Chapter 105: Shadows of the Ninja World, Second in Command Takes the Fall~

The door to the private room was pushed open by Kei Yamanaka.

Nara Shikaku, who had fallen victim to the custom-crafted Genjutsu: Magical World – Reversed Realms, could no longer resist the illusion's influence.

Still under the spell, he wobbled to his feet.

With a dreamy look, he grabbed a decorative fan from the liquor cabinet and began dancing dramatically as he sang:

"Ado-ado-ado~ Let's raise the roof tonight! Left side~ Cheers with Yamaoto Momoko~ Ado-ado-ado~ Now~ Right side~ Cheers with Willow Sakura~ Ado-ado-ado~"

Yamaoto Momoko?! Willow Sakura?!

Oh no oh no!

Is he hallucinating that he's out on Adofu Street again?!

Choza Akimichi and Hayato Yamanaka paled.

They wanted to run away but found Yoshino Nara—who had come over after hearing noises at the front desk—already peeking into the private room.

"Excuse me, are Momoko and Sakura referring to Misses Yamaoto Momoko and Willow Sakura?"

Yoshino Nara smiled gently at the entrance of the private room, watching Nara Shikaku skillfully waving the fan like a seasoned performer, softly addressing the people inside.

As the actual manager of Sammiya,

she dealt with guests daily and managed affairs like a seasoned professional—not some naive housewife living in seclusion.

With the drinking song, plus those nicknames "Momoko" and "Sakura," she immediately thought of the two famously beautiful geishas on Adofu Street.

The dance was quite good. His movements were practiced too.

Looks like he frequents those places.

Hmph~

"Big sis Yoshino, I just got back from a mission and need to meet Kushina urgently, so I'll head home first!"

Smiling, Kei Yamanaka waved goodbye to Yoshino Nara and instantly slipped out the window.

"Ahem—just remembered I left the faucet running back home. Gotta go!"

Hayato Yamanaka quickly made up an excuse and followed him out the window.

"I... me too!"

Choza Akimichi hadn't even finished speaking before vanishing from the room.

He glanced back at Nara Shikaku, who was just coming to after the genjutsu, drenched in cold sweat.

He sighed inwardly.

It wasn't disloyalty—he just knew there was no salvaging this situation.

Staying a few more minutes might drag him into the mess too!

If even Yoshino Nara could give her husband such grief, what hope did he have with his own wife?

"Nara Shikaku rushed to explain."

"Yoshino! Hear me out—I was hit earlier by Kei Yamanaka's genjutsu! He even used the Mind Body Disturbance Technique to control me! I couldn't fight back at all~!"

Yoshino smiled sweetly and reached up to brush the sweat from Nara Shikaku's brow.

"...I'm... doomed."

"Then go fetch a kneeling cushion from the storeroom. Don't scare away customers outside—it's busy today."

"I..."

Before Nara Shikaku could protest further, catching sight of his wife's gradually hardening expression,

he scrambled to his feet and rushed to the storage room to find the kneeling cushion.

At least it was just the storeroom this time.

If he angered his wife even more, who knows where he'd end up next!

"Yamaoto Momoko, Willow Sakura, huh~ Guess you've still got fire in the tank after all."

Yoshino Nara let out a cold chuckle.

She knew that Yamaoto Momoko and Willow Sakura were just performers who drew the line at sleeping with men.

But when it came to men, if he dared flirt today, who knows what he might try tomorrow?

If they didn't teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget,

how could she ever sleep easy again afterward?

——————————

Kei Yamanaka headed back to the Yamanaka estate. Seeing the curling smoke rising from his home in the distance, a slight smile naturally appeared on his face.

They always say newlyweds can't stand being apart for even a day.

Although he wasn't officially married to Kushina yet, since they had begun cohabiting, he had been sent off immediately on a mission.

Who wouldn't miss someone like crazy over such separation?

"I'm back～"

Kushina, busy in the kitchen, turned her head toward the entrance upon hearing his familiar voice as Kei stepped out of his shoes.

Her face—free of makeup—lit up with joy.

Without even putting down the ladle in her hand, she slid into her fuzzy fox slippers and dashed straight into his arms.

He spun Kushina around twice.

Before she could say anything, Kei lowered his head and kissed her deeply, pouring all his longing into it.

Kushina gently closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck, shyly reciprocating his passionate emotions.

They stayed locked in that moment for over five minutes.

Finally, blushing furiously, Kushina caught Kei's roaming hands and gently pulled away.

"Big sister Tsunade will be back soon..."

"Huh? Hasn't she already been gone this long before?"

Kei made a face like he had just bitten into something bitter.

Judging by Tsunade's personality, wouldn't she usually vanish again within ten days of returning to the village?

It had already been a whole month; how come she was still here?

Granted, just her mastery of the Senju Clan's Water Release techniques alone justified providing Tsunade with free food and lodging for life.

But he simply wanted to have some fun time with his girlfriend. What was wrong with that?

"Lord Hokage issued a house arrest decree forbidding big sister Tsunade from leaving the village."

Kushina playfully stuck out her tongue and nuzzled against her boyfriend's chest with a charming expression.

She inhaled deeply, savoring his familiar, comforting scent.

"What about going to the Senju ancestral house?"

"No, no way. That doesn't feel right..."

"Ahh..."

Kei sighed heavily.

He understood why Tsunade was under house arrest. With war possibly erupting anytime,

even though she suffered from hemophobia and couldn't personally treat wounded ninja,

her mere presence at Konoha Hospital served as the ultimate source of confidence for most Konoha ninja.

How could the Third Hokage allow her to wander freely?

"I-I'll leave my bedroom door unlocked tonight."

Kushina blushed deeply, whispering shyly before dashing into the kitchen in a flash.

Click! She locked it behind her.

"Hehehe～"

Kei quietly laughed, whistling cheerfully as he headed toward the bathroom.

First things first—he'd take a bath now,

so he could skip it later tonight!

Genius!

Knock knock knock～

Someone knocked on the door. Kei, about to run the bathwater, looked up, surprised.

He walked to the front door and opened it.

Ushi, the Anbu Captain, dressed in Anbu attire and wearing the Anbu mask, spoke to him.

"Lord Hokage has sent me to ask for your opinion—would you be willing to join the 'Anbu Training Division'? If you accept, you will serve as the Deputy Director, primarily tasked with training reserve Anbu recruits, conducting advanced training and evaluations for Anbu recruits, and organizing daily "internship missions." If you're not interested, Lord Hokage will politely decline the offer on your behalf from Lord Advisor to the Hokage."

A long string of words later, Ushi, who rarely spoke unless necessary and often preferred silence, took a deep breath.

Giving verbal orders was still a challenge for him.

"I'll join. Please convey my thanks to Lord Hokage."

Kei Yamanaka accepted the position without hesitation, glancing toward Kushina, who was busy working in the kitchen.

The so-called "Anbu Training Division" was merely Root's public name, under the leadership of Danzo Shimura.

Now, as deputy director directly overseeing reserve member training, advancement, evaluations, and even assignment of missions within Root...

Bypassing Danzo? That was legit.

Besides, what Nara Shikaku said earlier was spot-on.

To put an end to all those underhanded schemes, one must possess power strong enough to cow others.

The darkness of the ninja world... the shadow left by the Second Kage?

Tch...

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