Chapter 47, Chapter Forty-Six

Snow's hands, though small, were very warm.

Naruto loved how she would gently cup his face and then softly kiss it.

A ticklish kiss, yet my heart feels warm and full.

It's not empty anymore.

Because he has no parents, he is sometimes not very clear about things.

Does being with Xue feel like having family?

But, the moment the words were uttered...

Mother.

Xue's sad, sorrowful, and reluctant expression seemed as if many knives were piercing his heart.

It hurts so much! Why doesn't Xue want to be his mother?

Naruto didn't understand, but he didn't want Yuki to show that kind of expression.

So it's okay if he doesn't call her "Mom," as long as Xue doesn't leave him.

When he was in the village, he would occasionally sneak into the Uchiha clan's territory to look for snow.

Because of his status, few people would stop him. Most of the Uchiha clan members also looked at him indifferently.

He looked at Yuki, who was teaching Sasuke ninjutsu at the foot of the Naka River.

He had a small wish: to possess the taste of being loved by Xue Ai.

-

Because the Hidden Cloud Village came to Konoha to discuss the alliance, the Uchiha clan was tasked with maintaining order.

Uchiha Yuki was transferred by the Third Hokage to the Hokage Building to handle communication with Kumogakure.

"Xiaoxue, the Third Hokage said you were the one who came to help."

Nara Shikaku looked up from among the towering stacks of documents and saw Yuki dressed in her Konoha Jonin uniform. He gave her a look that said, "You've come at the perfect time," and pulled her over, handing her a pen. He smiled and said, "Once you finish organizing these documents, the Cloud Ninja will be arriving soon."

Uchiha Yuki: ......

She took the pen and wrote about her arrival in Kumogakure.

She always felt that this point in time was quite inappropriate.

"You also feel that the purpose of Kumogakure's visit this time is not simple, especially at this juncture after the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice." Nara Shikaku saw the worry on her face and saw through her thoughts.

"No... I was overthinking it. I'm not sure." Xue put down her pen, resting the cap on her chin.

Nara Shikaku closed the document in his hand; something was definitely amiss.

However, the entire ninja world is currently in a state of post-war development and trend towards peace.

Konoha Village had no reason to refuse Kumogakure Village's proposal for an alliance, and the Third Hokage must have considered this as well.

"With this in mind, Konoha Village has increased its security."

After finishing reviewing the last document under his supervision, Yuki and Shikaku stood up.

The leader of the Hidden Cloud Village was seeing "Konoha Yukihime" for the first time, who was on par with "Shisui of the Body Flicker" during the Third Shinobi World War. Her appearance and temperament were top-notch, and even her manners were just right. However, she couldn't help but feel too aloof, and even her chakra was cold.

"Isn't the Hokage here?" asked the leader of the Hidden Cloud Village.

As a diplomat, Shikaku frowned slightly, while Yuki said, "The Third Generation will make further progress and will step in when the alliance is finalized."

"Please do not worry about this. The specific agreement for the alliance will be signed at this meeting."

After a brief silence, the group of people handed over a letter written by the Raikage, seeing Xue's composed and respectful response.

Seeing that the other party had been rebuffed, Shikaku accepted the letter with a cheerful attitude.

His smile was very formulaic, and his tone was polite: "Then please stay in Konoha Village for a few days. The signing ceremony will be held as scheduled in three days."

After the brief meeting ended, Shikaku's gaze fell on Uchiha Yuki, who was packing up to go home after get off work.

"Hey, did you go to the movies with Lu Liang the other day?"

Xue paused for a moment, then nodded.

"What do you think of... Shikara?" To be honest, Shikaku didn't really want to be the kind of parent who had to ask around about everything their child did. But after all, he was his younger brother. That's just how it is in Konoha, his silly little brother.

"Lu Liang? Lu Liang is great, I like him very much."

Seeing Uchiha Yuki's clear and innocent eyes, Shikaku almost lost all his confidence.

"It's not the kind of liking between friends." Shikaku stroked his chin. "It's more like the relationship you and Kakashi had before, like lovers."

The sudden knocking interrupted Uchiha Yuki, who was about to reply.

Lu Jiu's lips twitched, and he raised an eyebrow: "Please come in."

It was Uchiha Itachi, although he was wearing an Anbu uniform and a mask.

However, her smooth, medium-length hair is still very recognizable.

"Lord Shikaku, the order to increase manpower to monitor Kumogakure has been executed."

Shikaku frowned. This kind of thing doesn't need to be publicly announced, does it?

"Okay, I understand. You may leave now."

-

During these few days, Yuki was in charge of negotiating with Kumogakure under Shikaku's command.

The Raikage of Kumogakure seems to harbor some hostility towards the Fourth Hokage, so his meeting with Naruto this week was naturally canceled.

Late at night, Yuki stood on a tree, watching over the inn where the Cloud Village ninjas were staying.

I have a feeling something's going to happen today.

With nothing happening for a while, Yuki was preparing to return to the Uchiha clan's territory.

Finally, they saw the leader of the Hidden Cloud Village, who had been simply disguised, sneaking out of the window.

Uchiha Yuki frowned, held her breath, and followed behind.

Summon the summoning beast Shiro and have it inform the Dark Division Captain and Nara Shikaku.

Under the cover of night, as he stepped into the Hyuga clan's territory.

Snow used silk threads to bind the kunai and shuriken that were thrown first, firmly binding the enemy ninja.

