As they settled into the hot water, Kara couldn't help but break the silence with her usual teasing tone. "So, what's got your panties in a bunch? Sorry… what's got your ass so tense?" she asked, reclining against the edge of the tub.
Raven shot her a sideways glance, shaking her head. "Really?" she muttered, the corners of her lips twitching into a small smile. It was hard not to get caught up in the playful energy. Still, Raven had something far more serious on her mind. The hot water cascaded over her, the warmth doing little to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in her head. Too much Narutonium, she thought, mentally noting Kara's carefree attitude in the wake of what had happened.
Kara stretched, letting out a long sigh as she allowed the heat to wash over her, soothing her body and the lingering effects of the night. "I can't believe something like this would happen," she said, her voice softening a little. "Did you add something into the food or what?"
Raven, with a touch of seriousness, raised an eyebrow. "That's what I want to talk about," she replied, her tone changing. "I didn't do it. Someone did it without our knowledge, and it was strong enough to affect all of us."
Kara, still lounging comfortably, stretched her limbs in the warm water. "Strong enough to knock out Naruto, huh? Definitely something special... or it was magic."
Raven's expression darkened as she dropped another bombshell. "That's not all," she continued, her voice dropping. "We were not the only ones that slept with Naruto." She let the words hang in the air, and the tension in the room became palpable.
Kara shot up in shock. "WHAT?!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide as she stared at Raven. "Who was it?"
Raven leaned back against the edge of the tub, her eyes thoughtful. "I believe all the girls that had feelings for him. Naruto wouldn't have been able to tell between us in that condition. His abnormal lust, combined with his inability to differentiate, would have fooled him. I even saw Pam slip by while you were busy going crazy."
Kara's eyes narrowed, her face flush with embarrassment. "Don't roll your eyes at me, girl! You've been stuck to him in the morning. Did I say anything when you didn't separate from him, even after waking up, taking a shower, and eating breakfast?"
Raven smirked but didn't respond to Kara's challenge. "I remember you pouting and doing the same thing the next day," she added casually, her voice light as she teased her friend.
Kara, now standing up and letting out a sharp sigh, pressed forward. "Ahem, moving on. This is an issue. We've got girls that could be pregnant by Naruto, and someone is messing with us—someone powerful enough to affect all of us. We need to check the cameras first, see who else was involved, and talk to Naruto. I don't know how he's going to react to this blunder."
Raven's gaze sharpened, her voice unwavering. "Kara, stop running from reality. You already know how he's going to react."
Kara chuckled nervously. "Ha ha ha, what do you mean?"
Raven's words came out bluntly, causing a knot to form in Kara's stomach. "Take responsibility. There's no way Naruto would let go of the mother of his child."
Kara froze, her face paling slightly. The weight of Raven's words sunk in deeper than she'd expected. The thought of being tied to Naruto in such a way, especially with everything else on the line, was both a relief and a massive burden. She didn't want to think about it, but it was inevitable.
Raven, seeing Kara's reaction, quickly checked the security cameras, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "Damn," she muttered, "they even messed with the cameras. They're offline."
"Do we have to go with just our assumptions now?" Kara asked, a frustrated edge to her voice.
Raven didn't flinch. "That's all we can do. Naruto had too much to drink, so his memory is probably a mess. Don't tell him about it until we've spoken with the girls. As for the culprit, we'll have to investigate. Others should have already noticed by now."
Kara crossed her arms, her determination rising. "I know that already, so stop them from moving already, and let's go. I don't want to wait another moment letting this problem fester."
Raven gave a small smile. "Usually, I'd say extinguish the flames under your ass, but today, I'll agree with your stance." She rose from the water with ease, catching Kara's extended hand.
Kara raised an eyebrow and smirked as she stood. "I'm always in control, girl, so stop talking like I'm hot-headed. That's Impulse's job."
Raven chuckled softly at Kara's jab, but the tension between them remained. "I know, and you know I just talk like this. So why are we postponing our actions?"
"Because I like it," Kara said with a grin, striding toward the exit of the washroom.
Raven rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that followed. "Right, always a reason for everything with you."
Kara moved with purpose, walking toward her section of the walk-in wardrobe to pick up her dress, each step forward a statement of resolve. Despite the chaos, they knew what needed to be done.
The girls had quickly dressed in casual clothes, their minds focused on the task at hand. The tension in the room was palpable as they stood in front of Pamela, who was about to make her exit. As she turned to leave, Kara, ever the determined one, stepped forward and blocked her path. Raven stood beside her, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on her face.
Pamela paused, her back to them. She turned slowly, her calm demeanor masking the storm inside her. "How may I help you girls?" she asked, her voice steady but with a hint of apprehension.
Kara's smile was warm, but there was no mistaking the authority in her tone. "We know what happened, so sit down and let's have a peaceful talk." It was a command, not a request. Pamela's eyes softened, realizing the gravity of the situation, and with a resigned sigh, she made her way to the sofa, sitting down with a quiet slump.
Pamela let out a long breath. "Sigh, I really didn't want you finding out about this," she began, her voice carrying the weight of regret. "So, I did indeed sleep with your lover from last night until this morning. I didn't do it on purpose, and I have no idea how it happened." She paused, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her lap. "I was leaving because I didn't want Naruto to accept me because of this. Seeing you girls… I wish for real love, so I don't want it like this."
Raven's eyes narrowed as she exchanged a look with Kara, and with a knowing tone, she remarked, "Well, I misjudged you. You've really changed in this year."
