Chapter 29: Detective "Nara Yoshino"
"Phew!"
After passing the test and watching the Root ninja leave, she let out a few deep breaths and thought to herself,
I should have answered well today. Hopefully it won't cause Ryoko any trouble.
Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a weight hanging around her neck.
Her gaze slowly lowered to Asuka, who was clinging to her chest with both arms wrapped around her neck.
As an excellent medical ninja, the number of children she had interacted with was comparable to the Third Hokage, who gave speeches at the Ninja Academy every year. The child Asuka had transformed into was practically flawless.
He looked even more like her grandnephew than her real grandnephew.
Because she had been so tense while answering the questionnaire, she had forgotten about his disguise. When she saw her "grandnephew" clinging to her, she had even rubbed against him affectionately.
Only after remembering that this child was actually Asuka in disguise—and that he had been pushing her nose away with obvious resistance—did several veins bulge on "Ryoko's" forehead.
Moreover, recalling how unusually calm he had remained throughout the questioning, she suddenly connected it with his identity as a medical ninja, and the lingering haze in her mind instantly cleared.
Ninety percent of everything that had happened to Ryoko recently...
Had probably been this guy's doing.
She took a deep breath, her tone instantly turning cold.
"Aren't you getting down?"
Slap!
Asuka landed steadily on the floor, dispelled his Transformation Technique, stretched lazily, sensed the awkward atmosphere, and casually changed the subject.
"So, what's your plan for tonight?"
Hearing this, she gave him a half-smile, stood up, and walked back toward the bedroom.
As she walked, she said,
"I'll use the Yamanaka Clan's basic secret technique, the Mind Body Switch Technique, to control Ryoko. Once 'that man' arrives, I'll use the Shadow Paralysis Technique to restrain him. Then the Akimichi Clan will beat him until he loses the ability to resist, after which the Yamanaka Clan will enter his mind and even use spirit-damaging interrogation techniques to extract information."
"If he somehow escapes our restraints, I've also arranged for tracking ninja."
"However..."
"None of that is necessary anymore."
"Uchiha Asuka, we need to have a talk later."
"Is it important?"
"Whether it's important or not, if you dare run away today, Ryoko will show up at your house tomorrow, and the wedding banquet will be held at the Uchiha Clan compound the day after."
Hearing that she intended to send the widow directly to his house, Asuka's retreating footsteps immediately stopped.
Looking at "Ryoko's" departing back, he muttered,
Have I been exposed?
...
After seeing off the friends who had come to help, lifting the alert throughout the Nara Clan compound, and returning to the room, she found Asuka leaning against the sofa with a thoughtful expression.
"Uchiha Asuka."
"Do I look like an idiot?"
"How long were you planning to fool me?"
Following the voice, Asuka looked toward Nara Yoshino, whose expression had become serious.
Is Shikamaru's mother this smart too?
I haven't even confessed anything, and I've already been exposed?
"Lady Yoshino, were you the one controlling Ryoko just now?"
"Mm."
Yoshino nodded.
Seeing the confusion on Asuka's face, she explained,
"The Ino–Shika–Chō Alliance was formed back during the Warring States Period."
"Our three clans have always been as close as one family."
"That's something your Uchiha Clan could never compare to."
"After fifteen generations of close cooperation, the leaders of our three clans have all mastered some of each other's basic secret techniques."
"After all, understanding one another thoroughly allows for much smoother cooperation."
"So..."
"Are you finally going to reveal your true intentions?"
"For example..."
"Your purpose for approaching the Nara Clan."
Hearing this, Asuka knew he had been completely exposed.
He stood up, pointed toward the sofa to invite Yoshino to sit down, then quietly moved to a position that would make escaping easier before speaking.
"Actually..."
"I'm here to arrange a marriage for our Clan Head."
"I've met Uchiha Fugaku."
"He's not the type to cheat on his wife."
"Don't try to fool me with an excuse like that."
"What if the Clan Head gets divorced?"
Nara Yoshino looked as though she had just heard a joke.
Suppressing a laugh, she repeated,
"He'll get divorced... divorced..."
Looking at Asuka's confident expression, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed through her mind.
She stared at him as though looking at some rare animal.
"So..."
"You're the scoundrel Mikoto has been cursing all this time."
"Your Uchiha Clan really is the most tolerant clan I've ever seen."
"The ideas your clansmen come up with are truly... diverse."
"Lady Yoshino."
"Since you already know the reason, I'll head home and get some sleep."
"Don't be in such a hurry."
Yoshino leaned against the sofa, pointed toward the unconscious Ryoko in the bedroom, and continued,
"While Ryoko is still unconscious..."
"Tell me your other motives."
"Other motives?"
Asuka stopped.
Secretly observing Shikamaru's mother, he saw her resting her chin on one hand while looking at him with curiosity.
His gaze slowly lowered to her rounded belly.
Then he said,
"Does wanting to make friends count?"
"Make friends?"
Following Asuka's gaze, Yoshino looked down at herself.
She remained silent for a long while before asking uncertainly,
"Are you lusting after my body?"
"No."
"But don't men usually approach women because they have that kind of intention?"
Seeing that she had misunderstood completely, Asuka waved his hand.
"Actually..."
"I want to make friends with your son."
"Hmph."
Yoshino snorted.
She simply couldn't believe someone wanted to befriend her son before he had even been born.
Is this foreknowledge?
Does he know my son will become someone important in the future, so he's investing in advance?
