"Your body is heating up?"
Linking it to the name "Sand Temptation Poison," and combining it with Kurenai's described symptoms, Gento's expression immediately turned strange.
Could it be that this "Sand Temptation Poison" was an aphrodisiac toxin capable of stimulating human desire?
Shinobi of the Sand had always been adept at extracting all kinds of bizarre poisons from the unique flora and fauna of the Land of Wind.
Among these, many poisons had antidotes that were difficult to obtain, and some simply had no antidote at all; problems that even Medical Ninja found troublesome.
What he had obtained from the system was only Basic Medical Ninjutsu Mastery, which could only deal with ordinary injuries.
If he were to help Kurenai detoxify by formulating an antidote, it was something he simply could not do.
If detoxification had to be done, it wasn't that he couldn't… it would just require another method…
To further confirm, Gento steadied his mind and softly asked:
"What do you mean by heating up… what exactly does it feel like? Try to be as detailed as possible. This is important."
Kurenai forced herself to stay conscious, describing in broken intervals:
"My abdomen… it feels like there's a ball of fire burning, spreading through my whole body… it's unbearably hot…
"And I… umm~…"
Her voice grew softer, carrying an uncontrollable tremor:
"And also… my heart… it feels like it's being brushed by feathers, a little itchy…"
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing.
Hearing this, Gento became quite certain… this was a typical symptom of an aphrodisiac toxin taking effect.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he forced himself to speak:
"Kurenai… what you've been poisoned with is likely an aphrodisiac. This kind of poison… stimulates the desires within the body and disrupts the mind."
"Aphrodisiac?"
Kurenai's gaze was unfocused; the erosion of the toxin had already begun to slow her reactions.
"Gento-kun, you… can you help me cure this poison?"
"The method of detoxification… usually requires… union with the opposite sex, to guide the toxin out of the body through bodily fluids…"
As his words fell, the cave sank into a stagnant silence.
Only the muffled, hurried breathing of the two remained.
To break the suffocating awkwardness, Gento took out a water flask from his ninja tool pouch and handed it over:
"Drink some water first. It might help relieve it a bit."
Kurenai tried to reach out to take the water, but suddenly, a strong wave of dizziness struck her.
In her vision, Gento's figure wavered and doubled, eventually seeming to be shrouded in a faint pink halo.
Just as she tried to focus her mind, the scorching torrent swirling within her body suddenly broke through the last dam.
"Mhm~!"
Kurenai let out a soft moan.
Her body swayed uncontrollably.
A wave of near-collapse softness spread through her body, causing her knees to buckle as she fell forward.
Fortunately, Gento reacted fast and caught her before she hit the ground.
"Kurenai, how are you?"
Gento's anxious voice came from beside her ear.
Kurenai wanted to respond, but her consciousness had begun to blur.
Before her awareness faded, her body followed its instincts and moved closer to Gento.
She leaned forward on her own initiative, raised her face, and pressed her lips against his.
Their kiss seemed to temporarily suppress the poison.
But right after, an even fiercer backlash made her crave that feeling and want more.
"Gento-kun~ I… want…"
Facing Kurenai, whose eyes were filled with affection, Gento's reason also collapsed.
His hands began to grow restless as well…
Before they knew, the two of them were like dry firewood meeting blazing flames, igniting at once.
...
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf Village, the Hokage's office.
Asuma stood before Hiruzen and spoke angrily:
"Old man, why did you send Kurenai, a Chunin who only knows Genjutsu, to carry out such a dangerous mission!"
"Insolence!"
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sharply interrupted.
The pipe in his hand struck heavily against the desk.
"I called you here to inform you that starting today, you will go to the Feudal Lord's residence to serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, not to listen to you question me here!"
"But her team doesn't even have enough members! What if she runs into danger?"
"The Leaf is short on manpower right now. Every Shinobi must bear heavy responsibility!"
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, suppressing his anger as he explained in a low voice.
"This is wartime. No one is exempt."
"Then I won't go either!"
Asuma clenched his fists.
