An exhausted Shisui

Qiu Shan Uchiha froze for a moment. Seeing Uchiha Mikoto still standing in the doorway, he quickly invited her inside. As Mikoto passed him, Qiushan thought he caught a faint fragrance.

Uchiha Mikoto knelt beside the low table on the tatami and laid out the snacks she had brought. Watching her from behind, Qiu Shan Uchiha saw how her fitted clothes accentuated the curves of her lovely figure.

After setting everything out, Uchiha Mikoto noticed that Qiu Shan Uchiha was still standing by the door and hurriedly called him over.

"Qiushan, you must be hungry too. Come and try my cooking." As she spoke, she poured Qiu Shan Uchiha a cup of sake.

Mikoto's invitation brought Qiu Shan Uchiha back to his senses. Everything was ready, and he really was a little hungry, so he accepted without standing on ceremony. He sat down and started eating the appetizing snacks. Uchiha Mikoto knelt beside him, recommending the treats she had made and refilling his cup whenever he emptied it.

"You must have had a hard time, Qiushan," Uchiha Mikoto said as she poured him more sake.

Qiu Shan Uchiha paused and gave Mikoto a puzzled look.

"Ever since you awakened that Dōjutsu that lets you foresee the future, you've shouldered the fate of the Uchiha Clan. You've been running yourself ragged trying to change our destiny, even risking your life, and then I nearly killed you. Qiushan, I'm truly sorry." Tears welled in Uchiha Mikoto's eyes again. They reddened as she came close to crying.

Qiu Shan Uchiha put down his cup and stared at Uchiha Mikoto in bewilderment. He had never expected her imagination to be so powerful. All he could do was reassure her.

"It's all right. This is what I should do as a member of the Uchiha Clan." Since Uchiha Mikoto already believed that, Qiushan felt too awkward to contradict her. Was he supposed to tell her, I was actually ready to run away ages ago. I never intended to fight to the bitter end?

At the same time, Qiu Shan Uchiha understood why Mikoto had come to see him alone: she wanted to apologize for nearly killing him earlier.

The night deepened, and the drink went increasingly to his head. By the time they finished the flask of sake Uchiha Mikoto had brought, Qiushan was feeling a little drunk.

Seeing this, Mikoto cleared the things off the tatami and helped Qiu Shan Uchiha onto the bed.

Qiu Shan Uchiha lay on the bed in a haze. He dimly sensed Mikoto turning out the light, followed by a soft rustling.

Qiu Shan Uchiha immediately sobered up. Suddenly overcome with nerves, he stammered out a question.

"Madam, what are you doing?"

Uchiha Mikoto's voice was very gentle.

"Qiushan, don't you know? This is one way for me to pledge my loyalty to you, my lord."

"And it's also my way of apologizing to Qiushan for what happened earlier."

At those words, Qiu Shan Uchiha could no longer hold on to his reason. He reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Morning sunlight streamed into the room through the window, and early birds chirped outside. Qiu Shan Uchiha slowly woke up.

The previous day had been exhausting. Not only had Qiu Shan Uchiha rushed back and forth, he had also faced life and death, then spent half the night exerting himself. As a result, he had slept soundly.

Sunlight fell across Qiushan's face, rousing him from his dreams.

As Qiu Shan Uchiha slowly regained consciousness, he vaguely sensed someone beside him. He opened his eyes little by little and saw Uchiha Mikoto's lovely face, still tinged with an intoxicating blush. She looked especially radiant in the morning sunlight, and he remembered what had happened the night before.

Seeing that Uchiha Mikoto was still asleep, then looking around the disheveled room, Qiu Shan Uchiha immediately recalled last night's...

Qiu Shan Uchiha was at an age when young men yearned for beauty, and he had met Uchiha Mikoto in the prime of her charm. How could he possibly restrain himself? It was spring at its loveliest, and he had met her again amid falling blossoms.

Qiu Shan Uchiha reached toward Mikoto again. As though sensing something, she sleepily opened her eyes. She saw what Qiushan was doing but seemed not to understand it yet.

"Qiushan?"

"Mikoto."

"Hmm?" Uchiha Mikoto was still a little dazed.

"I like you."

Seeing that Mikoto had woken up, Qiu Shan Uchiha stopped holding back...

After their morning exercise, Qiu Shan Uchiha left Uchiha Fugaku's house without saying goodbye. Although Uchiha Fugaku had agreed to it, Qiushan still felt too awkward to face him.

The morning sunlight was soft and warm as Qiu Shan Uchiha hurried toward the river. That was where he and Shisui Uchiha had agreed to meet. They had split up to carry out their tasks, and whether they succeeded or failed, they were to regroup there, report their progress, and discuss their next moves.

When Qiu Shan Uchiha arrived, Shisui was already waiting. Qiushan did not know whether Shisui had succeeded, but he looked rather disheveled and tired. He probably had not rested all night.

Qiu Shan Uchiha felt a little embarrassed at the sight of Shisui's exhaustion. In contrast, he had enjoyed a good night's rest and was positively glowing.

Shisui Uchiha perked up when he saw Qiushan arrive. Seeing him so full of energy gave Shisui some reassurance, and he got straight to the point.

"Qiushan, how did the plan go? Did you use your Dōjutsu on the Elder?"

At Shisui's question, Qiu Shan Uchiha blinked, deliberately shook his head, and said in a subdued voice, "I didn't use Kotoamatsukami on the Elder."

Shisui Uchiha's heart sank when he saw Qiushan shake his head. Hearing that he had not used his Dōjutsu on the Elder, Shisui could not keep the anxiety off his face.

Seeing Shisui's expression, Qiu Shan Uchiha stopped teasing the earnest young man. A mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"But I did persuade the Elder. He agreed not to stir up the clan's hostility toward Konoha for the next few years."

Hearing Qiushan's words, Shisui Uchiha realized he had been teasing him. Still, the Elder's stubbornness and temper were notorious throughout the clan. Shisui Uchiha had no idea how Qiushan had managed to persuade him without using Kotoamatsukami.

To clear up Shisui's confusion, Qiu Shan Uchiha explained everything in detail, including the importance the Elder placed on the Mangekyō Sharingan and why he had agreed.