He knelt down, gently removing Hinata 's shoes.
"Get some good rest," Shinho said softly, rubbing her head before returning to his desk.
An hour later, Hinata's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, she was disoriented, but then the events from earlier came rushing back.
She clutched her face with both hands, curling up on the sofa. Her delicate toes alternated between flexing and clenching as she sank deeper into regret.
Why did I faint?!
It was so frustrating to think about. She had lost a moment she wished she hadn't.
After a while, her body relaxed, and she slowly sat up, leaning on the sofa's backrest as she peeked toward Shinho.
"Awake?"
Shinho glanced at her and chuckled softly.
She looked adorable peering at him like that.
"Y-yes," Hinata stammered, shrinking back in embarrassment.
"Come here," Shinho beckoned her with a wave of his hand.
Hinata turned around, slipped her feet back into her sandals, and walked over to him with small, hesitant steps.
"Do you want to stop fainting like that?" Shinho asked with a smile.
"Huh?" Hinata blinked, momentarily confused.
"I have a method," Shinho continued, a serious expression on his face, "Do you want to try it?"
Hinata hesitated for a moment before nodding. She truly couldn't keep fainting like this, especially not during moments like earlier. It was far too embarrassing and regretful.
"The best way to conquer fear is to face it directly," Shinho said as he leaned closer, "Now, kiss me."
"..."
Hinata's face turned scarlet in an instant.
What kind of method is this?!
She instinctively took a step back, her legs feeling weak, her heart pounding so hard it made her head spin.
Shinho, seeing her frozen in place, stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Maybe this is a bit too much...
Cough.
This is purely for treatment purposes!
"I-I can't..." Hinata stuttered, completely flustered under his gaze.
"It's hard for you to take the initiative, I see," Shinho said before bending down and lifting her into his arms.
Hinata's body went limp the moment she felt his touch, a tingling sensation coursing through her.
What's going to happen next?
Please don't faint, she thought desperately.
Shinho looked down at her, who looked like a docile kitten. He gently tilted her chin upward with his hand.
Hinata instinctively closed her eyes, and soon, she felt the warmth of his lips against her forehead.
Another kiss...
Her heart swelled with shame and happiness, leaving her lightheaded as if she were floating.
"You've made great progress this time," Shinho said with a chuckle. "That's enough for today. We'll continue training next time."
Hinata, still dazed, slowly began to process his words. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes to find herself cradled in his arms while he read through some documents.
She stared at him blankly, wishing this moment could last forever.
"I'll take you home," Shinho said after glancing at her.
Reluctantly, Hinata released her hold on him. But the thought of "next time" filled her with anticipation.
…
Before long, they reached the Hyuga Clan compound. Shinho originally planned to leave after dropping her off at the gate, but he noticed Hanabi and Fū in the courtyard.
"Brother-in-law!"
Hanabi immediately dashed over, clinging to his arm.
Hmm?
Hinata's here too?
Hanabi glanced at her older sister, who stood shyly nearby.
Did they come back together?
Did my sister finally make a move?
"Shinho!" Fū greeted enthusiastically as she approached.
"How's school?" Shinho asked, eyeing her attire.
Fū, who used to wear revealing clothes that exposed her arms, legs, and midriff, was now dressed in the Hyuga Clan's traditional long-sleeved attire, looking much more like the girl-next-door.
"I've made lots and lots of friends!" Fū said, gesturing animatedly with her hands.
"That's good to hear," Shinho said before turning to Hanabi. "Once you graduate, she'll be your teammate. Take care of her."
"A teammate?"
Hanabi's eyes sparkled as she nodded enthusiastically. Although she didn't know that Fū was a jinchūriki, her Byakugan allowed her to see the vast chakra reserves within her.
As a teammate, Fū wouldn't just keep up with her, she'd be a powerhouse.
"Brother-in-law, who will be our squad leader?" Hanabi asked expectantly.
"Who do you want?" Shinho asked in return.
"You!" Hanabi answered without hesitation.
