Chapter 69, Chapter Sixty-Seven

-

Sasuke preferred to embrace her from behind. When he couldn't bear it any longer, he would slightly open his mouth and bite the skin on the back of Yuki's neck until he left clear teeth marks on that fair skin, as if to brand his own unique mark.

Suigetsu was often sent away by Sasuke, which made him somewhat unhappy over time. Even during the years Orochimaru focused on him as a vessel, Suigetsu's personality remained childlike. Standing beside the two, he asked if he could join in on Sasuke and Yuki's interactions, saying he was very curious.

"Do you want to die, Shuiyue? Get out."

The two were engaged in conversation when Sasuke frowned and refused such an absurd request.

When he felt the tightening pressure at the point where his body was connected, he almost lost control of his strength.

“Sasuke, don’t say that. I think Yuki definitely won’t mind me joining us~” Suigetsu said, moving closer to the two people lost in love on the bed. He reached out and gently pinched Yuki’s chin, his gesture carrying a hint of flirtation and teasing as he carefully examined her dazed face. As he spoke, his sharp, saw-like teeth were slightly revealed, and his deep purple eyes gleamed with a bewitching light in the dim light: “Yuki doesn’t like me? We’re teammates, after all.”

Xue's beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and Shuiyue's face before her seemed to be shrouded in a thin veil, gradually becoming blurred. A strange and subtle emotion spread rapidly through her heart like a surging tide, her rationality was being eroded little by little, and her moral compass was being lowered step by step without her realizing it.

Xue couldn't help but reach out, and Shuiyue paused, startled. Her hand gently caressed his right cheek. Although Shuiyue could feel that she wasn't using any force, he involuntarily leaned down slightly. Then, a kiss as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, carrying Xue's unique warmth and softness, gently landed on his cheek. Visibly, Shuiyue's face instantly turned hot, and his whole body seemed to boil over.

"Shuiyue, please stay with us."

Her voice was so soft and gentle that even Shuiyue didn't realize it and nodded unconsciously.

After Yuki's kiss landed, Sasuke embraced her tightly from behind, his strong arms holding her close, as if trying to meld her into his own body, as if to fill the years since she left him with this tight embrace, never to let go again. The two kissed in front of Mizuki, who finally snapped out of her daze, a hint of panic on her face.

“Hey, hey, hey, I never said I was leaving… anything like that.”

The lukewarm water seemed to come alive, seeping into every crevice between the two of them.

Chaotic and intertwined, even Shuiyue's cool body temperature was tinged with the body temperature of the two of them.

Shuiyue began to understand the meaning of family; it meant mutual companionship.

Can what they did to Xue be called love?

-

The three arrived at the Land of Waves, where a suspension bridge called Naruto Bridge spans the sea between the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire.

“Naruto Bridge, what a strange name.” Suigetsu looked up, and the four striking characters on the bridge instantly caught his eye. Yuki subconsciously thought of Naruto Uzumaki. Suigetsu turned his head and saw that the two people beside him were deep in thought. He called out to Sasuke several times before he came back to his senses.

The cloak that had been draped over Shuiyue was now back on Xue. The three, who were of similar height, stood together, their auras cold and aloof.

Shuiyue developed a slight sense of dependence on Sasuke and Yuki due to their intimate moments over the past few nights.

Xue keenly noticed a faint smile unconsciously flash across Sasuke's face. The bond between Sasuke and Naruto... was like that between Obito and Kakashi. She looked up, clenched her fist, wanting to say something, but hesitated, ultimately saying nothing and quickly catching up with the two.

A gentle breeze stirred, ruffling the ends of her hair, and the air was filled with the faint scent of lilacs.

At the place where Zabuza was buried, they couldn't find his Executioner's sword. After inquiring in the town, they learned that the Daimyo of the Land of Water, Daikokuten Zen, had taken it. So, with killing forbidden, the three made a bet to see who could retrieve the sword first. Yuki sensed that this was Sasuke testing Suigetsu's strength, but more importantly, it was testing Suigetsu's personality.

Sasuke... rarely killed innocent people indiscriminately. Although the flames of revenge burned in his heart, he always adhered to his principles and never abandoned the emotional bonds that a ninja should have. Even though the path of revenge was destined to be lonely, Sasuke did not want anyone else in this world to suffer as much as he had.

Not killing innocent people indiscriminately was a basic requirement Sasuke had for his teammates. Dealing with a greedy daimyo like Daikokuten Zen and his rabble was a piece of cake. Suigetsu quickly obtained the Executioner's Blade, and before leaving, he even demolished Daikokuten Zen's corrupt castle.

Xue could tell that Sasuke was very satisfied with Suigetsu's test.

Just like when he received his beloved little dinosaur as a child, only now he's more reserved.

-

Soon they embarked on their journey to the southern outpost.

They control chakra and traverse the seas. Their southern stronghold is located on a secluded island in the ocean, its communications tightly controlled. It is guarded by Karin, a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, who imprisons many of Orochimaru's experimental subjects. Yuki knows that the Uzumaki clan possesses powerful sensory abilities, especially a detection ninjutsu called Kagura's Mind's Eye. By simply closing their eyes and concentrating, they can detect all movements within a ten-kilometer radius.

Karin is undoubtedly an indispensable and capable assistant to their team. With her, they can better track Itachi and evade the tracking teams sent by Konoha.

