Unexpected Kiss

"So, you're back," Fugaku murmured, disappearing in a quick dash.

Mikoto watched her husband walk away with a sigh of relief. She hastily tucked the map into her pocket, turning back to her flowers.

But she jumped when she felt a pair of arms gently wrap around her waist.

"You..." she whispered, recognizing the aura of the man behind her.

He murmured into her ear with a soft, teasing voice, "So, Mikoto-san... Thinking of me? Have I finally reached your heart?"

She turned around, her face flushed with a mix of surprise and annoyance. Her hands trembled as she removed the man's mask, revealing the smiling face of Shikai.

"Shikai? What... what are you doing here?" she stammered, unable to hide her disarray.

Shikai was dangerously close. She could feel his warm breath on her face. She took a slight step back, but a part of her was irresistibly drawn to this proximity. Despite herself, her hand rose and lightly touched his face, tracing the contours of his more mature and captivating features.

"You've become... very handsome," she murmured, her voice wavering between admiration and restraint. "But... what do you want from this old woman?"

She tried to maintain an emotional distance, but her heart was pounding wildly, awaiting Shikai's next words.

He replied with a tender smile, "Just to get lost... to drown in your eyes."

Mikoto blushed even more, but she clicked her tongue to hide her disarray. She abruptly turned away, walking past him.

"You say that to all the girls," she said with a hint of annoyance. "You should go see Izumi, she was waiting for you."

But before she could move away, Shikai gently grabbed her hand. In a swift movement, he pulled her towards him and placed a fleeting kiss on her lips.

Mikoto stood still, her eyes wide open in shock. Shikai immediately stepped back, his mischievous smile illuminating his face. Before disappearing in a violet flash.

When she regained her composure, she noticed a scroll left at her feet. It suddenly activated, projecting spring cherry blossom petals in all directions, filling the place with ephemeral beauty.

Mikoto placed a hand on her lips, still disturbed by that unexpected kiss. Her heart, which she thought was under control, was now beating faster than ever.

"I... I have to pull myself together. He's just a child. I shouldn't do this."

***

POV: Shikai

"Damn, I'm too tired of doing all this shit."

I ran my hands through my braided blond hair, my breath forming slight puffs in the cool night air. The dark alleys of Konoha were deserted at this hour. No wonder. These days, people preferred to stay at home, safely away from the shadow of plots and the growing tensions between the clans and the council.

I found an ordinary bench, hidden from view, worn by time and weather, and I collapsed on it without ceremony. Once seated, I tapped my left temple twice. Instantly, a translucent screen appeared in front of me, projected into my field of vision.

I stared at this display with a tired smile. It was my greatest technological achievement so far: a chip implanted directly in my brain, a jewel of nanotechnology and fūinjutsu combined. Thanks to it, I could monitor my own body and collect data on anyone with almost divine precision.

Since I was an Otsutsuki in my past life, this kind of technological manipulation had become almost second nature. The most complex part had been finding the specific materials in this world... But with a bit of strategy and extensive knowledge, nothing could stop me.

I sighed deeply, my eyes fixed on the starry sky above me. After years of hard work, I could finally catch my breath. It wasn't the ideal vacation yet, but it was better than nothing. My laboratory was functional, my hideout Uzushiogakure was secure, and I had never been so powerful after my death.

However, despite these achievements, something was still missing. Orochimaru's knowledge.

That bastard. I had to acknowledge his genius, even if he had a morality as twisted as his experiments. His research in genetics was essential for my upcoming projects. Once I got my hands on his notes, nothing could stop me.

I refocused my attention on the screen in front of me. Detailed data on my current state was displayed:

[ Shikai Nara-senju

Age: 15 years old

Height: 182 cm

Level: 42, Kage level (level: o = genin/ level: 100~~Kaguya Otsutsuki)

Genetics: Nara, senju, Uzumaki = Human

Release: Suiton, Raiton, Katon, Doton, Fūton, Yin, Yang

Jutsu: Hiraishin, Rinha, Rasengan, Soul Chains, RaiKnife, Seal of Creation and Renewal, DarkRay, Kage no Sasayaki, Suiton: S-rank, Raiton: S-rank, Katon: A-rank, Doton: B-rank, Fūton: A-rank, Yin: S-rank, Yang: A-rank, Medical Jutsu: S-rank, Fūinjutsu: S-rank, Kenjutsu: A-rank, Taijutsu: A-rank.

Yang Stigma: Senju: 99% / Uzumaki: 70%

Yin Stigma: Uchiha: 99% / Yamanaka: 30%

Moon Stigma: Hyuga: 10%

Jūbi Stigma: Shukaku: 0% / Matatabi: 100% / Isobu: 0% Son Gokū: 0% / Kokuō: 0% Saiken: 0% Chomei: 0% Hachibi: 10%, Kurama: 100%

Sage Stigma: Toad: 100% / Snake: 0% / Slug: 0%

Kekkei Genkai: Meiton = unusable]

I let out a chuckle as I scanned the information. "Even if he was a pervert, he was still a good teacher," I murmured, remembering my last exchanges with Jiraiya.

I quickly deactivated the screen and leaned back on the bench, gazing at the sparkling stars.

"Okay, Shikai," I said aloud, "you're not done sweating yet. But we're making progress."

I had several projects underway, each riskier than the last. The massacre hadn't happened yet. I assumed it was linked to Itachi's mission, which had lasted nearly three years. Now that he was back, I doubted the Uchiha would last long.

And above all, I still had to find a way to activate my Meiton.

A/N: In the anime, Meiton is a Kekkei Genkai that can manipulate and release the chakra of any opposing ninjutsu. But I use the term because of its literal translation: "release of darkness." It was Shikai's affinity when he was Dekamoshi, the darkness, in a way a better version of the Nara techniques.

I cracked my joints as I stood up. Fatigue weighed on my shoulders, but it was nothing compared to what I had gone through.