Shinho lowered his gaze to look at Tsunade.
Her cheeks puffed slightly, and her previously alabaster skin was now adorned with a mesmerizing flush, making her beauty striking yet deeply seductive.
Her bright brown eyes occasionally showed the whites, in discomfort and with the utmost seriousness.
Shinho couldn't help but admire her.
As expected of Tsunade, she always gave her all, no matter the circumstances.
Shinho's gaze shifted slightly upward.
Tsunade wasn't wearing her nun's cowl; her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, shimmering and swaying with the movements of the air. Her black habit clung to her figure, tracing the curves from her neck to her hips, down to her thighs, emphasizing her voluptuous and robust frame.
Shinho reached out and gently patted her head.
Tsunade gave him a disgruntled side-eye.
This brat doesn't know the meaning of respect! she thought.
Shinho sighed softly.
In his previous life, he had never gone skiing, but in this one, he had certainly experienced it all. The slopes he had visited with Shizune before were tame, small and level, with hardly any exciting slope.
This time, however, the mountain he tackled was the grandest in the ninja world.
When Shinho dived in, he disappeared completely, his entire body swallowed up by the snow. If one didn't look carefully, even his head would be hard to spot.
Outside the window, the moonlight grew brighter.
The prayers of the nun reached their conclusion.
"Idiot!"
Tsunade scolded loudly, flustered and furious.
"My apologies."
Shinho quickly handed her a towel.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
Tsunade wiped her face, still visibly upset.
"Let's take a bath, Sensei," Shinho suggested, adopting a conciliatory tone.
As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade naturally cared about her dignity.
Shinho's antics had caused her to lose a lot of face, so her anger was justified. Seeing his earnest expression now, she sighed and raised her arms.
"You're a good teacher!" Shinho said with a grin, lifting her up. His hands supported her by her hips.
"Smooth talker!" Tsunade wrapped her arms around his neck like an octopus.
Soon, the two arrived at the bathroom.
Thick steam filled the room.
The glass fogged up, leaving behind only the blurred outlines of two figures close together.
As the night deepened, Shizune awoke, feeling thirsty.
Reaching out for the glass of water nearby, she brought it to her lips, only to find it empty. Blinking her eyes open, she yawned and made her way to the living room with the glass in hand.
It was then that she noticed something unusual.
Why is the bathroom light still on? she wondered.
Did Lady Tsunade forget to turn it off?
Shizune moved closer, but as she approached the bathroom, she sensed something unusual.
"A barrier?" Shizune muttered in confusion.
Having a barrier around the bathroom was odd, to say the least. What baffled her even more was that this was a barrier frequently used by Shinho. She recalled its use earlier in the day when they had battled in the lounge together.
After some thought, Shizune reached out and placed her hand on the barrier.
In the next instant, she heard muffled sounds of moaning and wailful.
Shizune froze.
That's Lady Tsunade's voice?!
But the emotions conveyed in the sound felt very strange to her. No, not strange, but familiar.
Shizune could never have imagined hearing such a voice from Tsunade.
Who was in there with her?
Shizune sharpened her senses, her expression gradually turning to one of shock.
Shinho?
No! Impossible!
Am I dreaming?!
Shizune's heart pounded wildly, the shock rendering her unable to think. She knew Shinho was a flirt, his relationship with Hinata and Ino were well-known.
But this was Tsunade! His teacher!
As she listened to the rapid breathing from within, her face turned crimson.
That scoundrel was as brazen as ever.
Wait! No!
Shizune suddenly snapped back to her senses.
This sort of thing was mutual. With Tsunade's personality, if she didn't agree, it couldn't have happened.
How could this be?
Shizune instinctively pressed her thighs together, her thoughts in utter chaos. Memories of Tsunade and Shinho's interactions resurfaced in her mind.
Their behavior had been overly intimate.
"Am I... the third wheel?" Shizune whispered in disbelief.
Overwhelmed by the realization, her body heated up slightly as she bit her lower lip. She didn't dare linger any longer and hurriedly returned to her room, her steps faltering.
Once back, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sadness.
Although, her body had already grown accustomed to certain things.
Shinho had sensed Shizune's presence as she passed by. He initially planned to avoid her but then thought of something daring.
