Thirty minutes later.
In the real-time feed, Mikoto and Kushina's figures appeared at the entrance of the Desire Hot Springs.
The two linked arms, chatting and laughing as they walked inside.
The receptionist at the entrance froze for a moment, instinctively about to stop them, but Kushina lifted her chin:
"I was specially approved by your clan head!"
The receptionist's attitude immediately changed, a wide smile spreading across their face as they ushered the two inside, even specially arranging the best indoor hot spring room for them.
After passing through a long corridor, bamboo fences and stone lanterns lined both sides, and beneath their feet was a path of bluestone slabs. At the end stood a wooden door.
Pushing it open revealed a quiet and elegant room.
Tatami mats covered the floor, ikebana was placed in the corner, and outside the window was an artificial rock garden with flowing water.
On a rack against the wall were neatly placed clean yukata and towels, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air.
Mikoto and Kushina changed into yukata and walked into the inner room.
The inner room contained a modest indoor hot spring. The pool was built from bluestone, the water crystal clear, with wisps of steam rising gently.
Gento's breathing paused for a moment.
The two began to change clothes.
Mikoto faced away from the view, undoing the sash of her kimono. The garment slipped down from her shoulders, revealing her smooth back.
Her skin was fair, her shoulder lines graceful, her waist slender…
She changed into a swimsuit and turned around.
It was a dark blue two-piece swimsuit.
The top was bandeau-style, and the bottom was a tie-side triangle.
The swimsuit wasn't particularly revealing, yet on her, it carried an indescribable charm.
Kushina, on the other hand, was far more straightforward.
In a few quick motions, she removed her outer clothing, revealing a fiery red bikini.
Large areas of her fair skin were exposed, her waist and abdomen free of any excess fat, her legs long and straight.
She stretched lazily, the curve of her chest becoming even more pronounced.
"Mikoto, hurry and come down!"
She stepped into the pool first, ripples spreading as the water rose past her calves, knees, thighs…
Mikoto also slowly walked into the pool.
The two sat down in the water, which rose just to their chests.
Steam billowed, the hazy mist obscuring the view beneath the surface while making the parts above the water even more alluring.
"Mmm~…"
Kushina leaned back against the edge of the pool, letting out a comfortable moan.
Her face was flushed, her eyes half-closed, her lips slightly parted, looking utterly immersed in enjoyment.
Mikoto was much more reserved.
She merely leaned lightly against the poolside, eyes closed, breathing steady.
Yet from the gentle rise and fall of her chest and the increasingly flushed color of her cheeks, it was clear she was equally enjoying the comfort of the hot spring.
Kushina opened her eyes, turned her head to look at Mikoto, and grinned mischievously:
"Mikoto, there's no one else here. If it feels good, just let it out."
Mikoto opened her eyes, her face reddening further.
Kushina suddenly swam over, moving close to Mikoto and began running her hands over her.
"Ah!"
Mikoto cried out in surprise, instinctively trying to dodge, but Kushina pulled her into an embrace.
"Don't move, don't move, let me tickle you…"
"Hahaha, don't… don't touch there… it tickles!"
Mikoto trembled like a swaying flower from the tickling, water splashing everywhere.
She tried to push Kushina away, but her hands lacked strength, instead seeming like a reluctant welcome.
Kushina grew more enthusiastic the more she tickled.
"Mm… don't move… don't touch there… it tickles!"
"Letting you pretend to be so reserved~"
Kushina giggled, but her hands became even more active.
"Mm… stop… Kushina…"
Mikoto's voice grew softer and softer, more and more alluring, until in the end it was almost pleading.
Amid the rippling water, the two figures entwined together.
Within the mist, strange sounds would occasionally drift out.
…
At home, Gento watched the two playing around and couldn't help but feel his horizons broaden.
He hadn't expected that these two seemingly proper beauties would be so open in private!
After playing around for a while, the two gradually calmed down.
Mikoto spoke softly:
"Kushina, recently, the clan head has been encouraging childbirth. I want to have another child with Fugaku."
"Then just have one.
