💎 WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎
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⏰ Resets Monday!
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Dinner was a nerve-wracking affair.
Heshu and Kakashi chewed tasteless food, shifting uncomfortably in their seats, feeling every second drag.
"Is it good?"
Kushina watched them with intense, eager eyes.
Heshu blinked, forcing a smile. "It's… it's truly delicious!"
Kushina nodded, satisfied, then turned her gaze to Kakashi.
Kakashi's dead-fish stare landed on Minato for a brief, silent plea before he spoke in a monotone. "Ah. The most delicious food in the world."
Minato coughed lightly, lowering his head, pretending not to see Kakashi's subtly resentful look.
"Wonderful!"
Kushina clapped her hands softly, beaming with pure joy. "Heshu! You and Kakashi should come visit often!"
[Ding! Target 'Kushina Uzumaki' Affection +5! Current: 80!]
Kushina's rising affection was the only thing that could heal Heshu's battered soul right now.
Under the glare of her hopeful eyes, Heshu forced a nod. "I'll… come when I have time."
Kakashi shot him a look—part shock, part admiration.
[Ding! Target 'Kakashi Hatake' Affection +2! Current: 75!]
(;Д;)!
So, in Kakashi's mind, Kushina's home was scarier than a battlefield.
Minato seized the moment to clear the table and escape to the kitchen, dodging the faint aura of resentment radiating from his two guests.
Kushina enthusiastically saw them to the door. Standing at the threshold, she beamed and pinched Heshu's cheek. "Come back soon! You must come back! We're practically family now, anyway!"
"!"
"!"
Heshu's face went blank with shock. Kakashi's dead-fish eyes widened.
What did Kushina just say?
For a fleeting second, Heshu wondered if he'd misheard.
Kushina gave them a knowing, almost conspiratorial smile, winking at both Heshu and Kakashi.
Their expressions turned from shock to outright horror.
Why was she looking at them like that?
"Kakashi, you should walk Heshu home! It's dangerous for a girl to be out alone so late!"
"…"
Kakashi pressed his lips together. Clearly, Kushina hadn't seen Heshu slaughtering enemies on the battlefield. If anyone ran into danger tonight, it certainly wouldn't be Heshu.
"Kakashi, this isn't about a girl's strength!" Kushina chided, as if imparting a great secret. "It's about a man's manners! If you act like that, you'll never get a girlfriend!"
With a final wink at Heshu, she closed the door.
It was the first time in his life Heshu had felt the word "cringe" emanating from a woman.
He and Kakashi stared at the closed door for one solid second. Then, without a word, they turned and walked in opposite directions.
"Aren't you going to seize this chance to work on Kakashi?"
Based on the system's understanding of its host, he shouldn't let such a prime opportunity slip.
Heshu, mid-leap between rooftops, stumbled, nearly face-planting. "You think trying to flirt now would make Kakashi's affection go up?"
He'd be lucky if it didn't plummet to zero.
Today's Kushina Assault had been too potent. Both he and Kakashi needed time to recover their HP.
Heshu resumed his rooftop run. As for why he was running across rooftops when he could just teleport…
That was a profound question.
"Host, you just think it's fun, don't you?"
"Are you the only smart person in the whole world?"
The next day.
Heshu, clocking in for his regular Root shift, was pulled aside by Danzō.
Danzō was waiting for him alone, leaning on his cane beneath a large tree in the vast forest behind Konoha. He stood in thought—or, to be less generous, he was just standing there trying to look profound.
"Lord Danzō."
Heshu stopped behind him.
From this angle, a clean strike through the back would be so easy. But was he the type for sneak attacks? No! Was he a cruel, indiscriminate killer? Also no!
So, he simply waited for Danzō to finish his brooding performance.
"What is a Hokage?"
Danzō stood in the dappled shadow of the leaves. He stretched a hand out, exposing it to a shaft of sunlight.
Of course. Danzō's brooding wasn't for nothing. He'd opened with a deep, philosophical question.
What is a Hokage?
Better to let the self-proclaimed "Fifth-and-a-Half Hokage," Danzō himself, answer that.
