Konoha: Gu Master

After Shinho entered the kitchen, Tsunade flopped onto the sofa.

She crossed her legs, her right calf resting on her left knee, and her smooth, fair feet swaying gently in the air.

A few seconds passed before she exhaled softly through her slightly parted lips. 

For some reason, she felt unusually restless.

Tsunade stood up and made her way to the kitchen doorway, watching Shinho.

He used the kitchen knife with practiced ease, slicing the chicken with precision. 

Sunlight streamed in, highlighting his sharp and handsome features.

Tsunade clicked her tongue.

This brat… whatever else, that face of his is dangerous.

No wonder so many girls are smitten with him.

"Is something wrong?" Shinho glanced at her before looking back at the neatly arranged chicken pieces, his expression puzzled.

"Nothing."

Tsunade shook her head. She had no complaints about Shinho's skills in cooking.

"Then why are you here?" Shinho asked, resuming his slicing.

"Can't I just watch?" Tsunade folded her arms and shot back.

"Of course."

Shinho's peripheral vision caught the way her folded arms accentuated her chest.

Whoever's bigger is always right, he mused. Whether its fists or... other things.

"What mission did you do this morning?" Tsunade lowered her arms, her tone casual.

"It was a creature formed from Yin Release chakra. Island it was successfully sealed," Shinho answered nonchalantly.

After a few seconds of silence, Tsunade couldn't help but ask, curious.

"You're so close with Karin. Aren't you afraid Hinata or Ino will find out?"

Shinho was taken aback. Hearing this from Tsunade made it... oddly interesting. 

He raised his head to meet her gaze. "I'm more worried about you finding out."

"What you do is none of my business," Tsunade retorted, her voice trembling slightly as she avoided his gaze. "Why should I care?"

"You're my teacher," Shinho said with a chuckle.

"Thank you for still remembering that!" 

Tsunade shot him an annoyed glare.

"What's wrong? I've always been obedient," Shinho said, turning on the gas burner.

"Ha?"

Tsunade let out a laugh of disbelief, her chest heaving with the motion.

"Then tell me—when have I ever disobeyed you?" Shinho asked.

"You…"

Tsunade started but faltered. 

From childhood until now, she had always taken the lead in important matters. It was only in trivial, playful instances that Shinho ever went against her.

But in hindsight, it all felt oddly... flirtatious.

"I'm hungry!" Tsunade changed the subject decisively. "Hurry up!"

"You still haven't—" Shinho began, but stopped short when her fist suddenly appeared inches from his face.

"What were you going to say?" Tsunade asked, narrowing her eyes and speaking with a less-than-friendly tone.

Despite her threatening posture, her gaze angled upward at him with her shorter stature lessened her intimidating presence.

"As you wish, teacher," Shinho replied, lowering his head, seizing the opportunity with a smile.

As he did, the view reminded him of freshly pressed rice balls—soft, warm, and just slightly apart.

Realizing her awkward position, Tsunade stepped back to create some distance.

Why does this brat have to be so tall?!

Her expression darkened.

"Teacher," Shinho called, holding up a ladle. "Would you like some chicken soup? Itis delicious and good for the skin."

"…"

Tsunade found herself softening at his smile. 

She stepped forward, her lips slightly parted, and took the offered spoon into her mouth, sipping the broth.

At this close distance, Shinho could see her delicate features and flawless skin in detail.

"Not bad," Tsunade said, nodding slightly.

When she looked up, she noticed Shinho's gaze.

"I'll be in the living room."

After a brief pause, Tsunade broke eye contact and left the kitchen abruptly. Her heart racing inexplicably.

What's with that brat's look?

…

Tsunade sat at the dining table, her legs crossed and hands resting under her chin as she stared blankly ahead. 

She only snapped out of her thoughts when the aroma of chicken soup wafted into the room.

She turned to see Shinho walking in with the dishes.

For a moment, she felt a pang of nostalgia.

There was a time, long ago, when she had imagined living a peaceful life. She thought such a dream was impossible, but wasn't this exactly what she had envisioned?

"Teacher," Shinho called, placing the dishes on the table before pouring two glasses of honey wine. "Cheers."

Tsunade raised her glass, clinking it against his before downing it in one go.

She smacked her lips, dissatisfied. "You can drink from a glass, but I'll drink from the bottle."

Grabbing the honey wine bottle, she tipped it back and took a deep swig.

