rice into her mouth, wishing she could bury her entire face in the 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, he had pressed her to the ground! She was supposed to hate him!

Zhili's mind was a complete mess, and her heart pounded so fast that even she found it inexplicable.

Her mother was still trying to persuade Mikoto. "Mikoto, why don't you think about it some more? It's only an engagement first. It won't affect your training or studies. If you really don't like him when you're older, then at that time..."

"Mom." 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 comes to ask again, please have Father tell him the truth."

Masao exchanged a look with his wife. In the end, they could only sigh and say no more.

Zhili secretly glanced at her sister's expression—that gentle look with its hidden sharpness suddenly made her think her sister was amazing.

She lowered her head and ate, but the redheaded boy's face and his words, "I'll be waiting," uncontrollably surfaced in her mind again.

Zhili shook her head hard, trying to fling away those messy thoughts. Then she picked up the biggest piece of fried pork cutlet and took a vicious bite.

"What's wrong, Zhili?" Mikoto noticed something off about her and asked softly.

"N-Nothing!" Zhili's voice was muffled, though the tips of her ears had quietly turned red. "I just think today's pork cutlet... is pretty tasty."

Mikoto watched her lower her head and eat fiercely. She smiled faintly and didn't press further.

Zhili was only seven, yet she already had little thoughts of her own! Still, Zhili keeping little secrets from her big sister was unbearably cute too!