After drinking for most of the day, without using chakra, even Uzumaki Ayaka, despite her astonishing physical condition, had a deeply flushed face.
Kushina also forced herself to endure the dizziness from the hangover and asked, "Ayaka.. about what we talked about last time, that matter..."
"What matter?"
She really was trying to weasel out of it.
Kushina gritted her teeth and signaled to Mikoto with a look. Then Mikoto brought out a few more bottles of strong liquor. Most of the time just now, Kushina and Ayaka had been drinking; she was just there to make up the numbers. Now it was her turn.
But Mikoto knew that her own alcohol tolerance was only average. She had almost never drunk alcohol originally. It was only in the past few years, through regular girls' nights with Kushina and the others, that she had slowly built up a little tolerance. Still, she was far behind Ayaka.
"Ayaka, try this. It's a special product of the Land of Snow, Zero-Degree Ice-Stored." Although it was called zero degrees, it was actually stored at around minus ten degrees. This near-freezing shochu gave a refreshing chill on the first sip, with a clean, rich aroma. But after a while, the drunkenness would hit hard, like boiling a frog slowly.
The Zero-Degree Ice-Stored that Mikoto brought out was specifically sold to ninjas. Even chakra couldn't completely dispel the alcohol from the body. It was very popular, but also very expensive.
Originally, because Hyuga Mirai wanted to win over Tsunade, he had built many factories dedicated to developing alcoholic beverages to cater to her tastes. Those factories hadn't stopped operating. With no worries about food or drink in the Federation, people naturally pursued other pleasures. So various shochu flourished, along with fruit wines, beers, and so on.
"What... what time is it?"
After drinking a few cups of Zero-Degree Ice-Stored, Uzumaki Ayaka briefly regained some clarity. She looked at the clock in the room and the sky outside the window. But Mikoto had prepared well. The clock's time had been adjusted, and the sky outside was simulated, looking just like morning.
'Only an hour has passed? Then there's still plenty of time.'
Ayaka licked her lips and thought to herself. There was still time, and she felt her drunkenness had cleared quite a bit. Kushina was nearly passed out beside her, and Mikoto wouldn't last much longer either...
"Kushina, let's keep going!"
"Having a superhuman physique, you can still get drunk..."
After ending the call, Hyuga Mirai hurried home. He had gone to retrieve the Power Stone today. Although Sasori and Orochimaru were a bit unhappy, after Hyuga Mirai promised to regularly give them some energy crystals condensed from the Stones, the two were almost simultaneously satisfied.
That feeling of being watched last time, and the Chakra God Tree, that vast, boundless sensation, kept lingering in Hyuga Mirai's mind.
He felt that after moving the ninja world planet to the Marvel universe, something had changed significantly. But even the Time Stone couldn't detect this change.
The more he knew, the more he worried. Hyuga Mirai still preferred the days when he dominated the ninja world or Marvel Earth, when no one could threaten him.
But now the universe's tree was almost mature. Then he would be the master of this universe, perhaps even break through the limits of a single universe and look down upon other universes. Then Hyuga Mirai would have more confidence in dealing with other unknowns.
There was hardly anyone at home now. Kurenai had taken the children to visit her parents. Kiyo's career drive had also found a second spring. Upon hearing that the ninja world was holding a sake tasting competition, Tsunade hadn't come back for three days. But she usually didn't stay here anyway.
Now that he thought about it, only he and Ayaka lived here permanently.
When Hyuga Mirai arrived at Kushina's house, he saw Kushina and Mikoto both drunk. There were about a hundred empty bottles on the floor. If they had been ordinary people, they would have been dead from alcohol poisoning.
"Did something good happen? Why did you drink so much? Is Ayaka upstairs?"
Hyuga Mirai glanced at the living room and saw only Kushina and Mikoto, their faces flushed, eyes dazed. When they first saw him, they seemed to be sizing him up.
"You two should rest early too. I'll go get Ayaka and take her home."
"I'll... show you the way."
Although Kushina was quite drunk, the alcohol had also brought out her courage. After using chakra to dispel some of the drunkenness, she wobbled over to Hyuga Mirai's side, ready to lead him upstairs.
