Chapter 212: I Am the Embodiment of Righteousness
"You're welcome."
Shinho Aburame looked at the silver-haired maiden standing before him and said, "It was just part of the mission."
Mission?
Shion felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing this but quickly gathered herself and asked, "How long will Moryo remain sealed?"
"Is Her highness the Priestess worried it might break free again?"
Shinho suddenly had an idea and smiled. "How about this? You entrust it to me, and I'll take it back to Konoha."
"Really?"
Shion instinctively raised her head and stepped forward, her voice filled with excitement.
To her, Moryo was nothing but a dangerous hot potato.
After all, it was immortal.
Even if sealed, it posed a significant risk.
If it ever broke free, it would undoubtedly come after her.
The enmity between Moryo and the priestess lineage ran too deep.
But now, if Shinho took it back to Konoha, from a more detached perspective, any future incidents would have nothing to do with the Land of Demons.
Konoha would handle it.
This meant true freedom for the priestess lineage.
"Of course."
Shinho Aburame stored the sealing scroll and confirmed.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Shion's voice trembled.
The burden she had carried for so long was finally lifted, leaving her overwhelmed.
Samui observed thoughtfully.
It seemed this had been Shinho's goal all along.
He had personally undertaken this mission to seal Moryo and bring it back with him.
This was no ordinary creature, it was a beast on par with a tailed beast.
If Shinho could find a suitable Jinchūriki, Konoha's power would undoubtedly skyrocket.
But even knowing this, she could do nothing to stop it.
First, Shinho had saved them.
Second, Shion had already given her consent.
Konoha's acquisition of Moryo was entirely legitimate, and no fault could be found in the process.
"Lord Hokage, your actions today were truly remarkable."
Kitsuchi, his expression solemn, extended his hand. "Iwagakure will not forget today's events."
"You're too kind."
Shinho casually shook his hand.
He didn't expect any real gratitude from Iwagakure.
In fact, his deliberate delay in intervening might have even sown seeds of resentment among them.
After all, their casualties today had been the highest.
"Your Highness."
Kitsuchi turned to Shion and said, "Moryo has been dealt with. We still have wounded to tend to, so we'll take our leave now."
"Understood."
Shion nodded. "I'll arrange for your rewards to be delivered."
Though Shinho Aburame had resolved the crisis, Iwagakure and Kumogakure still needed to be compensated for their efforts.
Fortunately, as the priestess with the resources of an entire nation, finances were not an issue for her.
"Thank you."
Kitsuchi led the Iwagakure team away.
"Lord Hokage."
Samui said with a hint of admiration, "Your performance today was truly extraordinary."
"You flatter me."
Shinho replied nonchalantly.
"Lord Hokage, Your Highness, we won't linger either and will return now."
C offered polite words before cutting to the chase.
Tonight's events had left a significant impact on him.
He needed time to sort through his thoughts and report back to Mabui and the Fourth Raikage.
Shinho's strength warranted serious attention.
"Lord Hokage, thank you for saving our lives."
Samui extended her hand.
Her hand was pale, her fingers slender and smooth, like finely carved jade.
"If you have time, visit us in Konoha," Shinho said, grasping her hand.
"I will."
Samui nodded.
C's lips twitched slightly.
Why hadn't Shinho said that to him?
This Hokage was clearly interested in Samui's looks.
He would have to warn her to be cautious.
After Kumogakure's shinobi left, only Team 8 remained.
Sasuke felt somewhat dejected.
He had hoped to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and engage Moryo in a legendary battle. Instead, Shinho had stolen the spotlight.
Moreover, Shinho's display of power had deeply unsettled him.
If his ocular techniques couldn't land a hit, he would stand no chance against Shinho.
But Shinho's speed was simply too great.
Especially his "Golden Rainbow Strike"—it was so fast that Sasuke couldn't even see it clearly.
That's just unfair!
Sasuke abandoned any thought of sparring with Shinho.
He decided he needed to train harder.
Among the research Shinho had shared from the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju records, it mentioned that the Mangekyō Sharingan had more than just ocular techniques.
The third power, the power of a God—Susano'o.
If it was something like the power of a God, then surely, it could defeat Shinho.
"Lord Hokage."
Shion's voice was filled with hope. "Please stay for a meal. I… I have something to discuss with you."
Shinho raised an eyebrow slightly.
In the original story, after Moryo was defeated, Shion had subtly suggested to Naruto that she could bear his children.
You're not planning the same move now, are you?
Honestly, Shion was quite attractive, though a bit too young for his taste.
