Even before dinner, Uzumaki Kasui had already noticed that Kushina seemed to have ulterior motives.
From the very beginning, she looked like she had something she wanted to say to her, but for some reason couldn't say it.
So she suggested leaving, and after coaxing Karin back into her room, she secretly hid beneath the window and observed from the shadows.
She wanted to see what would happen afterward.
She never expected to witness such a shocking scene.
She didn't know whether Aoba-kun had noticed her peeking, but that was no longer important, because she had already seen it.
After taking several deep breaths, Uzumaki Kasui finally managed to calm the violently heaving rise and fall of her chest.
"So Mikoto and Aoba-kun are already in that kind of relationship too…"
Uzumaki Kasui silently pulled the curtain gap shut, then stood up from beneath the window and lay down on the soft, comfortable bed.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
———
On the other side.
Aoba had originally planned to accompany Uchiha Mikoto on a walk all the way back to the Uchiha clan compound.
But when they passed through the commercial street, she directly pulled him into a nearby inn and opened an hourly room. Her purpose was already self-evident.
Of course, this wasn't because Uchiha Mikoto couldn't wait or anything like that.
Although she was indeed in the phase of having tasted the marrow and craving more, with relatively strong needs, as an elder she was still fairly reserved in most situations.
It was just that normally Aoba only went over around bedtime.
And now it was still early, plus Sasuke was at home. If they ran into him later, it would definitely be awkward.
So it was better to go back later.
And as night deepened, the scene shifted.
Aoba appeared in Uchiha Mikoto's bedroom, carrying her limp, boneless body in his arms.
They had already bathed together at the inn, and even changed into sleepwear.
Aoba gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in, "Aunt Mikoto, get some good rest. I'll head back now."
"Mmm…"
Uchiha Mikoto didn't forget to lightly peck his cheek before curling up and falling asleep.
Taking the opportunity, Aoba pinched her cheek, then left the bedroom.
———
Sasuke was sitting in the living room at the moment. He was actually quite curious about what Aoba was doing now.
But just as he stepped down the stairs, several shuriken flew straight at him.
His reaction wasn't slow at all. With a simple lift of his hand, he caught all the shuriken in midair.
Before he could ask anything, Sasuke's voice rang out first.
"So it was you. I thought it was some thief."
Hearing the thick disappointment in that voice, the corner of Aoba's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
This guy was probably disappointed that all the attacks had been blocked.
Did this count as an alternative kind of "a kind father and a filial son"?
He tossed the shuriken back to Sasuke. After catching them, Sasuke resumed wiping them down.
He had been cleaning ninja tools just now.
Shuriken and similar ninja tools were consumables, but since there hadn't been any commissions recently, they still needed some maintenance.
"Do you need something?", Sasuke asked while wiping the shuriken.
Aoba shrugged, "I just came out to tell you that Aunt Mikoto is already asleep. When you walk around, remember to keep it quiet."
'This is my house!'
As soon as Sasuke heard that, several black lines appeared on his already cold face. Still, he restrained himself well and shot Aoba a cold glance.
"I know!"
"Mm, as long as you know. Then I'll head back."
Aoba was about to use Flying Thunder God to go home, but after a brief hesitation, Sasuke still called out to him.
"Wait. There's something I want to ask you."
Aoba stopped and looked puzzled, "What is it?"
"…"
After a moment of silence, Sasuke went straight to the point.
"Do you know about the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"The Mangekyo Sharingan? You're in a hurry, huh," Aoba raised an eyebrow.
"This isn't being in a hurry."
Sasuke said through clenched teeth, "It's that my strength has already reached a bottleneck, but that guy Naruto is still improving nonstop."
Everything he could learn, he had already learned. Even the three-tomoe Sharingan seemed to have reached its limit, yet he still couldn't beat Naruto. The gap between them even felt like it was getting wider and wider.
Hearing this, Aoba couldn't help but fall into thought.
Naruto being able to suppress Sasuke right now was because of long-term training in the Eight Gates, plus the Nine-Tails' chakra he was gradually mastering.
If Sasuke wanted to catch up, the best method really was the Mangekyo.
It was just that Uchiha Itachi already had plans in place. He didn't know whether intervening would affect them. Still, he asked.
"What do you want to know?"
"I want to know how to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan."
A sharp light immediately flashed in Sasuke's eyes. Aoba really did know information about the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Aoba, however, was a bit surprised, "Didn't Aunt Mikoto tell you?"
Sasuke shook his head, "I asked, but Mom said she didn't know either."
Aoba frowned. Uchiha Mikoto was now the head of the Uchiha clan. There was no way she didn't know.
Most likely, it was because Sasuke's pursuit of power was too intense right now, and Uchiha Mikoto was worried he would do something foolish if he knew.
But another doubt arose in his mind, "Then how did you know about the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
He hadn't mentioned it, and Uchiha Mikoto didn't want him to know. So where did Sasuke learn about the Mangekyo Sharingan?
"I asked Kakashi. His Sharingan is different from mine. It has power that I don't have," Sasuke answered honestly.
Aoba immediately understood, and a thought formed in his mind.
Although Uchiha Mikoto worried that Sasuke would do something reckless for the sake of power and thus hadn't told him the details, advancing to the Mangekyo Sharingan didn't actually require going to such extremes.
This was also recorded in Boruto.
"You really want to know the method to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?", Aoba's expression became more serious.
Seeing his look, Sasuke also straightened up, his expression exceptionally firm.
"I want to know."
"Then I'll explain it briefly to you…"
Aoba explained the conventional method for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan. It sounded like a lot, but in the end it could really be summed up in one sentence.
The evolution of the Sharingan required intense emotional stimulation.
After hearing this, Sasuke fell silent, but he quickly thought of Uchiha Itachi.
'Was Itachi killing their father back then for the sake of those eyes?'
Sasuke seemed to have an epiphany.
What Itachi pursued was emotional stimulation.
But that didn't align with his own beliefs. He hadn't yet reached the point of going mad for power.
"Isn't there another way?"
"Why do you ask?", Aoba was a bit surprised.
"Instinct," Sasuke said calmly.
If awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan really only had this one method, the other party probably wouldn't have told him.
He would have kept silent like his mother.
And he didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt like the other party was holding back a laugh.
"Not bad."
Aoba nodded expressionlessly, "The Mangekyo Sharingan requires intense emotional stimulation."
"And intense negative emotions are often easier to create, so this can only be considered a shortcut."
"Then what's the other method that isn't a shortcut?", Sasuke asked impatiently.
Aoba hesitated, face taut, "How should I put it… the other method also involves creating negative emotions, but intense negative emotions aren't limited to killing your own close friends or family…"
"..."
"Can you hurry up and say it?"
Seeing him still dragging it out, Sasuke was getting anxious.
Hearing this, Aoba finally couldn't suppress the playful curve at the corner of his mouth any longer. With a half-smile, he said, "Sasuke, Aunt Mikoto and I have been together for quite a while now."
"What are you trying to say?"
Sasuke frowned slightly, not understanding why the topic suddenly shifted.
"I'm saying, why don't you try calling me 'Dad' once?"
Crack!
Sasuke clenched his fist instantly. The three tomoe appeared in his eyes and began spinning rapidly.
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