"That's not necessary. You two rest."
"Enough, let's go!"
Kushina waved her hand to cut him off, then secretly made a gesture to Mikoto and led Hyuga Mirai upstairs.
After Kushina left, Mikoto, sitting alone in the living room, suddenly didn't know what to do. Although alcohol could make one impulsive, her emotions were in extreme turmoil. She wanted to boldly confess her feelings, but she had many concerns: worried that Hyuga Mirai wouldn't accept, worried about their age, and so on.
In terms of courage, Mikoto felt she was no match for Kushina. Even after drinking a lot, the courage in her heart still wasn't enough to make her follow. Perhaps there was also shyness. Two people together always felt a bit...
"Kushina..."
Uchiha Mikoto sat in the living room for a while, then noticed that quite some time had passed. Mirai-kun hadn't left, so what was he doing?
Mikoto patted her flushed cheeks, gathered her courage, and tiptoed upstairs. She wanted to know what Kushina was doing.
"In here."
Kushina led Hyuga Mirai to her own room, opened the door, and after they both walked in, she closed it.
Back when the houses were built, the several nearby were designed and constructed by 18. Even years later, they were still the most advanced single-family homes in the Federation, both in terms of soundproofing and interior equipment.
"Ayaka isn't here. Did you drink too much and misremember..."
Hyuga Mirai looked inside, saw no one, and turned to say to Kushina. But before he could finish, Kushina hugged him tightly, trembling slightly.
"Kushina?"
Hyuga Mirai looked down at Kushina's bowed head and seemed to understand something, though years had passed.
"Don't reject me. It took me so long to wait for you to come back. Ayaka also agreed... I'm not being impulsive. After you saved me, I thought for years to confirm my feelings. So don't reject me."
Kushina wrapped her arms around Hyuga Mirai and, fueled by the alcohol, said a lot. Strictly speaking, she had been saved twice: once when the Nine-Tails was extracted from her, and again during the Uchiha rebellion. After coming to the Federation, Kushina's fondness for Hyuga Mirai grew day by day. But Ayaka Uzumaki was often by his side, so she had to hide her feelings in her heart.
But a while ago, when she learned that Hyuga Mirai had returned, those feelings, like seeds planted long ago, had now broken through the soil and grown uncontrollably. She simply couldn't hold back any longer.
Kushina was indeed outgoing, but saying so much at once about this kind of thing was already rare.
And she held on tighter and tighter, as if afraid Hyuga Mirai would break free and run away. If he really wanted to escape, with his spatial abilities, he would have been long gone.
"Alright, I understand how you feel. Let go first."
Before Hyuga Mirai could finish, a hot, burning mark pressed against his lips. Then he felt the strong smell of alcohol and a faint fragrance from Kushina. Although she was no longer a young girl, her carefree life had kept her both mentally and physically in excellent shape.
Under the influence of the alcohol, Kushina was bolder than usual and even took the initiative.
"Kushina."
"Ayaka is on the third floor. She won't wake up for a while."
Kushina's words were like a match before a fire. It was lit and thrown into a pile of hay. The next second, the roles completely reversed. Kushina was lifted up, but she didn't gasp. Instead, a beautiful smile appeared on her face. She hadn't been rejected.
As each piece of excess clothing was removed, Kushina grew shy.
Though no longer a maiden, she was still fair and beautiful. Like Ayaka, Kushina had the mindset of a young girl and the maturity of a married woman.
"Don't... don't look. Turn off the light..."
The next second, Kushina's moving voice filled the room. Fortunately, the soundproofing was excellent. No matter what happened in the bedroom, not a sound could be heard outside.
Uchiha Mikoto tiptoed upstairs, only to find the door closed.
"Closed!?"
Seeing this, Mikoto felt an inexplicable sense of urgency. She should have sat in the living room for a long time. Such a long time. What had Kushina and Mirai-kun been doing? Just talking all this while?