What if Shizune found out?
Would she be angry enough to break ties with them?
Unlikely.
After all, the three of them had long since formed a bond akin to family. Shizune didn't have the heart for a clean break.
The real issue would be Tsunade.
Shinho deployed every trick he knew, distracting Tsunade enough to prevent Shizune from catching on. Shizune's reaction only confirmed his hunch.
She hadn't acted out in rage.
There was potential!
The thought of a future where he might handle both excited Shinho greatly.
"It's time to... rest," Tsunade stammered, flustered.
She was horrified by Shinho's seemingly boundless energy. Did he plan to use Yin Seal again?
She didn't want to rely on it unnecessarily. After all, it was a forbidden jutsu, and frequent use could harm her body. Occasional use was fine, though.
"Alright."
Shinho's voice softened.
Carrying Tsunade in his arms, he returned to his room, his mind spinning with thoughts.
Shizune was a possibility, but what about Tsunade?
He suddenly recalled Tsunade once asking him to find out who Shizune liked.
What if Shizune confessed to liking him?
What would happen then?
Shinho's heart raced at the thought.
It might actually work.
Tsunade, feeling his unexpected gentleness, rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes.
The bathroom fell silent once more.
The two returned to their room.
The night passed without further incident.
Shinho opened his eyes the next morning, instinctively reaching for the figure beside him, only to find that the soft warmth was no longer there.
Did she leave early again?
Shinho snapped out of his thoughts, got dressed, and left his room.
As he passed by the kitchen, he stopped.
Shizune stood at the stove, seemingly lost in thought.
"The water's boiling, Shizune-nee," Shinho reminded her gently.
Startled, Shizune quickly turned off the burner. She sighed in relief but stiffened again upon noticing Shinho's approach.
"Don't touch me!" she blurted instinctively.
But a second later, she found herself enveloped in his arms.
"Shizune-nee," Shinho said softly, patting her lightly on the chest, "Getting mad early in the morning will make you age faster."
His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Shizune felt her knees weaken.
She bit her lip, forcing herself to resist the sensation.
"Let go of me!" she demanded.
Shinho noticed her reaction and felt reassured. She was upset, but not truly angry.
"My apologies," he said, his tone sincere.
"..." Shizune's heart wavered at his words. She shoved him away, steeling herself.
"Don't bother me while I'm cooking," she said firmly.
"Thank you for your hard work, Shizune-nee," Shinho said with a cheerful smile before heading to the bathroom.
"Shameless! Pervert! Idiot!" Shizune spit out angrily, letting out her frustration.
A few seconds later, she sighed and turned back to continue preparing breakfast.
After washing up, Shinho made his way to the living room.
The bedroom door opened, and a groggy Tsunade stepped out. She had changed out of her nun's habit into a simple kimono-style nightrobe.
"Good morning," she mumbled, giving Shinho a brief glance before heading to the bathroom.
As for last night's events, she remained completely unaware of Shizune's discovery.
Fifteen minutes later, the three of them sat at the breakfast table.
Today's breakfast was ramen.
"Ah, this is amazing," Tsunade exclaimed, slurping down a bundle of noodles. The hot broth brought a refreshing vitality to her expression.
"Shizune," Tsunade said, noticing Shizune's heavy mood. "What's wrong? You seem upset."
"It's... nothing," Shizune replied reflexively, shaking her head.
"Really?" Tsunade asked with a wave of her hand. "Did that brat upset you? If so, just hit him!"
After all, Shizune had been perfectly fine the night before, leaving Shinho as the only possible culprit.
"What did I do?" Shinho protested as he slid the char siu from his bowl into Shizune's.
"I'm fine," Shizune said, startled by the gesture. She took a deep breath and repeated herself.
Seeing this, Tsunade dropped the topic.
After breakfast, Shinho and Shizune left the house together, heading to the Hokage Tower.
As soon as they stepped outside, Shizune deliberately widened the distance between them.
"Shizune-nee," Shinho called, quickly catching up to grab her hand.
"Let go!" Shizune said angrily, struggling to pull free.
"I won't," Shinho replied with a shake of his head. "Not in this lifetime."
