After getting his brother's message, Uchiha Yorin sprinted back to Konoha at top speed.
On the way he did wonder—should he drag his feet, let his sister-in-law die, then execute his earlier Plan B and have Minato marry into the Uchiha as a second wife?
He thought about it and dropped it.
When it comes to not being a decent human, Yorin generally prefers to be a decent human.
He's the ally of justice, after all—how could he do something that vile?
…
Shinobi travel fast. But he and the "harem Sannin" had been playing way too hard. They'd ended up all the way in the Land of Snow.
They not only froze Minato's courier toad half to death, they also lost precious time getting back.
Yorin did the math—the harem squad would need about three days to run from the Land of Snow back to the Land of Fire… counting overnight rest. If they pushed through the night, it'd be faster.
…
That night.
Uchiha Yorin: "Hey now, don't look so deflated. Decided—once we're back I'm asking Minato to teach me Flying Thunder God. No more shuttle runs across the shinobi world. Sound good?"
Tsunade, Pakura, and Mei Terumi gave casual replies as he looked at them expectantly.
Pakura: "Ah… whatever you like." For her, whatever Yorin does is fine; she only needs to follow him.
Since her village's betrayal, all her old ties are at zero. She might still have a student back home, but there's nothing to be done.
Right now, Pakura has only one bond: Uchiha Yorin. If he dies, so does the purpose of her life.
Pakura: "Maybe one day I'll find a new meaning to life. But for now, my meaning is Yorin-kun.
If he dies, I have no reason to go on."
The kunoichi said it seriously, calmly—max affinity points.
If Yorin were her romance route, this would be a big affection boost and CG unlock.
Or the other way around—if Yorin wanted to "unlock a CG," Pakura might grumble a little, then happily cooperate.
Yorin: "Feels a bit like taking advantage… give it a couple of days."
He thought, "If Pakura's still like this in a few days, I'll find a chance to 'cup' that beautiful back."
…
Watching this, Tsunade clenched her fists—tight. Seeing that, Mei's lips curved; she slid close, whispering:
"Are you sure it's fine? Keep this up and Pakura's going to snatch Yorin-kun."
Tsunade wanted to roll her eyes. She didn't say it, but she couldn't help thinking: "Pakura's one thing—you, fox, are the real threat."
"I have no designs on Yorin-kun, don't worry," Mei said, dabbing at imaginary tears. "I'm just a poor little woman, forced by Yorin-kun to betray my village, all alone."
Sensing Tsunade's suspicion, Mei kept up the act: "I have a lot of resentment toward Yorin-kun. He drove me to this sorry state—so relax, I won't make a move."
"Really?"
"Really. Look into my sincere eyes."
Tsunade couldn't tell whether those beautiful green eyes held sincerity or guile. Still, her stance softened—just a little:
"If that's so…"
"Oh? Then you admit you want some fresh grass—you do like Yorin-kun, don't you?"
"—I do not!"
"Heh, no need to be shy. Yorin-kun is exceptional. And very charming."
"I said I don't!"
"Oh, that puts me at ease. If you're not interested, then I'll go ahead."
Tsunade didn't answer this time—she just shot her a lethal look. "Try it, and I'll end you," that look said.
Mei found Tsunade's tsundere routine very entertaining.
Teasing Tsunade and watching her fume was one of her few remaining joys.
The others: drinking with Pakura—and watching Uchiha Yorin.
Looks, bearing, way of moving—Yorin was pure vitality, a pleasure to behold.
Watching him fight, watching him speak, watching what he did—Mei even felt the hatred soften in her heart.
Not that she'd forgiven him. If the chance arose, she'd happily jump him and "sword him to death, fry him and kill him again, then fry and kill him some more until there's nothing left"—hee-hee, hee-hee-hee…
Probably spending too much time around him—she'd started to assimilate. Lately, aside from increasingly "feverish" looks at Yorin, she'd also started laughing just like him.
As Pakura quipped: "Another day and you'll be changing your surname to Uchiha."
Tsunade's diagnosis: classic anxiety-driven Stockholm syndrome from loss of safety.
A sickness must be treated.
And Tsunade just happens to be the world's best medical ninja, bar none.
Her duty was clear: cure Mei Terumi's illness by any means necessary—even aggressive ones—be it a frontal lobotomy or a Monstrous Strength "other-woman" therapy.
No thanks necessary—that's a doctor's duty.
With that in mind, that same night, Tsunade silently slipped into Uchiha Yorin's room.
…
As the richest man in the shinobi world, Yorin didn't skimp on himself.
Like D&D's Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion or Dragon Ball's capsules, he'd prepped a super-capacity sealing scroll with a cozy mini-villa for field use.
At first, the harem Sannin thought he was a wasteful fool who'd forgotten a shinobi's austerity.
Ninja life is soldier pills and cold water on the run; a bowl of ramen back in the village is New Year's. Sleeping rough is standard.
Then they tried the shinobi-mansion.
"Smells so good."
Twenty-four-seven hot water and a soft, comfy bed—heaven. No going back. Never again to those hungry, shivering, open-sky nights.
Tonight, Tsunade discovered another perk of the shinobi mansion:
Night raids are much safer—Pakura and Mei won't catch you.
…
"So, Yorin-kun."
She knocked, slipped in, carefully shut the door, checked the closet and under the bed for hidden girls—and then asked:
"Where exactly do you want to take this world?"
He smiled easily. "I thought you'd ask sooner, Tsunade-nee."
…
MC Stats: Nin 8 · Body 10 · Gen 9 · Wis 8 · Str 11 · Spd 11 · Sta 13 · Seals 7
After a stretch of fighting and training, Seals ticked up. Worthy of celebration.
~~~
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