Chapter 28: Chapter 28
Mikoto's face burned, but she didn't let herself react. Instead, she stood, smoothing out her clothes, forcing her hands to stop trembling. "There won't be a next time."
Souta leaned back on his hands, watching her with lazy amusement. "If that helps you sleep at night."
...
Mikoto stood in front of her bedroom mirror, fingers hovering over the faint mark on her neck. Her heart gave a sharp, nervous thud as she tilted her head slightly, letting the light catch the barely visible love bite Souta had left behind.
Her face flushed instantly.
It wasn't deep, wasn't something glaringly obvious, but she could feel it. She knew it was there. And if she wasn't careful, someone else might notice, too.
Taking a slow breath, Mikoto steadied herself. This was dangerous. Reckless. She had let things go too far. Yet, even now, she could still feel the warmth of his touch, the way his lips had lingered just long enough to make her knees weak.
With swift hands, she pulled at the collar of her kimono, adjusting it perfectly to hide the mark. She would act normal. No one would suspect a thing. She had to be careful, especially around Fugaku.
A soft knock at the door startled her.
"Mother?" a small voice called.
Mikoto's breath hitched, but she quickly composed herself. "Come in, Itachi."
The door slid open, and a small boy with dark eyes stepped inside, his expression calm yet observant as always.
"I was looking for you," he said. "Father wants to speak with you."
Mikoto nodded, forcing a warm smile. "Thank you, Itachi. I'll be there soon."
Itachi hesitated for a moment, his sharp eyes scanning her face, and Mikoto resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably. He was perceptive—too perceptive for a child his age. But after a second, he simply gave a small nod and left the room.
---
Later that evening, Mikoto sat with Fugaku, listening as he spoke about clan matters. His voice was deep, firm, carrying the weight of responsibility as always.
"The elders have been discussing potential alliances," he said, his arms crossed. "There's pressure for us to strengthen our standing within the village."
Mikoto listened carefully, nodding in all the right places, but her mind was elsewhere.
She could still feel the sensation of Souta's touch. The way his hands had rested on her hips, the teasing confidence in his voice.
Focus, she scolded herself.
Fugaku glanced at her, his sharp gaze assessing. "You seem distracted."
Mikoto met his eyes and smiled softly, shaking her head. "Just thinking."
He studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "Itachi is progressing well in his training. The boy is exceptional."
A genuine warmth filled her chest at the mention of her son. "He is," she agreed. "He's special."
The conversation shifted back to clan matters, but Mikoto's thoughts remained divided. She had built her life within these walls, devoted herself to her family, and yet…
...
Souta lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling of his house. It was Sunday, meaning the tea shop was closed, and he had the entire day to himself. But instead of relaxation, his mind was occupied by the glowing system screen hovering before him.
[Mikoto 91%]
[Since the progress of Mikoto has surpassed 90%, an ability will be granted early due to the host's dissatisfaction with the system.]
[Hidden System Quest: The Bonds That Bind]
Objective: Within two years, create a bond so strong with Mikoto Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki, and the mother of Hinata Hyūga that they would willingly leave their lives behind for you.
Completed: Mikoto -
Ability Unlocked: Kōtengan (Imperial Eye of Subjugation)
A golden Dōjutsu that grants the power to manipulate a target's existence, breaking their fundamental abilities. However, its full potential can only be unleashed when Mikoto is nearby.
Key Features:
- Bloodline Collapse: Can suppress and eventually erase Kekkei Genkai, rendering shinobi powerless. Mikoto can assist in controlling or reversing the effect.
- Chakra Collapse: Drains a target's chakra into another dimension, leaving them permanently weakened. The effect intensifies when Mikoto is nearby.
- Daikokuten – The Abyssal Coffin: Allows Souta to store objects and even suspend attacks in frozen time. Requires Mikoto's presence to stabilize the space.
Souta sat up, gripping his forehead as a dull pain spread behind his eyes. His reflection in the window revealed a golden, ominous pattern in his irises.
His breathing grew uneven as he stared at his own reflection. "How... how can the system give me something like this?" he muttered under his breath.
He had expected an ability, but this? This was beyond reason. A power capable of breaking bloodlines, draining chakra, and distorting reality itself—abilities that could cripple even the strongest shinobi. It was overwhelming. Unreal.
His hands trembled slightly as he clenched them into fists. "Is this real?" he whispered.
"Now i feel safe"He muttured
Souta sat there, still staring at the system screen. The ability he just got—Kōtengan—was insane. Breaking bloodlines? Draining chakra? Storing attacks? This wasn't just some minor power boost. This was something that could shake the entire shinobi world.
And the fact that it only reached its full potential when Mikoto was nearby… that meant the system was pushing him toward her even more.
But now, there was another issue. Hinata's mother.
Unlike Mikoto and Kushina, he barely knew her. He had only seen her once, and after that, nothing. How was he supposed to form a strong enough bond to make her leave everything behind?
First, he needed to meet her again. That was the biggest problem—he had no idea how.
But before dealing with that, he had something important to do.