"I'll wash it before returning it to you!" Ino said, as if recalling something.
"No need for such trouble," Shinho replied, shaking his head.
"No way! I have to do that much at least," Ino insisted firmly.
Under his gaze, she turned her head slightly, her face tinged with a blush.
Her intention was clear, and Shinho understood. He nodded in agreement.
Ino let out a breath of relief.
She wasn't some obsessive fanatic, she just wanted an excuse to see Shinho again, using the coat as a reason.
The Ancor Vantian came to a halt outside the Forest of Death.
Though it was some distance from Konoha, its massive size still drew the attention of villagers and shinobi alike.
Fortunately, the ANBU and Transport Division acted quickly to notify everyone, preventing panic or chaos.
"You've worked hard today. You can head back now," Shinho waved them off.
"Got it," Shikamaru responded, eager to leave.
This entire mission had been a steady diet of watching romantic tension, which he found utterly unbearable.
"Choji," Shikamaru called, pulling Choji along.
"Huh? Aren't we waiting for Ino?" Choji asked instinctively.
"Why bother?" Shikamaru deflected. "What do you feel like eating tonight?"
"Barbecue!" Choji immediately forgot about Ino.
Perfect.
Ino's lips curved slightly into a smile.
Now, it was just the two of them.
"What are you smiling about?" Shinho asked.
"Nothing," Ino quickly shook her head. "When will you have some free time, Shinho-kun? I'll bring your coat back then."
"Come find me at the Hokage's office once you've washed it, I can make time for you anytime," Shinho said after a moment of thought.
"Alright then." Ino smile was a bit too bright at Shinho's reply.
Noticing the approaching Transport Division personnel, Ino said, "I'll head off now, Shinho-kun."
Shinho nodded.
…
The Transport Division was currently led by Shinho's father, Shibi Aburame.
After giving a few instructions, Shinho returned to the Hokage's office.
As he opened the door, he saw a graceful figure, not of Shizune, but Tsunade.
She stood by the window, gazing at the distant Ancor Vantian.
Shinho closed the door and walked up to her. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her.
Her full curves pressed against him as she leaned into his embrace.
"Where did you find this …fortress?" Tsunade asked without turning her head.
"Land of Sky," Shinho replied, recounting everything about Shino and the mission.
"I see." Tsunade sighed. "It's fortunate we discovered it early. Otherwise, Konoha would've suffered some great losses."
In the original timeline, Land of Sky did attack Konoha. Though it wasn't as catastrophic as Pain's invasion, it still caused significant destruction.
"Here, this is for you," Shinho handed her a scroll.
"What's this?" Tsunade opened it curiously, her expression quickly becoming serious.
Shinho didn't interrupt her. Holding her in his arms, he simply enjoyed her presence and the scent of her perfume.
"This is impressive," Tsunade said after finishing, "This Shinnō would rank among the top five, among all the medical-nin I know. It's a shame he was an enemy."
Shinho nodded. That assessment was accurate.
"These two forbidden techniques could greatly enhance the self-defense and combat abilities of medical-nin," Tsunade said after a pause, "But they're very difficult to master. Only a few might succeed."
"You should learn them first," Shinho said with a smile. "You were the first person I thought of When I obtained it, Sensei."
Tsunade turned, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him lightly, "A reward, for your consideration." she said with a wink.
"That won't be enough," Shinho said.
"Tonight," Tsunade glanced down at his hands, "No, not in the Hokage's office!"
"But last time—" Shinho began, only to have his mouth covered by her hand.
"Do you have a death wish?" Tsunade hissed, blushing furiously. "I said last time was an exception!"
"Fine," Shinho relented. "But I want compensation."
"What kind of compensation?" Tsunade asked, her tone softening.
"Use your mouth," Shinho whispered in her ear.
Though Tsunade was bold at times, she was also traditional. She had only taken small steps forward in their relationship.
"You damn pervert!" Tsunade snapped, realizing what he was implying.
It was a predictable reaction.
Shinho coughed lightly. "Is that a no?"
"Yes, I absolutely won't!" Tsunade rejected him without hesitation.
At that moment, Shinho's face fell in disappointment.
"..."
