Chapter 205: Shizune and the Dragon Slayer

Under the bright sunlight, Shinho Aburame and his team returned to Konoha Village.

Raiga Kurosuki was captured, the Kurosuki clan was wiped out, and the Katabami Gold Mine was successfully taken over by the Anbu.

The wealth stockpiled by the Kurosuki clan was claimed by Shinho. However, restarting the gold mine's operations required time, so he handed over the matter to the Anbu for management.

After all, as the Hokage, he couldn't stay and oversee it personally.

The villagers who had been rescued expressed their endless gratitude.

Shinho's thoughts wandered to the legendary gold miner, Rasa.

If Rasa were to mine this mountain, Shinho mused, it wouldn't take long before it was completely depleted. The absurdity of the thought even led him to consider using the forbidden Edo Tensei to dig up Rasa's grave. But such an action would be unnecessary and downright dishonorable.

The Sand Village was Konoha's ally now. Moreover, Rasa was the father of Gaara, the current Kazekage.

"Shino," Shinho called, taking out a scroll. "This is the intel we extracted from Suzumebachi about the Kamizuru clan."

"The Kamizuru clan?" Shino asked, interested as he unrolled the scroll.

The scroll revealed the location of the Kamizuru clan's ancestral homeland in the Land of Earth, though it wasn't within Iwagakure.

"Suzumebachi said that by using Bikōchū Beetle, you could locate a secret technique left behind by the Kamizuru clan's first patriarch," Shinho explained nonchalantly. "Take this back to father. And if he's interested, you can make the trip together."

"I see." Shino nodded. "I'll consult with him."

Now that he had Sage Mode, Shino didn't regard the Kamizuru clan with much significance.

"You've all worked hard. Go home and rest," Shinho said, addressing Hinata and Kiba. "I'll handle the mission report myself."

"Finally, it's over!" Kiba exclaimed in relief, grinning as he turned to Akamaru. "Let's go!"

The past few days had been exhausting, they were either battling enemies or covering long distances.

"See you next time, Shinho-kun," Hinata said, reluctant to part as she nodded shyly.

She wasn't particularly tired, but there hadn't been much time for her to spend alone with Shinho, aside from their sparring session that morning. Even thinking about that session and her tight training attire made her feel flustered.

Once Team 8 left, only Shinho and Tsunade remained.

"Tch," Tsunade huffed lightly. "That little girlfriend of yours can't seem to get you out of her mind."

Hinata's feelings had been blatantly obvious throughout the journey, something Tsunade couldn't help but notice.

"And what about you, Sensei? What do you think of me?" Shinho asked, locking eyes with her.

"..." Tsunade tilted her head slightly. "You're a pervert."

"I'm also your sponser," Shinho's mouth twitched slightly. "Do you still want that ten million ryo?"

"You're not planning to go back on your word, are you?" Tsunade's tone immediately turned serious, her fist clenching in warning. "As the Hokage, you're bound to honor your promises."

"Oh, so now I'm the Hokage in your eyes?" Shinho couldn't help it as he asked.

"That's ten million ryo we're talking about!" Tsunade folded her arms, her eyes gleaming greedily.

Shinho's eye twitched. Her movements drew attention to her figure, causing the pale skin of her chest to curve alluringly.

"Still a pervert," Tsunade remarked, noticing his gaze. Instead of her usual reaction, she leaned in slightly, amplifying the effect.

Shinho's eyes widened. He half-expected her clothing to tear under the pressure. The urge to step in and "help" was hard to resist.

Seeing his reaction, Tsunade's lips curled into a victorious smile. Got him.

"Pay up," she demanded, extending her hand.

"..." Shinho reluctantly handed her the ten million ryo, feeling like he was part of some shady deal.

"Back to the Hokage building for you," Tsunade said cheerfully. "I'm heading to the casino for a few rounds."

"Need me to boost your luck?" Shinho asked, raising an eyebrow.

