Orochimaru's soul had split into multiple entities, making this the weakest he had ever been.
For Makoto, this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him once and for all.
Could he really afford to leave such a hidden threat unchecked?
Makoto remained unmoved by Anko's desperate plea.
The grievances she spoke of meant nothing to him—this was a matter between him and Orochimaru.
Seeing Makoto's unyielding expression, Anko's gaze gradually dimmed.
"If Orochimaru wanted to kill me, would you beg him like this?"
Anko stared at Makoto in a daze.
She couldn't understand—why did the two of them have to be enemies?
There was no deep-seated hatred between them.
"I… I wouldn't let Lord Orochimaru kill you."
"Is that so?"
Makoto took Anko with him, soaring into the sky and speeding toward the village.
Following behind him, Anko silently watched the miniature world below.
Then, realizing that she could move again, she hesitated for a moment before suddenly reaching out to embrace him, pressing her face tightly against his back.
Despite the freezing winds of high-altitude flight, Makoto's body was warm—so warm that Anko instinctively tightened her arms around him.
She spoke in a muffled voice, "Lord Orochimaru is my teacher. He gave me everything… He's like a father to me…"
"Makoto, you're also my best friend. Why do you have to be like this? You both have given so much to each other—shouldn't you continue to support one another?"
Makoto remained completely unmoved, his tone calm as he said, "If Orochimaru is willing to kneel before me and call me 'Lord Hokage,' then I might consider sparing him."
"..."
Anko fell silent.
Upon returning to the village, Makoto ordered the Anbu to take Anko away and lock her in the detention room to await interrogation.
Anko didn't resist and obediently followed the Anbu.
Only then did Makoto return home.
"Why are you back so late today?" Ayari greeted him at the door.
"There was something I had to take care of. I'm starving. Is there any food left?"
"I saved some for you."
Just then, Naruto and Sasuke suddenly ran out of their room, calling out "Daddy!" as they rushed to Makoto's side, each grabbing onto one of his legs.
"Daddy, carry me!"
"Me too!"
Makoto picked them both up, one in each arm, laughing as he asked, "Why are you two still awake?"
Sasuke said, "I was waiting for Daddy."
Naruto immediately echoed, "I was waiting for Daddy too!"
But Sasuke pointed at him and accused, "Naruto was so sleepy just now he almost fell asleep. I wasn't sleepy at all—I kept waiting for Daddy to come back."
Naruto protested indignantly, "That's not true! I wasn't sleepy!"
Then he looked up at Makoto with big, watery eyes. "Daddy, I'm not sleepy."
Makoto found the situation both amusing and exasperating.
After coaxing the two children for a while, he sent them back to their room.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji shared a room. Unlike his two younger brothers, Neji was lying quietly in bed, not making a fuss.
Sasuke grabbed Makoto's hand and said, "Daddy, don't go yet! Tell us a story before you leave."
Naruto immediately chimed in, "I want to hear a story too!"
"I asked Daddy to tell a story first!"
"But I already wanted Daddy to tell a story in my heart, so technically, I was first!"
"You didn't say it out loud!"
Neji, annoyed by the noise, scolded his younger brothers, "You two, quiet down. Daddy has to work during the day and sleep with the moms at night. He's already very tired, so don't bother him anymore."
Makoto: "..."
What do you mean, 'sleep with the moms at night'? Who taught this kid that?
After calming Naruto and Sasuke down and making sure they lay quietly in bed, he walked over to Neji's bedside. Seeing the boy pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed, Makoto couldn't help but smile at his maturity. He gently tucked the blanket around him and then left the room.
In the dining area, Ayari brought out the still-warm dishes and set them on the table.
"Are the others asleep?"
"I don't know. If you want to see someone tonight, just check their room yourself," Ayari said, glancing at him indifferently.
Makoto quickly changed the subject. "Do you know what Neji said just now?"
"What?"
"He said that I work during the day and 'sleep with the moms' at night, and that I must be very tired. How does that kid even know so much? Who taught him that?"
Ayari scoffed. "Does he really need someone to teach him? You're his father—don't you know what kind of example you set? If all our kids grow up to be like you, flirting with women everywhere, don't come crying to me!"
Makoto cleared his throat and said, "Come on, that won't happen. I'll make sure to properly educate them in the future."
Then, he quickly shifted the topic again. "Neji is much more mature and well-behaved than Naruto and Sasuke, isn't he?"
Ayari replied, "He is a year older, after all. But all that maturity and obedience is just his way of trying to get your attention and approval. I suggest you treat all the kids equally. Otherwise, if Neji, Naruto, and Sasuke see you favoring Hinata too much, they'll start acting like her. Look at her—she's been spoiled into a complete little troublemaker."
Makoto nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'll be more mindful of that."
After dinner, Makoto took a hot shower and went through his usual chakra body training. He felt completely refreshed and rejuvenated afterward.
When he entered the master bedroom, Ayari looked at him in surprise. "Why are you here?"
"To sleep, of course."
Ayari rolled her eyes. "Did you forget whose turn it is tonight?"
Makoto tried to crawl under the covers. "You've been waiting up for me this long anyway."
Ayari pushed him away. "I only stayed up because the kids weren't asleep yet. If you sleep here tonight, my sister will definitely make snide remarks tomorrow. You know how she is."
"If she dares to say anything, I'll teach her a lesson."
Ayari still refused. "Yeah, right. Like I need more things to be annoyed about. Just go to my sister's room already."
Hearing that, Makoto couldn't help but kiss her and chuckle. "No doubt about it—you're the real mistress of this house."
Ayari rolled her eyes. "Get lost already!"
Leaving the master bedroom, Makoto recalled what his son had said—working during the day, spending the nights with the moms.
He really needed to be more mindful around the kids.
Having too many women was a headache too. He sighed to himself and entered Ayano's room.
A warm light illuminated the space. Ayano wasn't asleep yet; she was lying in bed reading a book. Seeing Makoto come in, she immediately set the book aside, pulled the covers up to her chin, and winked at him playfully.
Ayano was the same age as Ayari, just in her early twenties—younger than Mikoto, yet among the women, she had the most mature charm.
Makoto felt a surge of heat rise in his heart as he walked toward the large bed.
Ayano pulled the blanket up to her chin, biting her lips lightly. "I thought you were going to sleep with Ayari tonight."
Makoto raised an eyebrow and suddenly yanked the blanket away.
"I sleep wherever I want!"
In an instant, the covers were gone, and the sudden rush of cool air made Ayano shiver and curl up on the bed.
She whimpered pitifully, "It's cold…"
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