MTLNOVEL Chapter 23: Chapter 23
She could still feel his touch on her wrist. It was frustrating how easily he slipped into her thoughts, how he seemed to know exactly how to get under her skin.
Mikoto stood near the entrance of the Uchiha compound, the evening air crisp against her skin. The training grounds stretched beyond her, where a few younger clansmen were still practicing under the dimming sky. She had come here for clarity, for focus—but instead, her mind betrayed her.
"Mikoto?"
Fugaku's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She straightened slightly, clearing her throat. "Yes?"
He eyed her for a moment before continuing. "I was saying we need to monitor the border patrols more carefully. The tension between clans is shifting again."
"Of course." Mikoto nodded, ignoring the way her pulse had quickened unnecessarily at the interruption. She needed to focus.
Later that day, she visited the tea shop again. Kushina was already there, animatedly talking to Souta about something he seemed only mildly interested in. The moment Mikoto stepped inside, Kushina's gaze flickered to her, sharp with curiosity.
"You're late," Kushina teased, grinning. "Didn't take you for someone who overslept."
Mikoto scoffed lightly, shaking her head. "I was busy."
Souta smirked as he set down a cup of tea in front of her without being asked. "Busy thinking, maybe."
Mikoto met his gaze, unamused. "You assume too much."
"And yet," he mused, "I'm often right."
As the day passed, Mikoto found herself more aware of Souta's presence than ever before. His voice, his movements, the way he always seemed to be waiting for her reaction. It was maddening.
But even more maddening was the fact that she couldn't seem to stop noticing.
That night, she didn't go to the river. She refused to give in to habit, refused to let him think he had that kind of pull over her.
Instead, she stayed home.
Mikoto sat in a dimly lit room within the Uchiha compound, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had long gone cold. The warmth had faded, much like the resolve she had convinced herself she possessed. The conversation with Souta echoed in her mind, his words slipping through the cracks of her carefully built defenses.
It was dangerous—what was happening between them.
More dangerous than she had allowed herself to acknowledge.
She was an Uchiha. A wife. A mother. A pillar of the clan's pride and honor. And yet, in those moments with Souta, she felt something she hadn't in years—something she refused to name.
If this continued, if anyone found out…
Her throat tightened. The shame that would fall upon the Uchiha clan would be unforgivable. Fugaku's reputation, their children's future—it would all be shattered. And Souta… his life wouldn't just be in danger. The Uchiha did not forgive betrayal, and the idea of what could happen to him was enough to send a chill through her.
She couldn't let this happen.
She wouldn't let this happen.
That night, she made her decision.
The next day, Mikoto didn't go to the tea shop. She didn't pass by his street. She didn't allow herself to linger near the river where she had seen him last.
She forced herself to stay within the confines of the Uchiha compound, to focus on her duties, to push him out of her mind. But it was harder than she expected. Her thoughts betrayed her at every turn—the sound of a door creaking open made her glance up, expecting to see him. The scent of freshly brewed tea stirred something inside her. Even Kushina's offhand remarks about him made her grip her cup a little tighter.
It was suffocating.
That night, she stood outside, staring at the moonlit sky. Her heart felt heavy, burdened by the weight of an unspoken truth. She wanted to tell herself that it was over, that she had made the right choice.
But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple.
Because the ache in her chest told her otherwise.
...
Souta leaned back against the counter, arms crossed as he watched Mikoto leave. He knew. She was trying to run.
If she wouldn't come to him, then he would go to her.
His mind raced. The Uchiha compound was one of the most heavily guarded places in Konoha, especially the house of the clan's patriarch. Walking in unnoticed was impossible. Even if he somehow made it inside, staying undetected was another issue entirely. But he didn't care. He had already decided—he would see her again, no matter the risk.
'System,' he thought. 'I need a way to enter the Uchiha compound without being caught.'
[Since this action aligns with your mission, assistance will be provided.]
A small, silver ring materialized before him, hovering in the air. Souta reached out, plucking it between his fingers. It felt cool, unnaturally light.
[Stealth Ring: Grants complete invisibility when worn. Effect lasts until the user returns to their original location. One-time use.]
Souta turned the ring in his fingers, a smirk playing at his lips. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If Mikoto wanted to avoid him, she'd have to do a lot more than simply stay away—he wasn't the type to back down.
Sliding the ring onto his finger, he felt a strange sensation wash over him. The air around his body shimmered for a brief moment before settling, and when he looked down, his hands had vanished. A slow exhale left his lips. This was it.
Navigating his way to the Uchiha compound was the easy part. He timed it perfectly, waiting until Fugaku and Itachi had left on their respective duties. The only obstacles now were the occasional patrolling Uchiha, but his invisibility made them irrelevant.