"Eat something with the wine," Shinho said, catching her wrist. "If you only drink, it'll hurt my feelings as the chef."

"This little bit of alcohol is nothing!" Tsunade muttered, finishing the bottle before finally picking up her chopsticks and grabbing a piece of chicken.

"You're blushing already," Shinho said with a smile.

"No, I'm not!" Tsunade glared at him. "That's impossible! It was just one bottle!"

"Right here," Shinho said, placing the back of his hand against her cheek.

Tsunade froze.

She shot to her feet, gripping his head and pressing her face to his. "You little brat! Do you even know what respecting your teacher means?!"

Her breath, tinged with the scent of wine, wafted over his face.

"Teacher, you're drunk," Shinho said, exasperated.

"I'm not!" Tsunade shouted.

"Then prove it." Shinho blinked and said, "Kiss me. That'll show—"

Before he could finish saying "you're drunk," he was silenced.

Her lips met his. Warmth, softness, the taste of wine—all swirled together in the moment.

A minute later, their lips parted.

"Well? See? I'm not drunk!" Tsunade declared, her face flushed, her tone triumphant.

"I think I am," Shinho murmured, licking his lips.

"You're such a brat!" Tsunade laughed happily, though her blush deepened, spreading even to her pale neck.

[Achievement Unlocked: Tsunade—"The Wind Moves Not"]

[Reward: Wind Overlord Gu.]

The notification startled Shinho.

The Wind Moves Not? what?

The Wind Overlord Gu, the new Rank 5 Gu, was similar to the Earth Overlord Gu, except it drew its power from the wind rather than the earth.

Where he once worried that the Earth Overlord Gu would be ineffective when separated from solid ground, the Wind Overlord Gu now filled the gap perfectly.

"Eat, Teacher." Shinho beamed, placing another piece of chicken on her plate.

"Okay," Tsunade muttered, shaking her head before sitting back down.

An hour later, Shinho found himself kicked out of the house.

Women were so fickle.

Still, wasn't she drunk? He had wanted to stay and take care of her, but she insisted he had duties to attend to as the Hokage.

…

Meanwhile, at Konoha Hospital.

Uchiha Sasuke opened his eyes, staring at the familiar ceiling in confusion.

Why am I back in the hospital?

Fragments of memory surfaced, in his mind, especially the sharp words he had hurled at Shinho.

Sasuke's expression froze.

What happened?

Though he wanted to defeat Shinho, he'd never truly intended to kill him.

"Sa-Sasuke-kun?" Sakura Haruno's excited voice turned to worry. "Are you feeling okay? Does anything hurt?"

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked, instinctively trying to pull his hand away, but Sakura held on tightly.

"I've been learning medical ninjutsu from my teacher here at the hospital." Sakura beamed internally.

See? Learning medicine does bring me closer to Sasuke!

Sasuke sighed. "Let go of my hand."

"Oh, right!" Sakura reluctantly released him, still smiling dreamily.

Unconscious Sasuke was much easier to deal with.

"Where's Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke demanded. He needed answers about what had happened.

"I'll call him right away!" Sakura hurried off.

Sasuke stared at her retreating figure, but felt an odd sensation in his abdomen. He unbuttoned his shirt and froze at the sight of a sealing marks etched onto his skin.

"What… is this?" he muttered.

D-did I… wake up pregnant?

"Sasuke." Kakashi knocked and entered the room, glancing at the seal. "Oh, that's Satori's seal."

Behind him, Sakura peeked in, her face reddening as her eyes darted around.

"What is Satori? Why is it sealed in me?" Sasuke frowned.

"Sakura, step outside," Kakashi said, chuckling at her starry-eyed expression.

Reluctantly, Sakura left the room.

Kakashi explained everything that had happened.

"I activated my Mangekyo Sharingan? And actually injured Shinho?" Sasuke stared, his lips twitching as he struggled to suppress twitching face.

Am I dreaming right now?

Kakashi patted his shoulder. "Try activating it again."

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke focused. 

His Sharingan flared to life, the three tomoe spinning before morphing into the Mangekyo.

"There, congratulations," Kakashi said, feeling the weight of the powerful aura emanating from him.

"So… this is the Mangekyo," Sasuke murmured, clenching his fists.

before , he couldn't feel anything when being possessed by Satori, but now, Sasuke could fully grasp his Mangekyo Sharingan's terrifying potential.

