Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru were already trapped in Genjutsu hell, writhing in endless cycles of pain and despair. Only one remained outside—Hinata.
The shy, well-behaved girl stood quietly, her pale eyes blinking up at Hidan with innocent curiosity.
Hidan's lips curled into a grin. Perfect.
"So," he began, crouching down to meet her gaze. "From now on, Hinata won't need to fight and kill like those idiots. Dealing with enemies—that's my job. All you need to do is learn how to become a proper lady… and of course, take care of your Hidan-nii."
His voice dripped with mock sincerity, the words of a snake charmer.
Hinata's cheeks flushed pink. She pressed her hands together nervously but nodded firmly. "Mm! I understand. I-I'll do my best to do what Hidan-nii says!"
That single line sent Hidan's ego soaring. Heh. Demagoguery successful. Just give it time… and this future powerhouse of the Hyūga clan will be transformed into the sweetest, most obedient lady ever.
His heart swelled with pride. A cute, obedient Hinata. A loyal maid in Konan. And maybe soon… a mature beauty like Kurenai added to the mix.
Life really is full of surprises.
"Well then," Hidan declared grandly, "if we've decided on the path of a lady, it's time to start training! First lesson: shopping, eating, and drinking. Then I'll slowly teach you the rest."
Without hesitation, he flopped back down onto Konan's shoulders like it was his personal throne. "Konan! Take her hand. Let's go."
Konan sighed but obeyed, gently taking Hinata's small hand as the three of them walked off together.
Left behind under the scorching midday sun, Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru continued suffering their "tempering." In their illusion, the torment dragged on endlessly—knife mountains, oil, and punishments designed to push their willpower to the limit.
And all because their "teacher" wanted alone time with Hinata.
Hidan hadn't even bothered adjusting the time ratio of the illusion—it ran perfectly in sync with reality. Otherwise, he worried the three of them might actually break before midnight.
The poor guys had no idea. If they ever learned that this whole "test" was just Hidan's ploy to kidnap Hinata for a day out… they'd probably cough up blood from rage.
What kind of teacher was this? Truly… the most unscrupulous teacher in Konoha history.
......
On the other side of the village, Hidan was strolling proudly down Konoha's bustling food street, flanked by Hinata on one side and Konan on the other.
Every stall they passed, he stopped. Takoyaki, yakitori, dango, steamed buns, roasted chestnuts—nothing escaped his eye.
He sampled everything, grinning, and shoved half of it into Hinata's hands. Konan, sighing, carried the rest in paper bags piled high against her chest.
"Eat up, Hinata. A proper lady has to know her sweets from her savories!" Hidan said with mock authority, popping a skewer into his own mouth. "This is called advanced training."
Hinata nodded shyly, nibbling a pastry, her face glowing red from both embarrassment and happiness.
Meanwhile…
Inside the Hokage's office, Kakashi stood stiffly in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi. His visible eye twitched as he stared at the crystal ball floating before them.
"Lord Third," Kakashi said flatly, "isn't this… a bit much?"
The Third puffed on his pipe, his face heavy with shadow. He hadn't trusted Hidan with students to begin with, so he had activated the crystal ball to check in. And sure enough—his fears were more than justified.
On the orb's surface, the scene was clear: Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru were suffering in endless Genjutsu torment, writhing in pain.
Meanwhile, Hidan was happily dragging the Hyūga clan's lady around the food stalls, stuffing her with snacks like it was a festival date.
Hiruzen's hand trembled around his pipe. "…That boy. He actually left two students and a dog in Genjutsu hell… and took the Hyūga heiress on a food tour."
Kakashi's eye narrowed. "…And people call me irresponsible."
The Hokage let out a long, weary sigh, puffing smoke into the ceiling. "How in the world am I supposed to bring Class Eight back onto the right track with that as their teacher…?"
--
Knock, knock.
"Come in," said the Third Hokage, looking up from his desk.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kakashi both glanced curiously at the door. Who could it be now? Another complaint?
The door creaked open—and in walked Yuhi Kurenai.
Both men blinked in surprise. Her expression was cool, calm, but there was a faint tension beneath it.
Kurenai walked up to the Hokage's desk, straight-backed, her crimson eyes unwavering.
"Lord Hokage… that man, Hidan, can't possibly be trusted to be a proper teacher. Therefore, I formally apply to become his assistant teacher—to supervise him directly."
The room fell quiet.
Hiruzen arched a brow. Hoh? The same Kurenai who stormed in here furious when I reassigned her post?
Kakashi tilted his head, his single eye narrowing. This is suspicious…
What neither of them could see was the swirl of emotion churning in Kurenai's heart. Since the day she had fallen into Hidan's Genjutsu, his smirking face refused to leave her mind.
