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That afternoon, the news of Shin's decision to go to Konoha caused a great uproar within the daimyo manor.
Several senior officials came to advise him at the first moment, their words earnest.
Their meaning was only one—Kumogakure assassins were in the dark, and the daimyo should not risk himself.
To this, Shin blocked everyone's mouths with just one sentence.
"Konoha has a hundred elite shinobi, the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, plus my Shadow Guard..."
"If we are still assassinated by a mere few people, then the shinobi of the Land of Fire might as well commit collective suicide."
These words silenced all voices of persuasion.
The ministers were speechless and could only bow and retreat in the face of their lord's absolute will.
Afterward, Shin sent someone to order the Guardian Shinobi Twelve to prepare immediately and travel with him tomorrow.
After arranging all the important matters properly, he returned to his study to continue dealing with today's government affairs.
After finishing the morning's affairs, Shin rarely enjoyed a moment of leisure.
The afternoon sun in late autumn made people feel warm and comfortable.
He leaned back on a lounge chair on the corridor, with a pot of fresh tea on the stone table in front of him, mist curling up and the fragrance of tea overflowing.
At this moment, a guard came to report. "My lord, Kurenai Yuhi requests an audience."
Shin then looked towards the slightly restrained figure outside the courtyard.
Kurenai Yuhi was wearing an elegant light red kimono at this time, her long hair draped softly behind her shoulders, with less of a shinobi's confidence and more of a maiden's tenderness.
She stood outside the courtyard gate, seeming a little at a loss, her small hands nervously clasped together.
Shin looked at her, and a playful feeling couldn't help but rise in his heart.
He knew very well that the girl in front of him had stained her hands with blood and calmly faced life and death on the cruel battlefield.
However, within this courtyard, having taken off the shinobi's coat, when facing himself, her nominal husband, the immaturity and innocence belonging to a sixteen-year-old girl could no longer be concealed.
What a wonderful contrast.
"Let her come over."
"Yes, my lord."
Having received permission, Kurenai Yuhi then took a step, walking with small steps, cautiously approaching Shin.
"Anything the matter?"
Shin asked lazily.
"I..." Kurenai Yuhi stammered, her red eyes full of nervousness. "My lord... I heard that you are going to Konoha tomorrow?"
"The news travels quite fast."
Having received a definite answer, Kurenai Yuhi took a small step forward, mustered her courage, and said in a very soft but firm voice. "My lord, I... I want to go with you too."
"Oh? Why?" Shin looked at her with interest.
The girl's eyes were filled with hope, and her hands were tightly clasped, revealing the restlessness in her heart.
Seeing that she didn't speak, he smiled, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"What's wrong, homesick?"
The simple three words, however, spoke to the girl's heart.
Her face flushed red all of a sudden.
Her bright red pupils frantically avoided Shin's gaze, and her lips moved, but no sound came out.
That shy and embarrassed look was extremely adorable.
"Mm..."
After a while, she made a sound as thin as a mosquito's hum.
Her head was also lowered even further, almost buried in her chest.
Looking at her like this, Shin suddenly remembered.
The Kurenai Yuhi in front of him, although already a shinobi who could stand on her own, a genius in the field of genjutsu.
But in the end, she was only sixteen years old.
At this age, many ordinary girls were still acting spoiled in their parents' arms, enjoying a carefree youth.
But she was far away from her hometown, having come to this deep palace to become one of his consorts.
Although he had never mistreated her.
But how could material things replace the longing for home.
Thinking of this, Shin's heart stirred slightly, and his voice became much gentler. "It's only natural to be homesick."
Shin sat up from the lounge chair.
Sensing his movement, the girl's body tensed up even more.
Shin didn't tease her anymore and said directly. "Go and prepare. Tomorrow morning, together with Kasumi, take my carriage."
The expected refusal did not appear.
Kurenai Yuhi suddenly raised her head, her beautiful red eyes filled with surprise.
"My... my lord, you agreed?" There was a hint of trembling in her voice.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Looking at her surprised and happy appearance, Shin's mood also improved inexplicably.
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!"