Tsunade, despite knowing he was acting, felt her heart soften unexpectedly.
Holding the scroll tightly, she remained silent for a long time.
Although Shinho looked fine at the moment, it moust've been straining for him to defeat Shinnō using Eight Gates.
She tried to reason with herself.
"Just this once," she said through gritted teeth.
"Really?" Shinho's face lit up with delight.
"Don't get cocky! I'll deal with you tonight!" Tsunade stomped on his foot lightly.
"A teacher's guidance is always welcome," Shinho said seriously. "Even oral guidance."
Tsunade twitched at his words.
If she wasn't sure she couldn't win, she might have punched him. This brat was getting out of hand.
Clutching the scroll, she stormed out of the Hokage's office.
Shinho exhaled deeply, pleased at how easily he'd achieved his goal.
Tonight promised to be exciting.
…
Moments later, Shizune entered the office, only to find Shinho standing there looking smug.
"What are you doing?!" she asked, blushing as she noticed him.
"Shizune-nee-san," Shinho responded, stepping toward her.
"Wait—hmpmmm" Before she could finish, he silenced her with a kiss.
His hands naturally slid under her shirt.
Shizune froze before melting into his embrace, her eyes becoming glassy and unfocused.
"Shizune-nee," Shinho murmured as he waved his hand, closing the door behind them.
Scooping her up, he carried her to the private lounge behind the bookshelf.
"Can't… can't we go somewhere else?" Shizune protested weakly, realizing what was about to happen.
"Nop, right here," Shinho said firmly.
"No… we can't!" Shizune struggled in his arms, her long legs encased in black stockings flailing desperately.
Shinho threw Shizune directly onto the bed.
Shizune let out a surprised yelp.
She rubbed the hem of her tight skirt, glaring angrily at Shinho.
But the next second, her gaze shifted, and her face turned increasingly red.
Scoundrel!
She sighed and said, "You… you should at least set up a barrier."
Shinho casually waved his hand, summoning the Water Curtain Sky Flower Gu, isolating the Hokage's office from the outside.
As Shizune reached to undo her blouse buttons, but Shinho stopped her.
"This is better," Shinho said, looking down at her, "It'll save you trouble when you go back to work later."
Shizune barely had time to think before letting out a muffled sound, instinctively clutching Shinho tightly.
Her long, shapely legs encased in black stockings stretched straight, and her delicate, jade-like toes curled.
Shizune felt as though she were a solitary boat, helplessly swaying on an endless sea.
Beads of sweat glistened on her flushed face, her dark bangs clinging to her skin.
Seeing her struggling for breath, Shinho gently loosened her collar, revealing her snow-white skin and graceful curves.
He lowered his head, capturing her lips in a kiss while interlocking their fingers.
…
Outside the window, the sunlight remained bright and warm but it was already two in the afternoon.
The Transportation Division's shinobi were now taking over the fortress Shinho had brought back.
As for Shinnō and his group, they were promptly imprisoned and repurposed as "batteries."
The only exception was Amaru.
Under Shinho's arrangement, Yugao Uzuki revealed the truth about Shinnō to her.
While devastated, Amaru had no choice but to accept reality.
Shinho offered her two choices: she could return to her village to live peacefully or stay in Konoha to study medical ninjutsu.
After careful consideration, Amaru chose the latter.
In the original storyline, she already possessed the heart of a healer.
With Yugao's assistance, she successfully enrolled in the Ninja Academy, where she became acquainted with Hanabi and Fu.
That's right, Hanabi was one of the teammates Shinho selected for her.
These days, there were few prodigies in the Ninja Academy.
The only somewhat notable one was Konohamaru Sarutobi.
Thus, Shinho had to search outside.
Fu, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, was a powerful, combat-focused ninja.
Hanabi, with her Gentle Fist and Byakugan, could handle sensory and reconnaissance tasks.
Adding Amaru as a medical-ninja-in-training completed a perfect ninja team.
Moreover, her young age made her an ideal fit.
After Yugao finished settling Amaru, she returned to the Hokage building.
Standing before the office door, she prepared to report back.
As she raised her hand to knock, the door unexpectedly opened.
