More than five hours later, at two in the morning.
In the Kageyama home, the warm amber lamplight softly lit the bedroom, two figures sitting up in bed beneath the quilt.
Kogetsu Kageyama held a cigarette between the fingers of his right hand. A glass of red wine rested on the nightstand. His eyes were half-lidded, his whole bearing easy and content.
Truth be told, Kogetsu wasn't really addicted to tobacco; it just felt wrong to skip a post-act cigarette, like leaving out a step in a ritual.
Nono Yakushi leaned against Kogetsu's shoulder, the quilt pulled over her chest, showing only a delicate collarbone and a smooth, rounded shoulder. The gentle, holy beauty of her face now carried a languid allure all its own.
The room was quiet, broken only by the faint burn of tobacco. The mood was unhurried and pleasant.
After a while, once Nono had fully caught her breath, she asked softly, "What do we do from here?"
Kogetsu raised the wine and took a sip, thoughts turning.
Honestly, he hadn't expected Nono to be a first-timer. Her figure looked ordinary at a glance, but in truth was anything but; she had given him quite the surprise.
"That depends on you."
"On me?" Nono lifted her head, half surprised, half hopeful.
"Mm. First, tell me what Danzō sent you to do at my side." Kogetsu turned to look at her, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Nono's relaxed body clearly stiffened. Her face froze for a beat, then she forced out a puzzled reply.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand at all."
"Don't underestimate my intel work."
"Mm… let's just say my ties to Orochimaru are closer than Orochimaru's ties to Danzō." Kogetsu spoke mildly, spinning a casual lie.
Crap—slipped up! Maybe he'd noticed long ago and was simply playing along. What now?
Deny to the end, or confess?
Confess. If Orochimaru is the source, even a failed mission is explainable.
"I'm sorry. I did approach you with an agenda, under orders from—"
Her voice cut out.
"The Tongue-Cursing Seal?"
"That won't stop me. Stick out your tongue."
Shocked, Nono still obeyed.
Kogetsu set down wine and cigarette, studied the sigil on her tongue, then formed seals and pressed sword-fingers to the tip. A surge of powerful chakra flowed forth…
His chakra entered the seal. The markings glowed like molten rock. Nono's brows knit; pain flickered across her face.
Like a blade that was both irresistible and fluid as water, his chakra pierced the tiny flaws of the seal and cut it apart, erasing it completely.
"I was acting under Lord Danzō's orders."
Nono tried to sit up and bow in apology, but couldn't move, so she lowered her gaze instead, looking pitiful.
"The objective."
"To become your girlfriend, subtly influence you, and ultimately make you serve Lord Danzō."
Kogetsu let out a dry laugh. So the old fox had really tried a honey-trap—good thing he'd left that hook dangling back then.
He hadn't expected those offhand words to twist the fates of Nono Yakushi and Kabuto Yakushi like this…
"Ha… interesting."
"You're not angry?" Nono asked carefully.
"A little. Not much."
"Being plotted against also proves I'm worth plotting against."
"Besides, this sort of game doesn't hurt me—in fact, the more the merrier. My will isn't that easy to sway." Kogetsu smiled freely.
Nono hesitated, then ventured, "Aren't you afraid I'll follow Danzō's orders and harm you?"
"Harm me? Use whatever tricks you've got."
"If I really fall to that, it only proves I was nothing special." Kogetsu arched a brow, brimming with confidence.
Please. With his current body, not even the deadliest poison in the world could kill him in an instant. And if it wasn't instant, he had plenty of ways to resolve it. As for any method other than poison, he cared even less.
Nono didn't know the source of his confidence, but she couldn't help admiring—and even falling for—the man before her.
Every famed powerhouse in the ninja world shared one trait: absolute self-belief. Without it, you'd never become one.
"How… do you plan to deal with me?" Nono asked, uneasy.
"Two choices." Kogetsu lowered the glass and raised two fingers.
"One: refuse to follow my will, and I kill you."
"Two: leave Root, cut ties with Danzō, and stay by my side from now on."
"Call it a kindness for one day as spouses, a hundred days of grace—and for the fact you're beautiful and kind."
Nono looked troubled. "Of course I want the second, but Root isn't something I can leave just because I want to."
"My life, Kabuto's life, the orphanage's funding and safety—they're all in Lord Danzō's hands."
Kogetsu smiled. "All you need to do is choose. I'll handle Danzō."
"I'll sponsor the orphanage from now on, and I'll take care of everything else."
Relief washed over Nono. She smiled sweetly. "Then I'll follow you."
Sigh… she finally understood.
In this world, you needed a strong backer. Otherwise, even inside Konoha, her life wouldn't be peaceful.
And across the village, there wasn't a better choice than the man before her—excellent in every way, including that way.
"Good. Tomorrow, send Danzō a message that I'll meet him at the Forest of Death, at the finish point, tonight."
"Got it. Do I need to go?" Nono inclined her head.
"Do you want to?"
Nono shook her head. She was a little afraid to face Danzō.
"Then don't."
"After you deliver the message, don't go to work. Stay here and rest. Wait until I'm done, then go out."
Warmth bloomed in Nono's chest. She turned and lay on Kogetsu's chest, whispering, "Thank you for thinking of me. You're so good to me."
A man who thought of her and shielded her—far too rare.
"Actually, there's another reason you shouldn't go in tomorrow."
"What reason?" Nono looked up.
Kogetsu leaned close and murmured a few words into her ear.
"Even tonight?" Expectation warred with a touch of fear on Nono's face.
"Young people… once you get a taste, it's hard to stop," Kogetsu said, as if it were only natural.
"Alright."
Nono pushed herself up, then wriggled under the quilt like an inchworm.
Click.
Kogetsu picked up the cigarette pack, flicked the bottom with a finger, sent a stick flying to his lips, and snapped his silver lighter to life. An amber flame bloomed.
He drew a cool breath, then exhaled a long plume. The white smoke shot forth like an arrow…
No wonder she was Konoha's finest in intel work, famed across the shinobi world—a terrifyingly fast learner. First practical run, and she'd already made theory sing.
If she kept practicing at this rate…?
He set the lighter down and lifted the wine again—left hand with a cigarette, right hand with red wine. Bliss.
If he liked betel nut, and if this world had any, he'd be unstoppable by now…
Yosh. Tonight was a good night; worth savoring slowly.
…
The next morning, despite an all-but-sleepless night, Kogetsu rose with no sign of fatigue, sharp and refreshed as he headed to work.
Nono did not have such stamina. She slept deeply and wouldn't be up until afternoon at best.
In the afternoon, Nono woke.
Body still a little weak, she tidied the bedroom, made a little food to fill her stomach,
then wrote the letter and sent it to Danzō through Root's channels. Finally, she returned to Kogetsu's house to wash and hang the used clothes and sheets.
Not long after, Danzō received her message. Seeing that Kogetsu wanted to meet that night, his face turned stormy and he cursed on the spot.
"Useless—so quick to blow your cover!"
"Hmph. I'll deal with Kogetsu Kageyama first, then come for you…"
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