Raien sighed helplessly, forcing a gentle smile onto his face as he reached out to Hikari.
"Silly girl, how could Big Brother not like you? Come here…"
Although Uchiha Hikari was still sulking, her dependence on Raien made her unable to resist his call.
She hesitated for a moment, then took a few small steps forward, reluctantly walking to the bedside.
Raien pulled her slender, soft body into his arms and let her sit on his other leg.
This formed a strange yet harmonious symmetry with Uchiha Mikoto, who had already tidied her kimono and now sat beside him with a complicated expression.
One intellectual, gentle big sister.
One youthful, sharp-eyed young woman.
Perfect.
"Big Brother likes Hikari the most."
Raien's voice carried deliberate indulgence.
He gently flicked Hikari's upturned nose with his finger. "It's just that earlier… Big Brother had something important to discuss with Aunt Mikoto."
He was lying through his teeth.
"Hmph!"
Uchiha Hikari buried her face into Raien's chest and rubbed against him like a cat seeking comfort.
But her lips were still pouting stubbornly.
"Then why did you have to take off Aunt Mikoto's clothes to discuss things? I can smell it! Big Brother is lying!"
Raien: "…"
(That nose is way too sensitive.)
Mikoto: "…"
(She awkwardly turned her face away.)
Raien knew that at moments like this, words were useless.
Only the most direct form of equal distribution of favor could soothe the grievance and insecurity of this emotionally unstable yet terrifyingly powerful woman.
He wrapped one arm around Hikari's slender waist and the other around Mikoto's soft shoulders.
Holding the two women—so different in temperament, yet equally beautiful—close to him, he lowered his head.
First, he pressed a gentle kiss to Uchiha Hikari's smooth forehead.
Then he turned and lightly kissed Uchiha Mikoto's still-flushed cheek.
Mikoto felt helpless, yet she couldn't voice any objection.
Facing Hikari—this uncontrollable existence of the Uchiha—
no matter how shy or conflicted she felt, she had no choice but to cooperate.
Instead of leaving, she stayed, silently helping to guide and calm her.
As the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon, Raien leaned back and sighed toward the ceiling.
This really was hell on the lower back.
Sure enough, the system's notification echoed once again, announcing an increase in ocular power.
Thinking about the long road ahead toward the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Raien felt an indescribable weight.
"All right, all right… you're not angry anymore, are you?"
Raien's voice carried the patience of someone coaxing a child as he helped Hikari straighten her clothes.
"Big Brother promises you—next time, next time I'll definitely call Hikari to 'play' together, okay?"
Hikari's cheeks were faintly red as she nodded hard.
"Mm!"
Although her lips were still slightly pursed, the misty grievance in her eyes had finally faded.
She stretched out her hand and pinched Raien's cheek in retaliation.
"Big Brother has to keep his word! Otherwise… otherwise I'll—"
Her large eyes darted around as she searched for a suitable threat.
Finally, she muttered softly, "Otherwise, I'll blow up that annoying place called Konoha once! Just like when Big Brother let me practice last time!"
She didn't really understand what Konoha was.
But she knew that the three people closest to her—Raien, Aunt Mikoto, and Izumi—all hated that place.
This seemingly casual, almost playful threat made both Raien's and Mikoto's hearts tighten at the same time.
They clearly remembered that not long ago, during a so-called "power test," Uchiha Hikari had merely glanced at a barren wasteland.
A strange, indescribable light had flashed through her eyes—
and in an instant, a distant hill had vanished, erased by an invisible force, leaving behind a massive, bottomless crater.
Raien immediately tightened his arms around Hikari, holding her even closer.
His tone became gentler, yet carried a subtle warning.
"Of course, of course. Big Brother will keep his word. Hikari is the best girl. Those dangerous 'games' can't be played casually. You have to listen to Big Brother."
Mikoto also leaned over.
Not bothering to fully dress herself, she gently tidied Hikari's hair.
"That's right, that's right… our Hikari is the best girl."
"Mm!"
Uchiha Hikari's face lit up with a rare, genuine smile.
Spending time with Big Brother and her sisters every day was her favorite thing.
Raien and Mikoto, however, felt only lingering tension beneath the surface.
They could do nothing but continuously comfort the unstable human nuclear weapon resting in their arms.
"All right," Raien finally said, breaking the moment.
"If we don't go out soon, Izumi will come looking for us. I had Izumi prepare dog meat hotpot. Ninja dogs are even chewier. Let's go try it together."
"Mm."
Mikoto nodded lightly.
Hikari's eyes lit up, her earlier gloom completely forgotten.
"Wow—more delicious food!"
...
Author's Update 18+ 📢
The fanfic Naruto: Raised by Kushina, Took His Brother's Wife – Part 1 is now officially fully completed!
It is now available on Patreon for all tiers, including the lowest Tier 1.
The complete Part 1 has been uploaded on Patreon.
📚 Category: Naruto 18+
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continuous love, support, and patience for this story 💙