The next morning, at dawn.
Mizuki got up early, practically vibrating with energy.
His eyes shone with the swagger of a man who'd just hit his stride. He even stood in front of the mirror and fussed over his appearance until every detail was immaculate.
Tie. Suit. A quick tug on the collar—then an irrepressibly triumphant grin.
The suit was expensive, but now he could afford it.
Level-One Instructor. Special-grade待遇.
The only one in the entire Ninja Academy.
It made Mizuki feel, from the bottom of his heart, just how highly that person valued him.
"Good work."
He murmured the words again—what that Medical Corps jōnin had told him.
Mizuki felt like his whole skeleton was on fire.
Me. Mizuki.
I've got a backer now.
From here on out, the future's nothing but clear skies—bright enough to blind.
What more is there to say?
He even struck the particular pose unique to the "hospital crowd," aimed straight toward Kangetsu's estate.
Loy—al—ty—!!
With lesson plans and Academy paperwork tucked under his arm, he set off for the Ninja Academy in long, confident strides, head held high.
Along the way, plenty of people recognized him—and their eyes went sour with envy.
But they still had to force a friendly greeting.
Even chūnin and jōnin who ran into him made sure to leave a good impression.
Because these days, the Ninja Academy wasn't what it used to be.
It was a gold mine.
They said Kangetsu had poured every last bit of profit-sharing from his tobacco business right back into the Academy.
Just hearing that made people suck in a cold breath.
Big moves.
Big moves…
And once you knew that, who would still doubt whether the Academy could pay?
The only worry left was whether, if you showed up too late, there'd still be a slot for you.
When Mizuki stepped onto Academy grounds, his spirits soared even higher.
Because every student and colleague he passed had to bow and greet him with—
"Good morning, Dean of Instruction."
Every time, Mizuki's grin threatened to split his face in two, and every time he patiently corrected them.
"Deputy. Deputy."
And yet, every time he heard the words "Dean of Instruction," his brain felt like it got squeezed hard enough to ache.
Like he was stepping on soft cotton—floating, weightless.
It was heaven.
By the time he reached his private office, he happened to run into his good friend.
Seeing that the other man was dressed almost exactly the same, Mizuki froze—then the two of them exchanged a look and burst into knowing laughter.
"Iruka, you first."
"Ah—ah! Too much, too much. It's just deputy."
Iruka couldn't hold back his grin either.
When life's going this well, who wouldn't be elated?
He lifted a hand.
"Then Deputy Dean Mizuki, you first."
Mizuki coughed politely. "Ahem. Deputy. Deputy."
They met each other's eyes, and the look on their faces—
Like that Zhou Yu and Sun Ce meme where they're trying not to laugh.
"Pahaha… hahahahaha!!"
Once they finally got into the office, they stopped holding it in.
Their hands clasped tight.
All the satisfaction in the world fit inside that grip.
With the two of us running the Academy for that person, what's there to fear about the road ahead?
At the same time…
The Yūhi clan.
Kurenai's pretty face was going numb.
She watched the clan elder chatter on and on with advice, hands moving briskly as she dressed Kurenai up.
What a hassle.
Kurenai looked awkward.
She was going to serve as a guard ninja, not get married.
If Kangetsu saw her like this, he'd think she was trying to seduce him.
Hearing that, the elder blinked.
"Is… is that not the point?"
"…"
Huh?
Kurenai went blank, too.
Wait.
You people seriously wanted her to go seduce Kangetsu?
Was that… even okay?
"Ahem. Fine, fine, I misspoke," the elder said, clearing her throat. "Just leave a good impression on him, then."
Mm.
Now that sounded like something a human being would say.
No matter how much of an old maid she was, no matter how badly she wanted to marry, she couldn't go and do something that humiliating.
She still had her pride.
After the elder patted her shoulder, Kurenai drew a deep breath.
Time to go.
Kangetsu's estate.
After getting the news, Kangetsu didn't rush to get out of bed.
He was still busy with his morning "workout."
With all those bodies sprawled around the room in every direction, he could pick anyone at random for "exercise."
Mm.
Decision made—Sae, the teacher.
Out of everyone here, you're the only one who still has black stockings hanging off your legs.
If I'm not exercising with you, who am I exercising with?
Sae's eyes went wide in horror.
Again?!
She couldn't even close her legs right now—every breath felt like it came out hot.
Haruno covered her mouth, laughing in smug delight.
Serves you right.
Can't close your legs, and you've already drained every last bit you had to give.
So what—are we supposed to stuff some more in there?
Yukine didn't join their nonsense.
Kurenai still needed to be received, and that was Yukine's job.
Meanwhile, Mikoto was scrambling to get dressed.
No, no, no!
She absolutely couldn't let Kurenai see her walking out of that dog man's room.
Even if she'd already been molded into Kangetsu's shape, that wasn't something you said out loud.
You had to keep yin and yang properly separated.
Otherwise it would invite misunderstandings that nobody needed.
Komachi, half-asleep, grumpily planted her little foot right on the dog man's face.
So loud.
Did people not need sleep?
Was it loud?
Yeah. Very.
Kurenai, expressionless, was led into the estate by Yukine.
…
Yukine's manners were impeccable.
But Kurenai still felt her composure cracking.
This early in the morning…
This intense?
And that sound was… was…
Scratching at her cheeks, which had turned faintly pink, Kurenai swallowed hard.
As an old maid—
Hearing that kind of sound was basically someone poking her right in the weak spot.
So…
Today wasn't her coming to seduce Kangetsu.
It was Kangetsu seducing her instead, wasn't it?
"Ahem. Yukine-san," Kurenai said, forcing her voice steady. "Kangetsu-san is still resting."
"Yes," Yukine replied smoothly. "Kangetsu-san is still resting. Please wait a little."
Kurenai sucked in a breath.
Nothing to do but wait.
It was just—
Those sounds were way too tempting.
But as a guard ninja, the person she was assigned to protect came first.
Put simply—
From today onward, Kangetsu was her lord.
"Ku— Miss Kurenai, please have some tea."
Yukine looked at Kurenai, still unsure what to make of her background.
So she played it safe and addressed her politely.
Kurenai didn't really mind.
Because her attention wasn't on that—rather…
She took the tea with a slightly unfocused gaze.
My Will of Fire…
He really knows how to do it.
I can hear it all the way over here.
Seriously…
The woman's already completely fallen apart and he's still going?
What kind of stamina is this?
Without thinking, she took a small sip.
And an image rose unbidden in her mind—like a hand slapping the surface of water.
"PFF—!"
Kurenai nearly broke on the spot.
(End of Chapter)
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