"It's you! Uchiha Yuki, weren't you unable to control chakra because of the Fourth Hokage's death?"

The other person looked at the black-haired girl who was holding a sword and had one foot on his chest. Her scarlet Sharingan eyes were very beautiful in the night.

"Where did you get this false intelligence?" Yuki's tone was cold, and the ninja whose foot had been pressed down screamed. She questioned, "Did you come to the Hyuga clan's territory to kidnap the eldest daughter of the main branch and obtain the Byakugan?"

"Impossible! Then why have you been doing ordinary work and not carrying out missions?"

Xue was getting annoyed by these idiotic questions. It was just a regular C-rank ninjutsu.

The amount of chakra needed is so basic it's almost nonexistent.

Hiashi Hyuga happened to see this scene while he was out for a walk. His relationship with his brother had become strained because he had carved "Caged Bird" on Hizashi's eldest son, so he thought he would go out for a walk to relieve his mood.

Then he saw the girl who had once partnered with his younger brother, Hizashi, carrying a sword, her other hand holding an extremely thin thread. Beneath her feet was a vaguely familiar-looking acting Raikage from Kumogakure. At this very moment, she appeared on Hyuga clan territory. Even a fool would know. She had come for the Byakugan, a bloodline limit. He and Yuki locked eyes.

So, before Kakashi and Shikaku arrived in haste, Yuki's black pupils were covered.

The group and Hyuga Hiashi politely escorted the subdued Kumogakure ninja back to the inn, if one disregarded the fact that the Kumogakure ninja had been beaten black and blue.

Having suffered a great loss and gained nothing, the Hidden Cloud Village naturally still wanted to make some small moves on the treaty, when Uchiha Yuki glanced at her sideways.

The leader of the Cloud Village, startled, grinned and said with a pig-like face, "I got lost last night and even fell down. Luckily, a kind person took me back to the inn. I'm so sorry to have troubled you all."

-

Nara Shikaku believes that Uchiha Yuki played a crucial role in the successful signing of the peace treaty by Kumogakure.

At the weekly meetings of the major clans and Konoha's high-ranking officials, he tried to get Uchiha Yuki to work under him.

"Ha, it's just a coincidence."

Danzo Shimura sneered as he tapped his cane on the ground.

Fugaku Uchiha remained calm; he didn't mind Yuki Uchiha returning to the ninja system.

However, the report about Uchiha Yuki that was handed over to Konoha still stated that the Sharingan could not be used normally.

Shikaku interlaced his fingers and rested them on his chin. He gave an example of how, without Uchiha Yuki, the Hyuga clan might have killed the Kumogakure ninja. In that case, the matter might not have been so easily resolved. Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hiashi, representing the Hyuga clan, looked somewhat grim.

The Third Hokage pondered for a moment and said, "Why don't we let Uchiha Yuki work under Shikaku? It's just some paperwork anyway. It won't hurt."

Danzo Shimura snorted coldly. He had finally managed to separate Uchiha Yuki from the regular military system.

Uchiha Shisui was already a handful for him, at least Uchiha Shisui was obedient to him.

Now that Uchiha Yuki, who is extremely popular in the village, has appeared, his plan to eliminate the Uchiha clan will have to be postponed again.

He flicked his sleeve, turned around, and left.

After the weekly meeting, Nara Shikaku called out to Uchiha Fugaku.

"Then I'll borrow Xiaoxue. Fugaku, you don't have any objections, do you?"

"The Uchiha clan has no objection to following the Third Hokage's arrangements."

The formulaic reply made Shikaku smile and pat Fugaku on the shoulder.

He said, "Things are completely different after I became the clan leader compared to when I was in the ninja academy."

Fugaku frowned: "That was so long ago, Shikaku."

It is extremely rare to see the two clan leaders of the Nara and Uchiha clans walking together.

The Uchiha clan, which has always been aloof, seems to be showing signs of building friendly bridges with other major clans.

-

"Naruto, are you there?"

Xue arrived at the address Iruka had given her, carrying a case of milk. It was an apartment building.

She knocked on the door, and when there was no response, she took a step back and looked at the door number.

You didn't go to the wrong place.

Having no other option, she climbed in through the window. Xue used chakra to attach herself to the soles of her feet. She leaped up and grabbed the windowsill railing with one hand.

Naruto's clothes were still drying on the balcony; the kid wasn't home this morning...

When Xue opened the sliding door to the balcony, she saw Naruto sleeping with his limbs spread wide apart.

Holding a framed photo of herself and him when they were three years old, she gently covered Naruto with the blanket.

Place the photo frame on the bedside table and a carton of milk on the table.

Looking at the messy room, Xue silently sighed and rubbed her forehead.

Naruto and Sasuke are completely different personalities.

After tidying up the room, Xue cooked rice for Naruto, intending to make a simple breakfast.

"Huh, is it a dream?"

Naruto rubbed his sleepy eyes, yawned, and looked at the slender figure busy at the stove.

Her bright blue eyes were wide open, her brilliant blonde hair was a little messy, and her chubby cheeks with baby fat were very cute.

He tried to jump out of bed, but tripped over the blanket. Xue, who was holding a spatula in one hand, took two steps forward and caught Naruto's small body steadily with her other hand.

She smiled helplessly and said, "It's not a dream."

Good morning, Naruto.

Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement, and he smiled, his eyes narrowing like a beautiful little fox.

He was so happy, showing his sharp canine teeth.

Good morning, Snow!