Chapter 368: A Tremendous Upgrade: The Leapfrog Expansion of the Heavenly Imperial Space
Kurenai Yuhi cast a sidelong glance in his direction, her crimson eyes holding a trace of amusement. She turned, her slender fingers reaching for the porcelain teapot.
A sudden, startled gasp escaped her lips.
An overwhelming, invisible gravitational force seized her entirely.
Banshō Ten'in.
The world blurred. Kurenai felt her feet leave the floor, her weight vanishing into the pull. In the blink of an eye, the sudden flight ended as she crashed softly into a firm, unyielding chest.
Uchiha Akira sat reclined in the expansive leather armchair, the very picture of relaxed dominance. His left arm was already wrapped securely around the waist of a thoroughly bewildered Sara. Now, his right arm closed around Kurenai, pulling her flushed body flush against his side.
He held them both, a king claiming his spoils.
"Only children make choices," Akira murmured. His fingertips rose, tracing the delicate, heated curve of Kurenai's cheek. "As an adult—and a powerful one at that..."
His dark eyes gleamed with absolute authority.
"I want them all."
Kurenai's breath hitched, her muscles turning pliant against him. Though she had long since surrendered every part of herself to this man, sharing such raw intimacy in the presence of an outsider sent a rush of heat straight to her ears.
"Stop it..." she whispered, her gaze darting away as she pressed a weak, entirely unconvincing hand against his chest. "There are others here."
Beside her, Sara had practically buried her face into Akira's collarbone. Yet, the young Queen of Roran made no move to escape. Instead, her small hands gripped the fabric of his shirt, finding an anchoring sense of absolute security within that broad, inescapable embrace.
As the hours bled into deep night, the atmosphere shifted.
There was no true sun within the Heavenly Imperial Space. The illumination fell from a colossal, crystalline construct suspended high in the artificial firmament. Gradually, its light cooled, shifting into a soft, silver-white glow that perfectly mimicked the gentle touch of moonlight from the outside world.
Inside the grand, temporarily erected mansion, silence reigned.
Uchiha Akira sat on the plush sofa, lazily swirling a shallow cup of premium sake. The rhythmic splashing of water from the adjacent bathroom had ceased several minutes ago.
Click.
The turning of the brass lock echoed sharply in the quiet room.
The door drifted open. Kurenai stepped out into the dim light. She wore a loose, midnight-blue silk robe, the neckline plunging low enough to reveal a stunning expanse of pale skin. Her dark hair hung heavy and wet over her shoulders, stray droplets tracing paths down her collarbones and soaking into the sheer fabric.
Yet, she did not walk toward Akira.
Instead, Kurenai turned back toward the humid darkness of the bathroom, her voice a soft, coaxing purr.
"Come out, little sister Sara. Do not make Akira wait."
A long pause followed. Then, from behind the doorframe, a pale, bare foot stepped timidly onto the hardwood floor.
Sara emerged. Her face was flushed so deeply it rivaled the color of her crimson hair, looking as though it might drip blood. She was wrapped tightly in a massive white bath towel that barely covered her vital areas, leaving her long, straight legs and delicate shoulders entirely exposed to the cool air.
"Akira... Akira," Sara stammered, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Her knuckles were white where she clutched the edges of the thick terrycloth. Under the heavy, intensely predatory gaze Akira leveled at her from the sofa, she felt entirely stripped bare. There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
Kurenai glided over to the trembling girl. With the gentle, guiding touch of an elder sister, she draped an arm over Sara's bare shoulders.
"Do not be afraid," Kurenai murmured, leaning in close. Her warm breath brushed against Sara's ear. "Akira is very gentle." A knowing, sultry smile touched Kurenai's lips. "As long as you are obedient."
The weight of that final word hung heavy in the air.
Akira set his sake cup down on the glass table. The faint clink sounded like a judge's gavel.
"Kurenai," Akira said, his voice a low, approving drawl. "You certainly know how to arrange things."
