In Konoha, they wiped out the Sarutobi clan at the start.

Chapter 84 Hiding Merit and Fame

"I don't care what she is like, all I care about is that she's a woman. Waaah... Chiya, you know I like you, why are you with other people? If you want her, you can come to me. Waaah..."

Quan cried and then fell silent, which terrified Qianye. Looking down, he saw that the little girl had fallen asleep in his arms.

Clearly, she hadn't slept much since the night before last, and was extremely exhausted both physically and mentally.

Qianye was really in a dilemma. Should he let her lie in his arms and have a good sleep?

No, he can't show favoritism.

My wife is pregnant, and this is the time when she feels most insecure.

As the child's father, I have an unshirkable responsibility.

Looking at Izumi's haggard face, Chiya's guilt deepened.

I carefully carried Quan to the bed, covered her with a blanket, closed the door, and let her sleep peacefully.

Chiya arrived at Mikoto's room.

As ninjas, without Chiya's deliberate attempt to conceal it, Izumi's cries naturally reached Konan and Mikoto's ears.

"Regarding your mission, this time I can request the leader to send a shadow clone for you."

Xiao Nan gave Qian Ye a deep look. Leaving those words behind, she walked out of the room.

Chiya nodded in thanks. He immediately created a shadow clone and followed behind Konan.

After closing the door, Qianye sat down next to his wife.

"I'm sorry, if it weren't for you and Izumi, we wouldn't have met." These were the first words Mikoto said to Chiya.

She no longer knows how to face Izumi, her former junior.

Chiya smiled and shook his head, gently pulling Mikoto into his arms. "I'm the culprit. If I hadn't been lusting after you and pushed you down, this wouldn't have happened."

Mikoto's eyes reddened, and she nestled in Chiya's arms, tears streaming down her face.

Silence fell in the room once again.

After a long pause, Mikoto bit her red lips tightly, as if making a huge decision, and got up from Chiya's embrace. Suddenly, she said, "Chiya... how about we just end things here? I'm so much older than you. After the baby is born, I..."

Before Mikoto could finish speaking, Chiya placed both hands on her shoulders and said sternly, "You're not allowed to talk such nonsense again. I will not abandon either you or the child, as for the age difference..."

At this point, Qianye moved his right hand down and pulled a pink string from the collar of his wife's clothes, with the pure gold ring that she had given to Mikoto hanging on it.

Because the pure gold ring was too eye-catching, Mikoto took it off and, at Chiya's suggestion, hung it around her neck.

Do you remember the ring I gave you?

Mikoto wiped away her tears and nodded slowly.

Qianye smiled slightly, and under Mikoto's astonished gaze, he took out the Mirror Flower Water Moon from the system warehouse, stuck it upside down on the floor, and blocked all surrounding perception.

"Actually, this is not an ordinary ring, but a metal that can slow down aging and make people live forever—pure gold. Let me put it this way: as long as you wear it, even two or three hundred years later, your appearance and physical functions will not change at all."

"Two or three hundred years." Mikoto exclaimed in shock, her face filled with disbelief.

Chiya gently covered Mikoto's mouth, making a shushing gesture, and chuckled, "Do you still think you're much older than me?"

Mikoto shook her head, then asked, "What about Izumi?"

Chiya turned her head to look towards Izumi's room and sensed her soft, even breathing.

He sighed softly and said, "Let her rest well first, and I will explain to her later."

Originally, I didn't want to tell her the truth so soon, thinking that she could enjoy a carefree teenage life.

It seems that it's not going to work now.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Qianye."

"This is what I deserve," Qianye said with a bitter smile. "When did you get pregnant?"

"It was probably that day." Mikoto lowered her head, her face flushed, and did not resist.

"Which night?" Since the Tanabata Street mission ended, Chiya had taken a two-month vacation, more than sixty nights in total, and he couldn't tell which day it was.

"It was that day, when Konan was invited by Izumi to be a guest, that you used illusion magic." Mikoto's cheeks turned even redder, and even her neck was tinged with pink, as she said coquettishly.

Qianye suddenly realized, "So that day... that means you're exactly one month pregnant now, right?"

"It should be," Mikoto said timidly.

"Then after you give birth to the baby, we'll try again and see if we can have a second child," Qianye said with a smile.

"Go to hell." Mikoto lowered her head and bit down on Chiya's shoulder.

"Ouch, madam, that hurts." Mikoto didn't use any force, and it didn't hurt at all, but Chiya still cooperated by crying out in pain.

Mikoto burst into laughter through her tears, saying with a hint of smugness, "Serves you right."

Hearing Mikoto's laughter, Chiya's face once again revealed a malicious smile.

Mikoto's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, a hint of panic flashing within them. She said timidly, "What do you want to do? Don't do anything rash. I'm pregnant right now."

"Don't worry, Madam, I won't do anything reckless," Qianye said with a mischievous smile.

It wasn't until evening that Chiya finally left the room, satisfied, under Mikoto's resentful gaze, and began to cook, something he hadn't done in a long time.

First, she delivered a portion to Mikoto, who was pregnant. Then, carrying the food, she went to Izumi's room and tenderly woke her up, saying, "Izumi, wake up, it's time to eat."

Izumi woke with a start, blinking her large eyes before fully opening them. Having slept a bit, Izumi felt slightly better, her cheeks rosy. She glanced briefly at Chiya, got up, straightened her clothes, and said softly, "Thank you."

As she spoke, she walked out of the room.

Watching Izumi's disappearing figure, Chiya felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow.

She said thank you to herself. What a polite yet distant word.

For so many years, for so many years, such words have not been used between them.

Could it be that because of Mikoto's situation, a permanent rift has appeared in their relationship?

One relationship often requires sacrificing another to make up for it; a man must ultimately pay the price for his debts. But that price…

Quan—I don't know when it started, but this name has been etched into Qianye's bones.

Just as Qianye was at a loss, Quan's voice rang out from the bathroom outside the living room, "Put the food on the dining table in the living room first, and remember to cover it up. It's rare for you to cook, so it won't taste good if it gets cold. I'm going to take a shower first, otherwise I'll be filthy."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Qianye's eyes lit up. He knew there was still a chance for things to turn around.

P.S.: Second update, please vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets!

Romance scenes are so damn hard to write, these are the last two chapters.

With this point in the story, the creation arc of the Akatsuki organization has essentially come to an end.

Next, we'll be approaching the point where the original protagonist's storyline begins.

Looking forward to F4 taking "I Love a Chai" (a popular Chinese cooking game), and looking forward to Erzhuzi calling Qianye "Dad".

(End of this chapter)