Chapter 42

The child, running carefree on the road, bumped headfirst into the black-haired girl without even realizing it.

Xue squatted down and looked at the child who had bumped into her and taken a few steps back before sitting on the ground.

The child had short, frizzy black hair and red inverted triangle markings on his face.

It makes it easy to identify which family a child belongs to.

He must be the eldest son of the Inuzuka clan head, though I don't remember his name.

He looks a few months older than Sasuke and Naruto, and is very lively.

Xue smiled gently and reached out her hand to him.

The boy seemed to be taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously placed his small hand in her palm.

With a gentle pull from Xue, he stood up straight.

The girl patted the dust off him and said softly, "Watch where you're going next time, little one."

A blush crept onto Ya's face as she turned her head away and stubbornly retorted, "I was watching where I was going! You guys suddenly appeared in the middle of the road!"

Xue stood up, ruffled his hair, and smiled.

"Time to go to the next checkpoint, Xue," a tribesman said from the side.

Yuki nodded and walked past Inuzuka Kiba to continue her patrol with her clansmen.

As he watched the departing figure, his nose twitched; the Inuzuka clan possessed an innately keen sense of smell.

"The wonderful smell is gone..."

Hana Inuzuka, who had just caught up with Kiba, punched him on the head while he was standing there in a daze: "You brat, what are you running around for? Believe me or not, the police will arrest disobedient kids like you, lock you up, hang you up, and whip you with a small leather whip."

He clutched his head, tears welling in his eyes, after being punched: "I don't believe it! I want to join the police force someday!"

Feeling completely bewildered, Inuzuka Hana thought: .......?

My foolish brother, do you know what you're saying?

Do you want to take over the Uchiha clan's position? Do you want to cause infighting within the village?

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yuki, who was patrolling the village, encountered quite a few acquaintances.

Nara Shikaro was watering the flowers in front of his family's estate when he saw the three people walking towards him from afar.

"Snow?"

"It's Lu Liang! It feels like ages since we last met."

Xue sent the other two tribesmen to the next checkpoint, and she would arrive shortly there.

Shikamaru, usually so lazy, was unusually reserved. The boy, slightly taller than Yuki, had his hair tied in a high ponytail, wore a light green long-sleeved shirt, and casual brown shorts. He put down the hose he was holding and pointed to the Nara residence.

"Would you like to come in and sit down? It seems you've never been to my house before."

The Nara clan primarily developed and provided medicinal herbs for medical ninjas. For example, if Tsunade was the leader of Konoha's medical ninjas, then the Nara clan was the leader in providing the medicines. Yuki looked up at the Nara clan's plaque. She thought for a moment, then nodded.

Lu Liang breathed a sigh of relief; he had thought she would refuse.

He led her to his residence, brewed tea, and placed it on the veranda in the courtyard.

Xue saw a shogi board set up on the wooden walkway in the courtyard.

Lu Liang took a sip of hot tea and said, "That was a game between me and my nephew, and it's not over yet."

"Lu Liang, you can play shogi? That's amazing."

Lu Liang was indifferent to praise from others, but he couldn't refuse praise from the person he loved.

His ears flushed slightly, and he turned his head away: "It's just that you didn't ask..."

The Nara clan's territory in Konoha is a private forest, and their courtyard is connected to the forest.

Sitting in the courtyard, you can see several deer in the distance.

Xue had heard that the Nara clan owned an entire forest within the Land of Fire, which only members of the Nara clan were allowed to enter. That forest was home to many deer, which were not only a symbol of the Nara clan but also important and valuable medicinal materials in the Land of Fire, such as deer antlers and deer blood. There were also some special cultivated plants with excellent medicinal effects. Compared to the Uchiha clan, which posed a threat that required both trust and caution, the Nara clan enjoyed a good reputation within the village. They were responsible for Konoha's medical system, possessed the clan's Shadow Techniques, and had trained many top-notch pharmacists.

"Are you no longer part of Konoha's ninja system? Have you joined the police force?"

Lu Liang rested his chin on his hand and looked up at her with slightly raised eyes.

“Isn’t this obvious, Lu Liang?”

Xue smiled and pointed to the embroidery on her shoulder.

Lu Liang's face flushed slightly. He looked away, his gaze falling on the lush forest and the deer in the distance.

Do you...like deer?

"deer?"

Following Lu Liang's gaze, Xue's eyes fell on several lively little deer.

Lu Liang beckoned them in, and soon a young fawn with big, wet eyes opened its paws and came running lightly toward them. After stopping beside Lu Liang, it gently nuzzled his palm with its head.

"So cute..." Xue's eyes widened slightly as she watched the interaction between the human and the deer.

"Would you like to touch the snow?"

Without anyone noticing, Lu Liang took Xue's wrist. The little deer tilted its head slightly in Xue's palm.

Perhaps not yet familiar with the smell of snow, the fawn skipped away.

"You ran away, don't you like me?"

"How could I not like it? I'm just... shy." Lu Liang stared intently at Xue, his hand still on hers.

Their fingers intertwined quietly. Xue was a little puzzled, but she didn't pull away.

