Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

A simple sentence made Nonou's heart skip a beat.

Hiruko took a towel from her sink and prepared to wipe the drizzle from her hair.

Nonou reached out and took the towel from his hand: "Let me help you."

Hiruko did not let go, and their fingertips briefly touched the edge of the towel.

Nono could feel the warmth of his fingers, much warmer than the air of the rainy night.

He finally let go, allowing her to take the towel.

"Lord Beiliuhu, please lower your head," she said softly.

Hiruko obediently lowered his head, and Nonou tiptoed to gently wipe his wet hair with a towel.

This position allowed her to almost smell the rain mixed with the distinctive disinfectant smell of the laboratory on his body.

She moved gently, as if afraid of disturbing something.

“Your hair has grown long,” she whispered, her fingers brushing unintentionally against his earlobe.

"The lab is too busy, I don't have time to manage it."

"The children miss you very much."

Nono continued what she was doing, "Last week, Aoi asked me when that uncle who can do magic tricks would come again."

"Is it just the children who miss me?" Hiruko suddenly looked up, his gaze behind his glasses looking straight into her eyes.

Nono's hand froze in mid-air, a corner of the towel dangling over his shoulder.

The air in the office seemed to freeze, with only the sound of rain continuing.

She felt her cheeks burning, but she didn't want to look away.

"I..." she was about to speak when footsteps suddenly came from the corridor, and the two quickly separated.

Nonou turned around and pretended to organize the documents on the table, her heart pounding like a drum.

Hiruko then regained his calm and composed demeanor.

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Nonou breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to find Hiruko standing very close behind her, with her arms around her.

She could see the tiny water droplets on his hair.

"What were you trying to say?" he asked in a low voice.

Nonou took a deep breath: "I'm just... worried that you're overworking."

"I heard you haven't left the lab for three days in a row."

Hiruko's lips curled into a faint smile: "Is someone monitoring my movements?"

“It’s concern,” she corrected, her fingers unconsciously twirling the ends of her hair.

He took a step forward, their shadows almost merging on the wall: "You know what? The new cats I bred in my lab can do backflips!"

"Really?"

Nonou's eyes lit up. "You mentioned that disobedient kitten last time?"

She mustered her courage and reached out to straighten his crooked collar: "Next time... take me to see him?"

Hiruko grasped her wrist, his movements gentle yet allowing no escape: "Why don't you come to the lab yourself?"

Nono held her breath, feeling the whole world quiet down, leaving only the warmth of his fingertips and the sound of their intertwined breaths.

"Nonou-neechan!" A child's voice suddenly called from outside the door, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

The two quickly separated, and Hiruko retreated to the window, pretending to watch the rain.

Nono straightened her clothes and walked quickly towards the door.

"What's wrong, Xiao Kui?" She opened the door, squatted down, and looked the little girl in the eye.

"I had a nightmare..."

The little girl rubbed her eyes, then suddenly saw a figure by the window. Her eyes lit up, "Handsome uncle!"

Hiruko turned around, her expression softening: "Why aren't you asleep so late?"

The little girl ran over and hugged his leg: "Uncle, it's been so long since you've come!"

As Nono watched this scene, a warm feeling welled up in her chest.

Hiruko crouched down and pulled a candy from his pocket—he always carried these little surprises with him.

"If you've eaten candy, you should go to sleep obediently, okay?" he said softly.

The little girl nodded, her mouth full of candy, and mumbled, "Uncle and sister should get some rest too."

After taking the little girl back to her room, Nonou returned to her office and found Hiruko standing in front of her desk, looking at a photo of her and the children in a frame.

“She’s grown quite a bit,” he said, referring to another child in the photo.

"Yes, I'll be adopted next month."

Nono walked up to him and said, "It's a good family."

Hiruko put down the photo frame and turned to her: "I heard the orphanage might be relocated?"

Nonou sighed: "The village is planning to expand into a commercial district, and our area has been included in that area."

"When?"

"About six months later."

She forced a smile. "But it's alright, the Hokage promised to arrange a better place."

"Lord Beiruk, how have you been lately?"

Hiruko laughed, a truly relaxed laugh: "You always remember these details."

“I remember everything about you.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Nono regretted her bluntness, but Hiruko’s reaction surprised her.

He reached out and touched her cheek: "Me too."

The sound of rain grew louder, pattering against the roof and windows, as if providing accompaniment for this moment.

Hiruko slowly lowered her head, and Nonou closed her eyes...

"I have to go now, I have a morning meeting tomorrow."

"I'll walk you to the door." Nono took the umbrella.

In the corridor, the two walked side by side, their arms occasionally touching before quickly separating.

Upon reaching the gate, Beiluhu took the umbrella but did not leave immediately.

"tomorrow."

Hiruko suddenly asked, "Are you free tomorrow?"

"A dancing cat needs someone to appreciate it."

"I'll brew some tea and wait for you."

His gaze lingered on her face, finally settling on her lips. "Goodnight, Nono."

Good night, Lord Beiluhu.

He opened his umbrella and walked into the rain, his figure gradually becoming blurred.

Nono stood at the door, her fingers lightly touching the cheek he had just kissed, the sound of rain masking the rapid beating of her heart.

As someone living in darkness, she never imagined that anyone would be willing to have a romantic relationship with her.

Hiruko did not choose to fall in love with Tsunade, but instead chose Nonou in the darkness.

Perhaps he thought of himself when he saw Nonou.

Two insects crawling in the dark huddled together in the dim environment.

Tsunade is someone who lives in the sunlight; sometimes her warmth is too much, and it stings the reptiles in the shadows.

The next night.

Nono stood in front of a modern-looking mansion.

The porch sensor lights turned on automatically, and the smart lock emitted a pleasant electronic voice: "Welcome, Ms. Nono."

In the open kitchen, Hiruko was precisely controlling three floating kitchen knives with her chakra.

The sashimi automatically arranged itself into a crane dance shape under the blue light, while the miso soup bubbled on the stove on the left.

"sit down."

He didn't even turn around, saying, "It's the last thirty seconds."

Do you like it?

Chapter 66 Nonou

"I like you!" Nono truly liked Hiruko, who had saved her life.

She seemed a little excited tonight, unlike usual.

When you're in complete darkness, even the faintest glimmer of light will make you desperately reach out and grab it.

The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the nightscape of Konoha.

"People who don't know you would think you're a gourmet."

“Life sciences and cooking are fundamentally connected.” Hiruko walked over carrying the main course.

"Molecular gastronomy better demonstrates the precise control of chakra."

He snapped his fingers, and starlight fell from the ceiling projector. "The appetizer is firefly squid sashimi."

Halfway through the meal, a silver shaded British Shorthair hopped onto the table. Hiruko wiped his hands: "Kong, entertain the guests."

The cat suddenly leaped into the air, completed a three-and-a-half-turn in mid-air, and landed steadily on the dessert stand, its paws landing right next to the matcha mousse.

"Small successes in gene editing."