"How would you do that?" Tsunade asked, curious.

Shinho stepped forward, leaned down, and kissed her forehead before she could react.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Tsunade jumped back, quickly scanning the area.

Fortunately, they were near Konoha's gates in a secluded spot. 

Confirming no one was around, she sighed in relief.

"I checked earlier—no one's here," Shinho said with a grin.

He was pleased that Tsunade hadn't rejected his gesture. Her only concern had been being seen at the moment. This gesture showed the shifting dynamics of their relationship.

"You brat! you planned this, didn't you?" Tsunade stared at him.

"Nope," Shinho replied with a laugh. "See you later, Sensei!"

With a puff of smoke, he disappeared using the Body Flicker Technique.

"Damn brat!" Tsunade stomped her foot in frustration before heading toward the casino.

Halfway there, she touched her forehead absentmindedly. "If I lose again today, you're going to pay for it!" she muttered.

…

Hokage's Office

Shinho approached the office door but paused, his senses alert. Circling around, he looked through a window.

Inside, Shizune was resting on the couch.

It was just past noon—lunchtime.

Shinho silently entered through the window, making no sound as he approached the couch.

Shizune lay curled slightly, her right arm under her head and her left draped over the edge. 

Her pencil skirt hugged her frame, while her thighs, wrapped in black stockings, glistened under the sunlight, her feet neatly positioned together.

Shinho hesitated but ultimately decided not to disturb her. Instead, he sat across from her.

The recent mission had likely overburdened Shizune with administrative work. 

He regretted not having a Gu like Snow Fairy Gu or Wood Charm Gu that suited her. 

Still, there would be opportunities in the future—he had similar plans for Ino Yamanaka, after all. Fairness was one of his principles.

Shinho had nothing much to do at te moment, so he closed his eyes and entered a meditative state. He was only one step away from 5th rank , and if nothing else he wanted to succeffully cross that threshold before Akatsuki attacked.

…

Time passed, and Shizune began to stir.

Sitting up, she stretched, arching her back as her legs extended. Her thighs tensed, and her toes curled in the air.

"Eh?" Shizune froze, her eyes landing on Shinho.

She blinked, a small smile playing on her lips before she quickly eased her expression.

"When did you get back?" she asked, taking a steadying breath.

"About half an hour ago. I didn't want to wake you," Shinho replied warmly. "Did you miss me, Shizune-nee?"

"No," Shizune replied, avoiding his gaze.

But I did.

Without Shinho around to tease her, she'd felt strangely lonely. Some nights, thoughts of his earlier request had kept her awake.

"Then, look at me in the eyes when you say that," Shinho said, stepping closer and tilting her chin up.

Shizune's face reddened as her eyes met his.

"You're adorable, Shizune-nee," Shinho whispered, leaning in.

Shizune trembled, knowing what was coming. She didn't pull away. Instead, she closed her eyes and slightly parted her lips.

Surprised at her cooperation, Shinho raised an eyebrow but pressed his lips to hers. His hand slid down to rest on her thigh, stroking the smooth, stocking-clad surface.

Shizune resisted her embarrassment, letting herself enjoy the moment.

Soon, Shinho pressed gently on her shoulders, gently guiding her down. Sizune went from stretching her neck to leaning down.

As Shinho moved her face closer, Shizune's body grew warm, a fine sheen of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Wait!" Shizune suddenly grabbed his troublemaking hand, her face crimson. "Not here."

"Why not?" Shinho asked with a reluctant expression.

"This is the Hokage's office," Shizune stammered. "Someone could knock at any moment!"

Even just imagining the scenario was draining the blood from her face.

"What about tonight?" Shinho leaned in, their cheeks touching. Her flushed cheeks felt like a freshly cooked egg whose shell had been peeled off.

"I… I…" Shizune's mind blanked.

"Give me your answer tonight," Shinho said, stealing another kiss before stepping away.

Shizune collapsed back onto the couch, her chest rising and falling as she tried to collect herself.