"Very well."
Shinho glanced at the sky. "Let's make it lunch, then."
Shion breathed a sigh of relief.
Karin pressed her lips together, her inner alarm ringing.
Something was definitely up!
But in Shinho's presence, she couldn't voice her concerns.
Moreover, Shion was their employer.
The four of them returned to the sealed shrine in the Land of Demons.
The morning sun was now fully up, and it was less than three hours until noon.
Back in his room, Shinho stopped in his tracks, noticing Karin following him.
"Shinho-nii, let me give you a massage," Karin said with a smile. "You must be tired after fighting Moryo for so long."
Shinho considered for a moment and then nodded.
Resting his head on Karin's lap, he closed his eyes.
The mission involving Moryo was complete, and with it came several new achievements.
..
[Achievement: "Shion's Farewell to the Cage" unlocked. Reward: Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon Gu.]
[Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon Gu: A Rank 5 Gu. Summons gale-force tigers and condensed cloud dragons, capable of launching a massive assault.]
..
Another Rank 5 Gu—a large-scale offensive Gu that perfectly compensated for Shinho's lack of AOE attacks.
As for single-target attacks, he already had plenty of strength-type Gu and wasn't lacking in any way.
..
[Achievement: "The Despicable Outsider" unlocked. Reward: Flying Snowstorm Gu.]
[Flying Snowstorm Gu: A Rank 5 Gu. Upon activation, it creates a fierce snowstorm, transforming the surrounding area into a frigid icy domain within several thousand steps.]
..
Like the Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon Gu, it was a Rank 5 area-of-effect Gu.
Shinho could use it himself or give it to Hinata Hyuga, who wielded the Snow Fairy Gu.
Truthfully, Hinata was better suited for it.
For Shinho, it was just another offensive tool.
But for Hinata, it would be another transformative aspect of her strength.
The icy domain would amplify her abilities, enhancing her ice and snow-based Gu techniques.
Besides powerhouses like Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and Madara Uchiha, Hinata could now be considered an elite shinobi.
..
[Achievement: "The Man Among Men" unlocked. Reward: Group Strength Gu.]
[Group Strength Gu: A Rank 5 Gu. A strength-type Gu that enables the user to concentrate the strength of a group into a single entity.]
..
In Shinho's opinion, the greatest reward this time was the Group Strength Gu.
An ancient strength-path Gu, it was incredibly rare and practically priceless.
Its primary ability allowed Shinho to manifest multiple beast phantoms simultaneously.
…
Time passed quickly.
By noon, Shinho woke up feeling completely refreshed.
"Thank you, Karin."
"This is what I should do," Karin replied warmly.
Shinho was momentarily stunned.
Why did it feel like Karin's temper had softened?
At that moment, she gave off the impression of a gentle and devoted wife.
"Shinho-nii? Is something wrong?"
Karin noticed the expression on his face. Her heart fluttered with joy as a smile crept onto her lips.
"Nothing."
Shinho smiled as he saw her return to her usual demeanor.
Sitting up, he glanced at Karin's thigh, where faint red marks had appeared from being used as a pillow for too long.
Karin, unbothered, stood up, placed her hands on her hips, and spoke;
"Now then, let's go see this Priestess."
Her demeanour was much like a fiercely protective hen.
Shinho reached out and pinched her cheeks twice.
Karin instantly became docile, clinging to his arm like a cat nuzzling against him.
"Lord Hokage."
A knock came from the door, and Ashiho, standing outside, respectfully announced, "Lunch is ready. The Priestess invites both esteemed guests to join her."
"Let's go."
Shinho gently removed Karin's arm and walked toward the door.
Opening it, he allowed Ashiho to lead the way.
The trio soon arrived at the Priestess's temple hall.
Ashiho paused at the entrance, and Shinho walked straight inside, immediately greeted by the rich aroma of food.
The scent of various dishes mixed together, tantalizing his senses.
Looking toward Shion, Shinho noticed she had changed into a formal priestess outfit, wearing a white top paired with a red hakama and white tabi socks.
Sasuke had arrived earlier and was already seated at the dining table.
"Lord Hokage, please have a seat."
Shion stood and bowed slightly.
"There's no need for such formality, Your Highness."
Shinho waved her off casually.
As a priestess, Shion's status in the Land of Demons was equivalent to that of a daimyo, surpassing that of most shinobi in rank.
"In that case, please call me by my name," Shion suggested with a bright smile, her tone suddenly becoming more familiar.
Karin frowned, instinctively clenching her fists.