Back when they were in the same team, Lu Liang often held her hand like this.

"It seems like many of our classmates are getting married. Has Xue ever considered getting married?"

The topic was quite abrupt, Xue thought, and it was indeed true.

Even Lidong and Xue are engaged, and there are no other people in the clan of similar age to her.

Lu Liang was internally frantic; he hadn't planned to say it so soon.

But I can't resist when I see them. Especially when we're alone together, if I don't confirm things quickly...

He was also afraid that some kid a few years younger than Kakashi might suddenly appear out of nowhere, because...

Uchiha Yuki was just too popular. He gritted his teeth inwardly.

Lu Liang scratched behind his ear with one hand, deliberately avoiding looking at her.

He said, "Although I am not the eldest son and there is a high probability that I will not become the clan leader, as a special Jonin I have saved a lot of money. I also own several shops in the Land of Fire and a shop on the street in Konoha. I also have some savings, and I have stock options and shares in Nara Company."

"If you want to live in the Uchiha clan's territory after we get married, I can move into the Uchiha's house."

"As for the child, I think it's fine if he/she takes your surname."

"I know this might sound abrupt, but that's what I'm trying to say."

"Can you date me with marriage in mind?"

Suddenly, a crow flew in, cawing loudly.

The hand that rested on the snow was the same hand with the two fingers intertwined.

The crow turned its body, and Lu Liang could clearly see the contempt in the bird's expression.

Then, in its hoarse voice, it cried out, "Go home! Go home!"

Nara Shikara: .......

Nara Shikaro: If you support me roasting this bird, type 1.

"Ah, Lu Liang, what did you just say?"

Xue looked apologetic; she had been distracted.

Lu Liang sighed, "Never mind, it's nothing. Let's get together for a meal sometime. Genma, Tokuma, and Asuma all want to invite you."

Xue nodded: "Sure."

Since the war ended, she hasn't seen many of her contemporaries other than Genma.

Lu Liang wanted to get closer to Xue, but the crow kept staring at him, giving him the feeling of being spied on.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the crow, saying, "Nara's territory has always been off-limits to ANBU ninjas. But I wonder when the ANBU's summoning beasts were allowed to freely gather information about the Nara clan."

The crow seemed to understand what Lu Liang was saying, and its wings almost hit Lu Liang's eyes when it took off.

Lu Liang didn't hold Xue's other hand, which was clenched into a fist. He thought that next time he saw this bird, he would definitely roast it.

Watching the crows fly out of Nara's territory, Yuki felt a little apologetic; these must be Itachi's crows...

It wasn't Zhishui; Zhishui was taken advantage of for a huge reason.

"I'm sorry, Lu Liang, I don't think it was intentional."

"What are you apologizing for...?"

Lu Liang was somewhat angry, and it took him a long time to muster up the courage to speak.

This bird ruined everything; I'll just have to wait for another chance. What a hassle...

"Then give me a kiss, and I won't be angry anymore."

Xue quickly touched Lu Liang's cheek; this happened when the team was first formed.

After she and Lu Liang had a falling out, Lu Liang often asked her to make up.

She smiled and said, "Lu Liang, you're still the same as when you were in school."

What? Xue has no idea.

I've been eyeing you ever since I was in school.

I want both your heart and your body.

Lu Liang reached out and pinched Xue's still chubby cheeks.

"Silly Xue, come here and let me hug you."

Xue did not refuse; in fact, she seemed somewhat used to it.

Lu Liang felt that the girl in his arms seemed to be getting thinner and thinner, so he rested his chin on the top of her head.

He asked, "Haven't you been eating properly lately?"

"Yes, I've been staying at Sister Mikoto's place lately. I'm eating very well every day."

Lu Liang lowered his eyes and nuzzled Xue's cheek.

He missed her terribly and longed to announce it to others openly and honestly.

Uchiha Yuki, mine.

My girlfriend, no one else should look.

"Let's go to the movies and shopping together sometime. Snow."

Xue thought about the busy clan leader and the thick stack of documents on the table.

"If you have time... sure."

Lu Liang snorted, his delicate features full of disbelief: "Next Saturday, which is perfect for my day off."

Xue thought about it for a moment and nodded.

She just needs to make sure she has time free that day.

When Xue left, Lu Liang saw her off at the gate of the territory.

Only after he had walked away did he happen to see Shikamaru and the two of them leaving the house. The little boy was leaning against the door with his arms crossed.

The voice, feigning an old age, said, "Yes, yes, yes... Is this the life motto Uncle told me? Just casually become a ninja, but you work your way up to Jonin and even make a name for yourself on the battlefield; casually earn some money, but you have enough to buy a small country; then marry a woman who's neither beautiful nor ugly, but you end up with a stunningly beautiful woman; you say you'll have two children, the first a girl, the second a boy... but it'll be fine if the children take the Uchiha clan's surname... Uncle is completely lying!"

Lu Liang scratched the back of his ear; that was indeed what he thought.

It's just that the person I like is too beautiful and outstanding, so I don't try to catch up.

He's not good enough for her.

"Go away, go away. Shikamaru will understand what feelings are like when he grows up."

"It's beyond our control, okay?"