Shinho, meanwhile, sat at the Hokage's desk, skimming the documents atop it.

"The Land of Demons?" Shinho let out a sigh, interested.

He opened the file and began reading.

It was a plea for aid from Shion, the current shrine maiden of the Land of Demons.

So, this is the plotline from the movie "Naruto Shippuden: The Movie."

Long ago, an army of demonic beings led by Moryo nearly destroyed the world. At the last moment, the shrine maiden Miroku sacrificed her life to seal him away.

Years later, one of Moryo's surviving followers, Yomi, attempted to unseal him and revive the demon.

The current shrine maiden, Shion, sought aid from the major ninja villages, relying on her ability to foresee the future.

Upon seeing Naruto Uzumaki, she immediately prophesied his death.

However, with the protagonist's plot armor, Naruto defied fate, defeated Yomi, and re-sealed Moryo.

It's worth noting that Shion, as the movie's female lead, developed feelings for Naruto. 

At the end, she even implied that she wanted him to help pass on her shrine maiden powers—a not-so-subtle suggestion about having children.

Of course, Naruto didn't catch the hint.

"The Land of Demons' shrine maiden, Shion, has sent requests for aid to all five great villages," Shizune said, her composure now restored to normal.

"All five villages?" Shinho raised an eyebrow.

This differed from the original storyline. 

In the canon timeline, the request was sent solely to Konoha, and Tsunade had dispatched Neji Hyuga, Naruto Uzumaki, Rock Lee, and Sakura Haruno.

At the time, Neji had already been promoted to Jōnin due to his stellar performance during the Chūnin Exams held in Sunagakure.

"Correct." Shizune looked puzzled. "Is there an issue?"

"No," Shinho shook his head. "Have any villages accepted the request yet?"

"Kumogakure has," Shizune replied with a smile. "The reward is quite generous, after all."

"Kumogakure, huh?" Shinho looked thoughtful.

Shion's ability to foresee the future could have been affected by the butterfly effect he had introduced, potentially altering the scope of her visions and leading her to seek help from all five villages. 

But what exactly had changed?

"Shinho, should we accept?" Shizune asked.

"Yes," Shinho nodded decisively. "Send her a confirmation."

"Understood." Shizune wasn't surprised by his answer.

The Land of Demons was a famous neutral nation, and Moryo's demonic army was well-known.

Successfully completing such a mission—especially with competition from the other great villages—would significantly boost Konoha's and subsiquently his reputation.

And achievements.

"One more thing," Shinho added, summarizing the events of the Raiga Kurosuki mission. "Spread the news."

"Got it," Shizune agreed.

Publicizing the mission's success was another way to build prestige. 

While Shinho wasn't overly concerned with fame, he understood its importance in the long run.

Returning to his paperwork, Shinho noted that the Land of Demons mission was scheduled to begin in two weeks. He wasn't in a rush.

Most of the remaining files were unremarkable, though he did find some references to curse marks. 

The notes weren't promising, but they reminded him that he needed to prioritize locating Orochimaru.

…

Dusk.

Stretching, Shinho stood up. It was finally time to end the day's work.

He wondered if Tsunade had won or lost at the casino—likely the latter. If she ever won, it would be more alarming than comforting.

Senju Compound

As Shizune opened the door, she bent down to remove her high heels.

She suddenly felt someone's gaze and turned her head. Sure enough, Shinho was staring intently at her.

"Pervert," Shizune muttered, striding inside with her black-stockinged legs, her bare feet padding softly on the floor.

"Hey!" Shinho followed her, protesting. "That's slander!"

Shizune shot him a sidelong glance. 

Was it really slander? His eyes had been glued to her pencil skirt and stocking-clad legs the entire time.

"Ahem." Shinho abruptly asked, "Have you made up your mind?"

"Wh—" Shizune froze, realizing what he meant. 

Her face turned crimson, and without a word, she fled to the kitchen.

