Chapter 207: The Naughty Karin

Shinho didn't linger long at the Uchiha compound. After entrusting Mikoto Uchiha with the casino plan, he bid her farewell.

He had only walked a few steps when Sasuke reappeared—not to challenge him, but to discuss something else.

Sasuke mentioned his intention to reforge the dual Lightning Blades into a single sword to pair with his Lightning-Fire Sword.

Shinho didn't object. Once the blades were given to Sasuke, he was free to handle them however he wished.

Sasuke also inquired about the Lightning-fire Sword's origins. Upon learning that it had been crafted by Tenten's father, Sasuke turned and left to seek him out.

…

As Shinho made his way back to the Hokage Tower, a familiar voice called out.

"Shinho-nii!"

He turned to see Karin. She was dressed in a purple top and black shorts, with thigh-high black stockings hugging her legs. A bright, cheerful smile lit up her face.

"Shinho-nii!"

Karin bounced toward him and flung herself into his arms. Standing on tiptoe, she took a deep breath near his neck, a blush spreading across her face.

"You know, this makes you seem like a weirdo," Shinho teased, ruffling her vibrant red hair.

"That's no way to describe a girl!" Karin pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "It's obviousy cute!"

"Alright, alright," Shinho said, patting her back. "But we're in the middle of the street. Let go for now."

As Hokage, Shinho was a recognized figure in Konoha, and having villagers see him like this could lead to unnecessary rumors.

Karin huffed but released him, taking a reluctant step back. Her expression betrayed her reluctance.

Seeing her look, Shinho's heart softened. Among those who relied on him most, Karin and Hinata Hyuga stood out. Yet the two were different.

For Karin, aside from Chisori, he was her entire world.

"Let's head to the Hokage office. I have something to discuss with you," Shinho said after a pause, adding, "My cute little Karin."

"Now that's much better!" Karin beamed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "How cute am I?"

"Indescribably cute," Shinho replied sincerely.

Karin's face lit up, and she instinctively moved to hug him again but stopped, remembering his earlier words. 

Instead, she covered her face, her rosy complexion making her look both alluring and endearing.

Shinho couldn't help but feel a stir of emotion as his gaze landed briefly on her lips. But mindful of their public surroundings, he suppressed the thought and turned toward the Hokage Tower.

Karin quickly followed him.

…

On the second floor of the Hokage Tower, Shinho paused. Shizune stepped out of the assistant's office and smiled warmly at him. 

Her expression froze slightly when she noticed Karin following closely behind and standing quite near him.

This rascal! Couldn't he behave for even a moment? With Ino Yamanaka and Hinata Hyuga already entangled, now he was cozying up to Karin as well?

"Good morning, Shizune-nee!" Karin greeted her brightly.

Shizune nodded slightly, hesitating for a moment before deciding not to enter the Hokage office. Instead, she turned back toward her own office.

"Come on in," 

Shinho couldn't help but sigh.

She was an excellent secretary—so professional that she wouldn't let personal emotions interfere with his work.

Once inside the office, Shinho sat down. Karin stood before him, her hands clasped behind her back, a slight sway in her posture.

After glancing at the closed door, Shinho patted his lap.

With permission granted, Karin plopped herself onto his lap, shifting slightly until she found a comfortable position leaning against him. 

Her legs, wrapped in black thigh-high stockings, dangled freely.

A sweet, fragrant scent filled the air, invigorating Shinho. Taking a subtle breath, he felt his spirits lift.

"Shinho-nii, why didn't you take me on your last mission?" Karin asked, tilting her head back to look at him, a hint of displeasure in her tone.

"Because it was too simple to require your involvement," Shinho replied, gesturing to a file on his desk. "But this mission is one we'll do together."

"What mission?" Karin perked up, quickly grabbing the file from the desk.

She curled up slightly in his embrace, finding a snug spot before opening the file.

"Where's the Land of Demons?" Karin asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth," Shinho answered casually.

"Ohhh," Karin replied, her face lighting up with excitement. "So we'll be away for several days?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, it'll probably tae uptp three days," Shinho estimated.

"Great!" Karin closed the file, turning to him with a grin. "Who else is coming?"

"Sasuke," Shinho replied, tossing the file back onto the desk.

"Too bad," Karin said bluntly, looping her arms around his neck. "I'd rather it just be the two of us."

"What are you thinking?" Shinho flicked her forehead lightly. "A young lady should behave properly."

"You're the one thinking strange thoughts," Karin retorted with a smug grin.

"That's because of you," Shinho said seriously.

"How is it my fault?" Karin pouted, her cheeks puffing again.

"Because I'm the Hokage," Shinho said with a mischievous smile.

"...?" Karin looked at him, puzzled and a little annoyed.

Before he could react, Kearin leaned forward and bit lightly on his neck.

"Eek!" Shinho froze, startled.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go. She was the Uzumaki ninja—not him. Why was she biting him?

But in the next moment, Shinho felt a shiver run through him.

Looking down, he saw Karin tilting her head slightly as she gently licked the spot where he'd bitten her, like a playful pup tending to a wound.

Shinho's pupils contracted slightly as he reached out to push her away.

"Sorry, Shinho-nii," Karin said, her eyes glinting mischievously. She tugged at her collar, revealing her pale neck and collarbone. "You can bite me back."

"..." Shinho's face stiffened. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"Not at all," Karin replied, licking her lips. The joy on her face was unmistakable.

But then, her expression froze. It was as if she'd just spotted the most disgusting snake.

In a flurry, she stood up and stepped away from him.

"I… I feel a little warm," Karin stammered, retreating to the window.

A breeze blew through, lifting her red hair slightly.

Shinho watched her with a sigh, rubbing his temples. For all her boldness, she faltered at the critical moment.

"The mission to the Land of Demons will take place in two weeks," Shinho said, breaking the silence. "We'll need your sealing techniques."

"Understood," Karin replied quietly, her earlier excitement subdued.

"Let me comb your hair," Shinho offered, noting her disheveled, shoulder-length locks.

Karin turned to him, her face still flushed from earlier. Clearly, the experience had been a little too overwhelming for her.

"Take a seat on the couch," Shinho Aburame instructed, moving behind Karin and gently gathering her soft red hair.

After a moment of thought, he decided on a high ponytail.

Karin lowered her head, her initial shyness gradually fading. 

She began to regret her earlier reaction. Why did I run away? she thought. Still, there would be plenty of chances in the future, so there was no rush.

Enjoying Shinho's gentle touch, a radiant smile spread across her face. 

To Karin, Shinho was utterly irreplaceable—not only had he rescued her and her mother from Kusagakure, but he had also given them the best possible life.

[Achievement Unlocked: Karin's "Love as a Sickness" – Reward: Serpent Mastery Gu.]

[Serpent Mastery Gu: Rank Five Gu. A controlling-type Gu insect, used to dominate snakes.]

Shinho blinked, his hand pausing mid-motion as he stared at the achievement notification. That came out of nowhere.

Love as a sickness?

Tsk. This little girl really is a bit of a deviant.

Not that he minded.

As for the Serpent Mastery Gu, the most powerful snakes in the ninja world resided in Ryuchi Cave, with the strongest among them being the White Snake Sage. 

However, Shinho doubted even a Rank Five Gu insect could control someone of her caliber.

Perhaps it could work on the Three Snake Princesses—Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagorihime?

Shinho wasn't particularly fond of snakes, but if they transformed into humanoid forms, he might find them more tolerable.

Hmm... does Orochimaru count as a snake?

With his Forbidden Technique, the Eight-Headed Serpent Jutsu, Orochimaru could transform into a white snake. 

Even if that didn't qualify him as a target for the Gu, Shinho still had the Slavery Gu, which made him a potential candidate for control.

Orochimaru's abilities were a key draw. 

While Shinho himself might not need many of Orochimaru's creations, they could significantly enhance Konoha's capabilities. 

Controlling Orochimaru would also likely bring Kabuto under his influence, making it a two-for-one deal.

As for other candidates, like the Kage of the major ninja villages? While it was possible to control them, it seemed unnecessary. 

Shinho's ultimate goal was to unify the ninja world, and their submission was only a matter of time.

"All done, Karin," Shinho said, releasing her hair.

"Let me see!" Karin hopped up and walked to the window. Tilting her head, she admired her new high ponytail in the reflection. 

