The morning classes quickly passed while he slept!
His classmates left the classroom one after another. Even Minato Namikaze left right away!
A sweet smile appeared on Hyuga Mie's face. She had meant to turn around and greet Uchiha Lei before going out for lunch!
But when Mie turned around, she saw the little hand at Kushina Uzumaki's waist and froze, unsure what to say!
Kushina Uzumaki sat up and noticed Hyuga Mie staring at her slender waist. Feeling the warmth against her side, her fair cheeks instantly flushed crimson!
So Kushina nudged Uchiha Lei's side with her fair left elbow and quietly reminded him:
"Rai, morning classes are over. We should go out for lunch!"
"Got it, Kushina!"
Uchiha Lei answered quietly, released Kushina Uzumaki's waist with his right hand, and stretched both arms overhead. Looking down, he noticed the stunned Hyuga Mie, so he smiled and invited her:
"Mie, want to come out for lunch with us?"
Seeing that Uchiha Lei had given her a way out of the awkwardness, Hyuga Mie immediately smiled, nodded, and agreed:
"Sure, I was just about to go out to eat!"
The moment Uchiha Lei rose from his seat, Kushina Uzumaki took his right hand. Still, this could speed up the plundering, so-
[Natural-method plundering of Hyuga Mie's Main Family Byakugan for 3 hours, plunder value 0.3%, reward obtained: "Ocular power +15 points!"] [The Hyuga Main Family's Byakugan has a total ocular power of 5,000 points!]
Then even plundering Mie's ocular power this way isn't a loss. I still have plenty of time at school!
[Special-method plundering of Kushina Uzumaki's 100,000 ryo for a total of 3 hours, plunder value 6%, reward obtained: "6,000 ryo"] [Normal-method plundering of Kushina Uzumaki's 100,000 ryo, plunder value 1%, countdown begins...]
Oh-ho, 6,000 ryo came in after just three hours of plundering. Not bad!
While Uchiha Lei was distracted~
Kushina Uzumaki had already taken Uchiha Lei by the hand and followed Uzumaki Mie to the classroom door!
At the classroom door, they happened to run into Uchiha Mikoto, who had come looking for Uchiha Lei!
Kushina Uzumaki immediately invited Uchiha Mikoto to leave school with them for lunch, and Mikoto readily agreed!
And so their group consisted of Uchiha Lei, Kushina Uzumaki, Hyuga Mie, and Uchiha Mikoto-three beauties and one handsome boy!
The instant Uchiha Mikoto took Uchiha Lei's hand, the system's voice rang out again~
[Normal-method plundering of Uchiha Mikoto's two-tomoe Sharingan, plunder value 1%, countdown begins...]
When Uchiha Lei came back to his senses, he wrapped his right arm around Uchiha Mikoto's slender waist. He also freed his left hand from Kushina Uzumaki's grasp and smoothly wrapped that arm around Kushina's slim waist!
[Detected a change in plundering method to special-method plundering. Plunder value increased to 2%]
"Mikoto, Kushina, since you're both my fiancées, putting my arms around your waists isn't going too far, right?"
Uchiha Lei looked as though it were perfectly natural. His warm little hands settled on the two girls' slender waists, his palms moving up and down against the cinched waists of their clothes!
"Mmh~"
Kushina Uzumaki let out a soft gasp, a crimson flush rising on her face. Nervously clutching the hem of her clothes with both hands, she spoke in a delicate voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz:
"It isn't~"
"Rai, as long as you're happy!"
Uchiha Mikoto's voice was sweet, without the slightest hint of resistance. A blush rose on her fair, pretty face as she rested her head on Chiya Rai's shoulder, her fair hand clutching the hem of Rai's clothes!
"Rai, you're really enjoying the blessings of having more than one woman!"
Hyuga Mie teased him quietly, covering her mouth with her right hand as she gave an indulgent smile. Yet there was a barely perceptible loneliness in her eyes, and a sour ache in her heart. She folded her fair hands over her lower abdomen, trying her best to display her family's bearing!
Uchiha Lei did not mind. To get closer to Hyuga Mie, he offered a tentative tease:
"I wish I had three hands. Seeing Mie walking all alone leaves me uneasy!"
"Rai, do you really think that?"
