A soft dusk settled over the streets of Hidden Cloud Village as lanterns flickered to life one by one, painting warm circles of light on the cobblestones. Neji Hyūga walked beside Mikoto Uchiha, their steps unhurried, the quiet between them a comfortable counterpoint to the lively chatter of evening crowds. The month since their first political meeting had passed in a blur of negotiations and letters, yet tonight promised a different sort of conversation.
Ahead, the crimson sign of the Red Leaf Izakaya glowed like an ember. Mikoto paused for half a breath, studying the cheerful bustle within. Funds were tighter than she cared to admit, and a thriving izakaya rarely came cheap. Still, she followed Neji to the entrance.
"Private room on the second floor?" the hostess asked with a courteous bow.
Mikoto hesitated. "The first floor would be fine—"
"A private room," Neji said smoothly, his voice polite but decisive. "It will be quieter."
He looked as though he was offering her a choice, but Mikoto could tell the decision was already made. She allowed a faint smile and inclined her head. "All right."
The hostess led them upstairs, sliding open the shoji door of a small room framed in cedar and paper lantern light. Tatami mats spread beneath a low table set with pristine chopsticks. After a final bow, the hostess withdrew.
Neji slipped off his shoes and glanced at Mikoto. "Please, take a seat. You'll be more comfortable without the shoes."
Startled from her thoughts, Mikoto flushed lightly and hurried to unfasten her sandals. The evening chill of Hidden Cloud seeped through the paper walls, and she was grateful for the fleece-lined leggings beneath her simple kimono. She crossed to the opposite cushion, black-socked feet brushing the tatami.
For a moment they sat in companionable quiet. Neji's pale eyes reflected the lantern glow, calm and searching. Mikoto lifted the menu but found herself studying him instead: the composed posture, the measured stillness unusual in someone so young. He was only a year older than Sasuke. Yet the gravity in his bearing made him seem decades her senior.
She shook off the thought and scanned the menu. Prices confirmed her suspicion—this place was expensive. To spare his wallet, she chose only two modest dishes before sliding the card toward him. "I'll let you decide the rest."
Neji glanced at her small selection and offered a faint, knowing smile before adding several more substantial plates. "Would you care for a drink? Just a little sake, perhaps."
"I shouldn't," Mikoto began, thinking of the early morning ahead and the meal she planned for Sasuke. But the gentle curve of Neji's smile made refusal feel overly stiff. "A small glass, then. Sake can be…comforting."
His eyes glimmered with mild amusement. "So you do enjoy it?"
"Occasionally," she admitted, voice soft. "It helps me sleep."
"Then we'll share a toast," he said, setting the order aside.
When the hostess returned with a tray of steaming dishes and a small flask of sake, the room filled with the inviting aroma of grilled fish and miso. Neji poured for her first, a courtesy that made Mikoto's cheeks warm more than the alcohol itself. They ate slowly, savoring each bite, the quiet broken only by the clink of chopsticks.
After her second small sip, Mikoto set down the cup. "Neji-kun," she said, formal but gentle, "the Uchiha elders have agreed to the marriage alliance. I give my consent as well."
"I know," he replied simply, meeting her gaze with serene certainty. "Your demeanor told me long before your words did."
The steadiness of his eyes made her heartbeat quicken. "I do have a few requests," she added carefully.
"Of course." He poured another measure of sake and waited.
"First, Sasuke must be protected. He is still young. This arrangement cannot harm him."
Neji's expression grew thoughtful. "That may be challenging. The alliance exists partly to reassure other clans and to prevent past mistakes from repeating. But…" He inclined his head. "We can keep the details from becoming public. Sasuke need not know until the time is right."
Relief softened her shoulders. "Thank you. I would prefer the matter remain within the highest ranks."
"That can be managed," Neji said. "The Raikage's authority will ensure discretion."
Mikoto exhaled. "My second request concerns…us. You are young, Neji-kun. We should proceed at a pace we both choose—no obligations pressed upon either side."
A small, approving smile touched his lips. "I agree. Whatever path we walk, it will be because we both wish it."
The simplicity of his answer eased a tension she hadn't realized she carried. They fell into silence again, the quiet now tinged with something warmer.
Neji broke it softly. "Mikoto-sama, there is one matter I should raise. Your eyes…you have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, haven't you?"
Her breath caught. "How did you—?"
"The surge in your chakra during the Waterfall mission was unmistakable," he said, voice low but even. "Few would notice, but the Byakugan sees such changes clearly."
Mikoto lowered her gaze, then gave a single, reluctant nod.
"Please be cautious," Neji advised. "Your Mangekyō is powerful but dangerous if revealed. Even your own clan may react unpredictably."
"I understand," she murmured. "I have kept it secret for that reason."
They spoke for a while longer of strategy and subtle safeguards, their conversation weaving seamlessly between politics and quiet personal admissions. Outside, the night deepened; the lantern light grew softer, more intimate.
When at last they rose, the moon rode high and silver in the sky. Neji called a carriage and offered his arm as they stepped into the cool air. Mikoto accepted, the warmth of his sleeve steadying her against the faint haze of sake.
The ride to the Uchiha residence passed in peaceful near-silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic creak of wheels. Mikoto's eyelids fluttered; the drink left her pleasantly drowsy but not disoriented. When they arrived, Neji helped her down, his touch light and respectful.
"Thank you for tonight," she said, pausing at the gate. "It…meant more than I expected."
"I should be the one thanking you," he replied, bowing slightly. "Your trust honors me."
A quiet moment lingered between them, filled with unspoken possibility. Mikoto felt the faint pull of his presence, a gravity that surprised her with its gentleness. Yet both of them knew the boundary they would not cross—at least not tonight.
"Good night, Neji-kun," she said at last.
"Good night, Mikoto-sama." His voice was calm, but there was a warmth in it that stayed with her as she slipped inside.
Neji watched the door close before turning back toward the waiting carriage. The moonlight stretched their shadows long across the empty street, a silent promise of choices yet to come.
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