She found herself face-to-face with Shizune, who appeared momentarily stunned.
The Hokage's secretary's face was flushed red, and she exuded a lingering fragrance.
"I…" Shizune started, but then bit her lip, saying nothing more.
Her voice trembled slightly.
Without another word, she turned and headed back to her own office, her gait unsteady.
Yugao stood frozen in place, her sharp instincts catching the subtle differences in Shizune's demeanor.
As a seasoned jonin, she knew Shizune's breathing and stride should have been steady, wspessialy as a jonin herself.
Suddenly, Yugao realized something, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
No way…
But on second thought, it made sense.
The Hokage was young and full of vigor.
Still, doing such things in the Hokage's office? It left her at a loss for words.
"Come in," Shinho's voice called from inside.
Shizune had hurried off without closing the door, leaving it ajar for Yugao to step through.
"Lord Hokage," Yugao composed herself and approached his desk.
"How's the situation?" Shinho asked, glancing at her.
He had, of course, noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor.
But it wasn't a big deal.
For one, Shizune hadn't openly exposed anything.
For another, the Anbu's loyalty to the Hokage—especially after the implementation of the new payroll system—was absolute.
"Amaru agreed to stay. I've already arranged for her enrollment in the Academy," Yugao reported, taking a deep breath.
"Good," Shinho nodded slightly.
Hanabi, Fu, and Amaru—this team seemed well-rounded.
When he had the time, he could even serve as their team leader.
"You may go," Shinho dismissed her with a wave.
"Yes," Yugao said, turning to leave.
Shinho stretched lazily, picking up a document.
The last hour had left him feeling refreshed, and his work efficiency had noticeably improved.
As dusk approached, a knock came at the door.
"Lord Hokage," Yugao entered, holding a document. "We've just received a top-priority encrypted message, but this is from somone of the ooder generastion anbu."
The Anbu encrypt their messages to prevent leaks, with different levels of encryption based on rank.
Top-level encryption could only be used by Anbu squad leaders, and there were only four of them.
If it wasn't from a current squad leader, it had to be someone from the previous generation.
Shinho had already guessed the sender.
Opening the letter, he confirmed his suspicion, it was from Itachi Uchiha.
Planning to assassinate the daimyo in three days?
Shinho pondered.
This also indicated that the Three-Tails would revive within three to four days.
It seemed sooner than expected.
But the timing was perfect.
The railway connecting the major cities of the Land of Fire was complete.
Everything was in place; they only needed the daimyo to die.
…
Night descended.
Seated cross-legged on his bed, Shinho tried to cultivate.
But his focus faltered.
He couldn't help it, he was too eager for tonight's plans with Tsunade.
Earlier, with his persuasive tongue, he had finally convinced her to wear a nun's habit.
After what felt like forever, the door creaked open.
Shinho instinctively opened his eyes.
Tsunade stepped in slowly, wearing the tight-fitting black nun's habit he had prepared.
The outfit was predominantly black, except for the white fabric that stretched tautly across her chest.
The hem of the skirt stopped mid-thigh, exposing her long, stocking-clad legs.
She was barefoot, her silk-clad feet pressing softly against the floor as she approached him.
"Sensei," Shinho swallowed hard. "Let us begin the prayer."
"I don't know how!" Tsunade's cheeks flushed.
"I'll teach you," Shinho replied confidently.
"What do I do?" Tsunade crouched down, her voice curious.
"It's simpl, interlock your fingers and recite the prayer aloud," Shinho explained.
Tsunade rolled her eyes but complied, her red lips parting slightly in disgust. Though she lacked piety, her effort was commendable.
Her delicate neck tensed slightly, faint veins visible as she chanted too quickly, her voice faltering.
"Watch your teeth," Shinho reminded. "Like when you smile without showing them."
Tsunade pursed her lips, her soft, crimson lips concealing her teeth.
"You need to be more devout," Shinho added earnestly.
Tsunade shot him a glare, tilting her head back in exasperation.
"Be sincere," Shinho said with utmost seriousness.
Releasing her hands, Tsunade leaned forward slightly. Her devotion plunging him into asn abbyss s deep, his mind recoiled for a second.
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