*Hokage's Office*
"What in the hell was that? Today was a complete disaster!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his palm on the desk, the sharp crack echoing in the tense office. His voice was thick with barely restrained fury. "What were those two idiots thinking? Sending an assassin now?"
"Hiruzen, take a breath," Homura Mitokado said, adjusting his glasses. His tone was low, cautious. "We don't have any real proof. We can't say for sure that assassin was from Danzo or Orochimaru…"
"Oh? So he was one of yours, then?" Hiruzen shot back, his glare sharp enough to cut. "Or maybe he was one of mine? That white mask is a dead giveaway—Danzo and Orochimaru's 'Super Shinobi' project. The evidence is right there!"
"That's not what I meant," Homura sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And let's not forget, Hanzo the Salamander was also involved in that project. That shady guy is just as suspicious. "
Koharu Utatane interjected coolly, "Then what would Hanzo's motive be for attacking Yuto?"
"Well… that…" Homura faltered, scrambling for an answer. "Maybe he just can't stand to see Konoha prosper?"
Koharu let out a dry, humorless laugh. "How remarkably stupid that would be."
"Enough," Hiruzen cut in, finally lighting his pipe. He took a long drag, his face settling into an emotionless mask. "We're closing the book on this little... disturbance for now. I'll have the patrols doubled. Let's just hope we can get through the rest of this without any more... drama."
*Konoha's Guest Lodgings*
"Whoa. I can't believe that Yuto guy just announced his... thing... to the whole world!" Kurotsuchi's eyes were wide, a mix of shock and morbid fascination. "That guy's got no filter!"
"Disgusting. Completely devoid of artistic vision," Deidara snorted, his face twisted in contempt. "Being interested in women? Such a plebeian isn't even worthy of being my enemy, hmm!"
Kurotsuchi shot him a deeply suspicious side-eye. "So what, you like guys?"
"Bullshit!" Deidara exploded, throwing his hands up. "This artist is above such trivial pursuits! Art! Only the pursuit of ultimate art is worthwhile! Hmm!"
"Moron."
"What did you just say?!"
"Both of you, enough," the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, massaged his temples, cutting their squabble short. "That Hayashi Yuto is not someone to take lightly. If you face him, you need to be careful."
If nothing else, that genjutsu in the arena... even Ōnoki hadn't seen through it immediately. If his two students ran into that, they'd be in real trouble.
"Hah, this artist wouldn't—" Deidara began to boast, but a low voice from the doorway cut him off.
"Lord Tsuchikage, we've made contact with Rōshi. He's agreed to assist, on the condition that he is allowed to return to his seclusion afterward."
"Acceptable. Inform him this is the village's final request," Ōnoki stated flatly.
"Understood."
The door closed. Deidara stared at his master, stunned. "Old man, you're calling in a Jinchūriki?"
"Another lesson for you, boy. Always have a backup plan," Ōnoki huffed. "The more chips we have on our side, the less chance Konoha has of turning the tables on us!"
---
*Inside Yuto's House*
"Phase one of the plan is done, so we're moving to phase two, right?!" Naruto was practically vibrating, rubbing his hands together with glee.
"Yeah. But there's one... small condition we need to meet first," Yuto replied, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"A condition?"
The other members of the "Classmates Association" exchanged confused glances, completely lost.
Knock, knock, knock.
Right on cue, a soft, gentle rapping sounded at the door. "Captain Yuto? Are you home?"
"And that would be our condition," Yuto said, getting up to answer. The others, moving on instinct, quickly melted into the shadows of the hallway leading to the underground base.
The door opened to reveal Yugao Uzuki in full ANBU gear. "Captain, are you okay?" was the first thing out of her mouth, her concern evident.
"Never better," Yuto smiled. "Yugao, to what do I owe the visit?"
"I've received orders from the Hokage. I'm assigned to your close-protection detail for tonight," she stated, her tone formal and serious.
'Close-protection detail?'
Down the hall, Ino heard the words and nearly ground her teeth to dust. That vixen! she seethed silently. This isn't about protection, and she knows it!
"Ino, calm down," Hinata whispered, gently tugging on her sleeve.
"Calm down? How can you be so calm, Hinata? She's making her move right in front of us!" Ino hissed back.
"But... we're the ones who showed up uninvited. Even Lady Kushina and Mikoto haven't said anything..."
"That's... that's totally different!"
Their hushed argument was lost on Yugao, who had already stepped inside and was heading toward the kitchen. Close protection, after all, naturally involved things like... helping with meals.
BAM!
The front door suddenly flew open again, kicked in with a splintering crash.
Yugao's reaction was instantaneous; her tantō was in her hand in a flash as she moved to block the entrance. The figure that strode in, however, was a blonde woman of legendary... proportions. Yugao had seen the Legendary Sannin in her youth and knew exactly who this was.
"L-Lady Tsunade…"
"My, my, aren't you moving up in the world," Tsunade's gaze swept over Yugao before landing squarely on her disciple. "Building a little love nest already?"
Swoosh. Yugao's face flushed a brilliant scarlet, but for some reason, she didn't offer a rebuttal.
"It's the Hokage's assignment, Tsunade-sensei," Yuto explained, his smile still perfectly placid.
"Tch, that old fool and his pointless missions!" Tsunade scoffed, stomping past them and flopping onto his couch like she owned the place. "Made quite a scene at the stadium today, didn't you? Got a thing for moms, you little pervert?"
"Just a joke."
"Do you have any idea that 'joke' could easily cost you the Hokage seat?"
"Never really wanted the job to begin with."
"Hmph. You're an annoyingly carefree little brat, I'll give you that," Tsunade grunted. She suddenly snatched him by his collar and yanked his face close to hers. "And it really pisses me off!"
"If an apology would—"
"Shut it!"
Tsunade cut him off before he could finish. "I know you, you little brat. Nothing good ever comes out of that mouth." Seemingly remembering they had an audience, she finally released him with a dismissive grunt.
"Whatever. I don't actually care if you become Hokage or not." She rummaged in her ample cleavage and pulled out a scroll, slapping it down on the table. "Sign it."
It was the summoning contract for the Shikkotsu Forest.
Unlike Mount Myōboku or the Ryūchi Cave, the Shikkotsu Forest had only one massive entity: the Great Slug Sage, Katsuyu. Every slug any shinobi summoned was just a tiny piece of her. By having him sign now, Tsunade was handing him a serious ace up his sleeve.
Once his name was inscribed in blood, Yuto ran through the familiar hand seals for the Summoning Jutsu.
Poof.
A small puff of smoke erupted, and a thumb-sized, pale green slug appeared on his shoulder.
"Still showing off that flawless chakra control, brat," Tsunade couldn't help but click her tongue, a mix of annoyance and grudging admiration. A first-timer almost always overdid it on the chakra. She'd been half-hoping to see his house get flattened by a giant slug—a little payback for his earlier antics. No such luck.
The tiny slug, getting its bearings, crawled from his shoulder onto the back of his hand. "Greetings, Lord Yuto! I am—"
It suddenly shuddered mid-sentence. Then, from its back, it let out a soft pfft, releasing a small, glistening blob of mucus.
The passive effect!
Yuto's innate Incubus charm had spontaneously activated. Even he was taken aback.
'It works... on slugs too?!'
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