Morning.
Makoto was woken up by Ayari's movements as she got dressed.
The inn room was warm, and the curtains had been drawn open, letting in the rare clear morning sunlight that bathed the room in a soft glow.
Lying on Makoto's other side, Ayano was curled up tightly in his arms, holding onto him as she slept soundly.
"It's morning. Time to get up," Ayari said, already dressed, as she saw Makoto open his eyes.
Like Ayano, Makoto had no desire to get up and lazily mumbled, "Let me sleep a bit longer. We went to bed too late last night."
Ayari pouted and muttered, "I knew it. Who told you to mess around so much?"
Thinking about last night's madness, her face flushed slightly.
Looking at her older sister still hugging Makoto and sleeping peacefully, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unreality.
Ayano's usual demeanor was completely different from how she was at night.
Ayari had always thought she herself was already quite something in this regard, but she hadn't expected Ayano's contrast to be even greater.
The two in the blanket continued to snuggle together, indulging in their extra sleep.
Ayari, seeing no response, stretched out her foot and gave Makoto a kick through the blanket.
He remained unbothered, so she pursed her lips and went off to wash up.
About half an hour later, after Ayari had finished freshening up, she looked at the two still lazing in bed.
Without hesitation, she knelt down and thrust her damp, ice-cold hands straight under the covers.
"Hiss—!"
"Ah!"
The two under the blanket yelped in unison, like startled house cats, kicking wildly at the covers in a frantic attempt to drive out the unbearably cold hands while also making sure not to expose themselves.
"Hahaha..."
Ayari burst into triumphant laughter.
"Ayari!"
"Are you crazy?!"
Looking at the furious pair, Ayari only laughed even more happily.
"Serves you right! Who told you to keep lazing in bed? Do you even know what time it is?"
Makoto, gritting his teeth in frustration, reached out and yanked Ayari onto the tatami. Pressing down on her back, he started to pull down her pants.
"Ah—what are you doing?!" Ayari shrieked, her face instantly turning bright red as she clutched onto her clothes for dear life.
Even after everything that had happened last night, she still wasn't used to this kind of thing, especially in front of her sister.
"Ayano, hold her down for me," Makoto said without hesitation.
"Got it!"
Ayano climbed out from under the covers without caring about the cold, obediently pinning down Ayari's hands and legs.
"Let go! Let me go!"
Smack—
"Ah! Hyuga Makoto! I won't forgive you for this!"
Smack!
"Hyuga Ayano! If you don't let go right now, I'm getting mad! I'm really going to be furious!"
Smack!!!
"..."
After another round of chaos in the morning, Makoto finally stepped out, fully dressed, by the time the sun had risen high in the sky.
Despite the clear weather, the temperature remained freezing, and the snow on the rooftops had yet to melt.
The inn's staff were busy sweeping the courtyard, clearing away the accumulated snow.
Ayari and Ayano followed behind Makoto, both draped in luxurious fur-lined cloaks.
However, Ayari walked a little awkwardly, occasionally sneaking a hand under her cloak to rub her sore backside.
Noticing Ayano smirking at her, she shot her a fierce glare in return.
The streets in the morning weren't as lively as at night, with fewer pedestrians around.
The three of them wandered through various shops, picking out gifts to bring back home for Kushina, Mikoto, Natsu, and the children.
The two women were engrossed in carefully selecting gifts—mostly for other women—so Makoto didn't bother to get involved and simply strolled along with them.
Stopping in front of a street stall, Ayari glanced at Makoto, who was aimlessly looking around, and suddenly asked with a sly smile, "What's wrong? Aren't you going to pick out a gift for your little secretary?"
Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly at her words and replied casually, "Good point. I should get something for Samui too."
That instantly infuriated Ayari.
She couldn't believe he actually dared to say that out loud!
Annoyed, she lifted her foot and stomped down hard on Makoto's.
"Hiss—"
Makoto's body was absurdly strong, so it didn't actually hurt, but he still put on an exaggerated expression, pretending to suck in a sharp breath.
"No buying gifts for her!" Ayari warned fiercely.
"Didn't you tell me to buy one?" Makoto asked innocently.
"I'm not letting you buy it now!"
Makoto sighed lightly. "Alright, alright. I'll listen to you."
Ayari bared her teeth at him in another playful warning, looking like a little girl throwing a tantrum.
Seeing her like this made Makoto chuckle inwardly.
The two women continued picking out gifts, only occasionally asking Makoto for his opinion.
He stood off to the side, answering whenever they sought his input.
Suddenly, something small caught his eye.
It wasn't anything rare—just a tiny wind chime, about the size of a thumb, casually tossed among other trinkets.
Reaching out, Makoto picked it up and gently shook it by its end.
Ding-ling—
The sound was crisp and clear.
Seeing this, Ayari immediately questioned him, "What are you trying to buy? Is this for your little secretary?"
Makoto helplessly held out his palm, showing her the tiny wind chime. "Do you think something like this is a suitable gift for a woman?"
Ayari, realizing it was just a simple wind chime, let go of her suspicion.
A little trinket like that was more suited for a child anyway.
"Neji and the others probably wouldn't like this, right?"
"It's not for the kids. I just think it's interesting," Makoto replied.
Ayari rolled her eyes at him. "How old are you? And you're still into such childish things."
Makoto just smiled without saying a word.
Something like this might seem childish in a kid's hands, but in an adult's—no, in Makoto's hands—his mind was already coming up with all sorts of… interesting (and perverted) ways to play with it.
............
The Obelisk Outside the Royal City.
Inside the Kazekage's resting chamber, Pakura sipped her hot tea, gazing out at the vast snowy landscape beyond the window.
"Lord Kazekage, the people from Kirigakure came to ask again just now," a guard reported as he entered.
"He still hasn't arrived?" Pakura asked calmly.
"No… What exactly is this Hokage planning? Wasn't it his idea to hold the Five Kage Summit?"
Pakura let out a soft chuckle. "If this Hokage's thoughts could be so easily guessed, things wouldn't have reached this point."
The guard hesitated, looking as though he wanted to say something but held back.
"What is it?" Pakura asked.
"I'm a little worried…"
"Worried about what?"
"Lord Kazekage, right now, all four Kage are gathered here. What if Konoha takes advantage of this… and does something?"
Hearing this, Pakura's expression remained unreadable.
She continued staring out at the vast, desolate landscape beyond the window, her gaze flickering with thought.
She spoke slowly, "Even if he weren't here, we wouldn't be able to stop Konoha from doing whatever it wants. A power that can instill fear in the other three villages—what could we in Sunagakure possibly do against it?"
The colossal figure standing outside the obelisk had made her reflect on many things over the past two days.
The Hokage's prolonged absence might not be just about asserting dominance over the other three Kage.
Perhaps, in his eyes, she, the Kazekage, was nothing particularly special either.
Otherwise, why hadn't he reached out to her at all before the Five Kage Summit?
Just then, a sudden knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
The guard stepped forward to open it.
"Lord Kazekage, the Hokage has invited you to the summit."
Pakura's hand trembled ever so slightly as she held her teacup before setting it down on the table.
She then rose to her feet, her expression calm.
"The Hokage has arrived?"
"He is already in the main hall."
A warm smile spread across Pakura's face.
"He certainly knows how to keep people waiting."
--------------
Exclusive access : All novel on paetron
Genshin impact Complete novel, Naruto birdcage Complete novel, Overlord Complete novel
From the apocalypse 100+ch, Fairy tail Destiny Complete novel, Genshin Impact Eerie Teyvat 200+ch
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz