The night was enchanting.
At the Yuhi Residence
The warm glow of the lamps reflected off the white-haired man's face, which betrayed no emotion.
Kakashi had originally intended to head straight home, but as soon as he stepped out of the Hokage Building, Kurenai Yuhi had practically dragged him to her house.
Under normal circumstances, Kurenai would never have dared to do such a thing.
But... the situation was exceptional.
"When did this happen?"
Looking at the medical slip in his hand, Kakashi felt like he was asking a redundant question.
"It must have been that last time... My period hasn't come in a long while..."
"If... if you don't like it..."
"I... I can get an abortion..."
Under the lamplight, the black-haired beauty looked at Kakashi with a mix of hesitation and fear, her voice trembling slightly.
"It's fine. Don't overthink it."
Realizing that his current demeanor was too cold and had caused her to misunderstand, Kakashi's expression softened considerably. He reached out and gently ruffled Kurenai's hair.
"Then... we're keeping it?"
Kurenai looked at Kakashi with uncertainty.
She was pregnant.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was Kakashi's child.
"Yes," Kakashi nodded affirmatively.
"But... what about your side of things...?"
Kurenai was worried. Her status was somewhat awkwardly delicate.
After all... it didn't exactly sound good.
"It's fine. I'll handle it. Don't worry."
Kakashi pulled her into his arms, resting his palm gently against Kurenai's lower abdomen.
To be honest, Kakashi still felt it was quite sudden.
After all, he had only been with Kurenai a few times; he hadn't expected to hit the jackpot so quickly.
"Mm!"
Having received the answer she wanted, Kurenai's entire aura seemed to brighten instantly.
"Move into my place in a couple of days."
"I'm not comfortable leaving you here alone."
Gazing into Kurenai's eyes, Kakashi spoke firmly.
"Is... is that okay?"
"Won't that affect your reputation?"
Kurenai's expression faltered as she looked at him hesitantly.
She had already prepared herself to give birth and raise the child alone; she never expected Kakashi would be willing to let her move into his home.
Wouldn't this confirm their relationship to the outside world?
But, if she could be with Kakashi openly, how could she possibly refuse?
"It's fine. I've had this plan for a while now."
Kakashi looked at Kurenai with a trace of pity.
He felt no guilt about "stealing" Asuma's original wife.
It was better than the original timeline where Kurenai had to struggle to raise a child alone.
It was a consensual affair—in fact, Kurenai had been the one to take the initiative.
But since he had done the deed and a child was involved, Kakashi was naturally not the type of man to abandon his wife and child.
"Really?"
Hearing that Kakashi had already planned to bring her in, Kurenai looked at him in disbelief.
"Of course it's true. Since you chose me, I won't let you down."
Kakashi spoke while looking seriously at the woman before him.
Blinking her beautiful eyes, Kurenai's gaze was so intense it was practically glued to him.
"This..."
Kakashi knew Kurenai deeply by now, and he understood exactly what she was thinking.
"It's okay! I asked the doctor!"
"Two months is fine!"
As she looked at Kakashi, Kurenai's eyes were filled with such longing they were almost "dripping."
"Pah! Scumbag!"
At a nearby street corner, Anko Mitarashi gnashed her teeth as she watched the lights in Kurenai's house go out.
She had been staking out Kurenai's place for nearly half a month.
She just wanted to know who exactly had slept with her best friend.
She never expected that Kakashi—that married man—would walk into the Yuhi residence today.
She had initially thought it was just official business, since Kurenai was technically Kakashi's assistant. But she hadn't expected him to stay until dark—and now the lights were off!
Kurenai's partner was now crystal clear.
It was Kakashi!
No, not a partner!
She was the "other woman," a mistress!
Anko never imagined that someone as proud as Kurenai would be willing to do such a thing.
Anko never once suspected Kurenai was being forced.
She knew Kurenai's personality all too well.
If Kurenai wasn't willing, even if Kakashi held a kunai to her throat, Kurenai wouldn't have batted an eye.
At the thought of this, Anko stomped her foot in anger and turned to leave without looking back.
It was an eyesore.
Fuming over Kurenai's situation and unable to sleep, Anko spent the middle of the night wandering down to the riverbank for a walk.
The affair between Kakashi and Kurenai had given her a massive shock.
She really wanted to find Kurenai and ask what she was thinking.
After all, Kakashi was a married man.
And Kakashi was no good either.
He had such a beautiful wife at home, yet he was still "eating out," showing absolutely no consideration for the wife he had married so recently!
He was a total scumbag!
"Disgraceful!"
At that thought, Anko couldn't help but curse out loud.
"Who are you talking about?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out, startling Anko so much she spun around instantly.
Now that she knew Kakashi's secret, if it leaked out...
Would she be silenced?
By the moonlight, Anko saw who it was.
Sparkling embers from a cigarette lit up under the moon. A man with a scruffy beard sat by the river, holding a fishing rod, looking like he was night fishing.
It was Asuma...
"I'm talking about you! What of it?"
Recognizing him, Anko spoke with a cold sneer.
"Did you take the wrong medicine?"
