A lingering kiss was pressed onto Raizen's cheek, only for the two to part quickly.
"That's a reward from your big sister. Thanks, Boss, for solving a huge headache for me."
Anko Mitarashi winked flirtatiously at Raizen and laughed. She pulled up the mesh garment on her shoulder and let out a long, heavy sigh of relief.
"Finally... I'm completely free of that loathsome Orochimaru."
Raizen looked at Anko, utterly bewildered. Wait, that's it? I thought I was about to be counter-pushed for real?
"What are you looking so expectant for, Big Boss?" Anko asked, grinning at him.
"Uh! Perhaps I misunderstood? Farewell!" Raizen turned to leave immediately.
"Don't go, Big Boss!" Anko grabbed him.
"The seal is gone, the job is done. Why stay?" Raizen asked.
"For this, of course!" Anko suddenly shoved Raizen down onto the wooden floorboards of the pavilion. She leaned over him, her eyes curving into crescents as she showed her pearly white teeth. "Tell me... am I beautiful?"
Raizen surveyed her for a moment, then shook his head with a straight face. "Not particularly."
Anko's jaw tightened. She bit her lip and shed her outer coat. "How about now? Am I beautiful?"
Raizen continued to shake his head. A successful man never simply follows a woman's lead. If he agreed with everything a woman said, how could he ever hope to conquer a harem? He had to give the answer she didn't want to hear.
"I only like women who are slim, petite, cute, and gentle."
"You... you're trying to kill me with anger!" Anko fumed. Even if he was her boss and her biggest creditor, calling her fat was crossing the line. "Calling me fat? Boss or not, I'm going to take you down!"
Flames danced in Anko's eyes. "I'm so white and tender, and you have the nerve to say I'm not beautiful?!"
Her fury was burning. She used both hands to pin Raizen firmly to the floorboards, preventing him from getting up.
"What exactly are you trying to do!?" Raizen asked, making a symbolic attempt to struggle.
"What am I doing? Hehehe, I'm making you pay the price for your words."
One hour later.
Anko tidied her clothes, glanced at the lip-print-covered Raizen, and left with a look of immense satisfaction. Before walking away, she turned back with a warning: "Don't you dare tell Kurenai about this, or I'll come back and squeeze the life out of you every single day."
As Raizen watched her retreating figure, a faint smile played on his lips.
Hunters often appear in the form of prey.
You might think you're the hunter, but in reality, you're the one being hunted.
Staring at the various marks on his skin, Raizen Dove into the lake to wash up before climbing back out. He dressed and activated the Flying Thunder God technique, vanishing from the pavilion.
He reappeared in a secret room within the Women's Hot Spring. Pushing open the door, he stepped out.
"Raizen-sama! You're here!"
"Wonderful news! Miss Guren has given birth to a big, healthy boy!" Uzumaki Keiko rushed over to greet him, her face full of excitement.
"Is Guren doing well?" Raizen asked with a smile.
Keiko nodded. "Mhm, she's great. Both mother and child are safe."
"I'll go see her."
Raizen quickened his pace toward the delivery room.
"Raizen-sama!" A group of women surrounding the area chirped happily upon seeing him. Over the past three years, his gentle and generous treatment had raised their favorability to 100. They were completely loyal. He knew some might be spies from various factions, but he didn't mind. In fact, he welcomed more "spies" like them.
Raizen entered the room and saw Guren on the bed, her newborn by her side.
"Raizen-sama... you're here." Guren looked at him, her face pale but her smile radiant with happiness. These three years of peace had been the best of her life.
"Here, Guren, drink this." Raizen pulled out a bottle of Papaya Nutritional Juice and fed it to her. Her complexion returned to a rosy hue almost instantly.
"Thank you, Raizen-sama," she said affectionately.
"We're long-past 'thank-yous,' aren't we?" Raizen teased, grazing her nose with his finger. He looked at the baby. "His eyes are like yours, but he has my nose. He's going to be a real heartbreaker when he grows up."
"With your genes, Raizen-sama, it's a guarantee."
Raizen picked up the child. "Hey there, little one. I'm your daddy." The infant stared up with curiosity, his mouth curving into a tiny smile.
"He looks like he'll be a gentle soul. Let's call him... Uchiha Nanyang (Warm Sun)."
"Uchiha Nanyang," Guren whispered. "It's a beautiful name. You're so talented, Raizen-sama."
"Your man used to be a top student, you know!" Raizen boasted. He stayed in the room, talking with Guren for the next several days.
Otogakure (Hidden Sound Village)A certain underground laboratory
Orochimaru stared with a sneer at the "masterpiece" before him. Kabuto Yakushi stood by his side, bowing slightly. "Congratulations, Orochimaru-sama. The Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei) is nearing its initial completion."
"The summoned only possess about 30% of their original strength," Orochimaru hissed. "It's not enough. It needs more refinement. Once it reaches 50%, we can commence the Konoha Crush."
"Kabuto, how are the negotiations with the other villages?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "The Fourth Kazekage of the Sand Village is very interested in the plan."
"Good. Once the power reaches 50%, go contact the Kazekage again."
Orochimaru's expression then darkened. "One thing bothers me. Why hasn't there been any word from Konoha for so long?"
"Well... about that," Kabuto frowned. "Orochimaru-sama, I believe Guren and the others have defected."
"Guren? Defected? That child practically worshipped me. She dreamed of being my vessel." Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. "What happened in the Leaf? What power does Uchiha Raizen possess that could make her betray me?"
"Hehehe... my curiosity about Raizen is growing by the day."
"Once the Edo Tensei is perfected, Raizen will be yours, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto assured him.
"Correct. But I still need those few items. We will go to Konoha once the jutsu is ready."
Suddenly, Orochimaru's brow furrowed. "One more thing bothers me."
"What is it?"
"I can no longer sense the Curse Mark I left on one of my old experimental failures." Orochimaru's frown deepened. Losing a soul fragment within a Curse Mark meant losing a potential "life." Those fragments were his insurance policy for resurrection.
"Your Curse Mark? But only you can undo it!" Kabuto said, shocked.
"If someone researches it thoroughly enough, they could find a counter-seal. I suspect my old teacher, Sarutobi, found a way. He is the 'Professor of Shinobi,' after all."
"Hehehe... Teacher, I look forward to the day we meet again. Don't die too soon."
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