The sheer depth of it's power was staggering.

Sasuke thought of that man—Itachi Uchiha.

Back then, he was utterly powerless before those very eyes. But now, he had them too. A spark of anticipation ignited within him.

He yearned to stand before Itachi, to witness his shock, and then… to defeat him.

"Mangekyo Sharingan grants two unique abilities," Kakashi reminded him.

"Two abilities?" Sasuke closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. 

Sure enough, the relevant information surfaced in his mind.

His left eye possessed the ability Ayakaiji—the ability to ignore any defense.

His right eye held Yomi-no-Kuni, which ignored distance altogether.

The latter was a spatial manipulation technique that allowed Sasuke to transport any attack to any location he desired. The range depended solely on his remaining ocular power.

Mangekyo Sharingan techniques were often named after Japanese deities—such as Amaterasu or Tsukuyomi.

Ayakaiji, the God of Fear, represented the terror of rendered defenses.

Yomi-no-Kuni, associated with Izanami, referred to the domain of the dead. A careless mistake under its power could send its target straight to the afterlife.

"No wonder I managed to injure Shinho," Sasuke murmured, smirking as his lips curling upward into a victorious grin.

These abilities felt perfectly tailored to counter Shinho. It was as if fate itself had intervened.

Kakashi hesitated, but refrained from speaking. While Sasuke had injured Shinho, it was a minor wound, which was healed within seconds. 

Moreover, Sasuke's success was partly due to Satori's influence at the time. Without it, even landing a blow would likely have been impossible.

Outside the room, Sakura caught a glimpse of Sasuke's laughter. She peeked in curiously.

There he was, clutching his forehead, laughing exuberantly.

"So cool!" Sakura's eyes sparkled with admiration.

But as soon as she spoke, Sasuke's laughter abruptly stopped. His gaze shifting awkwardly.

"Aunt Mi—Mikoto," Sakura stammered, turning around to see the reason for his sudden demeanor change.

Uchiha Mikoto entered the room, smiling warmly as she held a bento box.

She set it on Sasuke's lap. "Looks like you're feeling better," she said gently. "But Shinho advised that you rest for a couple more days."

"Yes, ma'am," Sasuke replied, his earlier arrogance vanishing entirely.

…

Hokage Office

Shinho suddenly noticed a text notification materialize in his vision:

[Achievement Unlocked: Uchiha Sasuke—"Four Kings of Laughter."]

[Reward: Bluebird Ice Coffin Gu.]

[Bluebird Ice Coffin Gu: A Rank 3 Gu worm. When released, it flies toward an enemy, freezing them rapidly.]

"Another Gu for Hinata," Shinho muttered.

For himself, this Gu felt redundant compared to his superior Immobilizaion Gu.

How did this achievement even trigger?

Sasuke must have been laughing maniacally after discovering his Mangekyo abilities.

Classic Sasuke, Shinho thought, shaking his head. It seemed Sasuke's recovery was nothing to worry about.

Shinho resumed reading a mission report from Asuma Sarutobi's Team 10. 

It heavily praised Yamanaka Ino.

As she matured, her ability to integrate Ido to her family's secret technique, had strengthened her mental power to a level surpassing most Jonin. 

Her support role in combat had become increasingly impactful. Controlled enemies were easily subdued by her team.

"Shizune-nee," Shinho said, turning to his assistant. "Any suggestions for a Hokage assistant?"

"There aren't many Jonin who fit the criteria—not leading a team, but strong enough to handle the role," Shizune said thoughtfully. "I'd recommend Mitarashi Anko and Aburame Shibi."

Shinho's gaze drifted to her. From his angle, her black-stockinged legs under her pencil skirt caught his eye.

"Mitarashi Anko was Orochimaru's student, but she didn't follow him when he defected. I think she's trustworthy," Shizune added. "As for Aburame Shibi, he's your father. That makes him an obvious choice."

"Anko works," Shinho decided. "As for my dad, let's hold off for now."

Appointing Anko as an assistant felt strategic; the Cursed seal of heaven Orochimaru left on her could serve as a subtle leverage point in the future.

As for his father, while he was acapable man, appointing him could invite unnecessary scrutiny to him. While Shinho didn't mind, he had to consider the Aburame clan's reputation.

"Shall I notify Anko now?" Shizune asked, leaning slightly forward.