Compared to her usual loose hair, the high ponytail gave her a livelier appearance.

"What do you think?" Karin spun around to face Shinho, hands on her hips.

Her enthusiastic movement caused her shirt to ride up slightly, revealing her flat stomach and navel. She noticed but didn't mind—after all, Shinho could look as much as he wanted.

"It's beautiful," Shinho said with a smile.

"Well, of course! It's your masterpiece," Karin replied, clearly pleased with his response, nodding with satisfaction.

"As long as you like it," Shinho said, returning to his Hokage chair. "I have work to do. Go back to training."

Karin dashed back over and gave him a quick hug before skipping out of the office.

…

The Hokage's office fell quiet once more, but the assistant's office next door remained bustling with activity.

Mikoto Uchiha had returned to investigate the casinos following Shinho's orders. 

Meanwhile, Shikaku Nara and Anko Mitarashi busily sorted through piles of documents, ranging from minor village issues to major international matters.

Their task was to identify the most critical items and pass them to Shizune for delivery to the Hokage.

"I wonder what they're talking about," Shizune murmured, resting her chin on her hands as she stared into space.

She had become keenly aware of Shinho's flirtatious tendencies. But what could she do about it? 

Whenever she thought of the way he toyed with her, a shiver ran through her.

He was her nemesis, a man who seemed to have her entirely under his control.

Shizune glanced down at her white blouse, her thoughts drifting to what had happened earlier that morning. Her cheeks flushed as a wave of heat surged through her.

That jerk! she thought, clenching her fists. I'm not that kind of person!

"Shizune!" Anko Mitarashi called suddenly. "Can you help me review this document?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Shizune approached Anko. After scanning the document, she said, "This one doesn't need to go to the Hokage. We can handle it ourselves."

Anko, new to her role as a Hokage assistant, often struggled to discern the importance of various documents. This wasn't the first time Shizune had stepped in to help.

…

An hour later, Shizune finally gave in to her own impulses. Rising from her seat, she made her way to the Hokage's office.

Pushing the door open, she saw Shinho engrossed in a file. For a moment, she froze, caught by the sight of his focused expression.

This jerk really is handsome, she admitted to herself.

Years ago, she had teased Shinho as a child, drawn to his looks. Now, the tables had turned, and it was she who found herself at his mercy.

"What are you reading?" she asked, approaching his desk.

"Have you heard of Yomi?" Shinho replied, glancing up briefly. His eyes flicked to her black-stockinged legs and high heels before returning to her face.

"The Yomi cult that worships foreign demons?" Shizune asked. Since Shinho had accepted the mission from the Land of Demons, she had studied the related materials.

"Exactly," Shinho said, explaining further. "The mission involves guarding the Sealing Shrine, primarily to prevent interference from the Yomi cult."

"I see," Shizune nodded.

"I sent ANBU to investigate remnants of the cult. They've uncovered some useful information," Shinho said. "The current leader, also named Yomi, specializes in Dark Medical Ninjutsu."

"Dark?" Shizune frowned. "How does Medical Ninjutsu involve darkness?"

"It involves forcibly modifying the body to stimulate potential and enhance abilities," Shinho explained. "I remember Sensei saying that such techniques are forbidden."

"They are," Shizune confirmed. "The side effects are far too severe."

"Still, the methods might be worth studying," Shinho said, closing the file. "We'll capture him and interrogate him thoroughly."

"You really do make the most of everything," Shizune said, recalling how he had handled Raiga Kurosuki. A small smile tugged at her lips.

"As Hokage, I must be resourceful," Shinho said with a shrug.

"You've certainly changed since becoming Hokage," Shizune observed, her gaze softening.

"Do you prefer me this way?" Shinho asked, motioning for her to come closer.

Shizune's smile faltered, her body stiffening. After a few moments, she pursed her lips and said, "I don't like it."

Shinho rose from his chair and approached her. She instinctively stepped back but was stopped as he caught her wrist.

"Let's see if you're as stubborn as you claim," Shinho said, lowering his gaze to her soft, glossy lips.

Shizune's heart raced. She wanted to protest loudly, but her body betrayed her. Her black stockings tightened as she rose onto her toes, meeting him halfway.

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