That twisted "lesson" had burned itself into her memory—she hated him for it, yet against her will, she also kept thinking of him.
Even Asuma's figure, her childhood friend, was beginning to blur in her heart. Replaced, piece by piece, with him.
She didn't understand why. She only knew one thing: she needed to see Hidan again.
"…Oh?" The Third Hokage exhaled smoke from his pipe, hiding his surprise. "You want to become Hidan's assistant? Even after all your objections?"
"Yes," Kurenai replied firmly, her voice steady. "My strength has only just reached the level of Jōnin. If I serve as an assistant teacher, I can gain experience. Later, I'll be ready to stand as a full instructor."
Her words were high-sounding, logical, respectable. But neither the Hokage nor Kakashi could see the deeper truth gnawing at her.
Hiruzen's shoulders sank with a small sigh. "…Very well. Frankly, Hidan does need an assistant. If you're willing, then I'll allow it."
Relief softened Kurenai's face. She bowed lightly. "Thank you."
Walking out of the Hokage's office, her cheeks tinged with faint pink, she thought to herself: Soon… I'll see that bastard man again. Her steps quickened, her eyes clouded in a mix of anger and something she refused to name.
Inside, the Hokage rubbed his forehead wearily. "That problem child… at least now there's someone to rein him in."
"Kakashi," he asked, "how is your Seventh Squad?"
Kakashi's visible eye curved upward beneath his mask. A rare smile tugged at his lips. "Those three brats… not bad at all."
Then his tone dropped, more serious. "Naruto and Sakura don't worry me. But Sasuke… the hatred in his heart is dangerous."
He stopped there. There was no need to say more.
Hiruzen understood.
"Haah…" The Third Hokage sighed heavily, exhaling smoke from his pipe. "Try to dissolve the hatred in Sasuke's heart. Divert his attention as much as possible. Don't let him drown in hatred all day long."
He had once believed that with time, Sasuke would grow, and the pain of his clan's slaughter would fade. But instead, the boy's hatred only deepened with each passing day.
How could Hiruzen know the truth? In the original course of fate, Sasuke would have remained brooding but not unhinged.
But ever since Hidan had taken him under his twisted "training regimen"—forcing him into nightly cycles of Genjutsu, Tsukuyomi after Tsukuyomi, his hatred had been sharpened to a blade. Each illusion carved the wound deeper. Forgetting was no longer possible.
"This task," Hiruzen said at last, sliding a scroll across the desk, "is yours. Take your squad on a mission. Let him focus elsewhere."
Kakashi frowned, eye narrowing as he studied the scroll. "A mission… to protect a bridge builder?"
"Yes," the Hokage said, voice grave. "According to intelligence, Kirigakure has dispatched assassins to eliminate the bridge expert Tazuna. And leading them… is Momochi Zabuza, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
Kakashi's eye widened. "Zabuza Momochi?! He's on par with me. Lord Third, are you certain sending three fresh Genin against him is wise?"
Though Kakashi had mastered the Chidori, without advanced Sharingan techniques he was only just barely above Zabuza's level.
Throwing Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura into the mix against such a foe was reckless at best.
But Hiruzen already had an answer. "Not only Zabuza, but reports say he travels with a companion—someone with a possible kekkei genkai. Which is why…"
The old Hokage pinched the bridge of his nose. "…I've decided to send backup. The most… idle shinobi in the entire village."
Kakashi didn't need to ask who. He sighed. "Hidan, huh…"
"Yes. As much as it pains me, only he has the strength to ensure your squad's safety."
Kakashi accepted with a silent nod and left to prepare his students.
Once he was gone, Hiruzen summoned the ANBU. "Find Hidan. Deliver my orders."
Elsewhere…
"Lord Hidan, Hokage-sama has requested your aid." An ANBU knelt low before him, voice full of respect. "You are to escort the Seventh Squad in secret."
Most shinobi would balk at giving such honorifics to a teenager. But the ANBU had seen Hidan in action—missions drenched in blood, enemies annihilated without effort.
They knew better than anyone how terrifying this silver-haired devil could be.
"Oh?" Hidan perked up, lounging casually on Konan's back. "Escort duty, huh? Not my style."
Then a wicked grin split his face. "But Zabuza's Executioner's blade… tch, now that's my style. Wild, savage, brutal—I like it."
The ANBU stiffened. "So… you accept?"
"Tell the old man I'll do it," Hidan replied, waving lazily. "But don't forget—I've got my own students too. I'll bring Team Eight along. Let 'em get a taste of the real world."
The ANBU bowed deeply. "Yes, Lord Hidan!"
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