"Lord Yuzuru... oh no, Your Imperial Majesty!"
Seeing Yuzuru walk in, Kurama Murakumo immediately rose from his chair and bowed.
Yuzuru waved his hand and said with a smile, "Clan Leader Murakumo, we can be considered old acquaintances. There is no need for such formality."
After sensing Yuzuru's attitude, Murakumo visibly relaxed and sat back down.
Yuzuru smiled and said, "Clan Leader Murakumo, I heard earlier that someone from the Kurama clan married into the Uchiha clan?"
Murakumo nodded and said, "I did not expect even Lord Yuzuru to know about it. There is indeed such a matter."
"Back then, you encouraged the Kurama clan and the Uchiha clan to form marriage ties. Now that so many years have passed, we have finally managed not to disappoint you."
Yuzuru smiled noncommittally, then said, "Clan Leader Murakumo, you did not come here just for that matter, did you?"
At those words, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Murakumo's face.
He rubbed his hands over his knees a few times before finally saying, "Clan Leader Yuzuru, to be honest, I came this time to discuss a marriage proposal..."
"Oh?"
Yuzuru raised an eyebrow and said, somewhat surprised, "Tell me."
"Well... Lord Yuzuru, I want Yakumo to marry into your household."
Murakumo braced himself and voiced his thoughts. Yuzuru could not help but freeze for a moment.
He truly had not expected the other party to want Kurama Yakumo to marry him.
Seeing that Yuzuru did not speak, Murakumo continued, "Lord Yuzuru, after you cured Yakumo's bloodline disease back then, that child has never been able to forget you."
"After graduating from the Ninja Academy, she would often sit there in a daze."
"I went to see her room, and it was almost entirely filled with portraits of you."
"And after that child heard that a clan member had married into the Uchiha clan a few days ago, she became even more restless, unable to eat or sleep properly."
"After thinking it over, I decided to come and speak with you about this matter myself."
Murakumo said in a low voice, "If you are interested, then that would naturally be best. If you are unwilling, I can also make Yakumo give up on the idea directly."
After listening to Murakumo's explanation, Yuzuru began lightly tapping his fingers on the table.
Back when he treated Yakumo, her body had already been extremely weak.
Her face had been deathly pale, and her aura had been listless.
Although she had the air of a sheltered young lady, that had been all there was to it.
So after handing her over to Orochimaru, he had thrown Yakumo to the back of his mind.
He had not expected that she would have liked him all the way until now...
After thinking for a while, Yuzuru's face once again revealed a smile. "Clan Leader Murakumo, I understand what you mean."
"But with this kind of matter, it would be better to meet her first before saying anything."
"You do not need to worry about it. I will find a time to meet Yakumo personally."
They said girls changed greatly as they grew up.
As a female character with a proper name in the original story, Yuzuru felt it was still very necessary to go and meet her.
"That is wonderful, Lord Yuzuru. I will not disturb you any longer."
Murakumo left happily.
In his view, regardless of whether this matter ultimately succeeded or not, the fact that someone of Yuzuru's status was willing to personally meet Yakumo was already an unexpected joy.
Konoha Village.
Sweetheart Honey.
Kurenai and Yakumo sat facing each other, eating desserts in small bites.
Looking at the absent-minded Yakumo, Kurenai teased, "Yakumo, you do not even look like you have an appetite. Are you thinking about the man you like?"
Hearing this, Yakumo glanced at Kurenai but did not say much.
Kurenai did not mind and continued with a smile, "Yakumo, tell me. Just who has such great charm that even our Yakumo has fallen for him?"
Yakumo sighed helplessly. "Sister Kurenai, please stop teasing me. Do you really not understand what I am thinking?"
Kurenai's father, Yuhi Shinku, was a good friend of her father, Murakumo.
Because of that, Kurenai and Yakumo had always had a very good relationship as well.
When Yakumo was young and her bloodline disease had not yet been cured, her health had prevented her from attending the Ninja Academy like everyone else.
Kurenai had even served as her private tutor for a period of time.
Later, after her bloodline disease was cured, Kurenai became a special instructor for the Ninja Academy's genjutsu classes.
So the relationship between the two of them had always been very good.
In front of Kurenai, Yakumo had never hidden her feelings. Therefore, it was impossible for Kurenai not to know who the man Yakumo secretly loved was.
Seeing Yakumo's expression, Kurenai said mysteriously, "Yakumo, the reason I asked you out this time was to create an opportunity for you."
"You had better make good use of it."
Hearing this, Yakumo first froze. Then her heartbeat began to quicken uncontrollably.
She asked nervously, "Sister Kurenai, y-you... you are not teasing me, are you?"
Kurenai did not say anything more. She merely stood up.
"Wait here. The person you want to see will be here soon."
After Kurenai left, it did not take long before Yuzuru arrived and sat across from Yakumo.
Looking at the man before her, the man who had appeared in her dreams countless times, Yakumo froze on the spot.
"Yakumo, what is wrong?"
Yuzuru asked with a smile.
Coming to meet Yakumo this time had truly been a wise decision.
The Yakumo before his eyes was completely different from when she had been a child.
Her skin was still cool and fair, but now there was a hint of rosy color beneath the whiteness, making her look warm and lovely, like fine jade.
Moreover, the current Yakumo had fully grown into herself. She gave off the impression of a gentle, refined young lady. Perhaps because her Yin Release power was so strong, her entire person was filled with a uniquely feminine softness and allure.
"G-Greetings, Lord Yuzuru..."
Yakumo greeted him somewhat helplessly.
For some reason, she had rehearsed countless scenarios of meeting Yuzuru in her mind, and she had thought of who knew how many things to say...
But the moment she truly saw Yuzuru, Yakumo suddenly had no idea what she should say.
Seeing Yakumo stammering like this, Yuzuru could only continue speaking. "Yakumo, your father came to see me a few days ago."
Yakumo asked curiously, "Eh? Lord Yuzuru, did Father come to you for something?"
Yuzuru smiled and said, "Your father wants to marry you to me. Are you willing?"
After hearing Yuzuru's words, Yakumo, who had not been prepared at all, froze in place.
Her face instantly turned bright red, and she no longer dared to raise her head to look at Yuzuru.
Something like this...
Why did Father not tell her in advance?