"You…"
Listening to those shamelessly direct words, Uchiha Mikoto felt her heart twist with embarrassment.
This man was getting more and more outrageous.
"Evan, calm down. There is absolutely no way anything can happen between us…"
Mikoto bit down on her lip, cheeks flushed with anger and shame.
"I already have two children. I'm much older than you. This… this isn't right…"
"Sister-in-law, that's where you don't understand."
Evan brushed the tip of his nose against the side of her neck, inhaling her scent.
"Older models aren't worse than new ones. Some things only get better with time."
Mikoto didn't understand his metaphor at all.
But the faint tickle at the side of her neck sent waves of goosebumps down her spine.
She wanted to curse at him, to throw him off—
Yet some strange, hard-to-name feeling kept welling up and short-circuiting her thoughts.
All the angry words rushing to her lips ended up melting into a single soft sound.
"Mmm…"
[Uchiha Mikoto – Hatred +10,000]
[Uchiha Mikoto – Hatred +50,000]
…
After a while, Evan finally let Mikoto go, letting her drop weakly onto the tatami.
He ignored her mortified breathing and went instead to stand beside little Sasuke's cradle.
He looked down with interest at the still-sleeping baby, the future "Second Pillar," who now just looked adorably clueless.
"Haah…"
Mikoto's lips trembled as she tried to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
It took her quite some time to steady herself and suppress the strange emptiness in her heart.
Then she opened her eyes wide and glared at Evan with all the fury she could muster.
This man came here just to torment me…
Evan pretended not to notice.
"So, sister-in-law," he asked casually, "why did you call me here today?"
Mikoto was so angry she didn't want to answer him at all.
Evan turned back to look at her.
"No reason? Then I'll head out."
He actually started walking toward the door.
"Wait!"
Thinking of her husband's request, Mikoto had no choice but to call him back.
"I… I brought you here for a formal introduction. There's someone in the Uchiha clan I want you to meet."
"Sister-in-law…" Evan drawled, "you know what kind of woman I like. Little girls are the most annoying."
Mikoto ground her teeth.
"She… she's exactly the type you like…"
"Oh?"
Now she had his attention.
"Then I suppose I should at least have a look," he replied, lips curling.
He gave Mikoto a warm smile.
"Let's go then."
"Y-you… give me a moment first."
Mikoto's face reddened all over again. She wished she could bury her head in the floor.
"What is it?" Evan asked, genuinely puzzled.
"I… I need to change clothes."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, and then she all but ran from the room.
Evan chuckled softly and looked down at the sleeping Sasuke.
"Second Pillar, your mom still gets shy, you know."
After a while, Mikoto returned in a long, black dress.
The blush hadn't completely faded from her cheeks.
Evan stared for a moment, slightly dazed.
I really want to…
"Sister-in-law, you look beautiful…"
"You—"
Mikoto caught the look in his eyes and panicked.
His gaze was too direct, too intense.
"Behave yourself! Fugaku will be back soon, and we're supposed to be going to your matchmaking meeting right now…"
Her voice picked up speed as she spoke, clearly afraid he'd do something even more outrageous.
She absolutely couldn't let him take advantage of her again.
"I know, I know…"
Evan shook his head with a helpless smile.
"We've got time. No need to rush."
Meanwhile, his mind was spinning.
He couldn't afford to move too fast. If he wanted to squeeze the most hatred value from Mikoto, he needed patience.
He'd wait until she was the one who couldn't hold back.
Seeing him settle down, Mikoto finally exhaled deeply.
"Let's go."
"What about Sasuke?" Evan asked.
"The servants will take care of him," she said.
Evan had no more objections.
He followed obediently behind her, watching the gentle sway of her hips with undisguised appreciation.
On the way, he wondered what kind of woman Mikoto would pick to push on him like this.
No doubt a beauty. Otherwise, how could she expect to tempt him?
But girls his own age…
Aside from canon characters with big roles, he had little interest.
You could bully them for a little hatred point gain, sure, but the return just wasn't worth it.
Far better to focus on wives.
After passing through the clan's alleys, they arrived at a modest courtyard.
Mikoto raised a hand to knock—
And hesitated.
She was still struggling internally.
Was introducing Sakurako to him really the right thing to do?
But…
Sakurako's husband had died years ago.
She'd been raising her daughter on her own ever since.
She truly needed someone to rely on.
And also…
Mikoto glanced down at her own chest in embarrassment.
Sakurako's figure was even more… blessed than hers.
He liked that kind of thing so much—
He should be even more drawn to Sakurako.
With that thought, Mikoto firmed her resolve and knocked lightly.