But isn't this a little too early?
The child hasn't even been born yet.
Thinking of this, Yoshino picked up a cushion from the sofa and said dismissively,
"Shikamaru can't speak yet."
"But he just kicked me."
"As his mother, I understand what he's trying to say."
"He agreed."
"Now..."
"Tell me your real motives."
Watching Nara Yoshino say such ridiculous things with complete seriousness, Asuka spread his hands and replied earnestly,
"There really aren't any."
"No more?"
"Truly no more."
He really had only two objectives.
One was to bring a little warmth into Danzo's subordinates' lives.
The other was to befriend Shikamaru while he was still learning to read by bribing him with lollipops.
"Then listen to me."
At that moment, Yoshino glanced toward Ryoko, who remained unconscious, before turning back to Asuka.
Her expression instantly became cold.
"You still haven't told me your real purpose."
"During the questioning just now, I suddenly realized something."
"The way you reacted when you first saw Ryoko was far too natural."
"You couldn't possibly have known I was controlling her body."
"At that moment, you genuinely believed I was the real Ryoko."
"And because I had already assumed you were on our side..."
"I mistakenly thought you were also here to catch someone."
"But in reality..."
"The person we were trying to catch was you."
"Am I right?"
Seeing Asuka remain silent, Yoshino licked her dry lips before continuing,
"Compared to ordinary people, Ryoko has several obvious identities."
"A Root member."
"The Nara Clan Head's cousin."
"A widow."
"When I instinctively showed affection toward you while controlling Ryoko's body, your slight resistance told me that you weren't interested in her."
"So I ruled out the 'widow' possibility."
"Your Uchiha Clan has never been interested in the Shadow Imitation Technique."
"My relationship with Mikoto is also very good."
"Other than clan secrets, we tell each other almost everything."
"Ryoko is fiercely loyal to the clan."
"She would never do anything that could harm the Nara Clan."
"And there are plenty of cousins in the Nara Clan."
"So that identity can also be ruled out."
"That leaves only one answer."
"She's Danzo's subordinate."
"Everyone in Konoha knows Danzo's attitude toward the Uchiha Clan."
"Are you planning to make a move against Danzo?"
"You know..."
At that moment, Asuka rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Looking toward the Uchiha compound, he said hesitantly,
"Isn't it also possible that our Clan Head simply likes high-status widows?"
...?
Nara Yoshino froze.
She recalled the strange way Asuka had looked at her just moments ago.
The Clan Head likes high-status widows...
And one of his clansmen likes high-status married women...
Logically...
There didn't seem to be anything wrong with that.
But...
Is that really how a normal person thinks?
After taking several deep breaths, Yoshino stood up and walked over to Asuka.
Looking toward the front door, she murmured,
"To symbolize the special bond between the Ino–Shika–Chō Alliance, the Sarutobi Clan gifts earrings to our three clans as proof of our friendship."
"The friendship between the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura is much like the relationship among our three clans."
"I actually like Mikoto very much."
"But her identity means she must carry the will of her clan."
"What you're thinking right now is very dangerous."
"Don't drag the Nara Clan into it."
"I'll repay you another way for saving my nephew."
"Don't use this to threaten Ryoko."
Asuka clasped his hands behind his back and looked at the moon, most of which was hidden beyond the window.
The pale moonlight shone across his face, making his normally healthy complexion appear strangely pale.
Combined with his eerie tone, it sent chills down one's spine.
"Lady..."
"Hmm?"
Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Yoshino instantly became alert.
So fast!
Looking at Asuka, who had suddenly appeared beside her with the Body Flicker Technique, her pupils contracted.
Before she could react, Asuka patted her shoulder and said seriously,
"The Uchiha Clan will fully support Senju Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage."
Yoshino looked into his eyes, which seemed determined to force her to state her position.
After hesitating for a moment, she answered,
"If Princess Tsunade truly chooses to become the Fifth Hokage..."
"The Nara Clan will definitely support her."
"Then the Uchiha Clan wants to become Tsunade's in-laws."
"You don't object to that, do you?"
"It's good to have dreams."
"I have no objection."
"Then I want the Clan Head to get divorced."
"You don't object to that either, do you?"
"Your family's internal affairs have nothing to do with me."
"You said you'd repay me, didn't you?"
"Mm."
"If you ever get the chance..."
"Please persuade Mikoto to hurry up and get divorced."
"She should make room."
"The Uchiha Clan Head's wife must always possess a spirit of self-sacrifice."
As soon as he finished speaking...
Asuka disappeared from the room.
Watching him leave, Yoshino's expression gradually stiffened.
She suddenly felt a little uneasy.
The sense of control she thought she had...
Had completely vanished.
He hadn't shown any of the anger, sadness, or arrogance she had expected.
Instead...
He had said a series of utterly incomprehensible things.
"Help persuade Mikoto?"
Even if I somehow convinced her to divorce...
The chances of the Uchiha Clan marrying into the Senju Clan are probably only one percent of the chances of Tsunade marrying Jiraiya.
"Tsk."
Shaking her head, Nara Yoshino decided that, aside from Mikoto, she would stay as far away from Uchiha clansmen as possible in the future.
Every one of them seemed to have something wrong with their heads.
However...
Looking at the note Asuka had handed her before leaving, Yoshino couldn't help frowning as she muttered,
"Your daughter-in-law is gone!"
It really made no sense.
Her son was still in the womb.
Where was a daughter-in-law supposed to come from?