Somewhat surprised, Hyuga Mie suddenly turned around and continued walking backward. Her upper body leaned slightly forward, her left hand held the hem of her clothes, and her long right index finger rested against her red lips as she looked expectantly at Uchiha Lei!
"Of course. Mie's the beauty of our class!"
Uchiha Lei immediately praised her, a sunny smile appearing on his face. Like a gentle breeze, it stirred Hyuga Mie's heartstrings!
"Then thank you for your kindness, Rai!"
Hyuga Mie's beautiful white eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of her lips lifted in a sweet smile, like a flower giving off an enchanting fragrance!
Then Mie turned back around, satisfied, and once again folded her hands over her lower abdomen, though a blush rose on her fair face!
Like a lovely scene, the four walked out of the Ninja Academy and headed toward the nearby shopping street!
Along the way, they drew the attention not only of the Ninja Academy's students, but also of Anbu and Root ninja!
News of the four soon reached the Hokage Office and the Root Base!
Those paying the most attention were the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Hokage Advisor and head of Root, Shimura Danzō.
Inside the Hokage Office~
In the office with its yellow wooden interior, a red desk stood by the window. The yellow wooden panel on its front bore the "Kage" emblem and Konoha's symbol!
A large number of documents, paper, and pens sat on the desk, along with a red cushioned stand holding a crystal ball!
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore the Hokage Kage Ceremonial Robe and a red-and-white Hokage hat. Sitting in a red chair with a pipe in his right hand and his left hand on the desk, he listened to his Anbu subordinate's report!
A masked Anbu subordinate with medium-length white hair told Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi about Uchiha Lei's contact with Kushina Uzumaki, Uchiha Mikoto, and Hyuga Mie:
"Lord Hokage, that is what I saw!"
"Understood. Thank you for your efforts, Sakumo. Continue watching them!"
After giving that instruction, Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze grew deep and troubled, like that of an unfathomable sage. There was no telling what he was planning. He raised his pipe, took a deep drag, and puffed out smoke before finally letting out a breath!
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Hatake Sakumo raised his right arm, holding his fist across his chest, and bowed slightly to the Hokage. Then he used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the Hokage Office!
Bang!
The office door was violently shoved open from outside!
A middle-aged man with medium-length, spiky black hair, dressed in a brown Hokage Advisor's outfit and brown Ninja Shoes, strode forward with a swagger that acknowledged no one. He reached the Hokage's desk in a few quick strides and demanded in a loud, low voice:
"Hiruzen, that Uchiha brat is getting far too close to the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Aren't you going to do something?"
"Do something? What am I supposed to do?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled how Mito Uzumaki had previously gone to the hospital to look after Chiya Rai, and how he had racked his brains to persuade her to return to Tsunade's Mansion. His brow creased deeply. He truly did not want to recall that unpleasant memory, and could only helplessly tell Danzo the truth:
"Danzo, Uchiha Lei is the fiancé Lady Mito personally chose for Kushina. What do you expect me to do?"
"When did that happen? Why didn't I know?"
Danzo looked utterly bewildered. Then his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with flames of anger. Like an overheated balloon about to burst, he loudly demanded:
"Hiruzen, you didn't even notify me about something this important? Do you have any regard for me as your aide?"
"Danzo, watch your tone!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had not expected Danzo to dare question him. He slammed his left hand on the desk, anger instantly rising within him, and furiously rebuked him!
Seeing his old friend so angry, Shimura Danzō could only suppress his own temper. He took a deep breath and asked in a gentler tone:
"Hiruzen, what exactly happened?"
"This is what happened!"
Seeing Shimura Danzō's response, Hiruzen Sarutobi began explaining how Uchiha Lei had approached Kushina Uzumaki, how Kushina Uzumaki had invited him to Tsunade's Mansion, and how Mito Uzumaki had personally agreed to their engagement. He sighed helplessly:
"Ah~
It was Lady Mito's order. What do you expect me to do? Go back. Leave this matter alone!"
"Understood!"
Shimura Danzō could only turn and leave the Hokage Office helplessly. Yet his gaze remained resolute. It was impossible to make him give up on Kushina Uzumaki just like that. She was the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the support he would rely on in his future struggle for the position of Hokage!
Before you continue