Kurenai offered a soft, melodic chuckle, accepting the praise without a hint of shame. Her hand moved to the small of Sara's back, gently but firmly pushing the young queen forward, step by agonizing step, until she stood directly before the Uchiha patriarch.
Then, Kurenai did something that made Sara gasp sharply.
Reaching out, the older kunoichi pinched the tucked corner of the bath towel and gave it a swift, fluid tug.
The heavy white fabric slipped away, pooling onto the floor.
Sara let out a panicked squeak, her knees instantly buckling as she tried to crouch and cover herself. But Kurenai's hands clamped down on her shoulders, locking her in place, forcing the young woman to stand tall and face Akira's burning gaze head-on.
Akira rose to his feet.
His tall, imposing shadow instantly swallowed both women. He reached out, his fingers catching Sara's delicate chin, tilting her head up. Her ruby-like eyes were swimming with unshed mist—a chaotic blend of fear, overwhelming shyness, and finally, a resolute, absolute surrender.
"Since you have made up your mind," Akira murmured, his thumb brushing slowly across her trembling lower lip. "Then let us begin."
He swept Sara off her feet, cradling her against his chest as he turned toward the master bedroom.
Kurenai remained standing in the center of the room, watching their retreating figures. She did not leave.
Instead, her hands moved to the sash of her own silk robe. With a single pull, the knot gave way. The luxurious fabric slipped from her shoulders, joining the towel on the floor.
Barefoot, she followed them into the dark.
The night was long, relentless, and consuming.
For Sara, it was a baptism by storm—a complete, overwhelming transformation from a sheltered girl into a woman. And with that surrender came the awakening of an ancient, dormant power. The vast, subterranean energy of the Dragon Vein flared to life, intertwining with the very fabric of the dimension around them.
[Ding! Detected a special energy source. The "Dragon Vein" has established a deep link with the Host!]
[Ding! Detected that the Dragon Vein Guardian (Sara) has completely submitted in mind and body!]
[Ding! "Life cooperation" rule triggered!]
[Ding! The foundation of the Heavenly Imperial Space has been massively enhanced!]
The mechanical chimes of the system rang clearly within Akira's mind.
He ignored them. At this exact moment, his attention was entirely consumed by the clumsy, desperate way the young girl beneath him was trying to meet his demands.
But outside the mansion, at the very edges of the Heavenly Imperial Space, the earth began to emit a deep, world-shaking rumble.
The boundaries of the dimension were tearing open, expanding outward at a terrifying, explosive speed.
[System Prompt: The Heavenly Imperial Space is undergoing its first domain leap!]
[Estimated time to completion: 30 days.]
[The Heavenly Imperial Space will expand to the total landmass of the Land of Grass!]
Akira's movements hitched. He froze, his breath catching in his throat.
The entire Land of Grass? That was a fully functioning nation, complete with mountain ranges, vast plains, and deep forests.
"Akira..."
Sensing his sudden distraction, Sara let out a soft, wronged whimper, her hands clutching weakly at his back.
"Focus..." she breathed out, her voice barely a whisper.
Akira snapped back to reality. A wicked, highly satisfied smirk curled the edges of his lips.
"Alright," he whispered back, his eyes darkening. "I will satisfy you."
The storm resumed, the waves of passion surging higher. This night was destined to be entirely sleepless.
The next day.
Morning light filtered through the heavy curtains. Though there were no roosters to announce the dawn in this isolated world, Akira's internal biological clock woke him with absolute precision.
He opened his eyes.
To his left and right lay two stunning women. Kurenai was buried deep in sleep, her breathing slow and heavy. Faint tear stains still lingered at the corners of her eyes, a silent proof of her total exhaustion from the night's relentless pace.
On his other side, Sara clung to him like a desperate octopus. Her long, vibrant red hair was fanned out across the white silk pillows, looking exactly like a blooming Red Spider Lily.
