Naruto: I, who didn't want to be hacked to pieces, saved the ninja world.

"It's kind of embarrassing to say, even though I'm the older one, I'm the one who keeps getting comforted by you, Aoba..."

From becoming Sasuke's friend, helping his aunt take care of Sasuke, to the later changes in the Uchiha clan, it feels like I've been taking care of Aoba every single time.

"well enough."

Baiyun Qingye expressed himself in a somewhat tactful way.

Objectively speaking, he did help Mikoto Uchiha a lot, but such words can only be spoken by others.

It would be a bit strange if I admitted it myself, as if I had ulterior motives.

"Aoba, can you tell me why you've always taken such good care of me?"

Uchiha Mikoto suddenly stopped and looked intently at Shirakumo Aoba.

In autumn, darkness falls quickly, and the lights on the exterior of the shops on the street have already begun to flicker.

The colorful light fell on the married woman's face and was also reflected in her eyes.

Shirokumo Aoba paused for a moment, then casually gave an answer, "Because Sasuke is my friend."

Mikoto Uchiha pouted slightly; this was not the answer she wanted to hear.

Chapter 555 Kushina's Success

Shirakumo Aoba noticed this and continued, "Also, I've liked Aunt Mikoto since I was little."

Mikoto Uchiha smiled again; this was the answer she wanted to hear.

Although I don't know if it's romantic love, liking someone is liking someone.

She took another step with her long legs, which were covered in black stockings.

Baiyun Qingye remained quietly by her side.

Has anyone ever told you, Aoba, that you're actually very good at taking care of people?

Mikoto Uchiha asked again.

"Hmm... I don't think so."

After thinking it over carefully, Baiyun Qingye shook her head.

Tsunade, Shizune, and Uzuki Yugao go without saying; I've been taken care of by them since I was a child.

The other girls did not say anything like that either.

"Really……"

As if she had received a reassuring answer, Uchiha Mikoto felt even happier.

Then suddenly he moved a few steps closer, and as his shoulder touched Bai Yunqingye's, he made a move that Bai Yunqingye had not expected.

A soft touch came from my right hand; it was Uchiha Mikoto's gentle grip.

The kind where fingers are intertwined.

Although the two had held hands and gone shopping together before, they had also done so in the past.

But those were normal hand-holding, not this kind of direct interlocking of fingers.

"...Aunt Mikoto?"

Baiyun Qingye was a little taken aback for a moment.

But before Uchiha Mikoto could stop moving, she turned her head slightly and slowly rested her head on the boy's shoulder.

Baiyun Qingye was even more surprised.

"Aoba, this is the thing that makes me happiest right now."

"In that case, Aunt Mikoto can hold your hand for as long as she wants."

Neither of them spoke again.

Just like a couple deeply in love, they lean on each other as they move forward.

Like glue and lacquer.

-

"You two are finally back."

After entering the Uchiha clan's territory, Mikoto Uchiha automatically separated from Aoba Shirakumo.

As the head of the Uchiha clan, she always had to care about the image of her clan.

However, as soon as they arrived at the door, Kushina ran up to greet them.

They also took over a lot of the ingredients they had just bought.

"Kushina, why are you here so early?"

Mikoto Uchiha was somewhat surprised, after all, the other party's home was quite a distance from the Uchiha clan's territory.

More importantly, how did the other party get into the house without a key?

But she soon found out.

"Aunt Mikoto, Aoba, Sasuke and I are here too!"

Naruto ran out of the house with a big smile on his face.

Sasuke followed along, but he had a sour look on his face.

"Mom, welcome back."

Mikoto Uchiha was even more surprised. "Sasuke, you're back so early today?"

Sasuke usually returned home right around mealtimes, but today she had just finished grocery shopping when he was already home.

"Ah."

Sasuke still had a sour look on his face and offered no explanation.

He didn't want to go back early either.

Knowing that Shirokumo Aoba was coming, he wanted to go home around mealtime, but Kushina forcibly pulled him back to open the door.

He even said it was all for his mother's happiness.

"Sasuke, why are you looking so grumpy? Aren't you happy that I, Aoba, and Mom are here as guests?"

Naruto said with some dissatisfaction.

"no!"

Sasuke ignored it and went back into the house.

"Huh? But I can tell you're not in a good mood."

Naruto followed him inside and continued to press for answers.

"..."

As Mikoto Uchiha watched Sasuke's retreating figure, a sense of unease crept into her heart.

Sasuke...

He should be able to accept Aoba, right?

After all, I had said before that I wouldn't object.

"Aunt Mikoto, let's go in too."

Shirokumo Aoba said to Uchiha Mikoto.

"okay."

Mikoto Uchiha suppressed the turmoil in her mind and went inside with him.

Kushina put all the ingredients into the kitchen, then put her arm around Mikoto Uchiha's shoulder, winked at her, and whispered, "Mikoto, did your date go well?"

"Kushina!"

Mikoto Uchiha glared at her best friend reproachfully, then suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, what was that thing you said you forgot to take?"

Kushina blinked, then took out an exquisite gift box.

Ta-da! This is it!

Mikoto Uchiha took the box, opened it, and looked somewhat surprised.

"liquor?"

"I spent a long time choosing this one, and I even asked Tsunade and Kurenai for their suggestions."

Kushina wore a smug expression.

"But I don't drink much."

Mikoto Uchiha didn't quite understand Kushina's meaning.

"It's good that we're all having dinner together today, the atmosphere is nice, so we can have a couple of drinks, and..."

Kushina leaned closer and whispered in the other's ear, "They say alcohol emboldens cowards, but Mikoto, you're too timid and need to muster some courage."

"This one……"

Mikoto Uchiha was still somewhat hesitant.

After Kushina's repeated persuasion, he finally nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll just have a little bit."

The main reason was that she felt her alcohol tolerance was pretty good, and that drinking a few glasses shouldn't be a problem.

Shirokumo Aoba became wary when Kushina took out the sake.

If Kushina were really going to do something underhanded, it would definitely be in the drink.

However, he'll find out whether there's anything added or not once he tastes it.

"All right."