Shinho smiled and asked, "Do you still doubt my strength, Shizune-nee?"
"Don't get too cocky!" Shizune shot him a glance. "And be careful!"
"Yes!" Shinho responded earnestly.
"..."
Shizune shifted her gaze, her feelings conflicted.
Unconsciously, she had started to worry about this scoundrel again.
"Shizune-nee," Shinho said as he reached out to pull her into his embrace.
"What are you doing?" Shizune tensed, her voice laced with nervousness. "You're supposed to be leaving. Don't waste time here."
"When I get back, can we...?" Shinho whispered near her ear.
Shizune remained silent, her expression unreadable.
For the past few nights, she had refused Shinho's invitations.
"Shizune-nee..." Shinho murmured as he lightly nibbled her ear.
"We'll talk when you return," Shizune stammered, her body trembling slightly as she gave a vague reply.
"Got it!" Shinho said with enthusiasm, leaning in to kiss her deeply before stepping out of the Hokage's office.
Shizune watched him leave, biting her lip instinctively.
These past four days had been a struggle for her. She understood now—whether it was Tsunade or Shinho, she couldn't let go of either.
If that was the case, she decided to just let things be.
…
At Konoha's Gates
"It's huge!" Naruto exclaimed as he gazed at Ancor Vantian in the distance.
The grotesque faces carved into the structure had been removed, making it look less eerie than before.
Sasuke gave it a passing glance but quickly lost interest.
As for Karin, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment.
Ancor Vantian was something Shinho had brought back, but he had taken Ino with him instead of her.
Her mood shifted instantly when she spotted Shinho approaching.
"Shinho-kun!" Karin cried as she ran up to him. She latched onto his arm, her figure pressing close, and it seemd like whatever remnants of her earlier annoyance vanished into thin air.
"What's the mission this time?" Sasuke asked coldly, ignoring Karin.
"We're going to the Land of Water to capture the Three-Tails," Shinho replied before adding, "And we might encounter the Akatsuki."
"Who?" Sasuke's head snapped up, his expression suddenly intense.
"Possibly that man," Shinho said ambiguously, careful not to reveal too much and arouse suspicion.
Sasuke instinctively gripped his Kusanagi Blade, his body radiating a chilling aura.
Naruto hesitated, wanting to comfort Sasuke but unsure of what to say. He knew all too well the story between Sasuke and that man.
"No matter who it is, this mission is dangerous. Stay sharp," Shinho reminded the group.
"Yes!" Naruto replied with determination. This time, he was determined to help Sasuke.
"Let's head out at full speed."
Originally, Shinho had considered using an airship, but it would've been too slow. If they arrived late and Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki had already taken the Three-Tails, it would be a disaster.
As soon as Shinho spoke, Sasuke disappeared in a blur.
"So fast!" Naruto exclaimed. He quickly shed his training weights and chased after Sasuke.
Sasuke glanced back at Naruto. Chakra surged through his body from his Seal, further increasing his speed.
"This is what youth is all about!" Naruto shouted gleefully. "Sasuke, let's have a youthful showdown!"
Shinho shook his head, a wry smile on his face.
"Shinho-nii," Karin said awkwardly. "I can't run that fast."
"I'll carry you," Shinho said, crouching down.
Karin's eyes lit up as she hopped onto his back. Her legs, clad in black thigh-high stockings, wrapped around his waist.
Shinho felt the soft pressure against his back. Supporting her with his hands under her hips, he activated his Golden arourta Gu.
Before long, they caught up with Sasuke and Naruto.
Sasuke's face was flushed, his speed pushed to its limit. Yet Naruto, a ninja speciliased in taijutsu, remained a step ahead of him, showcasing his endurance and explosive power.
Even with the Seal containing satori granting Sasuke an ample supply of chakra, he couldn't match Naruto's stamina.
Shinho kept up the pace, ensuring they maintained Sasuke's speed as the baseline. Meanwhile, Karin fidgeted slightly on his back, unable to sit still.
If only this were Tsunade or Hinata Hyuga, he thought wryly. The experience would've been more rewarding.
…
By noon, the group had reached the eastern coastline of the Land of Fire.
Standing at the shore, Shinho summoned a boat from his Blue Sky Well Gu.
As they boarded, Sasuke finally gave in to exhaustion, panting heavily as sweat dripped down his face. He glared at Naruto and Shinho, his frustration evident.