"Your family isn't short on money; raising another child shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Mikoto sighed:
"You don't understand. The Police Force has been extremely busy lately.
"Fugaku works overtime every day, sometimes only coming back at midnight. He comes home exhausted and collapses straight into sleep… I can't even bring it up."
Hearing this, Kushina also comforted her:
"It's fine, there will always be a chance."
As she spoke, the smile on Kushina's face faded a bit, and a trace of loneliness appeared in her eyes.
"Fugaku comes home no matter how late it is, unlike Minato… when he gets busy, he often doesn't come home at all."
Mikoto paused, then raised her head:
"Doesn't Minato have the Flying Thunder God Technique? It should be convenient for him to come home, right?"
Kushina pouted, her tone tinged with grievance:
"But he spends all day in meetings with those old men, or he's out on missions.
"And me? I'm a Jinchuriki, I can't go along…
"So every time he comes back, I cherish it so much. I also want to have a child with Minato… but where's the time?
"We haven't done that in a long time…"
Mikoto said nothing, only reaching out to hold her hand.
Listening to their conversation, Gento fell into thought…
...
In the blink of an eye, eleven months passed in a hurry.
Time arrived at Year 51 of Konoha.
Within this year, the changes in the Uchiha clan's territory were visible to the naked eye.
Following the first Indulgence Apartments, four more apartment buildings were completed one after another, neatly arranged in the center of the clan grounds.
The housing problem of over two hundred unmarried youths was single-handedly resolved by Gento.
The effect of the apartments was immediate.
The young people who moved in would constantly run into each other.
Meeting in the corridors, running into each other in the bathhouse, back and forth, conversations increased, and gazes grew heated.
Coupled with the fact that those living there were all young people in the prime of their passions, under unbearable loneliness, it was inevitable that certain stories would happen.
So, at night, strange sounds would always come from some rooms, and the others gradually grew accustomed to them.
Additionally, there was the boost from the Desire Hot Springs.
In mixed bathing, amid the lingering steam, who looked at whom a few more times, who handed whom a towel–over time, it became who went home together with whom.
With multiple factors at play, in less than a year, the Uchiha clan gave birth to over two hundred newborns in total!
The clan's population finally broke past the three-thousand mark.
Moreover, it wasn't just the Uchiha.
The entire Hidden Leaf Village welcomed a baby boom.
The war had ended, the men returned home, and the women were reunited with their husbands.
Although the shinobi still had to go on missions, compared to wartime, they could at least catch their breath.
As a result, Year 51 of Konoha became truly deserving of the title "Year of Newborns."
Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka were born one after another within the same month.
Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga were also born in succession.
The heirs of the major shinobi clans arrived in this world in clusters.
The streets saw many more young mothers pushing baby strollers, while within the village, many new shops selling infant products also opened.
...
On this day, Gento walked with Kurenai along a small path outside the village.
The two walked leisurely as Kurenai held onto his arm, chatting idly from time to time.
Suddenly–
Boom!
A loud explosion sounded from ahead.
Gento abruptly raised his head.
Flames shot into the sky, carrying thick smoke.
He recognized it at a glance–it was the Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu.
"Something's happened."
Gento patted Kurenai's hand:
"I'll go take a look."
Kurenai nodded without asking further.
Gento's figure flashed, stepping across rooftops as he rushed forward.
Halfway there, he saw three figures also heading in that direction.
The one in front turned back for a glance–it was Fugaku.
"What's going on?"
Gento caught up to him.
"A Special Jonin is causing trouble."
Fugaku's expression was grave.
Gento nodded and did not ask further.
The group landed at a street corner.
A crowd had already gathered at the scene.
Three Uchiha clan members wearing Leaf Police Force vests were pinning a man firmly to the ground.
The man was still struggling, his face pressed to the ground, cursing loudly.
Fugaku walked over and looked down at the restrained ninja.
"Take him back."
Two members of the Police Force lifted the man.
Gento let out a breath.
It seemed the matter had already been resolved.
He was just about to turn and leave.
Suddenly–
Smack!
An egg smashed against the back of a Police Force member's head.
"All of you Uchiha deserve to die!"
...
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