Moving with practiced silence, Akira gently extracted his arm from beneath Sara's head.
Without disturbing either of their peaceful slumbers, he slipped out of bed, pulling a dark black robe over his shoulders. In a flicker of movement, his figure vanished from the room.
He reappeared high above the ground, floating near the edge of his domain.
Originally, the borders of the Heavenly Imperial Space had been nothing but a hazy, impenetrable wall of chaotic void.
But now, that chaos was violently churning, boiling, and rapidly receding.
Vast tracts of new, fertile land were being ripped into existence out of thin air. Jagged mountains thrust upward from the expanding crust, while deep, winding rivers carved their way through the fresh soil. The sheer concentration of natural energy in the air was climbing at an exponential, terrifying rate.
Akira took a slow, deep breath.
He could feel every single cell in his body cheering, drinking in the dense, pure energy. The absolute authority of this place—the sensation of holding a growing, breathing world in the palm of his hands—was intoxicating.
"The size of the Land of Grass, huh..."
Akira gazed out at the violently extending horizon, watching the birth of a continent. A deeply satisfied smile graced his features.
Breakfast was a quiet, domestic affair.
Akira sat at the head of the long dining table, holding a piece of perfectly toasted, golden-brown bread. He methodically spread a thick layer of sweet berry jam across the surface, his demeanor calm and collected.
To his left sat Sara. She was wearing one of Akira's oversized white dress shirts, the collar slipping off one pale shoulder. She kept her head bowed, slowly and carefully sipping from a bowl of warm porridge. Her face was still dusted with a permanent, rosy flush. Every few seconds, she would steal a secret, nervous glance at Akira through her eyelashes. The moment he caught her eye, she would flinch and shrink back into her oversized shirt like a startled rabbit.
"How does it taste?" Akira asked casually, taking a crisp bite of his toast.
"Ah? Goo—it is very delicious!" Sara nearly choked on her porridge. She slammed her spoon down and sat bolt upright, her posture rigid. "Sister Kurenai's cooking... it is really amazing."
The kitchen door swung open. Kurenai emerged, carrying a large silver platter of freshly sliced fruits. She looked entirely refreshed, her usual capable and elegant aura fully restored.
"Eat more if you like it," Kurenai said warmly. She set the platter down in front of Sara and casually reached out to ruffle the girl's messy red hair. "You do not need to be so restrained here. Just treat this place as your own home."
Feeling the genuine warmth in the older woman's touch, Sara's ruby eyes welled up with fresh, emotional tears. She nodded vigorously, sniffing softly.
"Oh, right, Akira," Kurenai said. She smoothly untied her apron, draped it over a chair, and took the seat directly opposite him. Her expression shifted from a doting sister to a sharp, analytical subordinate. "Regarding the newly arrived refugees from Roran. I plan to have them take immediate responsibility for reclaiming the wasteland in the western district. They can begin planting basic crops to sustain themselves."
She paused, selecting a slice of apple. "Also, little sister Sara mentioned that there are several specialized artisans within their clan who are highly skilled in crafting precise, complex puppet parts. I was thinking... perhaps we could have them establish contact with Konoha's Research Department? The technological exchange could be highly beneficial."
Akira took a slow sip of his cold milk, letting the liquid wash down before he nodded.
"For minor logistical matters like these, you may make the decisions yourself," Akira stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You are the mistress of this place. You call the shots."
Kurenai blinked, momentarily stunned by the sheer weight of the authority he had just casually handed her. Then, a radiant, stunning smile bloomed across her face.
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
Breakfast concluded shortly after. Akira had an empire to run; he could not afford to linger endlessly in this warm land of tenderness.
"I am leaving," Akira announced, standing up and wiping his mouth with a linen napkin.
"Be careful out there," Kurenai replied. She did not ask where he was going or who he was planning to kill. She simply stepped forward, her hands moving deftly to straighten the collar of his dark robe, sending him off as only a perfect shadow could.
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