"To have me hide in a safe place protecting those pampered Feudal Lords, while my comrades fight and die on the front lines!
"I, Asuma, can't do that!"
Hiruzen stared at his son for a moment before eventually softening his tone and exhaling a thick cloud of smoke:
"Asuma… after the war ends, I will step down from the position of Hokage."
Asuma's pupils shrank upon hearing this:
"What? Why?"
"Since the Third Great Shinobi War, the Hidden Leaf has suffered repeated blows from various nations, yet has failed to achieve a victory strong enough to deter external enemies.
"The Feudal Lord has seen no return on his investment in the village and is already dissatisfied with me."
Hiruzen's voice was low, carrying exhaustion.
"Politics has never been limited to the battlefield. There are already people impeaching me before the Feudal Lord.
"Once the war ends, I will have to step down from the Hokage position."
Asuma froze, staring blankly at the graying hair at his father's temples, unable to speak for a moment.
"Jiraiya and Tsunade are traveling outside, and Orochimaru's performance on the battlefield has not been outstanding…
"The selection of the next Hokage requires the approval of the Hidden Leaf's high council and the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire. I can no longer control the candidate for the Fourth Hokage."
Asuma fell silent, lighting a cigarette and taking a hard drag.
He realized that he had never once thought about things from his father's perspective.
Now that he tried, he found that the old man didn't have it easy either.
Hiruzen stepped closer, lowering his voice even further.
"I need you to gain the Feudal Lord's approval.
"After your term as a Guardian Ninja ends, I will use my connections to arrange for you to teach at the Ninja Academy. The heirs of the Ino–Shika–Cho clans will be assigned to your class."
His gaze was sharp:
"At that time, when the Fourth Hokage steps down, with the support of the Shinobi clans and the trust of the Feudal Lord, you will be able to compete for the position of Fifth Hokage with absolute certainty."
Upon hearing this, Asuma suddenly showed anger.
"The position of Hokage should be earned through strength! Not through methods like this!
"A Hokage obtained through such means… I, Asuma, would rather not have it!"
"Naive!"
Hiruzen rebuked angrily.
"Every Hokage in history has been born through succession! The Will of Fire must be carried on, and the future of the Hidden Leaf must be entrusted to those who truly understand it!"
Seeing his son still stubbornly resisting, Hiruzen suddenly remembered his weakness and spoke:
"After the war ends, Kurenai will be promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin. At that time, she will also enter the Academy and be responsible for teaching the heirs of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans."
Asuma suddenly raised his head upon hearing this.
Seeing that his strategy had worked, Hiruzen continued:
"She will be kept away from dangerous missions and will teach safely within the village until you are married.
"At that time, when you compete for the Fifth Hokage position, you will gain the support of nearly all Shinobi clans in Leaf and successfully become Hokage!"
Hiruzen spoke word by word.
"This is my promise to you. And what you must do is become a Hokage worthy of her, and worthy of Leaf's future! One who will carry on the Will of Fire!"
Asuma's lips trembled, but all words of rebuttal were stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.
"Asuma Sarutobi!"
Hiruzen stepped back, his voice regaining the authority of the Hokage.
"In my capacity as the Third Hokage, I order you to depart immediately for the Feudal Lord's residence to fulfill your duties as a Guardian Ninja! There shall be no delay!"
After a long silence, Asuma lowered his head and knelt on one knee:
"…Understood."
He stood up and pushed the door open, leaving without looking back.
In his heart, he recited:
Kurenai, you must wait for me.
When I return… I will personally tell you my feelings.
The corridor lights stretched his shadow long.
The Hokage's office returned to silence.
Seated at the Hokage's position, Hiruzen looked in the direction his son had left, took a deep drag from his pipe, and slowly exhaled.
"Asuma, one day, when you sit in this chair as well, you will understand…"
His gaze turned toward the statue of the Second Hokage, filled with indescribable complexity.
"The position of Hokage must be entrusted to one who has truly inherited the Will of Fire, and… is willing to burn themselves for the Hidden Leaf.
"Asuma, I will pave every path for you… because you cannot lose!"
...
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