Mikoto suddenly felt a strong desire to know what was happening inside. But the door was locked. What could she do? The Sharingan wasn't the Byakugan; it couldn't see through things. And these houses were said to be difficult even for the Byakugan to see through. She only had an ordinary Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
"That idiot Kushina. She told me to follow her. Did she call me up here to guard the door?"
Mikoto felt a bit resentful. That wasn't what Kushina had said earlier. Why at the critical moment... "Oh, I remember Kushina saying she usually keeps a spare key in the living room, for Naruto."
Remembering what Kushina had said before, Mikoto walked quickly to the living room and found the key card in one of the cabinets.
After getting the key card, Mikoto felt a surge of courage. She gave herself a few mental pep talks and went back upstairs. But she hesitated again in front of the door. After standing there for a while, she slowly convinced herself.
"So much time has passed. I'm just worried about Kushina. Drunk people need looking after."
Finding many flimsy excuses, Mikoto stood there for a long time before finally using the key card to open the door.
"Kushina, are you there?"
As soon as she walked in, Mikoto heard Kushina's moving, rhythmic sounds. Though a bit hoarse, she could tell Kushina was very happy right now.
She would have to walk a bit further to see the bed, but the embarrassing scene was already forming in Mikoto's mind.
Gulp!
Mikoto's throat instantly went dry. After swallowing, she didn't know whether to continue inside or retreat. But the sound of the door opening and her voice just now meant the two inside should know she was there. So she...
Before Mikoto could react, the urgent sounds inside suddenly softened. Then Mikoto saw several Adamantine Chains shooting toward the door and her direction. One chain closed the door, and the others bound her limbs and body, dragging her inside.
After passing the bedroom hallway, Mikoto saw a scene that made her blush. Then she stammered, "Kushina, Mirai-kun... you... you two..."
"Mikoto, I've already told Mirai-kun. Come help me."
Kushina's voice was a bit hoarse. Fortunately, Mikoto had come in; otherwise, she would have had a hard time handling it alone. After such a long time, she felt her belly was slightly swollen.
"I... I just..."
Mikoto blushed and stammered, trying to say something, but then the Adamantine Chains pulled her closer. She had completely forgotten that she was also a strong ninja. With her Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, there were few in the ninja world stronger than her. Then Kushina turned over and made some space. But Mikoto still wanted to say something.
"Lady Mikoto, you look beautiful today."
Hyuga Mirai's one sentence made her let out a soft moan and go limp. At that moment, she probably couldn't use any jutsu.
Then, the rhythmic sounds filled the room again.
After the sky had completely darkened, Hyuga Mirai took Ayaka back home.
In the bedroom, only Kushina and Mikoto remained. They needed to rest for a while. Though they had experienced a great battle, they were now too weak to do anything but lie there, not wanting to get up.
"Mikoto~, stay the night."
Kushina turned over and hugged Mikoto. Then, feeling that Mikoto's skin was a bit sticky, probably from sweat and other things, she took her hand off with a hint of disgust.
Seeing Kushina pull her hand back, Mikoto suddenly felt annoyed. She scolded Kushina, "You're disgusted? How absurd! Just now you used your Adamantine Chains..."
"I'm so tired, Mikoto. Let's rest."
Kushina shook her head vigorously, indicating she didn't want to talk about what had just happened. Anyway, she was very satisfied now, in every way. But Kushina suddenly opened her eyes, then giggled at Mikoto. "And you're talking about me? What's with that underwear?"
A widow living alone, wearing such a rare style? It was obviously prepared in advance.
"Don't say it!"
Mikoto's face turned crimson as she shouted. That was the only thing she could be teased about just now. Then she pushed herself up from the bed and stood up, saying to Kushina, "I'm going to take a shower."
"You go first. I need to rest a bit more. I'm so tired today."
Kushina waved at Mikoto. She felt her eyes closing. Since becoming a ninja, she had never been this tired. But sleeping like this would be even more uncomfortable. Maybe washing up would be better.
Mikoto suddenly wanted to ask something, but seeing that Kushina had no intention of bringing it up, and out of a sense of rivalry, she suppressed the question and went to the bathroom to clean herself up.
(End of chapter)