These beasts! he thought bitterly. They had run across half the Land of Fire and still had energy to spare—especially Shinho, who had been carrying Karin the entire time.
Sasuke consoled himself with the thought that he was primarily a ninjutsu specialist, not a taijutsu user. Yet even so, his pride as a Uchiha, who always strove to be the best, left him feeling bitter.
"Shinho-nii, are you tired?" Karin asked sweetly, sitting close to him. Since they were a little distance away from Sasuke and naruto, she used the intimate honorifics.
"I'm fine," Shinho replied with a shake of his head. He reached out to smooth her windswept hair.
Karin beamed happily, tilting her head to make it easier for him to comb through her locks. A faint fragrance wafted from her, enticing Shinho momentarily.
Unfortunately, with Sasuke and Naruto nearby, he had to maintain his dignity as the Hokage.
"Done," he said, pulling his hand away.
"Thank you, Shinho-nii!" Karin adjusted her seat, scooting even closer to him.
Shinho gave her a brief glance but said nothing.
A thin trail of smoke escaped his hand, forming a sparrow-shaped fog that flew into the sky.
The Land of Water consisted of numerous islands, the largest of which housed Kirigakure. Their destination, however, was Mirror Lake, far from the hidden village.
In the original timeline, Mei Terumi and her forces hadn't intervened in the battle for the Three-Tails due to the lake's remote location.
As the boat moved, Shinho kept an eye on the Fog sparrow Gu while resting his hand on Karin's waist. Absentmindedly, his fingers brushed her thigh.
Karin's cheeks flushed red as her breathing grew rapid. A tingling sensation coursed through her, causing her legs to press tightly together.
…
Time passed quickly.
Shinho's eyebrows lifted when he spotted two familiar figures in the distance: Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki.
"Prepare for battle," Shinho announced, releasing Karin and stepping to the bow of the boat. "Our destination is just ahead."
Naruto and Sasuke stood immediately, their focus sharpening.
Karin took a deep breath, willing her body to steady itself. Though her legs felt weak, her Uzumaki vitality quickly restored her strength.
…
In the Forest Near Mirror Lake
Kisame suddenly stopped in his tracks, his expression darkening.
"Someone is approaching," he said.
As a master of Water Release techniques, Kisame had left sensory traps along the coastline, which had just been triggered far sooner than he had anticipated.
"If there's danger, leave me and retreat," Itachi Uchiha said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
"That's not happening," Kisame frowned, displeased at the suggestion.
"Your survival is more important," Itachi insisted.
"Not like you to say something like this, Itachi-san." Kisame's sharp gaze narrowed, "Do you know who's coming?"
"I don't," Itachi replied, shaking his head. "But if someone's coming to seize the Three-Tails, it's highly likely they're Konoha ninjas."
"You mean Shinho Aburame?" Kisame's eyes sharpened.
While Konoha had many powerful ninjas, the only one who could genuinely trouble Itachi was Shinho Aburame.
"Correct," Itachi admitted.
"He's troublesome, sure, but he might not necessarily be our match," Kisame mused aloud. "Your Mangekyo Sharingan gives you an edge over most opponents, and I'm a Water Release specialist, and we're near a lake."
Environmental advantages could amplify a ninja's abilities significantly. For a Water Release user like Kisame, being near water often translated to a 10-20% boost in the effectiveness of his strength.
"Of course, if things go south, we can always retreat," Kisame added nonchalantly. He wasn't the type to fight to the death for no reason.
Itachi remained silent, his steps slowing as they reached the edge of the forest.
Before them lay a vast lake, its surface shimmering under the sunlight, creating a tranquil air.
"Quite the sight," Kisame said, a grin spreading across his face, "as expected of a tailed beast, Samehada is already eager to devour its chakra."
Itachi glanced at the living blade strapped to Kisame's back, which wewas shaking incessantly.
Of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, Samehada was the only sentient one, capable of absorbing chakra. It was particularly fond of targets rich in chakra, whether they were powerful ninjas or tailed beasts.
In the original story, Samehada had even shown an attraction to Killer Bee's Eight-Tails chakra. While the Three-Tails couldn't compare to the Eight-Tails, its chakra was still among the best.
However, neither Itachi nor Kisame made a move. They both knew that the real challenge today wouldn't be capturing the Three-Tails but dealing with the Konoha team that was undoubtedly closing in.
Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan could control the Three-Tails easily enough, and Kisame himself was capable of fighting on par with a tailed beast. In the original timeline, Kisame had single-handedly defeated the Four-Tails' jinchuriki.
"Itachi Uchiha!"
A familiar voice rang out.
Itachi's heart jolted as he turned around slowly, his expression unreadable.
Kisame, however, felt an ominous foreboding. If Sasuke Uchiha was here, it likely meant their leader was none other than Shinho.
His suspicions were confirmed as he caught sight of the unnaturally young Hokage stepping into view.
"Itachi Uchiha, and Kisame Hoshigaki," Shinho said with a smile, "It's an honor to finally meet you two."
Before the two could respond, Sasuke lunged forward.
"He's mine," Itachi said coldly, darting toward another part of the lake.
"Don't you dare run!" Sasuke roared, his body crackling with electricity as he gave chase.
"...Wait a minute." Kisame blinked as he came to a realisation, "Did I just get left behind to deal with the rest? Did my teammate just sell me out?"
…
"Naruto, Karin, your objective is to capture the Three-Tails," Shinho commanded with a wave.
"Got it!" Naruto replied, unusually compliant this time.
Like Sasuke, he relished the opportunity to face a powerful opponent ike a tailed beast.
"I'll be your opponent," Shinho said, turning to Kisame.
"Perfect. I've been wanting to see if the rumors about you were true," Kisame replied, wasting no time. Slamming his hands on the ground, he summoned four medium-sized sharks from the lake.
In response, Shinho activated his Fire Pupil Gu. A fiery aura radiated around him.
With a casual glance at the sharks, Shinho unleashed a torrent of flames. The fiery wave engulfed the summoned creatures completely.
"Fire Release?" Kisame sneered, "Are you mocking me right now?"
Every ninja knew that Water Release techniques countered Fire Release. For Shinho to use fire against him felt like an insult.
Kisame clapped his hands together. The four sharks burst apart like fireworks, splitting into a thousand smaller ones. The sky filled with raining sharks.
As the sharks collided with the fire, they doused the flames almost instantly. Steam rose into the air, creating a dense mist.
Shinho sighed. Rank 4 Gu's weren't strong enough against Kisame it seemes.
With a wave of his hand, shinho used Wildfire Gu.
A massive sea of flames erupted, evaporating the thousands of shark clones and generating even more steam.
Kisame's expression shifted. What kind of Fire Release is this? No hand signs? And such overwhelming power?
He quickly formed a counter. Water Release: Water Wall!
A massive, impenetrable wall of water rose before him, blocking the raging inferno. The fire surged around the barrier but couldn't penetrate it.
Kisame leapt into the air, puffing out his cheeks. Water Release: Exploding Water colliding wave!
He spewed a massive wave from his mouth, flooding the area and extinguishing the remaining flames. The lake expanded into a vast ocean-like body.
Shinho remained unfazed.
He summoned his River Swallowing Toad, which stood before him and inhaled deeply. In an instant, the newly created lake vanished, sucked into the toad's cavernous belly.
"What kind of summoning beast is that?" Kisame muttered, astonished.
Without waiting for a response, the toad exhaled, releasing the swallowed water as a massive tidal wave that surged toward Kisame.
Kisame's lips twitched. "You've got to be kidding me."
Grimacing, Kisame unwrapped Samehada, revealing the blade's true form. Its deep blue surface was covered in jagged scales like sharkskin.
Shinho's gaze sharpened as Kisame allowed the wave to crash over him, merging with Samehada. When the water receded, Kisame's form had transformed.
He had fused with Samehada, his appearance now shark-like. A dorsal fin rose from his head, and his arms had sprouted blade-like fins.
Shinho turned and delivered a powerful kick as a water shark leapt toward him. The shark shattered instantly, but Kisame used the distraction to glide toward Shinho with his fin-arms slashing.
Shinho clenched his fist, meeting Kisame's attack head-on. Their clash echoed with a metallic clang.
Kisame's heart sank. His fins were an extension of Samehada itself, yet Shinho had stopped them barehanded.
So the rumors are true, Kisame thought grimly. His defense is terrifying.
A moment later, an immense force sent Kisame flying backward, crashing into the water with a heavy splash. Struggling to his feet, his face twisted in frustration.
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