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**Chapter 24: A "Date" with Momoki**
Konoha's mornings felt refreshing, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees into the lungs. White steam from the dango shop's steamer blended into the cool air, while dewdrops clung precariously to the eaves.
Inside the shop, Senju Momoki eyed the boy who'd summoned her with a cold gaze. She touched her still-reddened neck, a lingering fear from their recent encounter.
Rubik met her wary look and awkwardly tugged at his lips. "Hey, as the saying goes, no fight, no friendship! Those two buddies of mine bicker and spar daily—everyone thinks they're at odds, but their bond only grows. See? A little sparring builds rapport, right?"
Momoki snorted at his forced explanation, picking up a skewer of dango and popping it into her mouth.
Rubik's gaze flicked to her flushed lips and nimble tongue, stirring memories of their recent fingertip contact. *Tch, I was too busy showing off back then. What a missed opportunity,* he thought.
Sensing his probing stare, a flicker of struggle passed through her icy eyes. After swallowing, she paused, then spoke in a cool tone: "Why did you call me here? Didn't you forbid me from following you?"
"I just said no stalking," Rubik grinned slyly. "Never said anything about a date. Who'd turn down company from a beauty like you?"
He certainly wouldn't admit it was to cozy up after the Third's favors.
Momoki gave him a deep look, fell silent, then dropped a bombshell: "If you're free now, let's get a room. Don't worry—I'll pay, and no need for protection."
She reached to drag the stunned Rubik away.
He jolted at her words but quickly realized—it was Danzo's orders.
With a flick of his wrist, he pulled her into his arms instead. Her body stiffened instantly, her instincts rebelling against the sudden intimacy. Panic and conflict flashed in her eyes, but thoughts of Danzo's mission snuffed them out.
She didn't feign seduction like before. Instead, she met his gaze with the dead, numb stare of mission mode. Forcing her rigid body to relax, she slumped against him powerlessly and whispered, "If you want to do it here... that's fine too. Just be quick—no one can see..."
Before she finished, her face flushed crimson—she felt something hard pressing against her thigh. She knew exactly what it was.
Rubik flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, cursing Tobirama's lack of "steam" under his breath. He forced a dry laugh: "Ahem... normal reaction, totally normal, haha..."
"No problem..." Momoki's voice was barely audible. "I'm... here for this." She shifted slightly, as if adjusting for convenience.
But Rubik gripped her thigh, halting her. Anger and pity flashed in his eyes, impossible to suppress.
"Did I upset you again? Sorry, if I've done something wrong—"
"You're damn right you did!" Rubik cut her off, his voice low. "You clearly hate this, hate even being near a 'pervy guy' like me, yet you're forcing yourself against your will—for Danzo's damned mission?"
Momoki lowered her head.
"I'm a ninja. Ninjas are tools; completing missions is their top priority. If you're pitying me, spare it. No need for guilt—just use me as a release….and be done with it!" Momoki almost shouted the last line , nearly garnering attention from passerbys
Rubik released her. Momoki instinctively pulled away but forced herself to stay, preparing to sit back.
But Rubik had no interest in continuing the farce.
A crisp snap echoed through the air.
"Release."
Momoki's awareness snapped back. She stared at her half-eaten dango, then at Rubik's now-normal black eyes, understanding everything.
"Genjutsu...?"
She laughed—a bitter, angry laugh—not sure if at Rubik's manipulation or her own fury over it.
Staring into his eyes, she said after a pause, "You're a real bastard."
Rubik sipped his matcha leisurely, chuckling. "Don't say that. We're not on the same side, are we? Against a schemer like you, this was merciful."
"Regrettably, my mission doesn't include killing you," Momoki replied, her tone hardening.
"Tools only follow orders. If you're scared I'll draw a blade mid-act... rest easy. Outside the mission, I won't act."
"Still playing the tool card? No emotions?" Rubik scoffed. "Then what was that instinctive struggle in my arms? Wake up, kid! Don't forget I'm Jiraiya's disciple—you can't fake worldly experience with me."
Through the genjutsu, he'd seen it all: she was clearly inexperienced, probably never even kissed. Her "knowledge" was half-baked guesswork; he'd nearly laughed watching her fumble positions.
A faint blush crept over Momoki's cool, beautiful face—pure unadulterated anger.
Knowing she couldn't continue the mission like this without losing control, she fished a card from her pouch and tossed it to Rubik. She wolfed down the rest of her dango and mumbled, "That's my address... come whenever you're ready."
With that, she turned and left without looking back.
Rubik picked up the card, catching a faint lingering fragrance. He glanced at the address.
"Whoa! As expected of old Konoha's prime Senju branch—right in the core district mansion area. Tsk, the evils of nepotism."
Rubik stood too. Time to report to the Third Hoe-Kage.
...
He headed straight for the Hokage Tower. Sunlight filtered through Konoha's dense canopy, dappling his path. Pushing open the office door, scent of familiar tobacco and stacked files hit him.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was buried in scrolls, pipe smoldering beside him.
Rubik waved casually. "Long time no see, Gramps! Mission update—here to report."
Hiruzen smiled, gesturing for him to sit and take his time.
Rubik straightened up. "From today's contact, I saw some things. That girl's a textbook Root ninja. 'Ninjas are tools; missions are will'—she recited it like doctrine, utterly numb."
"She treats it as gospel. Even when I called out her inner conflict, she armored herself with it, no cracks."
Hiruzen puffed silently, his eyes deepening through the smoke. "Root's training does that—erase the self, leave only loyalty. Rubik, do you think the child can still be saved?"
Rubik pondered, then replied, "There's hope. She's numb now, but traces of struggle remain. In my genjutsu, when I reacted unexpectedly, she instinctively showed panic and resistance. Danzo's 'absolute toolification' brainwashing hasn't fully crushed her human instincts.
"Deep down, bits of the real 'Senju Momoki' linger unextinguished—like shame, natural aversion to intimacy. She's just suppressing it all with that 'tool doctrine.'"
Hiruzen's eyes lit up slightly; his pipe-holding fingers tapped the desk. "Good! As long as there's hope... Wait," he said, puzzled. "Genjutsu? Wasn't today your 'date'?"
"Ahem," Rubik coughed awkwardly, pivoting smoothly. "Details aside—the priority is minimizing or cutting her direct orders from Danzo short-term. I'll guide her into Konoha's normal life, and awaken her emotions."
Hiruzen exhaled a long plume of smoke, his face mixing relief and heavy duty. He set down his pipe, gazing intently at Rubik. "Rubik, on behalf of Konoha and the Senju clan, thank you. This was my failure as Hokage—yet I'm burdening you with it." His voice carried a deep apology.
Before Rubik could react, the elder who'd toiled a lifetime for Konoha bowed deeply in earnest gratitude...
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