Two hours later.
At the orphanage gate.
Uchiha Yorin waved to the smiling bespectacled lady, and to the reluctant kids. He also pinched little Kabuto's cheek and told him:
"Godfather's heading out. You and everyone else be good. In a few days I'll send you to a good place. When you get there, study hard under your teacher—maybe you'll grow up to be Kage-level."
"Mm."
Yakushi Kabuto wasn't very old, but he was very sensible—the high-IQ, high-EQ type.
"I'll study well under Orochimaru-sama."
Yorin: "Oh right—take Anko with you too."
As Orochimaru's student, Mitarashi Anko was also included on this round's apprentice list as a gesture of goodwill and reassurance to Orochimaru.
"Yes. I'll look after her."
Yorin: "Then do your best."
And with that, Yorin rubbed his lower back and left feeling refreshed.
…
Just as he'd predicted: the moment Yakushi Nono heard he'd finally—finally—finally taken down Danzō, she let out a squeal, pounced, shoved Yorin over, and started tearing at his clothes.
She scared him: "Wait, I haven't showered—"
Perfectly reasonable; the bespectacled lady's reply was even bolder:
"—Doesn't matter. I showered!"
"Not like this, Nono-nee!"
"Don't move—let me see!"
…
Yorin refused to submit.
Yorin struggled.
Yorin failed to turn the tide.
Yorin wept inside.
Yorin endured in silence.
Yorin… felt great!
…
That was two hours ago.
If he'd transmigrated into a romance-game world, then right now the glasses lady's route would be clear—affection maxed, ending CG unlocked.
…
After the "battle," she clung to Yorin's arm, soft as a cat, and said:
"I know I'm not worthy of you. Your wife ought to be someone like the Senju Princess.
"It's okay. I don't need that. I'll stay quietly at Konoha's orphanage and wait for your triumphant return."
Uchiha Yorin: "Why bring that up out of nowhere?"
…
Hearing that made Yorin a little embarrassed. Their relationship was delicate—somewhere between clandestine lovers, accomplices, and more-than-friends-not-yet-lovers.
The arrangement suited him—no overthinking, no worries.
Their shared hatred of Shimura Danzō was the strongest bond between them.
…
Yorin had wondered: does Yakushi Nono really love him? Or does she just want a pillar—someone to help her fight Danzō?
Of course, he was using her intel network, too. So why did he get involved with her? Did he love this glasses lady?
Their relationship, their future, marriage, family, wife, responsibility… it all tangled his thoughts into knots.
Naturally, all such thoughts ended when the cooldown reset—and with the end of "sage time."
What's the point of overthinking? Whatever the thought—leave it for later.
…
But today was different.
Yorin figured the scene a few days ago—him and Tsunade hand-in-hand under a single umbrella—had been seen by the glasses lady.
That's why she said what she did.
Ah… well, that can't be helped.
Until he levels up, becomes Emperor of the Shinobi World, and enfeoffs three palaces and 7,200 consorts, the glasses lady will have to be patient.
Fortunately, she was super smart and sensible.
If all his future "harem" were as good as the glasses lady, that'd be ideal.
Thinking this, Yorin hugged Yakushi Nono's soft, warm body a little tighter and sighed.
So good—so very good. With girls, gentle and considerate is best.
"Mm. Mm."
He "mm-hm'd" absently, pulled her closer, and heard Nono say:
"Mm-hm, that's fine—that's very good, Yorin-kun~ But even I have a tiny wish.
"I know I'll never be your main wife, but… could you love me—just a little—in your heart?
"It doesn't have to be much. Just a little bit."
She looked up at him with longing.
What could he say? In that situation, there was only one move—flip her beneath him and say, "I'll marry her, but I'll love you."
"Mm. Mm."
Hearing that ultra-scumbag line, the glasses lady smiled sweetly.
Scummy or not—she liked it.
"Then one more round," she said.
Yorin: "…Eh?"
"What's wrong—don't tell me you can't?"
Of course not—no man says "can't."
With that, Yorin switched to offense—showing the glasses lady what "output" really meant.
Avoid her spear?
Be serious.
…
And so, the main-line route with the glasses lady was cleared. Not that she'd be out of the story.
The orphanage is a fine place.
How many heroes, mad old monsters, and "Kabuto Voldemorts" has the ubiquitous orphanage produced?
If Yorin wants to do big things, he can't rely on a handful of Uchiha small-fry.
Outside talent must be brought in—especially management and operations.
Shinobi are functionally illiterate; even running a city is hard, let alone an empire.
But outside hires are hard to trust.
In that case, homegrown talent fills the gap.
Like Yakushi Kabuto. Smart, capable, loyal—if he had a million Kabutos, what enterprise would be impossible?
So the Konoha orphanage must be run—big. Raising a large cadre of loyal subordinates—leave it to the glasses lady.
…
The orphanage also ties into system quests.
A godfather is still a father; an adopted son is still a son.
In modern Japan, adoption to carry on the family name is commonplace.
Once he's Emperor of the Shinobi World, Yorin can grant his godsons the surname Senju—and the Senju clan rises.
What? They don't have Senju blood?
Easy!
"Orochimaru-sama, please administer one dose of Hashirama cell."
Now they've got Senju bloodline—who dares say they aren't Senju?
[Family Member +1]
See? Even the system agrees.
Yorin glanced at the Senju Revival System—and saw he wasn't alone on the family tree. Yakushi Nono's portrait had appeared.
A pink arrow linked them, marked [Concubine].
[First time increasing family members]
[First time adding family via romance]
[First time confirming relationship with a woman]
[A firm first step on the road to Senju revival. Reward: "Increased Affinity with Children."]
…
Yorin: "Told you—reviving the clan with a harem works."
He smiled with satisfaction.
Mostly because the plan was working; as for the reward for "marrying" Yakushi Nono—he didn't care much.
"Increased affinity with children" fit Nono's identity—but wasn't very useful to him.
He doesn't want to teach school—and he isn't a loli-con. A mosquito leg at best—
Hang on—that blonde loli looks familiar.
Wait—that's Tsunade, isn't it? That spendthrift is in loli mode again, scamming debts?
The loli Tsunade peeking around a back alley and hiding from debt collectors locked eyes with Yorin—and shivered.
For some reason, the man before her seemed super handsome, super gentle, super approachable.
That stature, that aura—irresistible. She couldn't help thinking:
"Uchiha Yorin… could be a father to me."