novelnext Chapter 195 The Continued Agreement
Chapter 195 The Continued Agreement
"Naruto, you really like this tamagoyaki, don't you? Here, have some more, don't be shy."
At noon, in the spacious yet subtly atmospheric dining room of the Uchiha clan's ancestral residence, the table was laden with exquisite dishes. Clan leader Fugaku Uchiha, expressionless, was using serving chopsticks to place a large piece of golden tamagoyaki into Naruto's bowl, which was already piled high like a small mountain.
Naruto, sitting opposite him, tried his best to maintain a polite smile, but the smile looked somewhat stiff and forced.
First of all, although Fugaku spoke in a seemingly polite and warm manner, his tone was as flat as if he were reading a mission report. There was no real friendliness in his voice; instead, it conveyed a sense of detachment and business acumen. This extreme mismatch between his words and tone made people feel very awkward.
Secondly, and what put Naruto under the most pressure, was that the bowl in front of him was piled high with food, almost overflowing, making it nearly impossible to find a place to eat.
However, Fugaku seems to have no intention of stopping at all, and has even begun to precisely stack new dishes on the tip of the existing "mountain", as if he wants to challenge architecture and play "Junko".
It seems that this former Uchiha clan leader, while outwardly agreeing to Naruto's previous "reservation of Sasuke's future," still harbored considerable resentment and was silently venting his dissatisfaction in this seemingly enthusiastic but actually "difficult" way.
"Seriously, honey, this is going to be a real problem for Naruto. The bowl is almost full, how are the baby supposed to eat?"
Fortunately, Mikoto, who was sitting to the side, finally couldn't stand it anymore and stopped Fugaku's childish "revenge" behavior.
"I'm sorry, Naruto," Mikoto turned around and gave Naruto a warm and apologetic smile. "Your Uncle Fugaku is just too 'concerned' about you. Don't take it to heart. Here, let me help you get some."
As she spoke, she naturally took a small empty bowl and gently moved most of the precarious, easily tipped "mountain of food" out of Naruto's bowl.
In stark contrast to Fugaku's emotionless "fake enthusiasm," Mikoto's tone of voice and the concern in her eyes when speaking to Naruto carried an almost parental tenderness and affection—a heartfelt love, as if she already regarded Naruto as her own child.
Mikoto's actions instantly eased the atmosphere at the dinner table, allowing Naruto to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy his meal in peace.
When his wife stopped his "offensive," Fugaku was slightly taken aback, and a hint of surprise flashed through his mind. He had actually used such childish behavior, almost like a mischievous child, on a junior. It was really unbecoming of him.
He looked up and met his daughter Zuoyue's resentful gaze.
Fugaku's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that Satsuki would probably be very cold towards him in the next few days.
The thought that his daughter might not even give him a second glance filled Fugaku with a slight sense of regret and disappointment.
Ultimately, the lunch ended in this slightly awkward and delicate atmosphere. After a short rest, Satsuki and Naruto prepared to head to the meeting point at the village entrance, as Team 7 still had several D-rank missions to carry out that afternoon.
"I'm going out, Mom." After putting on her shoes in the entryway, Satsuki said to her parents inside the house, but she deliberately only looked at Mikoto, completely omitting Fugaku, using this clear and straightforward behavior to express her slight dissatisfaction with her father's behavior during lunch.
Naruto quickly bowed politely towards the house and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Uncle Fugaku, Aunt Mikoto. Today's lunch was delicious. I'm so sorry to have bothered you."
"Okay, be careful on your journey, and do your best on your mission." Mikoto smiled gently and said goodbye to the two of them, her gaze especially falling on their clasped hands—although it was Satsuki who took the initiative to hold their hands, Naruto also naturally took them in return.
Seeing this heartwarming scene, Mikoto's smile became even gentler and more gratified.
Then, watching her husband turn and walk back into the house without saying a word, looking somewhat sullen, she could only follow him back with a helpless yet tolerant smile.
In the living room, Fugaku sat silently on the tatami mat, his back ramrod straight, his face bearing the usual expressionless demeanor.
But based on years of marriage and understanding, Mikoto immediately saw through her husband's calm exterior and the little sullen emotion he was secretly harboring—probably because of their daughter's obvious favoritism and Naruto's "crime" of "kidnapping" their beloved daughter.
She sighed softly, walked to her husband's side, knelt down, and let the hem of her kimono spread out on the tatami mat.
"Honey, please don't do things like this again. We can both see how that child feels about Zuoyue, and Zuoyue will be very unhappy if you do this."
"...Hmm." Fugaku let out a short, muffled reply, acknowledging his wife's statement, but still turned his head away, refusing to look at Mikoto.
Mikoto couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at her husband's awkward expression—clearly he cared deeply but was putting on a brave face.
Even after all these years, he remains the same—he is extremely satisfied with Zuoyue's talent and progress, yet he can never bring himself to utter a single, straightforward compliment.
Despite acknowledging Naruto's determination and ability to protect Sakumo, he chose to express his insignificant "dissatisfaction" in such a childish way.
"To be honest," Mikoto leaned slightly towards her husband, "isn't it our family's good fortune that Satsuki met Naruto? Deep down... you're actually quite grateful to that child, aren't you?"
"At that time, Naruto was always by Satsuki's side, and you can see that he has a lot of responsibility in his plans for the future."
Mikoto is completely supportive and happy that Naruto and Satsuki could develop that kind of relationship. In fact, it has long been a wish she has kept deep in her heart.
Many years ago, before Naruto was born, she and her friend Kushina Uzumaki often met. Seeing their friend who was also pregnant, the two made a joke: if Kushina gave birth to a girl, they would make the two children best friends; if it was a boy, they would simply arrange a marriage between them, making their families even closer.
Of course, this beautiful promise is based on the premise that... the Fourth Hokage and his wife are still alive.
Now, time has passed, and things have changed. Without any interference from their parents, the two children naturally came together, which gave Mikoto immense comfort and joy. Fate, in a tortuous way, continued that lost promise.
"...It wasn't because of him."
Fugaku spoke again, his voice tinged with an indescribable bitterness. He still didn't look at his wife, his gaze lowered, fixed on the patterns on the tatami mat.
So, what were Fugaku's true thoughts deep down?
His denial wasn't directed at Naruto himself. The root of that bitterness perhaps lay more in a sense of powerlessness and guilt.
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