Fugaku the "ninja"

Qianye Lan went over of his own accord and asked with feigned concern, "Uchiha Fugaku, are you all right?"

Uchiha Fugaku still did not respond.

Looking at the motionless Uchiha Fugaku, Qianye Lan scratched his head and muttered to himself, "Did he really pass out? He can't take a hit?"

Lying on the ground pretending to be unconscious, Uchiha Fugaku heard his words and immediately felt his face flush. He wanted to get up and fight back, but restrained himself again.

Of course, Uchiha Fugaku had not passed out. He was only pretending because he felt ashamed of losing to someone so much younger than himself.

Qianye Lan looked at Uchiha Fugaku and suddenly snickered.

His laughter sounded so grating to Uchiha Fugaku.

By now, Qianye Lan had guessed that Uchiha Fugaku was pretending, but he planned to provoke Fugaku a little more.

He leaned toward Uchiha Mikoto and said, "Big Sister Mikoto, do I get a reward for winning?"

As he spoke, he frantically signaled to Uchiha Mikoto with his eyes.

Every so often, he also glanced at Uchiha Fugaku, who lay on the ground pretending to be unconscious.

The clever Uchiha Mikoto immediately guessed that Uchiha Fugaku was feigning unconsciousness.

Uchiha Mikoto leaned toward Qianye Lan, her face bashful, and took the initiative to kiss him. Then she looked at him and asked, "Happy with that reward?"

Qianye Lan nodded in satisfaction, then left with his arm around Big Sister Mikoto's slender waist.

Only after the two of them left did someone approach and shake Uchiha Fugaku. "Young clan leader, time to wake up."

It took three shakes before Uchiha Fugaku finally stirred, holding his head as he said, "How did I pass out?"

With that, he stood up, pretending to stagger.

Seeing this, the person beside him tried to reach out and steady Uchiha Fugaku, only to be brushed aside.

"Don't help me. I can get up."

Uchiha Fugaku rose unsteadily and staggered off alone, disappearing from everyone's sight.

Uchiha Mikoto looked at Qianye Lan's hand and said somewhat helplessly, "We've come this far already. Isn't it time to let go?"

Only then did Qianye Lan let go, not forgetting to give Uchiha Mikoto's slender waist a squeeze before withdrawing his hand.

Uchiha Mikoto could not help biting her lip lightly. That last squeeze from Qianye Lan felt like an electric shock, leaving her weak all over.

She looked at Qianye Lan with watery eyes and said, "Thank you. I'll be going now."

Uchiha Mikoto lowered her head and hurried away as though fleeing.

She did not know how to face Kushina after what she had done. It would be better to go home and calm down first.

Watching Uchiha Mikoto's retreating figure, Qianye Lan shook his head gently and continued toward home.

He had not expected Mikoto to be so forward either.

Uchiha Mikoto reached her front gate, pushed it open, and went inside.

A beautiful middle-aged woman sat in the courtyard watering the flowers. Hearing the gate, she turned around, and a gentle smile immediately appeared when she saw Uchiha Mikoto. "You're home, Mikoto."

Uchiha Mikoto addressed the beautiful middle-aged woman whose eyes and brows resembled her own. "I'm home, Mom. Where's Dad?"

The beautiful middle-aged woman watering the flowers in the courtyard was Uchiha Mikoto's mother, Uchiha Shizuka.

Hearing her daughter's question, she replied, "Your father went on a mission. He won't be back until tonight."

After answering her daughter's question, Uchiha Shizuka suddenly asked with a gossipy expression, "Mikoto, that boy who showed up with you today is..."

With that, a smile appeared on Uchiha Shizuka's face as she looked at her daughter.

Uchiha Mikoto lowered her head shyly. "Mom, what are you talking about?"

Uchiha Shizuka laughed at Uchiha Mikoto's bashful appearance. She reached out to stroke her smooth, long hair and said, "Mikoto, when I was your age, I'd already had you. Don't be shy."

Unable to handle her mother any longer, Uchiha Mikoto ran straight back to her room.

Watching her daughter's retreating figure, Uchiha Shizuka shook her head with a smile. Since her daughter already liked someone, there was no need to make an ill-matched pairing.

She would have to tell Sosuke later not to go matchmaking carelessly.

When Qianye Lan returned home, he saw Kushina sitting beside the pool, staring fixedly into it at something he could not identify.

He went over to Kushina and followed her gaze, only to find that there was nothing in the pool.

Puzzled, he poked Kushina and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Startled by Qianye Lan, Kushina turned to look. When she saw it was him, she said irritably, "You scared me to death!"

With that, she gave Qianye Lan a light, annoyed swat.

Qianye Lan simply sat beside her and asked, "What were you thinking about just now? You were staring into space."

Kushina did not answer his question directly. She lowered her head, blushing, and said in a mosquito-like voice, "None of your business."

Having earned himself a snub, Qianye Lan could only rub his nose and sit quietly beside Kushina.

The two sat quietly like that for a long time, until dusk drew near.

The evening breeze stirred Kushina's red hair, revealing her delicate profile.

Resting his chin on his hand, Qianye Lan kept gazing at her.

He stared until Kushina grew a little embarrassed. She glared at him and asked, "What are you staring at?"

Qianye Lan blurted out, "People always appreciate beautiful things, don't they?"

Hearing his compliment, Kushina turned her head away with a radiant smile.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew intimate.

Then Tsunade appeared, breaking the mood.

"You two brats, get ready to eat."

Kushina answered, "Got it, Big Sister Tsunade."

Qianye Lan's expression suddenly grew serious. "Big Sister Tsunade, did Grandma Mito finish cooking so quickly today?"

Tsunade replied a little impatiently, "I cooked. Grandma Mito was too tired, so she didn't."

Upon hearing that answer, Qianye Lan and Kushina exchanged a glance.

Then Qianye Lan signaled toward the courtyard gate with his eyes, and Kushina immediately understood.

Qianye Lan reached out, took Kushina's hand, and called into the house, "Big Sister Tsunade, I just remembered that Teacher Sakumo wanted to see me about something. I have to go out!"

With that, he pulled Kushina along, and the two fled the courtyard as though some primordial beast were chasing them from the backyard.

Tsunade ran out of the courtyard, feigning exasperation, and shouted after them, "Don't run!"

To Qianye Lan and Kushina, her voice sounded like a demon's whisper.

The two quickened their pace again and disappeared from Tsunade's sight.

Seeing this, Tsunade huffed and muttered to herself, "Is my cooking really that awful?"

Yet a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth as she turned and said, "Grandma Mito, how come they reacted exactly as you predicted?"

Mito Uzumaki came out then as well. She glanced at Tsunade and said, "Didn't you already say why?"

Tsunade immediately began doubting herself. "Is my cooking really that bad?"

Mito Uzumaki merely looked at Tsunade and shook her head, then turned and went back into the courtyard.

Deeply discouraged for the moment, Tsunade could only follow Mito Uzumaki back into the house.

The two sat at the table, chatting as they ate.

Tsunade said feelingly, "Grandma Mito, that trick of yours really, really worked."

"As soon as I said I'd cooked, the two of them ran off, just as expected."

Mito Uzumaki shook her head with a soft chuckle. "If we didn't do this, how would we help their relationship along?"