The body hit the water with a dull splash, crimson blooming beneath the surface as the blood fanned outward like dark ink in clear water.
"Clean up all the bodies," Uchiha Gen ordered, his hands clasped calmly behind his back. His expression was as still as the reflection on the water, eyes faintly glinting with detachment.
"Yes, sir!"
The three subordinates moved immediately—dragging the other corpses together and disposing of them efficiently under Gen's watch. Moments later, nothing remained but a faint stain on the water's surface, which the current soon carried away.
Once the aftermath was handled, Uchiha Gen dispelled the barrier, dismissed his men, and quietly made his way back to Konoha.
Danzo's death would not be discovered immediately. It would take time for the absence to be noticed, time for suspicion to build and the truth to ferment before Konoha reacted. Until then, Gen intended to take a brief reprieve—a small, private celebration.
And this time, his attention turned to Mitarashi Anko.
Lately, she had been a whirlwind of energy within the Police Force—sharp, fierce, and bright as ever. To Gen, she had become the next natural "target."
Kurenai had already been "injected." Yugao as well. It only made sense that Anko, as their close friend, should join them. The three of them were like sisters...so it was only proper they be treated equally.
Once all three were fully bound to him, he planned to have them move into his residence together. A perfect arrangement—no conflicts, no distance.
As for a formal wedding? Not yet. Gen felt the timing wasn't right.
Children could wait too. It wasn't about resources; he simply didn't want to give his enemies an easy weakness to exploit. There would be time for that later, after the board was fully under his control.
Now, the only question was: how to approach Anko in a way that she wouldn't resist… or better yet, would ask for it herself?
After some thought, Gen concluded that the key lay in her hobbies. Women were creatures of emotion—please their heart, and their body would follow naturally.
Anko's pleasures were simple: sweets and tea.
So the next day, after a day of quiet preparation, Gen didn't go straight home after work. Instead, he arrived at Anko's door just around dinner time, his arms full of gifts.
When he rang the bell, the door opened quickly. Anko stood there in a light yellow casual outfit, her hair loosely tied, a lollipop between her lips.
"Oh… senpai? What brings you here?" Her eyes brightened as she spotted the bags. "Wait, are those for me?"
Though the two had already confirmed their relationship in private, they still habitually addressed each other as senior and junior.
Gen smiled lightly. "That's right. All for you."
He lifted the bags slightly. "What I have in my left hand are desserts some friends and subordinates gave me. I don't really care for sweets, so I thought I'd bring them to you."
"And this," he raised the other bag, "is tea. I know you enjoy tasting different blends, so I brought some of the finest varieties."
Indeed, Anko's two great loves were tea and sweets and Gen had targeted both with surgical precision.
"Senior Brother, you're the best!" she said, utterly delighted. In her excitement, she didn't even notice the clear inconsistency in his words—since when did subordinates gift desserts to their commanding officer?
In truth, Gen had purchased everything on the way. But appearances mattered, and Anko's joy made the effort worthwhile.
"Come in, come in!" she said cheerfully, bending to help carry the bags inside. Her loose top gaped slightly with the movement, and Gen's eyes flickered briefly before returning to calm.
Once they were both inside, Anko shut the door, and Gen took a quick look around.
Contrary to her wild, carefree exterior, her home was surprisingly neat—clean floors, well-arranged shelves, everything in its place.
"You were cooking?" he asked, catching a faint aroma from the kitchen.
"Uh—yeah," she said, a little flustered. "Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet."
"Then… are you heading home after this?"
"No," he replied casually. "I'll eat here. I want to see if your cooking's improved." His tone softened with mock warning. "And remember—not everything needs sugar."
Having known her for so long, Gen was well aware of Anko's notorious sweet tooth. She had a tendency to sneak sugar into nearly every dish—something Gen could never quite understand.
"Got it, got it," she said with a playful grin.
"Good. Then you start cooking, and I'll step out to grab some side dishes and drinks. We'll have a proper meal tonight."
Anko smiled. "Sounds great."
Half an hour later, the two sat across from each other at the small dining table, the warm yellow light filling the room with a soft glow.
The table was covered with simple home-cooked food—nothing extravagant, but colorful, fragrant, and inviting. Two bottles of red wine stood between them.
They ate, drank, and talked.
"senpai, what's Master up to these days?" she asked curiously.
"He's conducting some dangerous experiments," Gen replied calmly.
"Dangerous? What kind of experiments?"
"It's better you don't know," he said. "Knowing too much won't help you. Just remember—don't ask, don't dig. When the results come, you'll get your share."
Anko hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Okay, I understand."
"I heard you're preparing for the Special Jōnin assessment?"
"Yeah," she said, smiling. "All three of us are. We're confident but still a bit away from Jōnin level."
"Don't rush," Gen advised. "Take your time."
She nodded.
"By the way," he said after a pause, "how about you, Kurenai, and Yugao move in with me soon?"
Anko blinked. "Move in?"
"Yes. You've all been to my place plenty of times. Mikoto likes you three, and the space is more than enough. It'd be… convenient."
Anko thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "Alright."
"Good. Tell Kurenai and Yugao tomorrow to start packing."
"Mm."
As they continued chatting, the food dwindled, the wine bottles emptied, and a warm flush spread across Anko's cheeks. Her eyes grew slightly hazy, but her mind stayed sharp.
After dinner, dessert, and a round of washing dishes together, they sat again to taste the teas Gen had brought. Anko approached the task with reverence, savoring each cup with gleeful concentration.
Watching her enjoy herself so purely brought a rare softness to Gen's eyes. Tea, like power, only revealed its worth in the hands of someone who truly understood it.
By the time the clock neared ten, the cozy quiet of the evening was thick with unspoken understanding.
Anko noticed that Gen made no move to leave. Her heartbeat quickened; her instincts told her where this was going. At first she felt a shy nervousness but as the silence stretched, and her senpai remained composed and patient, her courage finally caught up.
She stretched out lazily on the sofa, her voice dipping low.
"Senpai… I've had too much wine and tea," she murmured, feigning weariness. "I don't feel like moving. Can you carry me to the bathroom?"
Her half-lidded eyes gleamed with mischief, her tone a delicate mixture of tease and invitation.
Gen looked at her for a moment, a flicker of amusement crossing his face before it softened into a smile. "Alright," he said simply.
Anko was different from the others—less coy, more straightforward once she made up her mind.
He rose, stepped close, and gently lifted her into his arms.
The door closed softly behind them.
An hour and a half later, they returned to the living room, pausing for water before disappearing once more into the bedroom.
Outside, the moonlight spilled through the window, silvering the tea cups still on the table. Inside, the room was quiet—save for the faint, rhythmic whisper of breath and heartbeat in the dark.