Afterward, Shun came to Mikoto's palace.
The palace doors were not closed, revealing a soft warm light and the elegant scent of orchid incense. It was an incense Mikoto had personally blended to soothe the mind and calm the spirit.
Moonlight filtered through the window lattices, spilling onto the palace carpet and weaving a patch of silver radiance.
Mikoto was sitting by a small table, embroidery needle in hand, focused on embroidering a handkerchief. On the handkerchief was a blooming osmanthus, the stitches were fine and lifelike.
Hearing footsteps, Mikoto looked up abruptly, a flash of surprise in her eyes, which was then tinged with a faint shyness.
She picked up the already warmed clear tea and handed it to Shun, her tone gentle. "You must be tired. This is osmanthus tea I specially brewed, it can soothe the mind."
Shun took the teacup, his fingers inadvertently touching Mikoto's. Sensing the slight chill and trembling of her fingertips, he took the opportunity to grasp her hand and, with a gentle pull, drew her into his embrace.
Letting her lean against his chest, he lowered his head to smell the faint orchid scent in her hair and kissed the top of her head.
"With you here, I don't feel tired."
Mikoto's cheeks instantly flushed. Her hands lightly pressed against his chest, but she didn't push him away, simply allowing herself to nestle in Shun's arms. Listening to his steady heartbeat, her heart was filled with sweetness and security.
The two snuggled on the soft couch, Mikoto leaning on Shun's shoulder. She softly recounted the trivial matters of the manor during the months of separation, from the children's daily training to the clan's affairs, her eyes full of tenderness.
Shun listened quietly, nodding in response occasionally.
After they had been intimate for a while, Shun raised his hand, a soft golden light glowing in his palm.
He gently covered Mikoto's eyes and said, "Rinnegan consumes a large amount of Chakra. I'll input some Chakra for you so you won't have to worry about it in the future."
Shun's tone was gentle as the golden energy slowly flowed into Mikoto's body, nourishing her Rinnegan.
Mikoto closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his palm and the power surging within her.
Once the energy injection was complete, Mikoto's Rinnegan shimmered with a faint golden light. Her dojutsu's precision and Chakra control both achieved a qualitative leap.
She looked up at Shun, her eyes filled with tender affection.
As the night deepened, Shun visited Sara, Kurenai, and several other consorts in succession. Each place had its own unique atmosphere and warmth.
Sara's palace was decorated with exotic tapestries and burned rich spices.
She wore a light gauze gown, and seeing Shun enter, she took the initiative to step forward and wrap her arms around his waist. Pressing her cheek against his chest, she spoke of her longing in a gentle voice with an exotic accent.
Shun gently stroked her long hair and whispered in her ear, soothing her worried heart.
Kurenai's palace was elegant and quiet, with a vase of blooming red maples on the table.
Dressed in a pale red kimono, her temperament was serene. Seeing Shun enter, she rose to pour him a cup of warm wine.
They sat facing each other, occasionally raising their cups to drink together. Not many words were needed, as a single glance was enough to convey their feelings.
Shun lightly kissed the red maple by her temple, his fingertips brushing across her cheek, full of deep affection.
By the time he finished visiting the rest of the consorts, a faint glimmer of light had appeared on the horizon.
Following the familiar path, Shun walked toward Hinata's palace.
He had originally intended to see Hinata first and then go to see Hanabi.
When he pushed open the door, a soft warm light filled the palace, and the elegant scent of gardenias permeated the air.
Hinata was sitting on a soft couch, holding a cup of warm tea in her hands. She wore a plain white kimono, her long hair loosely tied up with a hairpin inserted.
Seeing Shun enter, her cheeks instantly flushed with a faint blush. Her eyes were somewhat shy, yet the joy in them was hard to hide.
Meanwhile, Hanabi was sitting beside Hinata, dressed in a pale blue kimono with her long hair draped over her shoulders. Playing with a strand of hair in her hand, she saw Shun enter, and a knowing smile appeared in her eyes.
Clearly, she had long since calculated that Shun would seek out her sister first and had specifically waited here in advance, a playful smile on her lips, showing her vivacity.
Hinata rose to greet him, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Husband..."