Stepping onto the isolated island, Shuiyue slashed open the tightly closed door.

The three walked inside the makeshift base tunnel.

"Forget about Suigetsu, Sasuke, who is this beautiful woman next to you?!"

Xue looked in the direction of the sound and saw a girl with long, dark red hair, with the right side of her hair sticking up slightly like Sasuke's. She had red hair and red eyes, wore a light purple long-sleeved shirt and black denim shorts, and had striking features but wore red-framed glasses.

Red hair and red eyes... indeed a member of the Uzumaki clan.

"Oh, even the ugly Karin can admit someone else's beauty? That's really rare." Suigetsu stepped forward and said, "Hurry up and find us a place to rest. I haven't walked in so long, I'm exhausted."

"Ha, why should I?"

The two seemed to be born with incompatible personalities, and they started bickering instantly.

Sasuke couldn't stand it any longer and stopped them.

Karin led them into a room, which was actually just a stone chamber separated by stone walls.

"Speaking of which, you look a bit like Sasuke-kun, don't you?" Karin leaned closer to Yuki. Yuki frowned slightly. Karin could keenly sense that the other's chakra was of the same origin as Uchiha Sasuke's, very clean and pure, like snowflakes at the end of winter, beautiful and pure.

Yuki has never been used to refusing others' advances, which only emboldened Karin, who clung to Yuki almost like a koala.

Sasuke frowned, reached out and grabbed Karin by the back of her neck by the collar, then tossed her aside.

"Stay away from the snow."

Karin collapsed to the ground, adjusted her glasses, and angrily demanded, "So what exactly is your relationship?!"

Shuiyue chuckled and teased, "You're a married couple!"

Yuki sighed slightly, bent down a little, and extended her hand to Karin: "Get up, Karin. My name is Uchiha Yuki, and I'm Sasuke's family."

Karin paused for a moment, then took her hand and stood up.

However, she quickly realized what was happening, put her hands on her hips, and pointed at Shuiyue.

"So why should I go with you?!"

"I've been occupying the southern base all by myself, serving Orochimaru all along."

Suigetsu and Sasuke sat leaning against the stone bench. Suigetsu helplessly shrugged and said, "Orochimaru is dead, Karin."

Sasuke said coldly, "Then you can come with me as long as no more test subjects are imprisoned here."

"Karin, join us," Yuki said.

"Alright, I'll say it again, come with me, Karin," Sasuke said once more.

Karin subconsciously looked at Sasuke, her gaze shifting back and forth between Yuki and Sasuke.

"Suiyue, you and Xue go and release all the experimental subjects in the prison," Sasuke ordered.

Shuiyue stood up and replied, "Yes, yes, yes, it's the same commanding tone as always."

When the two returned with the test sample, they found the door locked from the inside.

Shuiyue clicked his tongue, his gaze falling on Xue's still calm expression. He reached out and gently hooked his fingers into her hair.

"Hey, aren't you jealous?"

Xue paused for a moment, then asked, "Jealous?"

"That Karin girl, it's obvious she's interested in Sasuke."

Xue finally realized what was happening and let out a soft "Ah!" A mischievous urge to tease her welled up within Shuiyue, and she said with a grin, "It's so rare to have some time alone with Xue, but Sasuke always monopolizes her. Xue, why don't you give me a kiss too~"

Xue paused for a moment, just as the kiss was about to land.

The wooden door was suddenly split in two. Sasuke's expression was icy, and the Kusanagi sword was positioned between the two of them.

"What are you doing?"

The handsome young man frowned slightly, took Xue's hand, and embraced her.

Karin followed behind him, and from then on, the second member was successfully added to the team.

Having failed to pry open the corner, Mizuki followed behind the three with a large bump on her head from Karin's punch.

-

After that, the four of them headed north, taking a short rest along the way.

They checked into a hostel in the town. Karin was very curious because, according to the timeline, Yuki should be in her thirties, but she still looked like she was sixteen or seventeen.

"Me? I'm not quite sure either. It seems like... I've been like this ever since a certain day. I haven't been deliberately using chakra to maintain my appearance."

As she spoke, her long, slightly wavy, ink-black hair flowing freely. Karin could sense her pure, snow-like chakra, tinged with a coolness, much like Sasuke's, yet carrying a strange, out-of-place quality. The beautiful Yuki wore a simple yukata, and Karin could see faint red marks on her chest and slender neck. As a ninja, she naturally knew what had happened between Yuki and Sasuke. Strangely, she didn't feel jealous, only a strange, inexplicable unease.

Only Karin and Yuki remained in the room; Sasuke and Suigetsu had gone out to gather intelligence and purchase supplies.

Karin took off her glasses, her long, red eyelashes fluttering. Yuki tilted her head slightly, not quite understanding what she was trying to do.

Until her lips softly covered Xue's lips, a warm and immense chakra flowed through the kiss, and Xue was stunned.

Her eyes widened; Yuki thought of Kushina.

She turned her face away from the kiss, her brows furrowing slightly, a hint of anger in her eyes.

"Don't do this, Karin..."

Karin felt a secret excitement, but she only showed a slightly aggrieved expression.

Xue then stopped resisting and accepted her actions.

However, it seems that the sealed eye technique within my body has loosened slightly...