In Naruto, I Have an Affair with Mikoto and Kushina

Souta chuckled at Kushina's confidence, pouring her another cup. "Guess we'll find out soon enough. But if you want to learn, we'll need a private session. Can't have you ruining the shop's reputation with bad tea."

Kushina scoffed, taking a sip. "Hah! As if I'd mess up something as simple as tea."

Souta raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting the challenge settle in the air. He watched as she took another sip, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly. The conversation had done its job—Kushina was comfortable, relaxed, and unaware of just how naturally she had started opening up to him.

"So, what's the deal with Mikoto?" he asked casually, stirring his own tea. "She seemed... curious."

Kushina tilted her head, considering his words. "Mikoto? Hah, she's just like that. Always observant, always watching. She's probably wondering why I come here so often."

Souta smirked. "And what would you tell her?"

She shrugged. "That it's nice here. That it's easy to talk to you. That you actually listen." There was a pause before she added, almost as an afterthought, "And that it smells nice now, apparently."

Souta chuckled, but he didn't push further. He had planted the thought, and that was enough.

The hours slipped away, and before they knew it, the shop had emptied out. Kushina stretched, letting out a content sigh. "Man, I should probably head back."

Souta nodded. "Want me to walk you?"

She waved him off. "Nah, I can handle myself. But…" She hesitated for just a second before glancing at him. "Maybe next time."

He smiled. "Looking forward to it."

As she stepped out into the night, Souta leaned against the doorway, watching her go. The foundation had been set. She was opening up, letting him in. And with Mikoto now intrigued, things were only going to get more interesting.

Souta exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping idly against the wooden frame of the doorway. Now came the real question—how did he want this to play out?

He had loved them both in his previous life. That much he knew. Mikoto, bound by a political marriage, had never truly been free to choose her own happiness. And Kushina… well, everyone knew what fate had in store for her. A future stolen away, a life cut short before it could truly flourish.

It wasn't about "snatching" them. No, that was too crude. He wasn't taking anything that wasn't already being neglected or mishandled. He was simply offering them something better. A life where they were cherished, not just bound by duty or sacrificed for a village that would never repay them.

The thought alone made something stir within him. He wasn't going to sit back and watch things unfold the same way. 

Mikoto was already watching him, already curious. And Kushina? She was beginning to trust him, to rely on him in ways she likely hadn't even realized yet.

But then came the real problem—what if he succeeded? What if he actually convinced them? If things turned into a full-blown affair, the risks were immense. If Minato or Fugaku ever found out, he'd be finished. Minato might have a gentle demeanor, but he was still the Yellow Flash—if he decided Souta was a threat, escape wouldn't even be an option. And Fugaku? The man was cold, calculating. The head of the Uchiha clan wouldn't tolerate dishonor.

Even if he tried to run, it was impossible. Kushina, as a Jinchūriki, was too important to the village. She couldn't just disappear without causing an uproar. And Mikoto, being the wife of a clan leader, was deeply tied to Konoha's politics. There was no easy way out.

His system was useless for combat—it gave him nothing that could make him stronger, nothing that could help him stand against shinobi of that level. He had no godly powers, no secret bloodline. He was just a man playing a dangerous game.

So, what was his path?

Souta exhaled slowly, weighing his options. The only way forward was through influence. He couldn't overpower Minato or Fugaku—but he could make himself invaluable.

He could make it so that removing him would be more trouble than it was worth. If he played this carefully, if he positioned himself just right, he could create a situation where their connection to him wasn't just emotional, but practical.

But how?

Currently, he could only think of getting Tsunade, the Third Hokage, and even Danzo on his side and all other clans in konoha. If he could find a way to make himself useful to them, his presence in the village would become indispensable. 

It wouldn't be easy. But then again, nothing worth having ever was.

Just as Souta was lost in thought, the soft chime of the shop's doorbell startled him. He looked up, surprised—he was about to close for the night.

A woman stepped inside, her presence commanding without trying. She moved with the fluid grace of a kunoichi, and the first thing Souta noticed was her headband—Sunagakure.

The second thing he noticed? She was stunning.

Deep Orangish eyes, sharp and intelligent, scanned the shop as she took another step forward. Her auburn hair, tied back into a loose ponytail, framed a face that carried both beauty and strength. She wasn't quite at the level of Kushina and Mikoto—but she was close. Very close.

She met his gaze, arching a delicate brow. "Are you still open?"

Souta straightened, quickly adjusting his expression into something welcoming. "Technically, I was just about to close… but for a beautiful customer, I can make an exception."

A flicker of amusement passed through her eyes. "Flattery? From a tea shop owner in Konoha?"

He smirked, gesturing toward the counter. "I prefer to call it customer service."

She let out a soft chuckle before making her way toward the counter, her steps precise. Definitely a high-level kunoichi. As she sat down, Souta took the opportunity to study her further.

Sand village. A foreign ninja in Konoha, alone, at this hour? That wasn't exactly normal. She wasn't dressed like a diplomat or a high-ranking official either—just standard jōnin gear. Was she here on a mission?

"What can I get you?" he asked, keeping his tone light.

She hummed, tapping a slender finger against the counter. "Something warm. And strong."

Souta nodded, already preparing the tea. "Rough day?"

She exhaled through her nose, watching him work. "Something like that."

Silence settled between them, not uncomfortable but charged. He could tell she was observing him just as much as he was observing her.

"You don't seem surprised to see a kunoichi from Suna here," she finally said.

Souta shrugged. "Konoha's been seeing more visitors lately. That, and I make it a habit not to judge a customer by their forehead protector."

She smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "That so? A wise policy."

He poured her tea and slid the cup toward her. "And what brings you to Konoha? Business?"

She lifted the cup, blowing gently on the surface before taking a sip. A small, pleased hum left her lips. "Business. But maybe I'll find something good while I'm here."

Souta chuckled, leaning on the counter. "Then I hope my tea helps with that."

She met his gaze over the rim of her cup, a flicker of something unreadable in her expression. Interest? Curiosity?

Finally, she set the cup down and extended a hand. "Pakura."

Souta took it, her grip firm, warm. "Souta."

Pakura.

There was no mistaking it. The Eyes, the confident posture, the air of quiet strength—this was the woman who was about to be betrayed by her own village.

And if she left Konoha now, she'd be dead within days.

Souta leaned back slightly, watching as she took another sip of tea, unaware of the noose tightening around her neck.

His mind raced. How the hell was he supposed to stop this?

If he blurted out "Hey, don't go to the Mist, your own village is setting you up to die," she'd laugh in his face. Pakura was a veteran kunoichi, a proud one at that. She wasn't the type to doubt her village so easily, especially not based on the word of a stranger.

'I need a different approach. Something that makes her hesitate.'

"So," he said, keeping his voice casual, "this 'business'—I take it you're not here to sightsee?"

Pakura smirked. "Not quite. Konoha's nice, but it's just a stop along the way."

"To where?"