Pakura tilted her head, looking hesitant.
"…It does make some sense."
"By the way, why are you wearing sunglasses at night?" she asked, frowning.
"Nothing special," Uchiha Gen replied lightly. "I've just never seen the night through sunglasses before, so I was curious."
As he spoke, he turned toward her. Beneath the dark lenses, the Mangekyō Sharingan flickered to life, its three tomoe pattern slowly revolving.
Uzume!
"Think carefully about what I said earlier. I believe it makes a lot of sense."
Pakura's expression wavered. Subtly, her thoughts bent under the sway of Gen's ocular power.
"I didn't understand before, but… you're right. It really does make sense. You're only doing this for my sake."
She drew in a deep breath, face calm but voice serious.
"Alright… I'll allow you to find more girlfriends."
Gen's lips curved into a faint smile. He hadn't expected his first use of a Mangekyō to be in a situation like this.
When used on matters of the heart, wasn't Uzume the ultimate sweet talk? A one-move, guaranteed harmony tool for a future harem?
Sure, it wasn't as overwhelming as Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, but its limitations were small and for his purposes, perfectly sufficient.
What's the strongest jutsu in the shinobi world?
Put aside Talk no Jutsu being number one. This had to be in the top three.
Of course, his eyes were still Mangekyō, not Eternal Mangekyō, so he couldn't use them recklessly. His chakra had to be saved for the blade's edge.
Even with Kyouki and the Flying Thunder God Technique, Pakura was still a long-distance girlfriend. To her, peace of mind mattered, she needed to know he wouldn't betray her.
The crimson pattern faded as Gen slid the sunglasses back into his pocket, pretending to have been idly wearing them.
"Thank you for understanding," he said warmly. "You really are the best girlfriend."
Taking her hands, he gazed into her amber eyes.
Pakura flushed, lowering her head. Her lashes trembled as she slowly closed her eyes.
Taking the hint, Gen leaned in.
On the shimmering surface of the river, two blurry silhouettes merged into one…
After their intimacy, the two simply walked along the riverside. Gen hadn't brought Pakura out here to go further this was their first time. A sense of ritual was needed. He couldn't treat it casually, out in the wilderness.
The point of this night was to deepen their bond. War kept everyone busy, with little time for warmth. Tonight, at last, they could relax together.
Besides, while he didn't mind transactional encounters, the experience was undeniably better when real feelings were involved.
And Pakura wasn't just any woman. With her beauty, figure, temperament, and strength, she was well worth the time to nurture.
Before they parted, Gen discreetly marked her with the Flying Thunder God seal. It would make finding her in Sunagakure effortless later.
They lingered until late into the night, exchanging words and touches that tightened their bond, before reluctantly returning to camp.
By morning, Sunagakure was the first to break camp and depart.
Gen did not see them off. Everything worth saying had been said last night, parting again would only deepen the sorrow.
…
That afternoon, Konoha's forces finished packing and started their own march home. Spirits were high as they crossed into the Land of Fire.
But just as they were passing the border garrison, a Konoha messenger arrived with a Hokage order for Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen.
The order stated that the frontline troops would remain at the garrison for two days of rest before returning, while Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen were to proceed directly to Konoha with the messenger.
At first glance, the order looked like simple concern from Hiruzen Sarutobi, giving tired shinobi a chance to recuperate. But for those with sharper minds, the truth was obvious.
If Orochimaru and Gen returned at the head of their victorious forces, Konoha would certainly hold a grand welcoming ceremony. Orochimaru's accomplishments would spread quickly through the village, and the matter of the Fifth Hokage would soon be unavoidable.
Delaying the discussion was possible. Preventing it from surfacing publicly was another matter entirely.
Clearly, this order was aimed at suppressing Orochimaru's recognition. Gen, too, was incidentally denied a chance to shine.
But Gen didn't care for applause. Superficial recognition meant little compared to real benefits. He turned his gaze to Orochimaru, waiting for his response.
Orochimaru, already long disillusioned with Hiruzen, only gave a cold smile and accepted indifferently.
Gen thought the matter ended there. But another problem arose.
The Konoha messenger hesitated, then said carefully:
"Gen-dono… Danzo-sama requests two people from you."
Gen's expression did not change.
"Who?"
"The two you brought with you," the messenger stammered.
"Anna Uzumaki and Karin Uzumaki?"
The messenger swallowed and nodded.
Anna, kindhearted and eager to fit into Konoha, had used her chains to heal mortally wounded shinobi in the frontline hospital. Despite Gen's gag order, word had spread among the high command. Danzo's greed had been piqued.
It was just like him.
But once those girls were under Kushina's protection inside Konoha, they'd be untouchable. So Danzo was trying to strike before then.
"Did the Hokage approve this?" Gen asked flatly.
"No. In fact, I heard he firmly rejected it. This is an order from Danzo-sama, in his capacity as Hokage's Assistant."
At that, Gen's killing intent faded slightly. For once, Hiruzen had done something decent.
Anna and Karin in Root? A complete waste of their talents.
Gen snorted.
"If Hokage-sama himself rejects it, what authority does an Assistant have?"
He added coolly, "Besides, my direct superior is Orochimaru-sensei. Danzo has no command over me."
"Sensei," he asked, glancing over, "what do you say?"
Orochimaru's lips curled.
"I will firmly obey the Hokage's orders."
Gen turned his eyes back to the trembling messenger.
"Did you hear that?"
"I-I heard! I'm only delivering the message," the man stammered.
"Good. Then leave."
When the messenger had scurried off, Orochimaru chuckled.
"You've defied Danzo openly again. He'll hate you even more now."
"But with your strength, achievements, and lineage, as long as he doesn't find leverage, there's nothing to fear."
His tone darkened.
"Still… be cautious. Danzo is the Darkness of Konoha. Treachery is his nature."
Gen gave a small nod.
"I know. That's why I've decided to let Kushina-nee handle this."
Truthfully, Gen didn't fear Danzo. If it came to it, assassination was always an option.
But killing Danzo outright would trigger an investigation and even the Spirit Transformation Technique wasn't flawless. Timing and scapegoats would matter.
Better to let Kushina stir things up first.
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Hoh-hoh… with Kushina's temper, if she learns Danzo is after the only surviving members of her clan, she'll storm Root's gates herself."
"I look forward to it."
Gen's grin matched his.
"So do I."
After all, he had reunited Kushina with her kin. Was it too much to expect her to stand up for them and conveniently draw Danzo's fire?
As the Fourth Hokage's widow and the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Kushina's status was beyond reproach.
And even if Root clashed with her, would Danzo truly dare harm her?
No—Hiruzen himself would never allow it.