Uchiha Yashiro, being a master of copying himself, naturally understood what everyone meant.
With permission from his young master, Yashiro did not hold back. He demonstrated the complete Wind-Guiding Sword Style without concealment.
As the blade moved, chakra transformed into streams of green light that crisscrossed the training ground.
When the final form ended, cheers erupted from the crowd almost simultaneously.
Uchiha Fugaku—who naturally carried the aura of an elder brother within the clan—watched everything with quiet satisfaction.
The sun climbed higher.
By noon, the light turned the Naka River into a shimmering ribbon of broken gold.
Ancient trees lined the riverbanks, their branches intertwined, filtering mottled sunlight that swayed gently across the water's surface.
After a full morning of training, Uchiha Mikoto leaned lightly against the twisted roots of an old tree by the riverbank.
She tilted her head back slightly and closed her eyes, catching her breath.
Fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead and the pale curve of her neck, like morning dew resting on newly blooming petals.
Her clothes clung lightly to her body from perspiration, inadvertently outlining the youthful curves that had begun to quietly blossom.
Her shoulders and neck formed soft, graceful lines that flowed downward to a slender waist that could easily be grasped in one hand.
Even in rest, her posture retained the flexibility and latent strength unique to a ninja.
Mikoto bent forward gracefully.
Her slender fingers untied the laces of her ninja boots, her movements carrying the faint laziness that followed intense training.
When her feet were finally freed from the tight footwear and she removed her white socks—
Her delicate ankles, fair with a faint rosy tint, slipped into the clear river water.
The cool current immediately flowed over her skin.
Ripples spread outward, brushing gently against the elegant arch of her foot and her slender ankles.
The girl lightly swayed her feet, stirring small splashes.
The water caressed the firm lines of her calves.
Mikoto lifted her gaze toward the man who had just sat beside her.
But the moment she looked up—
She caught him staring.
His gaze drifted again and again toward her feet submerged in the water.
That slightly dazed, almost longing look made her cheeks flush instantly.
The memory of when he had caught her earlier—teasingly playing with her feet—flashed through her mind.
Even the tips of her ears grew warm.
Subconsciously, Mikoto tried to hide her feet.
But the clear river offered nowhere to conceal them.
The embarrassment of being watched seemed to flow along the water itself, reaching all the way to her toes.
Her ten pale jade-like toes curled shyly and tightened together.
Tiny ripples spread outward in the cool water.
The noon sunlight filtered through the branches overhead.
It illuminated Mikoto's faintly flushed cheeks even more clearly.
She unconsciously drew her legs slightly closer together, tensing the smooth lines of her calves as though that might somehow reduce her presence beneath his burning gaze.
Her breathing grew lighter.
Yet the rise and fall of her chest became even more noticeable because of it.
Finally, the embarrassment she could no longer hide escaped her lips as a trembling complaint.
Her eyelashes lowered as she avoided looking directly at the person beside her.
"You… bad person."
"What are you staring at?"
"At my lovely older sister."
Anlan answered without hesitation.
A low laugh lingered in his voice as he leaned closer again.
The blazing sunlight fell behind him, casting a shadow that almost completely enveloped Mikoto.
Ignoring her faint attempt to push him away, his warm lips pressed once more against her long, swan-like neck—
A neck already marked with faint strawberry-colored traces.
The kiss lingered.
For a long time.
Only after quite a while did Uchiha Anlan reluctantly pull away.
He loosened his hold slightly on the girl in his arms—who had already become soft and dazed from the teasing affection.
Glancing toward the nearby forest, he noticed Big Orange hurrying over with lunch.
So Anlan casually gave a light pat to the firm curve of Mikoto's waist and hips.
"Madam," he murmured softly.
"A cat is coming."
His warm breath brushed against her ear.
The tingling sensation mixed with the subtle touch of his hand.
Mikoto's lips parted slightly as a short gasp escaped her.
"Ah!"
But the reminder snapped her out of the haze like cool river water splashing across her thoughts.
Realizing she had been almost completely leaning against him—and that clan members might be nearby—
Her fair cheeks instantly turned red like sunset clouds.
She hurriedly pulled herself out of Anlan's arms.
Quickly, she straightened her slightly disordered clothes and smoothed her hair.
Then she looked up and glared at him.
Her beautiful eyes still glistened faintly with lingering moisture.
But rather than anger, it looked more like shy reproach.
She bit her lower lip lightly.
Part of her wanted to scold his boldness.
Yet after their intimate moment, she lacked the confidence to truly complain.
In the end, all that remained was a charming, embarrassed glance.
Anlan was about to tease her again—
When rustling suddenly sounded from the trees across the river.
Then a familiar voice came through the leaves.
"Young Master! Madam!"
"I'm here, meow!"
The bushes on the opposite bank shook.
A round orange figure suddenly leapt out.
Big Orange bounded across the river surface as though walking on solid ground.
Its fluffy paws touched the flowing water lightly, sending ripples outward as it dashed across in just a few steps.
"Huff… huff…"
It stopped beside them, panting heavily.
Its plump body rose and fell with each breath.
Clearly the sprint had exhausted it.
Yet its round cat eyes sparkled brightly as they darted eagerly between Anlan and Mikoto.
Behind it, its thick tail wagged so fast it almost created wind.
The chubby cat hurriedly pulled out a sealing scroll.
It pushed the lunch boxes forward before it had even finished catching its breath.
"Young Master—lunch!"
"Lunch is here, meow!"
Big Orange raised its face, smiling eagerly and ingratiatingly.
"Let's eat quickly!"
"And then… and then can we summon Ayan?"
That morning's sparring session with the silver-striped cat had frightened Big Orange terribly.
When it woke up from the genjutsu and realized Ayan hadn't truly abandoned it—
Its heart, which had been stuck in its throat, finally dropped back into its chest.
From that moment on, Big Orange had secretly resolved something.
During lunch today, it would show off its usefulness.
It would prove to Ayan that—
It was an indispensable and valuable ninja cat.
Hearing Big Orange call her "Madam,"
Mikoto's lips curved upward uncontrollably.
Her eyes bent into crescent moons.
She placed her hands behind her on the tree root, stretching her slender waist.
Then she lifted her jade-like feet from the cool river water.
Drops of water fell from her pale toes like strings of broken pearls.
Each droplet sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight.
They rolled down the graceful arch of her foot and slender ankle before falling back into the river.
Golden ripples spread across the water once more.
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