"Grrr…"
Almost at the same time, both of their stomachs let out loud, unmistakable protests.
Only then did Kurenai Yuhi and Hyuga Hinata realize just how long it had been since they'd eaten after being captured.
The intense hunger instantly diluted the tense atmosphere.
They exchanged glances, each seeing the same helplessness—and reluctant longing—in the other's eyes.
"Should we… go out and take a look?" Kurenai suggested softly, her voice weak but steady.
"At least figure out what's happening outside. And… find something to eat and recover our strength."
Even running away required energy.
Hinata nodded.
The two carefully tidied their slightly disheveled clothes.
Kurenai was especially meticulous, making sure to conceal any possible marks on her neck.
With utmost caution, they gently pushed open the door.
Outside lay an exquisite, elegant courtyard.
Rockeries, flowing water, and rare flowers formed a picturesque scene under the fading twilight.
But the moment their eyes landed on the center of the courtyard— both women froze as if struck by lightning.
At the heart of the courtyard, around a grand stone table, four people were calmly enjoying dinner.
At the head of the table sat Raien—the man Kurenai hated so deeply her teeth ached.
He had changed into comfortable casual robes, his posture relaxed, expression composed.
Surrounding him were three women, each possessing a distinct temperament, yet all breathtaking in their own way.
One carried a mature, gentle air, like a moonlit lily.
It was Uchiha Mikoto, whom Raien had held in his arms earlier.
She served him attentively, her movements soft and practiced.
Sorrow lingered faintly in her eyes—yet so did a strange, unquestioning obedience.
Another wore dark combat attire, her posture straight and alert.
Her face was clear and beautiful, but her eyes were sharp as blades.
It was Uchiha Izumi, recently returned from her mission.
She ate quietly, occasionally scanning the surroundings with habitual vigilance.
And sitting closest to Raien— was Uchiha Hikari.
She looked young and delicate, yet unmistakably a grown woman, her aura calm and dangerous beneath the surface.
She held a fragrant, stewed meat bone, eating with unrestrained satisfaction.
A faint sheen of oil glistened on her rosy cheeks.
Her eyes narrowed happily as she chewed, relaxed and content.
Raien's hand rested casually—but possessively—on her shoulder.
Lantern light spilled warmly across the courtyard.
Steam rose from the dishes on the stone table, releasing an irresistible aroma.
Raien leaned slightly toward Mikoto, murmuring something softly.
He teased Hikari now and then, drawing a light laugh from her.
Izumi remained nearby, silent and watchful.
Against the luxurious courtyard backdrop, the scene looked— harmonious.
Warm.
Almost like a peaceful family dinner.
But to Kurenai Yuhi and Hinata, who had just endured captivity, humiliation, and terror— this warmth felt like the cruelest mockery.
A sharp, freezing irony stabbed straight into their hearts.
When Kurenai's eyes fell on Uchiha Mikoto, her pupils contracted.
She recognized her.
Wasn't she the wife of the former Uchiha Clan Head?
Hadn't she supposedly died during the night of the clan's annihilation?
Then why was she here—alive, obedient, sitting beside Raien?
"So… Raien is connected to the Uchiha Clan…"
An indescribable bitterness surged in Kurenai's chest.
A suffocating sense of self-abasement followed.
She looked at the three women surrounding him— one gentle, one cold, one deceptively serene— all of them bound to him in some way.
And herself?
Disheveled.
Body and spirit ravaged.
Like a filthy beggar who had accidentally stumbled into someone else's perfect world.
Raien's "gentleness" toward them— contrasted with what she had endured— formed the most vicious comparison imaginable.
That warmth felt less like comfort— and more like her dignity being trampled underfoot.
Hinata's Byakugan widened slightly.
Her clear eyes were filled with shock and confusion.
She couldn't understand.
How could such a terrifying man possess such a calm, almost tender side?
Those three women— were they truly content?
Or were they merely birds trapped in a gilded cage?
Raien seemed to notice the movement at the doorway.
He leisurely set down his wine cup and slowly turned his head.
When his gaze settled on Kurenai and Hinata standing rigid at the entrance faces pale, emotions tangled a cat-and-mouse smile curved his lips.
"Oh? You're awake?" He spoke casually, lazily.
His voice rang clearly through the warm courtyard.
"Good timing. You must be hungry."
He gestured toward an empty seat beside the stone table.
"Come over. Let's eat together."
His tone was relaxed—like welcoming late guests.
As if the bloodshed in the dungeon and the horrors of captivity had never happened.
"Tonight's dog meat hotpot…"
Raien's eyes swept lightly over Kurenai's instantly drained face and Hinata's stunned expression.
A trace of cruel amusement flickered across his lips.
"The taste is quite good."
He deliberately emphasized the words dog meat.
In that instant, the false warmth of the courtyard shattered completely.
Kurenai Yuhi and Hinata stood frozen at the doorway—
unable to move forward, unable to retreat.
The enticing aroma of food no longer smelled inviting.
It now felt like the sulfurous stench of hell itself.
...
📢 Author's Update
The fanfic "Naruto: Raised by Kushina, Took His Brother's Wife" (Part 1 & Part 2) is now officially complete! 🎉
All 120 chapters (Part 1 & 2 combined) have been fully uploaded on Patreon.
📚 Category: Naruto
🔗 Read here: patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continuous love, support, and patience for this story 💙