"Go ahead," Shinho replied with a nod.

Once Shizune left, Shinho resumed his paperwork. 

His thoughts shifted to tomorrow's mission: helping Hinata search for the Bikochu Beetle in the Land of Rivers, and the Kamizuru clan which was once famous as the Aburame clan, but was now in decline.

Though a straightforward Mission, it wouldn't help in enhancing his reputation.

The Land of Rivers was seldom featured in the original timeline. One detail, however, stood out: the Kurotsuchi Clan's Katabami Gold Mine, controlled by Kurosuki Raiga.

Raiga was a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He had once been one of the three survivors of Might Duy's legendary Eight Gates battle.

Afterward, likely disillusioned with Kirigakure or simply terrified, Raiga left the village. He set himself up as the master of the gold mine, exploiting workers for profit.

"It's on the way," Shinho muttered, stroking his chin. "Might as well pay him a visit."

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were widely known in the ninja world. Defeating Raiga could bolster his reputation—and possibly trigger an achievement.

Speaking of enhancing his reputation, he had a suitable candidate in his mind, Orochimaru. The three sannin of knonha were, after all, known to everyone in the ninja world.

After he lost his soul, Orochimaru's combat power had weakened significantly, but the most dangerous thing to look out for was his Impure world reincarnation.

…

At a dango shop, Mitarashi Anko was stuffing her face with dango skewers. Her cheeks puffed out as she crammed in as much as possible.

Ever since Orochimaru defected, her status had plummeted. She'd even faced interrogations from Konoha's higher-ups. 

Now, she lived as a simple Special Jonin, her greatest joy being dango.

At that moment, high heels clicked on the floor, catching Anko's attention. She looked up to see Shizune, dressed in her formal attire.

"Anko, it's been a while," Shizune greeted with a smile.

"What brings you here?" Anko asked, surprised. "Did the Hokage assign me a mission?"

Mentioning the new Hokage filled her with mixed emotions. She had once served as the proctor for the Chunin Exams where she'd met Shinho. 

To think he'd risen to Hokage so quickly—it was almost absurd.

"The Hokage is restructuring his guards and renaming it the Hokage Assistant Corps," Shizune started explaining, but was interrupted midscentence .

"Wait, you're saying he wants me as an assistant?!" Anko jumped up, excitement lighting her face. "He's got good taste!"

Anko's vibrant personality shone through, much like Naruto's.

"Exactly," Shizune confirmed with a nod.

"I'm in!" Anko exclaimed, clenching her fists.

The position promised higher status, better pay, and plenty of dango. Plus, it might even offer opportunities to gather intel on Orochimaru.

"Great. Follow me to meet the Hokage," Shizune said.

"Wait." Anko glanced at Shizune's professional outfit. "Do I need to wear something formal?"

"No need," Shizune replied, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You're an assistant, not a secretary."

She sized up Anko, noting her curvaceous figure and mesh undershirt.

Absolutely not. Shinho already had one assistant—her. That was more than enough.

Anko shrugged off the remark and followed Shizune with a confident stride.

'Once I'm an assistant, I'll walk Konoha's streets like a queen,' Anko thought smugly.

Shizune knocked on the door of the Hokage's office. "Lord Hokage," she said formally before stepping inside.

"I'm here, Lord Hokage!" Anko announced with enthusiasm, standing firmly in front of his desk.

"Has Shizune-nee explained everything to you?" Shinho asked.

"She has!" Anko thumped her chest. "Don't worry, Lord Hokage, I'll handle this job perfectly!"

"Energetic! I like that," Shinho said with a smile. "Uncle Shikaku will guide you through the work."

"Understood!" Anko's eyes sparkled at the mention of Shikaku, who was a highly respected figure in Konoha. Maybe someday she could reach that level too.

"I'll take you there," Shizune said, glancing briefly at Shinho before leading Anko out.

"I'll treat you to dango sometime, Lord Hokage!" Anko called out cheerfully as she left.

Shizune returned shortly after. "Everything is arranged," she reported.

"Thank you, Shizune-nee," Shinho replied warmly. "There's one more thing—make an official announcement."

"Should I inform Asuma and his team first?" Shizune asked hesitantly.

"That works," Shinho agreed. "Have the Anbu notify them before posting the announcement."

Shizune nodded and left to carry out her task.

Even if the Sarutobi clan disapproved, what could they do? The decision was already made.

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