In Naruto, I Have an Affair with Mikoto and Kushina

POV - Pakura

Pakura woke to the sound of rustling leaves outside the cave.

Her body tensed, hand instinctively reaching for the kunai under her cloak. She held her breath, listening. The wind? An animal? Or something else?

A few moments passed, and nothing followed. Slowly, she relaxed, exhaling through her nose.

She was being paranoid.

Still, paranoia had kept her alive this long.

Sitting up, she stretched her arms, wincing as the movement pulled at her healing wounds. The pain was manageable, but her body was still sluggish. Not ideal.

Her mind wandered again—back to him.

Souta.

Pakura clicked her tongue, irritated. Why did he help her? What did he get out of it?

No one did something for nothing.

And yet, when she replayed the memory of his touch—steady, careful, assured—there had been no hesitation, no ulterior motive in his expression. Just… presence.

She scowled, standing up and dusting herself off. She was wasting time thinking about this.

Grabbing what little supplies she had, she made her way to the stream just outside the cave. Cool water ran over her fingers as she washed her face, the shock of it clearing her mind.

She turned on her side, pulling her cloak tighter around her. It was just exhaustion messing with her head. That was all.

Tomorrow, she would be stronger. Tomorrow, she wouldn't think about him.

…Hopefully.

"What magic did that fool do to me?" she muttered, scowling at the cave wall.

POV - Souta

Souta leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, watching the empty tea shop. It was late, and the last few customers had already left. 

Shaking his head. It was almost amusing. All he had done was talk, listen, and be there. No grand gestures, no flashy moves. Just… presence.

It was working.

But he wasn't doing this just for fun.

He glanced at the small system prompt still floating in his vision.

[Hidden System Quest: The Bonds That Bind]

Objective: Within two years, create a bond so strong with Mikoto Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki, and the mother of Hinata Hyūga that they would willingly leave their lives behind for you.

Souta closed the prompt with a flick of his fingers. Two years, huh? At this rate, he wouldn't even need that long.

Still, he had to be careful. Playing with the hearts of strong women was like handling fire—you either tamed it, or it burned you alive.

He picked up the teapot, pouring himself a cup. He didn't actually like tea all that much, but the warmth in his hands was nice.

His mind drifted to Pakura. She was probably cursing his name right now.

She was strong. Fierce. But under all that steel was a woman who wasn't used to being cared for. That's why his actions had shaken her.

He set his cup down.

Tomorrow, he would continue as usual. Running the tea shop, talking to Mikoto, pushing at Kushina's walls little by little.

As for Pakura, she was probably Kage-level. She wouldn't die so easily. She'd return on her own. Eventually.

He looked at the screen floating in front of him, showing the progress.

[Progress: Mikoto Uchiha - 35%][Progress: Kushina Uzumaki - 18%]

Souta frowned slightly. On the surface, his relationship with Kushina seemed good. She talked to him regularly, bantered, and even came to the shop often. But the numbers told a different story.

Progress wasn't just about casual interactions. It measured —trust, emotional connection, and most importantly, how much she was willing to change for him.

Mikoto was already attached in a way. She was at 35% because she was already considering things—thoughts she probably wouldn't admit to yet.

Kushina, though… she was different.

She was naturally warm, easy to talk to, but that didn't mean she was opening up. Her heart was guarded, walls built high from years of hardship. She could laugh with him, tease him, even enjoy his presence—but it didn't mean she trusted him the way he needed her to.

18% meant he was just scratching the surface.

He had time, but he'd have to be careful. Rushing her wouldn't work. He needed to push just enough to make her question things—but not enough to make her pull away.

Souta smirked to himself. It was a slow game, but that was fine.

 ...

The morning breeze slipped through the tea shop, carrying the faint scent of rain. Souta wiped down the counter, the rhythmic motion letting his thoughts drift. Another day, another step forward.

True to habit, the door slid open, and Mikoto stepped inside.

She moved with her usual grace, her expression composed, but Souta caught the slight hesitation in her steps. She wasn't just here for tea today.

"Welcome," he said, pouring hot water into a cup. "The usual?"

Mikoto sat by the window—her spot. She traced a fingertip along the rim of the cup before speaking.

"What happened next?"

Souta paused. "Hm?"

"The story." She glanced at him, her voice even. "The Caged Queen."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "So, you were thinking about it."

She clicked her tongue. "Just tell me."

He leaned against the counter, studying her. This was progress—Mikoto didn't ask about things unless she cared.

"Well," he said, pouring himself a cup. "The queen knew she was in a cage, but for a long time, she pretended she wasn't. She told herself duty mattered more than happiness."

Mikoto's fingers stilled on the cup.

"But the traveler," Souta continued, "he didn't tell her to leave. He just kept showing up, talking to her, reminding her that there was a world outside the palace walls. And little by little, she started to wonder… what if she had met him before she became queen?"

Mikoto scoffed lightly, bringing the cup to her lips. "Regret is useless."

"Maybe," Souta agreed, tilting his head. "But sometimes, regret is just a way of realizing you still want something."

 ...

The next day, Souta moved through the tea shop with his usual rhythm—wiping down tables, preparing ingredients, greeting customers with an easy smile.

Mikoto would come, as always. Kushina might drop by if she was in the mood.

Then, the door slid open.

He glanced up.

Mikoto.

///

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