"You're technically my teacher's student. If I also become your squad leader, it'll create quite the mess," Shinho teased.
"What does that matter?" Hanabi pouted.
"We'll see," Shinho said vaguely. "If I'm free when you graduate, I'll consider it."
"Yay!" Hanabi cheered, shaking his arm with excitement.
"I have to get back to work. I'll visit you all next time," Shinho said, clearing his throat as he gently withdrew his arm.
"Alright," Hanabi replied, her excitement dimming slightly.
Shinho patted her head, then, catching Hinata's gaze, patted her head twice for fairness before turning to leave.
…
Back in the Hokage Office, Shinho opened the door to find Shizune sitting on the sofa, waiting for him.
"Waiting for me?" he asked as he walked over.
"Done chatting with your little girlfriend?" Shizune retorted coldly.
In the next moment, she felt herself being lifted off the ground.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded, struggling as her legs, clad in black stockings and high heels, kicked in the air.
Shinho's hand slipped under the hem of her dress.
Shizune gasped, her body going limp as a sharp sensation spread through her. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, her fair skin glowing, and her eyes glimmering with tears.
"Let me go, you scoundrel!" Shizune protested, both furious and flustered.
But her resistance was futile. She realized that her body no longer entirely obeyed her own will.
"I won't," Shinho said with a smile. "Not in this lifetime."
Shizune's heart trembled at his words.
Despite knowing that Shinho was a scumbag, Shizune realized she could no longer leave him.
"I have something important to discuss," Shizune said, her tone softening as if resigning herself to her fate.
Before she could elaborate, Shinho lowered his head and kissed her lips. Shizune froze momentarily, then wrapped her arms around his neck.
Her long, slender legs in black stockings pressed together, her toes relaxing as the tension left her body.
"What's the matter?" Shinho asked, his eyes lingering on her glistening lips.
"It's about Itachi Uchiha," Shizune said, catching her breath. "We received a message from him. He wants to meet us at the Fire Temple."
Shinho's hand, which had been idly caressing her thigh, paused.
Itachi?
It had indeed been a long time since they had last communicated. Judging by the timing, this likely concerned Sasuke Uchiha and helping him awaken the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Why the Fire Temple?" Shinho asked, raising an eyebrow.
The Fire Temple was a ninja faction within the Land of Fire, known for its 'Ninja Monks'. The specifics weren't detailed in the original story, but the temple was featured in two main plotlines. One involved Sora, the son of Kazuma, who lived there.
The other revolved around Chiriku, a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja with a bounty of 30 million ryō on his head. In the canon, Chiriku was killed by Kakuzu and Hidan, who later targeted Asuma to collect another bounty.
"Kazuma and Kakuzu plan to kill Chiriku for the bounty," Shizune explained, "Itachi said that if we want to save Chiriku, we need to reach the Fire Temple within three days."
Shinho pondered this for a moment.
Chiriku and Asuma were known to be close friends, and the Fire Temple had amicable relations with Konoha. It was likely this connection that prompted Itachi to send the warning.
"Understood. I'll handle this personally," Shinho nodded.
The duo of Kakuzu and Kazuma, while powerful, was no match for the likes of Sasori and Deidara.
Shinho was confident he could deal with them alone. However, he wondered how Nagato and Konan might react. There was a possibility they would accelerate their plans to target Konoha.
That thought didn't particularly trouble him. In the original timeline, Naruto had defeated Pain with only the Yang Nine-Tails. Now, with the Yin-Yang Kurama united, Naruto was even stronger.
Shinho could simply focus on protecting the village and let others handle the invaders.
"Is there anything else?" Shinho asked, his left hand sliding upward to gently knead Shizune's thighs through her stockings.
"No... stop doing that!" Shizune's face flushed red as she spoke, "We're working! It's office hours!"
Before Shinho could reply, she struggled out of his embrace and stood up, glaring at him before storming off.
He deserves some punishment for flirting everywhere he goes, she thought, satisfied with her abrupt exit.
Shinho's mouth twitched.