Overwhelmed with joy, the girl abandoned her restraint and shyness, and she bowed repeatedly, her face blooming with a bright smile, very pure.
"Alright," Shin raised his hand and gently stopped her. "It's just a small matter."
His fingertip inadvertently touched the girl's skin.
Kurenai Yuhi's body stiffened, her smile froze on her face, and a heat instantly spread throughout her body from the point of contact.
Her face turned red instantly!
"I... I'll take my leave now!" She said in a panic, and then fled as if escaping, quickly leaving the courtyard, even forgetting the court etiquette.
Looking at her slightly embarrassed back, the smile on Shin's lips deepened.
What a simple little girl.
He leaned back on the lounge chair again, picked up the lukewarm tea, and drank it all in one gulp.
The afterglow of the setting sun filled the courtyard, stretching his shadow very long.
Late at night, in the daimyo manor study, Shin was about to leave after dealing with everything.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows of the study without warning.
The figure had not yet fully formed.
Clang! Clang!
Several almost imperceptible sounds of metal rubbing sounded.
In an instant, at least several ice-cold killing intents burst out from all around the room, locking onto the uninvited guest!
The light seemed to dim a bit, and the cold gleam of blades was faintly visible under the candlelight, aiming at every vital point of Orochimaru!
Orochimaru's snake pupils shrank sharply, and he could sense that as long as he made another move, he would be greeted with a thunderous and crushing strike!
"Withdraw."
Shin didn't turn his head, just raised his hand and said two words indifferently.
As soon as he finished speaking, the killing intent receded and disappeared without a trace.
The room returned to dead silence, as if nothing had happened.
Only then did Shin turn his chair and look at Orochimaru, who had revealed himself, without speaking.
"Daimyo-sama."
Orochimaru forced a smile, his pupils full of horror.
He had indeed felt death just now.
"The vaccine is complete." Orochimaru handed over a research report, his smile a little stiff. "Your requirements, science can always give a perfect answer, heh heh heh..."
"The efficiency is not bad." Shin took the report, casually flipped through two pages, and threw it on the table.
"First, conduct small-scale vaccinations in the few towns with the lightest disasters in the south. I want to see perfect results before promoting it nationwide."
"Of course." Orochimaru licked his lips with his long tongue, seemingly wanting to use this action to cover up his mistake just now. "Such a large clinical data set, just thinking about it excites me. I will personally keep an eye on it."
After finishing the business, Orochimaru didn't seem to want to leave.
He continued. "Daimyo-sama, I heard... you are going to Konoha tomorrow to observe the chunin exams?"
Shin raised an eyebrow. "What? You want to go too?"
"Heh heh heh..." Orochimaru laughed, his posture even lower. "I have a request."
"I still have some special experimental equipment and data in Konoha... I wonder... if I could be allowed to accompany you, and take back those old things that belong to me?"
So that's what he was waiting for.
Shin looked at Orochimaru's face, which was full of desire and calculation, and suddenly smiled.
"You may."
"I will have Aono accompany you on a trip."
Aono?
Hearing this name, Orochimaru's smile stiffened, and a strong sense of dread flashed in his snake pupils.
These days, he had privately exchanged blows with Aono several times.
Although he hadn't used his full strength, the other party was indeed a tricky person.
"Whatever you want, whatever you want to take, you can let him help you." Shin's tone was very calm. "With him around, no one in Konoha should dare to not cooperate."
"Heh heh heh... Daimyo-sama is indeed generous. Then I won't be polite."
Orochimaru said thank you, but cursed secretly in his heart.
This wasn't sending someone to follow him. This was clearly sending someone to keep an eye on him.
"Go." Shin waved his hand, signaling that he could leave.
This time, Orochimaru didn't dare to use the Body Flicker Technique, and bowed respectfully, then turned and prepared to leave through the door.
At this moment, Shin's voice sounded again. "Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's body froze suddenly.
"Just now, my guard already reminded you." Shin's voice was very soft, without warmth. "This study has a door."
"As my chief researcher, I hope you can learn to be more polite next time you come to see me."
"Otherwise..."
"I will personally pull out your tongue."