(Hmph… Minako really got lucky today.)
When Uzumaki Minako and Uchiha Soren exchanged a glance, the teasing glimmer in her eyes made even the bitterness of his wellness tea feel sweeter.
(Tonight… no trip to the Otherworld. I should stay and properly "accompany" Minako.)
Just as that thought rose in Soren's mind, someone knocked on the door.
"Supreme Leader, your five disciples are currently in the Otherworld. They've joined Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy on an adventurer mission."
"What a group of troublesome brats."
Minako instantly forgot about studying the Shadow-Mirror Transformation Art. She turned sharply toward the messenger, ready to order their retrieval—but Soren stopped her with a calm voice.
"Minako, we knew this day would come the moment we let them leave Konoha."
Soren chuckled lightly.
"Other than Kato Dan, those four were never obedient children."
"But the Otherworld has True Dragon Kings!"
Minako's brows creased with worry.
"I'm afraid they'll see how weak humans are there and start acting recklessly. If they run into a True Dragon King—something disastrous could happen."
Soren waved a hand, utterly unbothered.
"Relax. True Dragon Kings aren't something they'll bump into by strolling around. And with Flying Thunder God on them, nothing fatal will happen."
He added with a faint smile:
"Besides, Sakumo and Duy are more than enough to handle anything the Otherworld throws at them."
The gentle reassurance eased Minako's tense breathing. Her brows smoothed out, and she nodded softly.
"If that's your judgment, Supreme Leader, I'm relieved."
But then her expression sharpened.
"Still—disobeying orders cannot go unpunished. We must teach them a lesson."
Soren's eyes brightened with amusement.
"Leave that to Lady Mito. Let her prepare… a journey of eighty-one tribulations in the Otherworld."
"That's… far too many."
Kaori, who had been observing calmly, chuckled.
"They're all trials. Once Tsunade and the others overcome them, each will stand on their own—and become the pillars of Konoha."
Minako exhaled and nodded.
"You're right."
Juno's insistent meowing quickly steered Minako back into explaining the structure and pitfalls of the Shadow-Mirror Art.
The big orange cat listened with rapt attention—its brown eyes sparkling with a rare scholarly gleam.
"First do this… then this… and at the end, that's the most important step."
"Meow understands!"
A few short explanations, and Juno felt enlightenment strike. Excitedly, she began laying out the spellwork across the spacious office.
"Darling… if Juno combines all our best traits, she'll turn out unimaginably beautiful, won't she?"
"No matter how beautiful, she'll never surpass my charming and adorable Kaori."
"You're always sweet-talking…"
Despite protesting, Kaori clearly enjoyed it. Then her gaze slid sideways—toward Minako, who was helping Juno arrange the runes.
The voluptuous kunoichi bent down in her dark business suit, her generous curves pushing at the buttons.
For any woman watching, the pressure radiating from that figure was hard to ignore.
"Darling… Minako's chest really is huge. You're not staring at her again, are you?"
(Not only staring—tonight, I plan on squeezing them too.)
Of course Soren only thought that. Saying it aloud would summon thunderous fists.
"I wasn't looking. In my heart, only Kaori's face makes my heart race."
"Hmph. When Juno completes the transformation art, you'll have two faces you like."
"Then… should Juno make adjustments?"
Kaori shook her head.
"Juno is part of our family. Treat her like a little sister—it'll be good for us."
But then her voice cooled.
"However… a little sister remains a sister. Don't repeat what happened with Mitsu. If you do… my fists won't be forgiving."
"Relax. No matter how pretty she becomes, she's still a cat. I may be hungry, but not hungry enough to eat a cat."
His mind flashed back to the Otherworld's Four Weapons team—exotic women and a seductive dancer.
The memory made something stir in his abdomen; his gaze toward Kaori grew more heated.
"Stop that. We still have work to do."
She recognized that look instantly—they were long past the stage of innocence.
After countless nights together, Kaori could read his intentions from a single breath.
Leaning close, Soren whispered in her ear:
"Kaori… your fertile period begins tomorrow. You must work hard."
"You really—don't say such things in a serious setting…"
Kaori's cheeks flushed crimson. She gently pushed him away.
"…but tomorrow, I won't disappoint you."
Meanwhile, with Minako's guidance, the Shadow-Mirror Art ritual was quickly finalized.
"Juno, it's ready. You can begin."
"Thank you, Lady Minako!"
Juno stepped into the center of the formation, circling excitedly before calming her breath.
She summoned her chakra.
A soft glow enveloped her furry body.
Before their eyes, the four-legged feline began reshaping—
→ a six-year-old human child
→ then older
→ and older
→ growing toward an adult silhouette…
(The first step toward becoming an invincible Cat Sage has begun!)
But before Juno could fully transform, her chakra ran dry.
The process stalled.
"Juno, stop for now."
Minako, sensing the strain, quickly intervened, modifying the array.
Until the transformation locks into a final form, it can still be canceled safely.
But Juno shook her head vigorously.
"Please, Lady Minako—let me try again! My chakra can't support long legs, but a smaller body type is fine!"
Minako hesitated, then looked toward Soren.
He answered simply:
"Let her try. If this technique fails her later, we'll simply create a better one."
His calm confidence steadied the room.
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