"How does me fishing make me disgraceful?"
Asuma felt a bit bewildered at the fact that he happened to encounter Anko having a meltdown in the middle of the night.
He was just night fishing—how did that make him a disgrace?
"Fishing?"
"Then keep on fishing."
Anko didn't care to explain further. She turned and walked away, leaving a perfectly innocent Asuma standing there after being insulted for no reason.
Fishing?
Keep guarding that stupid fishing rod for the rest of your life!
Go fish your [redacted]!
At the Hatake Residence
After finally managing to leave Kurenai's place, Kakashi returned home to find only darkness.
It was already the middle of the night.
Hikari, who had been reading books in Meeting Room No. 3 all day, was already sound asleep.
Sitting by the bed, Kakashi looked at his sleeping wife and hesitated whether he should wait until tomorrow to tell Hikari about Kurenai.
"Why are you back so late?"
Still groggy from sleep, Hikari instinctively rolled over and gently took Kakashi's hand, speaking half-awake.
"Kurenai is pregnant."
Kakashi hesitated for a moment, but figuring that Hikari would have to face this sooner or later anyway, he spoke quite bluntly.
"Hmm?"
"If she's pregnant, she's pregnant~"
"It's not like..."
Hikari hadn't fully processed it yet. She was still acting spoiled in her daze, but then the realization hit her instantly.
"It's yours!"
Hikari bolted upright in bed, staring at Kakashi with a look of disbelief and gritted teeth.
"Yeah, it's mine. This..."
Kakashi had originally intended to talk it out properly and give her a sincere apology.
"You jerk!"
Hikari shoved Kakashi down onto the bed and pounced on him.
"Calm... calm down. After all..."
Cold sweat broke out on Kakashi as he looked at the lioness-like Hikari before him, instinctively trying to make excuses for Kurenai.
If someone had to be blamed, let it be him.
"Who exactly is your wife?!"
"I'm not even pregnant yet, and that slut is already pregnant!"
Hikari had known about the history between Kakashi and Kurenai before they got married, but she had never said anything.
In her eyes, it was actually surprising that someone like Kakashi—who basically controlled the entire country—only had Kurenai besides his wife.
But...
She was the wife! The primary wife!
The fact that Kurenai had beaten her to the punch was the truly unforgivable part.
"How about... we bring Kurenai over tomorrow?"
Kakashi spoke cautiously as he watched the fuming Hikari.
"You still dare to say that!"
"I don't care!"
"I want a child too!"
Hikari grabbed Kakashi's collar and shook him violently.
"Lower your voice, Naruto is still sleeping..."
Kakashi spoke with a lack of confidence.
However, Hikari's eyes narrowed, and her hands moved with lightning speed. A silencing barrier was instantly erected.
She had been in Meeting Room No. 3 for the past few days. Although the bulk of the work was done by Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi, she had learned through osmosis. Her efficiency in learning Sealing Jutsu and Barrier Jutsu was staggering.
A basic silencing barrier like this was child's play for her.
"I don't care!"
"Quickly, give me Ichigo!"
At that moment, Hikari still remembered the name Kakashi had once picked for a son.
It had just been a casual comment from Kakashi, but Hikari had kept it close to her heart.
The Next Day
Kakashi arrived at the Hokage Building looking as composed as usual.
Yesterday, after Hikari found out about Kurenai's pregnancy, she was angry to the extreme. In her fury, she had nearly drained Kakashi dry.
Compared to Kakashi, whose face was slightly pale, Hikari—who followed behind him huffily—was practically glowing with vitality.
She had decided.
Until she was pregnant, she would never let Kakashi get near that little vixen Kurenai Yuhi again!
No!
That woman would be changing her last name to Hatake, just like her!
Thinking of this, Hikari, whose teeth were clenched, couldn't help but tighten her grip on Kakashi's hand.
Feeling the force on his palm, Kakashi was in a state of "painful bliss."
Although the situation with Kurenai was technically resolved, it seemed Hikari wouldn't rest until she was pregnant herself.
It looked like he'd have to find Guy to train his Taijutsu soon.
Thinking this, Kakashi patted the head of Hikari, who looked like she wanted to bite him to death, and whispered, "Go to the meeting room first. I'll be there in a bit."
"No!"
"What if you pull another vanishing act?!"
Hikari glared at Kakashi fiercely, refusing to let him out of her sight.
"Then what about moving Kurenai's things?"
Kakashi asked hesitantly.
"Do you really need to do that yourself?"
"Isn't one word from you enough?"
Seeing Hikari's attitude, Kakashi naturally followed her lead. Since he had already decided to let Kurenai move into the house, there was no need to keep it hidden.
"Hayate."
Kakashi spoke softly.
"Hokage-sama."
Hayate Gekko appeared, standing by for orders.
"I'll have to trouble you."
"Understood!"
Hayate Gekko vanished instantly.
He had overheard the conversation between Kakashi and Hikari from beginning to end.
Regarding the matter with Kurenai, he was essentially the only "insider." After all, as the Hokage's personal Anbu guard, Kakashi hadn't kept many things secret from him.
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