Scratching his head, Shinho wondered: Was that a yes or a no?

Not long after, the sound of the door opening signaled Tsunade's return. Her expression was sour as she stormed inside.

There was no need to ask—Shinho could tell she had lost all her money gambling again.

"It's all your fault!" Tsunade plopped onto the couch, arms crossed. "What kind of 'luck boost' was that? It didn't help at all."

"Want to try again?" Shinho teased, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll try my fist on you first!" Tsunade retorted, shaking her clenched hand.

"Never mind, then," Shinho said quickly.

"You're covering my losses today!" Tsunade declared unreasonably, glaring at him.

"No problem," Shinho replied without hesitation.

Tsunade blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected him to agree so readily. For a moment, she felt guilty for being so unreasonable.

But the memory of his earlier forehead kiss banished her guilt almost immediately.

"Make it three million ryo," she said, extending her hand.

"You lost three million in one afternoon?" Shinho was astonished. "How?"

"Got a problem with that?" Tsunade growled.

"None at all." Shinho sat beside her, taking her hand. "You could lose ten million, and I wouldn't mind."

"Really?" Tsunade's eyes lit up.

"But there's a price," Shinho said with a sly smile.

"Still a pervert," Tsunade muttered, shooting him a disgusted look.

Shinho froze for a moment. That look… Ahem.

Shinho cleared his throat.

"You should stop letting your imagination run wild."

Tsunade scoffed, yanking her hand free. She'd noticed Shizune's high heels by the door and didn't want her to walk in and misunderstand.

"Fine," Shinho sighed, disappointed.

"..." Tsunade's brow twitched at his odd tone. She flicked his forehead twice for good measure.

"Ouch!" Shinho cried, clutching his head.

"Stop faking it," Tsunade said, unimpressed.

"Sensei, your insight is unmatched as always," Shinho praised with a wide smile.

Tsunade rolled her eyes, unable to stay angry. Grabbing the TV remote, she asked, "Anything new in Konoha lately?"

"Nope," Shinho replied. "Everything's quiet."

"Good." Tsunade turned on the TV.

…

Dinner passed peacefully. After eating and bathing, Shinho returned to his room, wondering if Shizune would come by.

Though their relationship was already close, he wasn't sure if she'd take the next step.

Closing his eyes, he tried to relax.

At some point, the sound of the door creaking open jolted him awake. Sitting up, he saw Shizune standing hesitantly in the doorway.

She froze, startled by his gaze. Her hands clutched the hem of her pencil skirt, her black-stockinged legs trembling slightly. 

There was shyness and an inexplicable sense of anticipation in her eyes.

"Shizune-nee," Shinho called softly, gesturing for her to come in. "Would you like a midnight snack?"

Shizune hesitated but stepped forward.

Shinho observed her as she sat down, holding the bowl he offered with her delicate, fair hands. She began eating quietly.

It's a pity, Shinho thought, she should be wearing a maid outfit for this scene. But her secretary uniform wasn't bad either.

The moon climbed high into the sky, its silver glow illuminating the room. The stars paled in comparison, their faint twinkle unable to rival the moon's brilliance.

"Here, drink some water," Shinho said, handing her a glass.

Shizune accepted it quickly, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. Her cheeks flushed, and even her neck turned a soft pink. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

"You… you're such a jerk!" she said, wiping her mouth and glaring at him.

"Sorry," Shinho apologized at the speed of light.

He had gone overboard with the overly salty and sweet midnight snack, leaving her no choice but to finish it.

But in order not to waste it, she forced herself to swallow it down.

Without another word, Shizune stood and left the room.

Shinho sighed in relief. At least she wasn't angry enough to hold a grudge.

Leaning back on his bed, he closed his eyes, a faint smile on his face.

What a pleasant night.

[tl/n: This is the direct translation, with not much details from changed from the original work. 

…I suddenly feel like unleashing my creativity a little. What do you guys think? Should I bother?]

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