At that moment, something shifted in Koyuki Kazahana's gaze as she looked at Shigure.
The boy could freeze an enemy with a mere gesture. That kind of power… was overwhelming.
And this was the Land of Snow.
A place where such abilities felt like they truly belonged.
"Does this mean... only the descendants of Gekkō Shigure can inherit this power?" Koyuki asked thoughtfully.
Even Kakashi found the question strange, but he couldn't quite explain why. Still, he nodded slightly and said, "That's right. It's not guaranteed, but the probability is very high."
Koyuki seemed to understand. She rose quietly and stepped out onto the deck.
There were still a few days left before they reached the Land of Snow.
And she intended to make the most of them.
The ship sailed on, cutting through the icy waters—but Shigure, who was focused on training, couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
He didn't have to guess for long.
It was Koyuki Kazahana—the same woman who had always looked down on him before.
Tch. What's her deal now? Why is she staring at me like that?
Kakashi noticed her behavior too. Her gaze lingered on Shigure more and more frequently.
Recalling her earlier questions, Kakashi had a bold suspicion… though he hoped it wasn't true.
To avoid her unsettling stares, Shigure returned to his cabin.
If someone is too troublesome to confront, it's best to avoid them. And if they're a client who must be protected and can't be offended? Distance was the safest policy.
But his solitude didn't last long.
Soon, the door creaked open quietly.
Shigure's senses went on alert.
What now...?
Koyuki stepped inside and caught sight of him sitting upright on the bed, eyes fixed warily on her.
She brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear and walked over, setting a tray with hot soup and rice on the small table beside his bed.
"It's time to eat."
Simple words, but they caught Shigure completely off guard.
She brought me food...? What kind of stunt is this?
Is it poisoned?
Why the sudden change?
"Well… I just wanted to thank you for protecting me," Koyuki said. "I misjudged you all earlier."
Thank me?
Shigure waved it off. "No need. We're shinobi. Taking missions and seeing them through is our job."
The conversation should've ended there.
But Koyuki didn't leave.
Instead, she hesitated, picked up the tray again, and said, "The soup's still hot. Let me cool it for you."
She sat down beside him.
And that's when it clicked.
Is this woman seriously trying to seduce me...?
Why? What is she after?
I'm still a kid, technically... How does she have the nerve...?
To be fair, if he ignored the trouble she'd caused before—Koyuki was undeniably beautiful. And her figure...
Shigure snuck a glance.
Not bad. Definitely not bad.
But he wasn't stupid. There was no such thing as a free meal in the shinobi world. Unless her intentions were made crystal clear, he wasn't going to be swayed so easily.
"To show my gratitude," Koyuki said, lifting a spoonful of soup toward him, "let me feed you."
Shigure glanced up, locking eyes with her.
Then he opened his mouth and drank the soup.
He didn't resist. Being waited on had its own appeal, after all.
But his tone was sharp when he spoke next.
"Alright. Tell me—what do you really want?"
Koyuki paused, biting her lip.
By all logic, a boy his age should've been infatuated already. Especially someone like her—a renowned actress, a princess, and a natural beauty. Yet here he was, calmly sipping soup and staring at her like she was a jōnin exam question.
Was it the coat? Was she hiding too much?
She glanced down. Maybe her charm wasn't getting across because of all these layers.
But it was freezing. Wearing anything less out here meant frostbite—or worse.
Never mind.
She set the tray down and stood up.
"You already guessed, didn't you? Fine—I'll be honest."
She began unfastening her cloak, speaking with unshakable resolve.
"I've traveled across the shinobi world. I know how things work. The Five Great Nations maintain balance between their daimyō and hidden villages."
"But small countries like the Land of Snow… we're different."
"If you want true control, you need power in your own hands."
"So—"
Shigure flushed slightly. Her voice was serious, but her actions were... distracting.
He didn't know whether to keep listening or avert his eyes.
"I'm the rightful heir to the Kazahana family," Koyuki continued. "I thought reclaiming the Land of Snow was impossible... but now I believe it's within reach."
"My uncle—Doto Kazahana—has taken everything from me. I want your help to take it back. Please, help me reclaim my country."
Shigure raised a hand, stopping her.
"No need to do all this," he said plainly. "You want our help restoring your nation? Just say so. There's no need for… all that."
When the conversation turned to this topic, Koyuki Kazahana's face flushed slightly.
"I want your bloodline limit."
Her tone was serious. "I want your Kekkei Genkai to remain in the Land of Snow. Only then can we prevent another tragedy like what happened with Doto Kazahana…"
"I know this kind of power isn't something one can simply learn. It can only be passed down through blood. So…"
Shigure stared, dumbfounded.
Wait... Is she asking me for my seed?!
Should I agree or not...?
"Shigure! Dinner's ready—aren't you coming out to eat?" Naruto's voice called from outside, his footsteps drawing nearer.
Bang!
The door flew open as Naruto barged in and saw Shigure lying under the covers. "Ah! You're sleeping? Aren't you getting up to eat?"
"I'm not hungry. Just gonna nap a bit," Shigure replied quickly.
"Alright! I'll save your share. Eat it later, okay?"
Naruto glanced once more at the oddly shaped lump under the blanket—Shigure's legs were bent strangely and the quilt was puffed up way too high. It looked weird, but he didn't question it and closed the door.
The moment Naruto left, Shigure sat up and quickly used a ninjutsu to freeze the door shut.
Then he looked down, lifted the blanket, and locked eyes with Koyuki Kazahana.
"Come out. Naruto's gone."
But Koyuki didn't budge. She looked up at him stubbornly. "No. Not unless you agree to give me your Kekkei Genkai…"
Shigure groaned inwardly.
Is that even something you can just hand over like a scroll?
"I get what you're trying to do," he said. "We'll figure something out later, alright? But can you at least come out of there first? This isn't exactly normal."
Koyuki blinked, her expression softening for a moment. "It's actually kind of comfortable in here… And besides, you already saw me naked. Shouldn't you take responsibility?"
Shigure frowned. "What do you mean naked? You still had your underwear on!"
Koyuki's cheeks turned red, and she lowered her voice provocatively.
"…Not anymore."
...
TN:
🔟 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin