After the meal, Yagami and Mikoto rested together in the courtyard.
The two lay on a lounge chair beneath the quiet shade, enjoying the rare calm after the storm.
Beside them, on the stone table, sat a pot of freshly brewed tea. The fragrance drifted gently with the breeze, blending with the warmth of the afternoon.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The wind was soft.
The courtyard was peaceful.
And for the two of them, this kind of time was precious.
"So?" Mikoto asked with a small smile, still clearly thinking about the meal from earlier. "My cooking has not gotten worse, has it?"
There was a faint pride in her voice.
After all, cooking was one of the few things Mikoto had always been confident in. Being praised in something she was good at gave her a different kind of satisfaction.
Yagami glanced down at her.
Mikoto was lying against his chest, her expression relaxed and content.
"This was the most delicious meal I have ever eaten in my life."
His voice was gentle, but his eyes were serious.
Mikoto looked up at him, her gaze softening.
Truthfully, Mikoto had always been proud of her cooking.
She never showed that pride openly, but in her heart, she believed few people could surpass her in the kitchen.
Yet today, she had to admit it.
Yagami's cooking was on another level.
It was not just better than hers. It had shown her that there was still another height to reach.
Because of that, Mikoto accepted his praise honestly.
"Hahaha, hearing you say that really makes me happy."
Yagami smiled in satisfaction and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her a little closer.
There was only one lounge chair in the courtyard, so the two of them were resting on it together.
Of course, it was not as if Yagami lacked another one.
Leaving aside the house itself, his system inventory had several chairs that were larger and more comfortable.
But with such a rare chance to be this close to Mikoto, why would he ruin the mood by taking out another chair?
The two quietly enjoyed the warmth between them.
But perhaps because they were lying so close after eating, the atmosphere gradually began to change.
"Mikoto…"
Yagami swallowed lightly. His throat felt a little dry.
After being apart for so long, and with the gentle atmosphere surrounding them now, even his voice became unusually soft.
"Mm?"
Hearing the change in his tone, Mikoto raised her head.
Then she saw the look in his eyes.
That strange, heated light.
Mikoto, who had been leaning against his chest and listening to his heartbeat, immediately felt her face grow hot.
But when she saw the expectation in Yagami's eyes, her ears turned red.
Slowly, she closed her eyes.
It's happening.
I actually won!
Yagami nearly shouted in joy inside his heart.
His heartbeat sped up in an instant.
Knock, knock.
"Is Yagami-sama here?"
Just as Yagami excitedly picked Mikoto up and was about to move on to one of life's most important matters, a voice suddenly came from outside the gate.
Just like that, the mood shattered.
"Who's there?"
Yagami's smile froze. A shadow seemed to fall over his face, and the warmth in his eyes vanished in an instant.
His senses spread toward the gate in an instant.
"Uh… Yagami-sama, the Third Hokage has something important to discuss. I was sent to invite you over."
The ANBU outside the gate scratched his head beneath his mask, clearly confused by the irritation in Yagami's voice.
Still, he reported his purpose honestly.
"I…"
Yagami closed his eyes for a moment.
"Understood. I will go over."
He put Mikoto down helplessly.
Mikoto's face was already flushed red, and she lowered her gaze without saying anything.
"Yes. Then I will withdraw first."
After receiving Yagami's answer, the ANBU formed a hand seal and disappeared from outside the gate.
Once Yagami confirmed that the ANBU had left, he turned back to Mikoto with a faint, meaningful smile.
"Mikoto… how about staying with me tonight and watching the moon together?"
The faint smile on Yagami's face carried an obvious meaning, and the look in his eyes made it clear he was not really talking about the moon at all.
"Mm…"
Mikoto buried her face against his chest and answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
Her heartbeat instantly became chaotic, thumping so loudly she was certain Yagami could hear it.
"Hahaha…"
Yagami could not help laughing.
Thankfully, the moment had not been completely wasted.
Otherwise, if the Third Hokage had called him over for something trivial after interrupting a moment like that, Yagami genuinely felt he might lose his temper on the spot.
He picked up the teacup from the stone table and drank a few mouthfuls.
The warm tea eased the dryness in his throat.
After that, he and Mikoto straightened each other's clothes.
Then Yagami held her by the waist, and the two flew directly toward the Hokage Building.
Yagami deliberately slowed down to make it easier on Mikoto.
Even so, Konoha was only so large.
In less than a minute, the two landed in front of the Hokage Building.
"Yagami-sama!"
"Yagami-sama!"
The two shinobi guarding the entrance immediately greeted him when they saw him arrive.
Their voices carried obvious respect.
To them, Yagami was the man who had saved Konoha.
Their families lived in this village as well. If Yagami had not arrived in time, many of them might have lost everything.
"Mm."
Yagami nodded calmly and led Mikoto inside.
During this period, he had already grown used to these warm greetings.
Because of that, he no longer felt awkward or uncomfortable about it.
Knock, knock.
"Third Hokage-sama, everyone."
After knocking and entering the meeting room, Yagami gave a slight nod to the people inside.
"You're here. Sit over there."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and nodded in response, then raised his hand and gestured toward the two empty seats near the end of the conference table.
The other clan heads and village higher-ups also nodded to Yagami in a friendly manner.
During this period, Yagami had won one achievement after another on the battlefield. His strength was already clear to everyone.
If the Uchiha Grand Elder had not acted first, some of them might have tried to find a suitable woman from their own clan to build a marriage connection with Yagami.
After all, with Yagami's age and strength, his future in Konoha was limitless.
Unfortunately, before they had even noticed this golden son-in-law, that old fox from the Uchiha clan had already taken the first step.
"Yes."
Yagami nodded.
Then he brought Mikoto with him and sat down in the empty seats.
He did not feel nervous just because the room was filled with Konoha's higher-ups.
Leaving aside his strength, Yagami had never been the type to shrink back in front of others.
"Well then, since everyone is here, let us begin."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked around the room before officially starting the meeting.
The main topic of the meeting was naturally Kirigakure's sneak attack.
The discussion began with a report on the battle between both sides.
When the casualties had been counted earlier, not all the higher-ups had been present on the wall.
So Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally needed to inform everyone of the full situation.
Yagami sat quietly in his seat and did not speak.
After all, these reports were clearly not the real reason the Third Hokage had called him here.
Because of that, there was no need for him to interrupt or force himself into the discussion.
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