Chapter 292: The Perfect Trap
Malik stood before the mirror in the bathroom, studying himself with the careful eyes of a man who had just survived three full days of Rock Lee's idea of bonding time.
His smooth milk-chocolate skin glowed from the shower's steam, his body sore in places he didn't even know could be sore, and he sighed as he ran a hand over his chubby stomach, pressing his palm against it like he was checking to see if it was still there.
It was.
But it was smaller.
"My women are making me lose weight," Malik muttered, his voice carrying both amusement and sorrow.
He wasn't even mad at them—not really.
They didn't do it on purpose.
It was just their lifestyles, their routines, the way they pulled him into their worlds of physical excellence while he just wanted to sit somewhere comfortable and look pretty.
"I miss how big and soft I used to be," he murmured, pinching the side of his stomach lightly, as if testing how much softness remained.
Thankfully, there was still a good amount of chubby left—and for that, he was grateful.
Malik left the bathroom, his bare feet moving lightly over the polished floors of his private wing, the lingering soreness in his muscles making every step feel like an accomplishment.
And then—
He saw her.
In one of the sitting rooms, stretched across a large plush couch, was Shisui, his Uchiha wife, looking effortlessly stunning while reading a book.
She wore dark green shorts and a comfy sleep shirt, casual yet utterly perfect, her toenails and fingernails painted a deep green, her lipstick a matching shade, her eyeliner sharp yet soft, blending with whatever subtle makeup she had applied to enhance her already flawless features.
Malik paused, his gold-and-pink eyes narrowing slightly, immediately suspicious.
Because Shisui?
She didn't wear makeup unless they were going out somewhere special.
And yet—here she was, effortlessly gorgeous, for no reason at all.
Malik tilted his head, recognizing the trap before him.
Shisui was a master strategist, an elite kunoichi, a woman whose beauty and intelligence came with a dangerous level of precision.
"I know what you're doing," Malik muttered, shaking his head at her.
Shisui, not even looking up from her book, simply raised a delicate eyebrow, as if challenging him to explain himself.
Analyzing the Situation, Malik processed the details quickly, turning the possibilities over in his head.
"What is my perfect Uchiha wife doing here?"
A woman like Shisui didn't simply lounge in shared spaces for no reason.
She was a ninja—if she wanted privacy, she could get it instantly, disappearing into the infinite corners of their magic mansion, avoiding him entirely if she really wanted to be alone.
And yet—
Here she was.
Looking perfect, on a large sofa, clearly prepared for interaction, covered in green—their favorite color.
Malik exhaled slowly, grinning faintly, because he saw it now.
"You want to spend time with me," Malik said, stepping closer, his tone accusatory but amused.
Shisui rolled her eyes, finally lifting her gaze from her book.
"Can I not enjoy some private reading time in my own home?" she asked, her voice calm yet sharp, her black eyes holding amusement beneath the surface.
"Or does my spoiled husband want to ask for my attention?"
Malik snorted, walking toward her, still analyzing every detail.
She didn't move.
She didn't adjust her posture.
She didn't even blink excessively—just flipped a page in her book, as if Malik's presence was nothing more than an inevitable inconvenience rather than the true purpose behind her elaborate setup.
"Sui-Sui," Malik murmured, his voice dripping with suspicion, "you are literally a ninja. If you wanted to be alone, you would be. And look at you—looking perfect for no reason, reading casually, stretched across a ridiculously comfortable sofa."
Shisui barely tilted her chin, an expression of pure indifference settling across her face.
"And?"
Malik smirked.
"And I think you want plenty of cuddle time," he accused softly.
"Do you now?" Shisui mused, turning another page in her book without looking at him.
"Wearing green…" Malik continued, narrowing his eyes, "you do know that green is both of our favorite color."
Shisui huffed quietly, an incredibly subtle smirk flickering across her lips before she masked it effortlessly.
"So now I am choosing colors just to appeal to my needy husband?" she asked, amusement leaking into her voice.
Malik sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair.
"You are playing mind games again."
Shisui raised an eyebrow, fake confusion coating her expression.
"Am I?"
Malik groaned loudly, rubbing his temples.
"Yes. Yes, you are."
It was a losing battle.
Shisui was too good at this game—a master at manipulation, a woman who could twist reality itself to make it seem like Malik was the one begging for attention, rather than the other way around.
And so—
Malik finally sank into the sofa, exhaling heavily as he leaned against her, stretching his legs across the soft cushion, his head falling against her shoulder.
"You spoil me too much," he muttered.
Shisui finally closed her book, placing it away, shifting herself to settle perfectly against him as victory warmed her posture.
"I do," she admitted softly.
Malik sighed deeply, wrapping an arm around her, accepting defeat, his energy fully melted into the comfort of her presence.
And Shisui?
She simply smirked to herself, pulling him closer, finally resting as the battle ended—her win fully secured.
As Shisui pulled Malik closer to her, holding him tight, their bodies close, Malik couldn't resist the allure of her warmth. Malik's head slid between her very large and soft breasts, happy that she wasn't wearing a bra. The absence of any barrier allowed him to fully appreciate her bosom's softness and warmth.
Gently, he began to fondle her breasts over her tight sleeping shirt, savoring the sensation of their weight and fullness in his hands. The fabric of her shirt was thin, offering little resistance as his fingers traced the curves and contours of her body, his hands gently squeezing and releasing her flesh.
Shisui, ever the tease, couldn't let this moment pass without a comment. Shisui's eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Malik's face, his eyes closed in bliss as he touched her. "You're so predictable," she teased, her voice low and husky.
"You can't even resist touching my boobs, can you?"
Malik's response was a gentle murmur, his hands never stopping their gentle caress. "I'm just appreciating the view," he muttered, his voice muffled by her breasts.
Shisui chuckled, her body shaking slightly as she held him close. "The view?" she repeated, her voice dripping with amusement.
"You mean the view of my breasts?"
Malik's hands stilled for a moment, before he resumed his gentle fondling. "Maybe," he admitted, his voice low and sheepish.
Shisui's laughter was soft and gentle, her body relaxing as she held Malik close. "I don't mind," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I actually like it when you touch me like this."
As they sat there, enjoying each other's company, the silence between them was comfortable and relaxed. Malik's hands continued to fondle Shisui's breasts, his touch gentle and soothing. Shisui's eyes closed, her body sinking into the couch as she let out a soft sigh.
But as the minutes passed, Shisui began to realize that Malik's touch had stopped. She opened her eyes, looking down at him, and saw that his head was still nestled between her breasts, but his body was relaxed, his hands limp at his sides.
She smiled to herself, realizing that he had fallen asleep, most likely awhile ago. She held him close, her body wrapped around his, as she felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She had been waiting for this moment, waiting for Malik to relax and let go of his tension.
As she held him, she felt her own body begin to relax, her muscles releasing their tension as she let out a soft sigh. She wasn't fully asleep, but she was comfortable, her body resting in the silence of the moment.
The room was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the magic air conditioning, as Shisui held Malik close, feeling his warm body against hers. She closed her eyes, letting her own body sink into the couch, as she felt a sense of peace wash over her.
As she rested, she couldn't help but think about how much Malik had changed recently. He slept a lot more often now, his body exhausted from the constant demands of his incubus powers.
She had noticed it first a few weeks ago, when he would fall asleep in the middle of conversations, or while they were watching a movie together in their private theater.
At first, she had been worried, thinking that something was wrong with him. But as the days passed, she realized that it was just his body's way of coping with the demands of his powers.
He was still the same Malik, still the same charming and flirtatious man-child who had captured her heart.
But as she held him close, she couldn't help but feel a sense of concern. She knew that his powers were growing stronger, that he was becoming more and more powerful with each passing day.
And she knew that it was only a matter of time before he would have to face the consequences of his actions.
= A good amount of time Later =
Despite the quiet stillness of the mansion's private wing, Shisui was not asleep.
She looked it—her posture relaxed, her arms loosely wrapped around Malik's sleeping form, her dark eyes half-lidded as if she had surrendered to exhaustion as well—
But she heard everything.
The footsteps were light, calculated—a shinobi's step, moving deliberately through the vast halls, unseen but never unnoticed.
Only someone truly skilled could even attempt to enter this part of the mansion, and Shisui instantly recognized that whoever approached had to be—
One of hers.
A Root operative.
A trusted ninja who worked both within the secret network she maintained and here, within the endless space of Malik's magic-infused home.
Which meant—
This was important.
The Arrival of the Messenger, The female ninja materialized before Shisui with elegant precision, her black-and-gray uniform blending effortlessly with the now dim lighting of the sitting room.
She hesitated upon seeing Malik—completely snuggled up against Shisui, his face pressed to the curve of her shoulder like his entire existence depended on it, utterly knocked out cold from exhaustion.
The operative lowered her head slightly, offering a quiet apology.
"Forgive my interruption, Lady Shisui," she murmured, her voice steady yet respectful.
She held out a sealed letter, wrapped in official markings, bearing the insignia of The Land of Snow.
Shisui took it without hesitation, nodding once.
And with that—
The ninja vanished, disappearing in a blur of movement.
There was no reason to wait, no point in delaying curiosity.
Shisui broke the seal, unfolding the parchment smoothly, her sharp black eyes scanning the contents without hesitation.
It was from Haku Yuki, one of Malik's fiancées in The Land of Snow.
His handwriting was fluid, precise, unrushed yet unmistakably urgent.
The letter read—
Malik,
I hope this message finds you well.
It has been too long, my friend, and I must ask that you come to see me soon. There are matters I would prefer to discuss in person—matters of importance, ones that should not be spoken through ink and paper alone.
Additionally, this letter serves as a summons.
The Daimyō of The Land of Snow, Lady Koyuki Kazahana, has requested your presence. She has matters she wishes to address with you privately. You will find that this meeting is necessary.
Please come as soon as you are able.
Haku Yuki
Shisui exhaled slowly, rolling the weight of the message over in her mind.
Haku was not someone who summoned Malik frivolously—if he needed Malik's presence, it meant the matters at hand were significant, not idle chatter, not personal longing for his company.
And Koyuki Kazahana—the daimyo herself—wanting a private conversation?
That meant politics.
Politics meant opportunities.
Politics meant threats.
Politics meant potential chaos.
Shisui ran a hand through Malik's dark curls, still processing the message.
"It seems you have another journey ahead of you, love," she murmured, knowing full well he couldn't hear her right now.
But he would.
Soon.
And Shisui would make sure he went fully prepared.