His body heat was only rising at the moment.
Forget it. No black stockings? Fine, there's always white.
Returning to his Hokage chair, he rested his hands on the armrests, her pants hanging on his legs. A moment later, a blue light flickered, and Ichikishima-hime appeared before him. As always, she wore only a kimono, leaving the rest exposed.
"Master!" Ichikishima Hime climbed into his lap with practiced ease.
She le t out a breath, a soft scent wafting into the air.
Her frame rested lightly against him, her delicate, white-stockinged legs tensed, and her toes curled adorably.
Shinho took a deep breath.
He had been spending time teasing Tsunade and Shizune lately, leaving little attention for this charming snake maiden. Looking down at her, he noticed her slightly flushed neck and disheveled dark blue hair, which swayed gently as she moved.
He wrapped an arm around her slim waist. The thin kimono did little to conceal the subtle rise and fall of her breathing.
"You've been away from Ryuchi Cave for a while now. Aren't they suspicious?" Shinho asked, his hand tightening slightly on her waist.
"N-no, not at all," Ichikishima Hime stammered, turning her head to look at him with wide, watery eyes, as though she were on the verge of tears.
"What do you think we should do about Ryuchi Cave?" Shinho continued.
"Whatever Master decides," she replied meekly, struggling to keep her thoughts coherent.
Shinho smirked. The Serpent Mastery Gu had deepened her loyalty to him, making Ryuchi Cave a secondary concern in her mind.
Of the three major summoning realms, Shinho held little affection for Ryuchi Cave and Mount Myoboku, leaving only Shikkotsu Forest as a neutral entity.
He once again thought of forming the fourth great sacred land.
Like the three Great Sacred Land, it required special Land, mastery of senjutsu and a massive following.
The later two could be satisfied with his parasitic insects. As for the unique land suitable to become a sacred land, Shinho decided to deal with it once he beame a Rank-6 Gu immortal.
Just as Shinho was mulling over these thoughts, Ichikishima Hime's body trembled slightly in his arms.
Shinho eyebrows rose as he too felt a current coursing through his spine.
"Well done," Shinho murmured, praising her as he pulled her closer.
Indeed, a snake's body was more flexible than humans.
A few seconds later, he sighed.
As the Hokage, I can't indulge too much.
More importantly, someone could walk in at any moment. Short periods of breaks were fine, but prolonged interactions might raise suspicion.
With a wave of his hand, his Primeval essence flowed through the room like water, erasing all traces of their intimacy.
Ichikishima-hime lay exhausted in his arms, her flushed face resting against his chest, her tired eyes glistening with residual tears.
Shinho shook his head.
For a snake known for its strength, she's surprisingly delicate in human form.
He turned his attention to the matter of the Fire Temple. Itachi had specified three days, but Shinho didn't want to push it to the last moment.
Tomorrow, then.
Another question came to mind.
Should I bring Sasuke?
After some thought, he decided to leave it until he met with Itachi.
Shinho picked up a document from his desk. Ichikishima-hime's figure resting on his arms didn't interfere with his work in the slightest.
The document detailed updates on the transportation hubs. Shikaku Nara had already departed for the capital city of the Land of Fire to negotiate the train and airship tariffs with merchants.
Suddenly, an idea struck Shinho.
What if I have Itachi assassinate the Daimyo?
It was a viable plan. After helping Sasuke gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi's death was inevitable. Using his remaining time to contribute to Konoha's future seemed something Itachi would be delighted to do.
Shinho felt no guilt.
Without his intervention, Itachi would have remained a tragic figure like in the original work, doomed to a path of someone who exterminated his entire clan.
We'll discuss it in person, he thought, setting the document aside.
He glanced down at Ichikishima-hime, whose body trembled faintly again.
What a peculiar body.
Of course, he conveniently ignored the fact that he was the cause.
Picking up a second document, Shinho scanned its contents. The old site of Land of Sky had been found, and initial inspections were underway.
However, Shinno remained hidden. It seemed locating him would take more time.
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