The door to the private room swung open as Yamanaka Shinno stepped inside.
Nara Shikaku, having fallen victim to the specially crafted genjutsu Heaven on Earth, could no longer resist the illusion's influence. His dazed eyes swayed as he staggered up from his seat, a blissful expression spreading across his face. He reached for a decorative fan from the liquor cabinet and, with a dramatic flourish, began to dance. As he moved, he even started singing along:
"Ah~ do do do do~ I heard we're drinking now, left side drink~ Momo-chan drink~ Ah~ do do do do~ Next up~ right side drink~ Sakura-chan drink~ Ah~ do do do do~"
Iwayama Momo, Yanagi Sakura?!
Has he been fully pulled into the illusion, thinking he's partying on Adofu Street?
Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi's expressions changed drastically. They tried to escape, but before they could make a move, a figure appeared at the doorway. Having heard the commotion, Nara Yoshino peeked her head inside.
"Excuse me, 'Momo-chan' and 'Sakura-chan'... Would you happen to be referring to the esteemed geishas Iwayama Momo and Yanagi Sakura?"
Yoshino stood at the entrance, her face wearing a warm and gentle smile. She watched as Shikaku, completely under the illusion's sway, twirled the fan with expert precision, his movements disturbingly practiced.
As the true manager, Yoshino had seen her fair share of drunken revelry. She was no clueless housewife confined to the inner chambers of a household.
Between the drinking song and the affectionate nicknames, she instantly connected the dots—those were the names of two well-known, stunning geishas from Adofu Street.
The way Shikaku danced, with such ease and familiarity… He'd obviously been there more than once.
"Yoshino, I just finished a mission and need to see Kushina. I'll be heading home now!"
Shinno grinned, waved, and then vanished out the window in a blur.
"Ahem, I just remembered—I left the water running at home."
Inoichi reacted instantly, grabbing onto any excuse he could find before darting out the window as well.
Before Chōza had even finished his sentence, he had already disappeared from the room.
As he fled, he cast a pitiful glance at Shikaku, who had just snapped out of the genjutsu, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
With a sigh, Chōza lamented inwardly. It's not that I don't want to help you, but this situation is beyond saving!
Stay a minute longer, and I might end up getting dragged into this mess too!
Nara Shikaku's wife was not someone to be trifled with. But did they really think their own wives were any easier to handle?
"Yoshino! Listen to me! I was caught in Shinno's genjutsu! He even used Mind-Body Disturbance Technique on me! I had no control over myself!"
Shikaku frantically tried to explain.
"Oh? Are you finished?"
Yoshino's smile remained gentle as she raised a delicate hand and softly wiped the sweat off her husband's face.
"Then go kneel on the washboard in the storage room. There are a lot of customers outside—don't cause a scene."
Shikaku opened his mouth, wanting to protest, but the moment he saw Yoshino's expression begin to darken, he immediately stood up and obediently made his way to the storage room.
Kneeling in the storage room is still better than pushing my luck and ending up who-knows-where…
"Iwayama Momo, Yanagi Sakura, huh~? Looks like you've still got some stamina left if you have the energy to go drinking with geishas."
Yoshino let out a cold chuckle.
She was well aware that Momo and Sakura were entertainers who only sold their art, not their bodies. But men were unpredictable creatures. Today, they might only be enjoying a little song and dance. But who knew when they'd take things further?
Better to put an end to this before it got to that point.
Shinno made his way back to the Yamanaka clan's compound. From a distance, he spotted wisps of smoke rising from the kitchen chimney, and a small smile tugged at his lips.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Though he and Kushina weren't married yet, living together had already made their brief separation for a mission feel unbearable.
Hearing the familiar voice, Kushina, who had been busy in the kitchen, turned toward the entrance. As she saw Shinno changing his shoes, her makeup-free face lit up with pure joy.
Without even setting down the spatula in her hand, she rushed over in her fluffy fox slippers and leaped straight into his arms.
Holding her tightly, Shinno spun her around twice before lowering his head and expressing his longing through action rather than words.
Kushina closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck, responding to his affection clumsily but earnestly.
More than five minutes passed before Kushina, her face flushed and clothes slightly disheveled, caught his wandering hands and stopped him.
"Ts-Tsunade will be back soon…"
"She's still in the village?" Shinno grimaced.
Given Tsunade's personality, wasn't she the type to disappear again the moment she set foot in the village? How had she stayed put for an entire month?
Sure, the Senju clan's Water Release techniques were invaluable to him, making any support he gave her worthwhile. But still—he just wanted some alone time with his girlfriend! Was that too much to ask?
"The Hokage issued a travel ban. She's not allowed to leave the village."
Kushina stuck out her tongue mischievously before burying her face into Shinno's chest, greedily inhaling his comforting scent.
"How about we go to the Senju clan's old residence?"
"No way! That would be too obvious… It wouldn't be right."
Shinno let out a long sigh.
He understood why the Hokage had forbidden Tsunade from leaving. With war looming on the horizon, even though she suffered from hemophobia and couldn't personally treat injured soldiers, just having her present at Konoha Hospital provided a crucial sense of security to the shinobi of the village.
There was no way the Third Hokage would let her wander off again.
"…I-I won't lock my bedroom door tonight."
Kushina's face turned beet red, and after whispering those words, she bolted back into the kitchen, slamming the door behind her and locking it with a click.
Shinno chuckled under his breath, humming a little tune as he strolled toward the bathroom.
A nice bath now means I can skip one later. Perfect!
Just as he was about to turn on the water, a firm knocking came from the front door. Frowning, he walked over and opened it, only to be greeted by the sight of an ANBU captain wearing a bull mask.
"The Hokage has requested your opinion on joining the 'ANBU Training Division.' If you accept, you'll be appointed as the Deputy Commander, responsible for overseeing ANBU training, advanced instruction, evaluations, and coordination of field exercises. If you decline, the Hokage will inform the advisors accordingly."
The usually reticent ANBU captain spoke in an unusually long-winded manner before exhaling deeply.
Relaying such lengthy orders is really not my forte…
"I accept. Please thank the Hokage for me."
Shinno glanced toward the kitchen, where Kushina was still busy cooking, and made his decision.
The 'ANBU Training Division' was essentially the public face of Root, led by Danzo himself.
Taking the Deputy Commander position, with full control over recruitment, training, and mission assignments?
It was a chance to sideline Danzo completely, seizing real power for himself.
Nara Shikaku was right—
To eliminate the shadows lurking in the ninja world, one must wield power that others fear.
The Shadows of the Shinobi World…
Tch—this could be fun.
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on (258 chapters in total.)
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