Chapter 92 - I'm Sorry

[Chapter 92 - I'm Sorry]

Previous Chapter Recap:

The three of them entered Konoha and started heading towards the center of the village. Max found it strange because the direction seemed different from what he remembered. When Max arrived at the Uchiha Clan compound, he was surprised to see that the shopping district was there instead of the Uchiha complex. Many Uchiha members were waiting at the gate, and upon seeing the number of people that had come, they all had a bad feeling. Makoto ordered them to remain silent and led them to the Clan's meeting complex. Max noticed Mikoto and thought she was a beautiful young woman. He followed the Uchiha silently as the atmosphere was somber. When they reached the meeting complex, Max began inspecting the area and discovered many spy insects, which he trapped in a Genjutsu. Max looked at Makoto and confirmed it was safe, and Makoto started telling the story, although he had omitted a lot of information. When the entire Uchiha Clan finished listening to the story, the atmosphere was filled with sadness and pain. Makoto told them to rest. In the end, only the four of them remained, and Max revealed his identity to Mikoto, as he saw that she was trustworthy, and they began to converse. After their conversation, Mikoto accompanied Max to let him rest.

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Continuation...

[October 18, 14 A.N.N.]

"Let's go," I spoke calmly, looking at Mikoto, who smiled at me.

Mikoto's smile made her look even more beautiful than she already was, and her demeanor was gentle and calm.

At that moment, I stood up and used the Transformation technique because I didn't want anyone to see my true appearance.

..." Mikoto looked at me and fell silent, understanding that I needed to hide my identity. She started walking.

..." I began to follow Mikoto, walking by her side. When we reached the gate, I opened it for her to exit.

"Thank you," Mikoto said softly, looking happy as she smiled again and left the meeting complex.

..." I didn't say anything and simply followed her.

..." Makoto smiled briefly when he saw his daughter's interaction with me. He told Yemon to take me to his house.

As we left the meeting complex, I walked beside Mikoto in silence. She seemed to shiver from the cold of the night.

"It's getting close to winter... I can't feel the cold with my Chakra cloak, but Mikoto can," I thought, observing her hugging herself.

In that moment, I took off the jacket I had and placed it on her shoulders. She jumped back, startled like a frightened cat.

When Mikoto felt the jacket on her back, she immediately realized what I had done and said, "I'm sorry for my behavior... Thank you! But it's not necessary; I'm not cold."

"I don't mind your behavior..." I thought to myself, continuing, "She wants to appear brave when she's actually feeling cold."

"Don't worry, but please use the jacket. I don't want you to catch a cold," I spoke calmly, watching her. She seemed a bit embarrassed.

"But..." Mikoto started to say, but I interrupted her.

"It's fine. You have two options: one, use the jacket to protect yourself from the cold, or two, I hug you so you don't feel cold," I calmly proposed, thinking, "I don't want to argue all night over this."

When Mikoto heard the first option, she seemed hesitant, but when she heard the second option, her face turned red, and she felt embarrassed.

"Okay... Option one," Mikoto said softly,

avoiding eye contact.

"I thought she might choose the second option... Oh well," I thought with a tinge of regret, enjoying her shy and embarrassed behavior.

Mikoto's face turned even redder, but she didn't say anything more. She put on the jacket, covering herself and starting to walk again.

Observing her reaction, I found it amusing, so I followed her closely, strolling together through the quiet streets of the Uchiha Clan territory.

As we walked in silence, the atmosphere in the village felt heavy due to the sad news they had received. Mikoto clung to the jacket, feeling warmer, and she looked up at the starry sky.

"The stars are so bright tonight," she commented.

Glancing up at the sky, I replied, "Yes, they truly are beautiful... It would be nice to have someone to share this moment with."

Mikoto looked at me, her eyes shining brightly. We continued walking in silence, and eventually, we arrived at a house.

The house was a two-story wooden structure with an old-fashioned Japanese design.

"You'll be staying here, and I'll take responsibility for your stay," Mikoto said in a soft voice, showing me the house.

I nodded in approval and followed her inside the house. It was a modest but cozy home, and I immediately felt a sense of warmth.

"Mikoto, I want to apologize for earlier. I didn't mean to offend you or make you uncomfortable," I spoke sincerely, feeling the need to clarify.

Mikoto turned towards me, her eyes filled with kindness. "No, please don't apologize. I appreciate your concern. Thank you for lending me your jacket," she said, her voice soft and gentle.

I smiled at her, feeling relieved that she wasn't upset. "You're welcome. If there's anything you need or if you have any questions, feel free to ask," I offered.

Mikoto nodded, grateful for my offer. "Thank you, Max. I'll keep that in mind," she replied.

With that, we settled into the house, and Mikoto showed me to the room where I would be staying.

As I entered the room, I felt a mix of emotions. The events of the day weighed heavily on my mind, but being in this unfamiliar yet comforting environment brought a sense of calm.

I closed the door behind me, taking a deep breath, and prepared myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

Little did I know that the path I had chosen would bring both joy and sorrow, and that I would have to confront the shadows of my past.

But for now, I would rest and gather my strength, for tomorrow would be another day filled with uncertainties and possibilities.

To be continued...