"Sakurako, are you home? I've brought someone."
"Coming~"
A gentle, elegant voice floated from inside the house.
Evan's eyes lit up slightly.
That voice… is nice.
The door slid open with a soft creak.
A woman in a fitted black kimono appeared in the doorway.
Evan's gaze sharpened.
Her long black hair was pinned up gracefully, her height somewhere around one sixty-five.
The kimono hugged a mature, shapely figure, pale neck and a sliver of collarbone revealed.
Even with the conservative cut of the garment, her curves were impossible to hide.
She was like an unopened gift box—
inviting curiosity the moment you laid eyes on it.
Mature. Elegant. Beautiful.
All the things a man dreamed of in a woman seemed to be bundled neatly into this one person.
She folded her hands over her stomach, her strikingly beautiful face full of nerves, tension—
and a touch of deep-seated shyness.
Seeing Mikoto and Evan at the door, the woman bowed respectfully.
"Lady Mikoto, you came in person!"
As she spoke, her eyes flicked briefly to Evan—
and a blush flashed across her face.
So young…?
"Sakurako, I brought him like I promised," Mikoto said, stepping forward and taking her hand.
"He's the one I mentioned last time."
"His name is Evan. I'm sure you've heard of him in the village—
He's at least at jōnin level. Supporting a family won't be a problem."
Mikoto finished and turned toward Evan—
only to see him staring fixedly at Sakurako.
A faint, irrational annoyance flickered in her heart.
The feeling surprised and irritated her.
But when she glanced at Sakurako's… figure… she could only deflate silently.
I really can't compete there…
"Ahem."
Mikoto cleared her throat.
"Evan, this is Sakurako—Uchiha Sakurako. Her situation is a bit… special…"
"Lady Mikoto, let me explain it myself," Sakurako interrupted gently.
She turned toward Evan, bowed again, and spoke in a soft voice:
"Evan-sama, I… I didn't expect the person Lady Mikoto mentioned to be you. I'm very sorry to have wasted your time."
"I'm already in my thirties. I was married once, but my husband died on the battlefield."
"Now there's only me and my daughter depending on each other."
"I'm not a shinobi, so life has been very difficult. That's why I thought about finding someone to rely on."
"But I really didn't expect it to be you. I shouldn't trouble you like this."
"I hope you're able to find a suitable girl within the clan instead…"
Every word she spoke was polite yet self-effacing.
Warm, gentle, reserved.
She'd essentially offered a beautiful, dignified rejection.
But when she finished—
Evan was looking at her with a very strange expression.
Almost… dazed.
Sakurako blinked.
He's… smiling?
That's odd…
He's handsome, sure, but the age gap is too much. There's no way I should delay someone like him…
Mikoto glanced at Evan, face tightening.
What's with that look?
Is he satisfied or not?
She wanted to say—
Sakurako was one of the most beautiful women in her age group, with a wonderful figure.
He'd said he liked older women, hadn't he?
Sakurako was older than Mikoto herself.
But in truth, Evan's thoughts were already drifting.
A widow, huh…
Mature, beautiful, and a widow…
Those simple tags together carried a strangely addictive charm.
How could I not be satisfied?
"Ahem. Sakurako, right?" Evan said, stepping inside.
"Let's talk inside. Honestly… I think I like you quite a bit."
"Eh?"
He… likes me?
Sakurako's face turned crimson.
Her heart hammered wildly in her chest like a trapped deer.
This Evan-sama was too direct…
They were over ten years apart.
How could that possibly be okay?
Mikoto, on the other hand, finally exhaled in relief.
As long as he's interested, it's fine…
If he and Sakurako could truly become a couple, then she'd finally be safe.
And he'd still be tied to the Uchiha.
He could help her save the clan.
The thought brought a faint smile to her face.
"Yes, Sakurako, let's talk inside," Mikoto urged.
"O-okay…"
Sakurako's shyness doubled under Evan's gaze.
Why does he keep staring like that…
At least… look at my face…
Still, she had no choice but to invite them inside.
A moment later, Mikoto suddenly asked:
"By the way, Sakurako, where's Izumi? Where did that girl run off to this time?"
Sakurako's expression softened at once.
"That little rascal is off somewhere playing again."
"I see…"
Evan's eyes flashed.
Izumi?
Uchiha Izumi?
Once inside, Evan took a moment to look around.
A simple, ordinary Uchiha home, in the standard traditional style.
Nothing special.
On a low table sat a framed photo of a man and a woman.
The woman was clearly Sakurako.
The man beside her looked utterly average, just a commonplace middle-aged Uchiha.
Must be the unlucky husband.