What's going on?
Does this mean she's a new rival?
"Alright."
Shinho didn't mind such trivialities.
If he did, he would have stayed the ideal student under Tsunade instead of indulging his own evil ambitions.
"Shinho-kun," Shion said, picking up her chopsticks, "I hope the food is to your liking."
"It all looks great."
Shinho casually picked up a piece of chicken and tossed it into his mouth.
"But not as good as Shinho-nii's cooking," Karin huffed.
"Shinho-kun can cook?" Shion asked, surprised.
The shinobi world largely mirrored the structure of ancient Japan, where men held a higher status.
Among daimyos and nobles, having three or four wives was commonplace.
Though shinobi valued strength above all, they were still influenced by societal norms.
As such she couldn't help but be surprised.
"Shinho-nii can do much more than—" Karin abruptly stopped herself, realizing she was making things worse.
The more she praised Shinho, the more Shion seemed to admire him.
This was backfiring.
"It's just something I do casually," Shinho said indifferently.
"If there's a chance, I'd love to try your cooking," Shion said with a smile.
"You mentioned earlier that you had something to discuss. What is it?" Shinho asked as he ate.
"I hope to establish an alliance between the Land of Demons and Konoha," Shion replied seriously.
An alliance?
Well, it's not that surprising.
Shinho nodded slightly and agreed.
An alliance came with no downsides.
The Land of Demons had no ninja village, and some of its resources suitable for shinobi had been left unused.
With an alliance, Konoha could engage in trade with them.
Additionally, Konoha could handle missions from the Land of Demons as part of the agreement.
Although the distance was somewhat far, for shinobi, an extra day or two of travel was insignificant.
"Thank you, Shinho-kun," Shion said, visibly relieved.
An alliance would bind the Land of Demons to Konoha—or rather, to Shinho himself.
If Moryo ever escaped again, she would have nothing to fear.
"I have one more request. I'd like to speak with Shinho-kun in private."
Shion glanced at Karin as she spoke.
"No way!"
Karin immediately refused without a second thought.
"Karin."
Shinho shook his head gently. "Wait for us outside for a moment."
Karin looked at him aggrievedly.
"I'll reward you later," Shinho said, patting her head like a child.
"Fine," Karin grumbled, reluctantly stepping outside.
As for Sasuke, he tactfully left on his own.
"Shion, what is it that you to discuss with me privately?" Shinho turned to the priestess.
"I…"
Blushing deeply, Shion said, "I'd like to ask for your help in passing on the priestess lineage's power."
Shinho's mouth twitched.
She's really asking what I think she's asking, isn't she?
"I'm the Hokage," Shinho replied after some thought.
There was no way he would marry into the Land of Demons.
"I know," Shion said, her voice trembling as she clutched her priestess robes. "The priestess lineage only needs an heir."
In other words, she was offering a substantial sum in exchange for a daughter to continue the lineage.
Her reasons were numerous.
First, Shinho's strength gave her a sense of security, it was undeniable that people naturally gravitate toward power.
Second, the priestess lineage did require heirs.
Third, Shinho's handsome appearance had undeniably caught her eye.
Lastly, there was that prophecy involving Karin.
Since there were already many others in his life, adding her didn't seem like much.
Moreover, she wasn't asking for status, she just wanted a daughter to inherit the Land of Demons.
"...?"
Shinho was utterly baffled.
He understood the implications of Shion's words but hadn't anticipated such an audacious proposal.
"Let's talk about this when you're older," Shinho said after a moment, shaking his head.
"Then it's settled!"
Shion beamed, seeing as he did not refuse directly.
However, she quickly realized the shamelessness of her behaviour, her fair skin turning a lovely shade of pink.
From her neck to her ears, everything was flushed red in an instant.
Thinking of Hinata Hyuga, Shinho calmed himself.
While Shion's proposal was tempting, he had his own principles to uphold.
Besides, her mindset might change drastically in a few years.
..
[Achievement: "Together We Grow Stronger" unlocked. Reward: Righteous Gu.]
[Righteous Gu: A Rank 4 Gu. Upon activation, instils fear in those of weak will, lowering their fighting spirit and potentially causing them to surrender without a fight.]
..
Shinho raised an eyebrow.
As expected, he was the embodiment of righteousness.
In the shinobi world, there was a concept of "killing intent."
Figures like Orochimaru and Zabuza Momochi had used it to paralyze inexperienced Genin.
The Righteousness Gu had a similar effect but with an aura of justice instead of menace.
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