Heshu deftly volleyed the question back. "I dare not show off my meager understanding in front of you, Lord Danzō."
Danzō paused. He didn't answer either.
"Between the current candidates for the Fourth Hokage… who do you believe possesses the true qualities of a Kage?"
The candidates were only Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze. Minato's popularity, both among villagers and shinobi, far outstripped Orochimaru's.
But Danzō clearly backed Orochimaru. They were already on the same ship.
Heshu replied with utmost sincerity. "Both Minato-senpai and Lord Orochimaru are shinobi worthy of great respect."
Danzō's face darkened.
Tsukimi Heshu's answers were always like this! Talking in circles, never giving him an opening to dig a trap!
Danzō exhaled a frustrated breath, abandoning subtlety. "I heard you and Kakashi Hatake had dinner at Minato Namikaze's home last night. You seem quite close with him."
Tch. Heshu smirked behind Danzō's back. Spying on Minato's own home? Danzō really had too much time on his hands.
"Minato-senpai took good care of me on the battlefield. Kushina-senpai is also very kind. I hold them both in the highest esteem!" Heshu stated, the picture of earnestness.
"…"
Danzō's grip tightened on his cane. He felt his blood pressure rising.
Every answer was 'respect,' 'admire'! Couldn't the boy say anything concrete?
"Regarding the Hokage candidacy… what is your opinion of Minato Namikaze?" Danzō probed.
He supported Orochimaru, so naturally, all of Root must support Orochimaru. Tsukimi Heshu held significant sway with Hiruzen Sarutobi. Danzō couldn't afford to leave him unguided.
"The Fourth Hokage?" Heshu's face showed genuine shock. "Lord Danzō, discussing Senpai or the position of Hokage so casually is not something I should do! It shows disrespect to both Senpai and Lord Orochimaru… and to the Hokage himself!"
He stared fixedly at the back of Danzō's head, his expression stubbornly principled.
Danzō didn't need to turn around to feel the heat of that gaze. His chest heaved. The cane in his hand creaked.
Why did such a rigid, single-minded person exist? Danzō had once appreciated Heshu's pure, fanatical love for the Hokage and the village. Now, for the first time, he wished the boy was a little less loyal. How was he supposed to brainwash someone like this?
"In any case," Danzō finally growled, turning to face him. "Root's choice is Orochimaru. He embodies our will. Do you understand?"
Heshu nodded with sudden enlightenment, his eyes shining with respect. "I see! So, Lord Danzō has already conducted a thorough evaluation and finds Lord Orochimaru more trustworthy!"
Danzō frowned. The words were technically correct, but they grated on his ears.
"I understand!" Heshu affirmed with a heavy nod.
Danzō brushed aside his unease.
[Ding! Target 'Danzō Shimura' Affection +2! Current: 45!]
Heshu watched Danzō's retreating back.
He'd said he understood. He never said he agreed.
Heshu chuckled silently. Orochimaru was likely deep into human experimentation by now. And Danzō knew all about it—his lack of denial earlier was proof enough.
In a flash, Heshu vanished.
The Hokage's Office.
Heshu materialized in front of the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen's expression didn't flicker. He glanced at Nara Shikaku, who was assisting with paperwork. Shikaku understood immediately, stood, and left the office. His eyes swept over Heshu once, subtly, as he went.
"Lord Hokage, please forgive my abrupt appearance. It was rude," Heshu said, a hint of shame on his face.
Hiruzen's eyes softened. Such a polite, well-mannered boy.
"It is permitted. There is no rudeness," Hiruzen said warmly. Sending Heshu to infiltrate Root was a covert mission. The fewer who knew, the better. For now, only the two of them were aware.
Heshu's teleportation was the surest way to move unseen. Hiruzen didn't mind it at all. In fact, Heshu's show of contrition raised his opinion of the boy another notch.
"Do you have news?" Hiruzen asked.
Heshu looked at him, a trace of helplessness in his expression. "Lord Danzō spoke to me about the election for the Fourth Hokage."
Hiruzen's hand stilled. "Go on."
"Lord Danzō said… compared to Minato-senpai, he favors Lord Orochimaru. He said Orochimaru has passed his… evaluation. That he is the only suitable candidate."