Hanabi also rose, walking light-footedly to Hinata's side with a beaming smile. "I knew you would come to see sister first, husband... so I came over to join the fun."
Looking at the two gentle consorts before him, Shun's fervent emotions transformed into soft warmth.
The atmosphere in the palace was warm and affectionate. In the flickering candlelight, the figures of the three seemed increasingly intimate.
Shun sat in the middle, with Hinata leaning submissively on his shoulder. Her hands gently gripped his sleeve, her head lowered slightly, cheeks flushed, and her breathing soft, full of dependence.
Hanabi leaned against his other side, her arm lightly encircling his. Occasionally, she would look up to meet Shun's eyes, a gentle smile hidden in hers. She would also quietly lean into his ear to whisper a few playful words, making Shun's smile deepen.
The two sisters blended in perfect harmony, without the slightest hint of estrangement.
The occasional exchange of glances revealed a wordless understanding, and the palace was filled with an atmosphere of tender affection.
Soon, the sound of two women's panting drifted from within the room.
"Mmh..."
— — —
Morning light swept across this sacred land of the Ancestral Star, coating the leaves in the courtyard with a layer of warm radiance.
Shun followed a familiar path, walking toward the home of an acquaintance. It was the temporary residence of Kakashi and Obito, where an old maple tree stood in the courtyard.
At this moment, the maple petals were slowly drifting down, carpeting the ground in a pale pink.
He came here today to fulfill a previous promise, to resurrect Rin and resolve the obsessions the three of them had held for many years.
On a stone table in the courtyard sat three cups of lukewarm tea. Clearly, they had been waiting for quite some time.
Petals landed on the rims of the cups, adding a touch of elegance.
Kakashi was dressed in light blue casual wear, his expression beneath his mask seemingly calm. Yet there was a reminiscence of the past in his eyes.
Beside him, Ken stood tall and straight. His features blended Kakashi's restraint with Obito's wildness. He felt both anticipation at the thought of meeting the mother he had never seen and a touch of unease.
Obito stood with his back to the courtyard gate, his black cloak hanging down and obscuring most of his form, his aura as somber as ink.
As soon as Shun approached the courtyard, the three of them turned their heads simultaneously to look at him. Their expressions varied, but all showed a hint of nervousness.
Kakashi's eyes brightened for a moment before dimming slightly, anticipation and apprehension intertwining in his gaze.
Ken pursed his lips slightly, his eyes full of curiosity and unease, instinctively leaning closer to Kakashi's side.
Obito's eyes flickered instantly, and his shoulders tensed slightly.
Shun walked to the stone table and sat down, casually brushing away a petal that had landed on his shoulder.
Seeing the tense state of the three, a playful smile appeared at the corners of his lips as he teased them on purpose.
"You all... why the long faces? I'm here to fulfill my promise and resurrect Rin. Shouldn't you be happy?"
He picked up the tea on the table, took a light sip, and spoke in a relaxed tone.
Then, his gaze fell on Obito with a hint of playfulness. "Speaking of which, after Rin is resurrected, how do the three of you plan to get along?"
"Kakashi has a son like Ken, and you've been obsessed with Rin for years. I'm quite curious."
As soon as these words were spoken, Obito's face instantly darkened.
Loneliness enveloped him like a tide as he lowered his eyes to stare at the ground. A petal landed on the crown of his head, but he didn't even notice.
"I... am just an extra person... Once Rin is resurrected... I will leave."
Rin was Kakashi's wife and Ken's biological mother. This was a fact etched into time, whereas he was not only the rogue ninja who had once sabotaged Konoha and triggered war but also the person who had personally pushed Rin toward death. For so many years, he had struggled in remorse and guilt. Even if he was later redeemed, that blood debt always weighed heavily on his heart.
Now, even with the chance to see Rin again, only fear and helplessness remained in his heart.
He was terrified of seeing disappointment in Rin's eyes, and even more afraid that his presence would disrupt the stability Kakashi and Ken enjoyed.
Seeing this, Kakashi gently patted Obito's shoulder.
Ken also spoke up at the right time, saying gently, "Uncle Obito, mother... perhaps... she never blamed you."
"Father said that before mother passed away, she was still murmuring your name, hoping you would turn back."