Pamela looked up, caught off guard by the words. "Pot meet kettle," Raven added with a wry smile, her voice light but with an undercurrent of seriousness.
Kara, who had been quietly listening, leaned forward slightly. Her gaze was focused, direct, and unyielding. "Okay, moving on," she said, her voice clear. "What do you intend to do? You're pregnant with his child for sure, so are you going to raise the child alone and forget about Naruto, or what?"
Pamela stiffened, her hands clenching the edge of the sofa. "What do you want me to do?" she asked, the vulnerability in her voice breaking through her usual composed exterior. "Will you allow me to step into your territory?" She sighed, feeling a bit of the guilt that had been gnawing at her begin to fade now that the truth was out. The effects of the bath had helped her feel less burdened, but the guilt still lingered.
Kara's glare was sharp, her brows furrowed in thought as she considered the situation. She knew Naruto was a magnet for women, and they had always made sure to keep others at bay. But this was different. A child was involved, and this wasn't just about a fleeting attraction or one-night mistake. Pamela was now part of the equation, and the ramifications of that were not something Kara could easily ignore.
Even though they were friends, it didn't mean Kara was ready to add another complication to her life. The delicate balance they had taken so long to establish would be shattered. Naruto wouldn't have enough time for them all, and relationships weren't simply about the physical side of things. They all needed time with him, and if another girl entered the picture, that precious time would diminish. The clones they used to balance their lives with Naruto couldn't replace the real thing.
Kara sighed deeply. "See, you don't want it, so I will just go and raise the kid alone," Pamela said, standing up as if ready to leave. "I won't disturb your lives."
But before Pamela could take another step, Kara's voice cut through the tension. "Damn it!" she spat, her voice sharp with frustration. "Don't act like you know what I'm thinking. Do it. Go on and do it. If Naruto accepts you, I will let you in." She crossed her arms defiantly. "I can't allow his child to be away from him."
There was a long pause, and Pamela, stunned by Kara's words, just stood there. Raven's surprise mirrored Pamela's. Kara had always been the one with the strongest sense of ownership over Naruto. She was the first to connect with him, the first to secure her place in his heart, and yet now she was offering that same space to someone else. Raven hadn't expected this sudden shift, and even she had reservations. But then, the thought of a child, Naruto's child, being kept from him unsettled her. It would be detrimental to both Naruto and the child. Separation would cause pain, confusion, and tension in their already complicated lives.
Raven glanced over at Kara, her expression unreadable but thoughtful. For the sake of the children, she reasoned internally, this might be the only way to prevent further harm.
Pamela, her shock slowly wearing off, met Kara's gaze, her voice tentative. "Are you serious?"
Kara's words echoed in the room, and Pamela, who had been sitting on the edge of the sofa, stiffened as the weight of what was being asked hit her fully. Kara's voice, though calm, carried an authority that couldn't be ignored. "I am serious, but you will have to genuinely get him to love you. In Naruto's world, this isn't rare, but he never thought of making a harem. He didn't believe he deserved so much. It's also a result of his information gathering. He knows that most of us don't like it. We will tell him it's okay, but the rest depends on you. If you can't do it, then you will give me the child."
Pamela blinked, trying to process the conditions Kara had laid out. There was a sharp edge in Kara's words, but there was something more beneath the surface—something that hinted at a deeper struggle. Is Kara being cruel? Pamela thought. Does she trust Naruto that much to be sure he won't fall for me before the child is born, or is this just some sort of twisted encouragement? She couldn't quite decide which it was, but one thing was clear: Kara wasn't about to lose control over this situation.
Pamela, herself, knew the complications of this decision. She had always felt like an outsider, longing for a real connection, but never expecting it to come in the form of Naruto. Still, she wasn't about to back down from the challenge. She couldn't. Family stays together, and she wasn't about to let the opportunity for a family slip through her fingers.
She took a deep breath, straightening her back as her gaze hardened with determination. "Don't regret it, little girl," Pamela replied with a confident smirk, her voice low but sure. "My ways can make any man melt, and Naruto isn't going to be an exception." There was a fire in her eyes now, an unshakable resolve. She wasn't here to be a passive participant in this mess; if she was going to be in it, she would make sure she played the game to win.
Kara watched her for a moment, studying Pamela's expression carefully. Despite the confidence in her voice, Pamela knew she was walking into a dangerous game. There was no guarantee that Naruto would accept her in the way she hoped, but her body was telling her that she had to try, especially now that a child was involved. And Kara's condition was one that Pamela couldn't ignore; she wasn't ready to give up on the chance to raise a child with Naruto.
Kara's lips twitched as she got up to leave, her tone softening just a bit. "I'll pray for your success," she said. "Now tell me, do you know anyone else who got caught up in this mess?"
Pamela's eyes flickered for a moment, but she shook her head. "I didn't see anyone," she answered quietly. "But this situation is starting to look like a mess. Is it really going to be fine?"
Kara gave her a brief, reassuring smile. "It's going to be fine. Just take care of yourself now." She nodded towards Raven, who stood by the door, waiting to leave.
Without another word, Kara and Raven walked out of the room, heading for Donna. It was clear that Donna was a prime candidate for this incident. She was strong, both in body and mind, and her blessing from the Immortals made her someone who could handle situations like these. They didn't know much about other girls who might be involved, but Donna was always a good place to start.
As they made their way down the hall, Kara's thoughts remained focused on the task ahead. She had made her decision regarding Pamela, but she wasn't ready to move on just yet. They still had a mess to clean up, and Donna might hold the key to unraveling the chaos that was beginning to unfold around them.