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe. The office was silent for a full minute.
"And what," Hiruzen finally asked, his voice low, "is your opinion on this?"
He lifted his gaze. The weight of authority settled in the room.
Heshu smiled inwardly. He'd expected this. In their paranoia, Hiruzen and Danzō were two sides of the same coin.
"Lord Orochimaru is your direct disciple. His strength and leadership are truly admirable."
"Minato-senpai is your student's student. He is not only incredibly powerful but also deeply responsible. He is a reliable senior I look up to!"
Heshu carefully balanced both sides, all while emphasizing the Third's central role.
Hiruzen saw Heshu hesitate, as if holding something back. His eyes narrowed slightly. "If there is more, say it."
Heshu paused, then asked with genuine confusion, "Lord Hokage… why choose a new Hokage so soon? You led us through the war. Right now, you are the one who makes us feel safest."
[Ding! Target 'Hiruzen Sarutobi' Affection +3! Current: 92!]
The naive, frank question made the previously suspicious Hiruzen flush with slight shame.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Hiruzen laughed heartily. What had he been thinking? He knew Heshu's character better than anyone. Spending too much time dealing with Danzō had made him see plots everywhere!
A wave of guilt washed over him. He looked at the boy's eyes, shining with pure reverence, and sighed inwardly.
"The village must always be passed to the younger generation. Even I would like to enjoy a leisurely retirement!" Hiruzen said with a chuckle, though his eyes held a complex mix of emotions.
Heshu immediately looked apologetic. "Lord Hokage, I was being selfish. You've contributed so much to Konoha. You truly deserve a rest after all these years of hard work."
[Ding! Target 'Hiruzen Sarutobi' Affection +3! Current: 95!]
Hiruzen set his pipe down. He stood and walked over, placing a hand on Heshu's shoulder, giving it a firm pat.
"You are a good child. Knowing Konoha has new, vibrant leaves like you… that is what makes this old Hokage most proud."
Sunlight streamed through the window, catching in Hiruzen's eyes. For a moment, Heshu thought he saw the glimmer of tears there, and the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth folding the light.
Heshu felt a genuine tug at his heartstrings. "Lord Hokage…"
His eyes wavered.
Half an hour later, Heshu walked down the street, his world view shaken.
"Host… are you okay?" The System asked cautiously after a moment. Its host's emotional state seemed… unstable.
"Did you see that?" Heshu asked, voice full of awe.
"See… what?" The System replied warily, afraid of triggering something.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi… is terrifying!"
Heshu's face was pale with shock.
He—Tsukimi Heshu!
Host of the Alluring Conquest System!
Shadow Oscar Winner Extraordinaire!
Had… had just been out-acted.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, is terrifying!"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, is terrifying!"
Repeating the mantra, Heshu trudged toward home. He needed a full day to recover from that brief exchange.
"Host, don't you have Root assignments?" the System prompted.
Root missions covered everything—from assassination to surveillance. Every Root ninja's daily schedule was packed. Heshu was no exception.
"I'm a captain now. You think I still do grunt surveillance? I delegate that to my team!"
If a captain still ran boring stakeouts, what was the point of having underlings? What was the point of promotion? Where was the motivation for the lower ranks?
Pressure breeds progress!
—By Tsukimi Heshu.
"…"
The System fell silent.
Heshu made it home, entered his room, and sought solace by tormenting Little Green. Being out-acted for the first time was a devastating blow to his professional pride.
"Heshu!"
"Aren't you coming out?"
Takenouchi's voice came from outside, puzzled.
"No."
Heshu lay on his bed, next to a cat with vacant eyes.
"Oh. I just wanted to tell you. Your teacher, Hyuga Hizashi's child, is having a full-moon celebration. Do you want to go?"
BAM!
Heshu exploded from his room.
"Uncle, what did you say?"
"Uh…" Takenouchi jumped. "Your teacher Hizashi sent an invitation. His child is one month old. Do you want to go?"
Since when did Hizashi-sensei have a kid?
Wait.
Hizashi's kid?
Wasn't that… Neji Hyuga? One of the Konoha 12?
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