"Please, Lady Mikoto, Evan-sama, have a seat," Sakurako said, bustling about to pour tea for them.
Mikoto frowned slightly, lost in thought.
Evan chuckled.
"What's wrong, sister-in-law? You disapprove?"
"Huh?"
Mikoto snapped out of it.
"Of course not. If you're satisfied, that's all that matters."
"If you're not," Evan teased, "we can leave right now."
Worst case, I'll just come back tonight…
"N-no, that's not it!"
Mikoto hurriedly waved her hands.
Evan dropped the subject and silently compared the two women.
Mikoto was gentle and soft, the kind who'd probably cry like pear blossoms in rain if bullied too much.
Sakurako was rounder, fuller, and radiated a kind of quiet, smoldering warmth—
just looking at her made him feel uncomfortably hot.
He unconsciously licked his lips.
I could use some "meat" for a change…
"All right, Sakurako, come sit," Mikoto called.
"You're the main character today."
Sakurako's cheeks flushed again as she came over and sat across from Evan in a slightly awkward posture.
Matchmaking was already something that made her skin crawl with embarrassment—
but matched with someone ten years younger?
Her mind couldn't help wandering.
If Evan-sama were to… be over me someday… it'd be like having my own son climb on top…
Her face heated up so much she thought she might faint.
Absolutely not.
She'd die of shame.
"Evan-sama," Sakurako whispered, "I could introduce you to some girls closer to your age if you'd prefer. You could meet them instead…"
Mikoto's face stiffened.
That's the problem, Sakurako… he likes older women.
Sure enough, Evan replied righteously:
"Sakurako, I like you. I'll take care of both you and your daughter."
He glanced briefly at the framed photo of Sakurako's late husband and thought dryly:
'Leave your wife and child to me, rest easy in the Pure Land.'
Mikoto rolled her eyes inwardly.
Called it. He really does prefer older women…
"Ah…"
Sakurako was stunned by the directness of his declaration.
It hit her like a punch to the chest.
"B-but I'm already that age… I'm a whole cycle older than you…"
"Women with experience know how to care for people," Evan said calmly.
"I also have a child…"
"A bonus daughter. I like that."
"I… I still don't think it's right…"
Sakurako's cheeks were like burning embers.
Evan didn't push the argument further.
Instead, he turned to Mikoto.
"Sister-in-law, don't you think we could use some time alone?"
"Huh?"
Mikoto blinked.
You're already trying to chase me out?
A strange sense of loss washed over her.
"Then… I'll wait for you in the courtyard," she said softly.
"Sakurako, take your time. Call if you need me."
She got up, swayed her hips out the door, and closed it behind her.
The moment the clan head's wife disappeared, Sakurako's mind turned to mush.
What do I do? Do I accept him, or not?
His eyes never left her, and that intense, focused gaze made her feel as though she had been stripped bare.
The only time she'd felt this way before…
was with her late husband.
Since his death, it had been a very long time.
A strange hollowness stirred quietly in her heart.
Evan's lips curled upward as he stood slowly and walked over to her.
He stood before her, looking down from above.
Sakurako's heart froze.
What's he going to do?
She didn't dare lift her head.
"Evan-sama… what is it?" she asked, voice trembling.
Evan didn't answer immediately.
From this angle, the view was very different.
The way her kimono folded, the hint of embroidered fabric beneath, the line of her waist and the subtle curve of her hips—
all of it came together into a dangerously beautiful silhouette.
So much for that rumor about "nothing under a kimono," huh…
Still… what a sight.
Up close, it was impossible to miss how well-balanced her figure was—neither thin nor heavy, poised right at the line of intoxicating.
His thoughts turned slightly wicked.
I wonder if I can handle her…
Well, with my body, I should be able to last longer than most.
"Evan-sama?" Sakurako whispered.
She could feel his gaze like physical heat on her.
Her skin prickled with nerves.
This was… really not very polite…
Before she could finish the thought, she felt fingers gently lift her chin.
Her face tilted upward of its own accord.
She met his deep, unwavering gaze—
full of clear, undisguised desire.
Evan licked his lips.
"Sakurako," he said softly, "come with me from now on."
"I…"
She bit her lip, panic and shame twisting together.
She wanted to refuse.
But Evan didn't give her the chance.
He bent down slightly—
and sealed her protest with a kiss.
"Mm—"
Wait, no…
My husband's portrait is still on the table…
I'm sorry… I'm sorry…
Her thoughts scattered in a whirl of guilt and helplessness.
Outside, Uchiha Mikoto stood in the courtyard, staring at the closed door.
She clasped her hands together—
and silently prayed that, this time, everything would go "smoothly."
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