"Do you think the same line will work on me twice?" Shizune shot back, exasperated.
"Oh! It seems like you remember my words clearly?" Shinho asked, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Shizune averted her gaze, refusing to respond. The truth was, she remembered all too well the things this scoundrel had said.
"Stop pinching me!" she snapped, glaring at him. "If you're holding my hand, just hold it properly!"
"Alright, whatever you say," Shinho replied obediently.
The Senju estate was secluded, and during the few minutes it took to leave, they encountered no one else.
"What's going on between you and Lady Tsunade?" Shizune finally asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
"You... you know?" Shinho exclaimed, launching into an exaggerated performance.
"Last night, you two were so brazen, I couldn't—" Shizune began, her face flushing before she cut herself off abruptly.
"I want to stay with Sensei and you, always," Shinho declared shamelessly.
"..." Shizune was at a loss for words.
She should've seen through his antics long ago.
"Is that impossible, Shizune-nee?" Shinho asked, his face full of hopeful anticipation.
Shizune wanted to refuse outright, but her heart betrayed her, leaving her silent. Before meeting Shinho, her plan had been to follow Tsunade until death, without considering love or marriage.
Now, while her end goal remained the same, the circumstances had grown utterly absurd.
"I'll think about it," she sighed internally, unable to bring herself to be harsh.
"My dear Shizune-nee!" Shinho exclaimed, pulling her into an embrace and stealing a kiss.
Shizune's pupils dilated as she instinctively tried to push him away, but her body betrayed her, leaning into his chest. Her lips softened, yielding to his.
After a long moment, they parted.
Shizune's face was a deep crimson as she breathed in the fresh morning air, trying to quell the dryness in her mouth. Struggling to maintain composure, she stammered, "I... I haven't agreed yet."
"I know," Shinho said seriously. "I'll wait."
Shizune turned away and headed toward the Hokage Tower. Yet, her heart thudded traitorously in her chest.
She knew she'd never be able to free herself from Shinho.
…
On their way, many villagers greeted the Hokage, and Shinho responded in high spirits. While Shizune hadn't fully agreed, her response was close enough to a yes.
They arrived at the Hokage Tower, and Shizune went straight to her office. Shinho didn't press her further.
"Hokage-sama," Yugao greeted him with a slight bow at the office door.
"Notify Team Seven," Shinho instructed, "They'll be heading out on a mission in four days."
"Yes," Yugao replied promptly.
"No need to inform Yamato," Shinho added after a moment's thought, "Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin will suffice."
According to Itachi Uchiha's intelligence, capturing the Three-Tails would only involve him and Kisame. Their combined strength was more than enough to handle it.
As for Konoha's potential interference? Pain didn't care the least bit.
If Konoha took the Three-Tails, all the better. He would simply strike and seize all the Tailed Beasts at once.
…
Three days passed swiftly.
A major event shook the Land of Fire and the entire shinobi world. Daimyo Enju Madoka had suddenly died in his palace. His death was so abrupt that, being in his prime, he had left no written will.
The succession dispute among his three sons escalated into open conflict.
Shinho didn't involve himself immediately but ordered the ANBU to monitor the situation closely. If things went as expected, the eldest son, Ikkyu Madoka, would likely claim the title due to his seniority and capability.
But surprises were always possible.
Shinho decided to wait until the second and third sons began to falter before subtly tipping the scales.
On the fourth day, despite the political turmoil, the ninja world carried on as usual.
Such conflicts had happened before, and the shinobi were indifferent. As long as their funding continued, they didn't care who held the title of Daimyo.
Shinho set aside the document he had been reviewing and glanced across the desk at Shizune. Her long, slender legs encased in black stockings caught his eye.
"Shizune-nee," he said, pulling his gaze away and standing. "I'll be heading out for a bit."
"How long will you be gone?" Shizune asked instinctively.
Ever since their conversation four days ago, their relationship had taken on a subtle complexity. Still, she remained diligent in her role as Hokage's assistant.
"I'm going to the Land of Water," Shinho said, "The Three-Tails is about to reappear."
"Will you encounter the Akatsuki?" Shizune looked up, her brow creasing slightly.
"If we do, it's nothing to worry about."
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