315. You Go Rebuild the Shinobi Sect

There was a knock at the door.

"It should be Asuma and Guy."

Hanekawa ended the conversation, stood up, and said.

He went to the door and opened it.

As expected, standing outside were Sarutobi Asuma, Might Guy, and Shizune.

"Hanekawa."

Sarutobi Asuma asked with a smile, "Are you cooking again today?"

In previous years, they sometimes went out for meals on their birthdays.

But ever since Hanekawa displayed astonishing culinary skills, they unanimously decided to have him cook from then on.

It saved money and allowed them to taste unprecedented delicious food.

"I'm cooking."

Hanekawa nodded slightly and said.

"Finally, I get to eat your cooking again!"

Sarutobi Asuma said excitedly, "The last time I ate your food was two months ago. It's been too long!"

"Two months? Has it been that long?"

Hanekawa was momentarily stunned and asked.

"You're the one who sent me to oversee the Transportation Department, and you forgot?!"

Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but ask.

Initially, the Transportation Department's work involved renovating the roads in Konoha Village.

But as the Mineral Resources Department developed, the Transportation Department's operations expanded, spreading to the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.

And it wasn't just ordinary roads—it was railways.

As for the railway technology, it naturally came from the Land of Snow.

Because of this, Sarutobi Asuma hadn't returned to Konoha Village for two months.

Even when his teammate Uchiha Shisui went on a mission, he wasn't taken along—instead, it was Hatake Kakashi and Yamato.

As for Shizune, she went to the Medical Department.

Although, due to Hanekawa's butterfly effect, she didn't become Tsunade's student, learning under Hatake Sakumo wasn't bad either.

With his help, she mastered most medical ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital, no less skilled than Rin Nohara.

Moreover, since both her teammates were on missions, she was assigned to the Medical Department.

In reality, unless it was an S-rank mission, having three jonin together was a waste.

The same applied to Hatake Kakashi, Yamato, Might Guy, Yūhi Kurenai, and Hanekawa, among others.

Former ninja squads could rarely reunite under normal circumstances.

"You've worked hard. Today, I'll cook whatever you want."

Hanekawa patted Sarutobi Asuma's shoulder and said.

"You said it yourself!"

Sarutobi Ashma rubbed his hands together and said, "I'll be ordering the dishes for lunch today!"

"I want to order too!"

Might Guy grinned, giving a thumbs-up, and said, "Make a lunch filled with the taste of youth!"

Hanekawa's lips twitched.

What exactly was the "taste of youth"?

Should I add extra bitter melon and cilantro for you?

"Come in and talk."

Hanekawa closed the door and followed them into the living room.

"I heard what you said!"

Yūhi Kurenai snorted and asked, "Is my cooking not good enough?"

"Of course it's good."

Hanekawa smiled and said, "But today is your birthday. We can't have the birthday girl cook."

"Fine, I'll let you off for now."

Yūhi Kurenai tilted her head and said.

Sarutobi Ashma sighed in relief.

Might Guy scratched his head.

Only Shizune couldn't help but laugh.

"It's about time. You all chat—I'll go cook."

Hanekawa glanced up.

The clock on the wall had just passed 10 a.m.

He and Yūhi Kurenai had already gotten up two hours late, and with so many people to cook for, he needed to start two hours early.

"I'll help you."

Rin Nohara quickly stood up and said.

"Rin, you're a guest. How can we let you help?"

Yūhi Kurenai shook her head and said, "I'll help instead."

She wasn't targeting Rin Nohara.

But after what happened last night, she just wanted to stick close to Hanekawa.

"But..."

Rin Nohara hesitated.

Yūhi Kurenai didn't give her a chance, pulling Hanekawa straight to the kitchen.

Seeing this, Rin Nohara showed a hint of envy.

Yūhi Kurenai could interact intimately with Hanekawa without reservation, but she couldn't.

Rin Nohara couldn't help but zone out.

What exactly was her relationship with Hanekawa now?

They'd hugged, they'd kissed—but they weren't a couple.

Lovers?

Rin Nohara pursed her lips, her heart full of confusion.

Hanekawa and Yūhi Kurenai entered the kitchen.

He glanced back.

Yūhi Kurenai was clinging tightly to his arm, her face full of smiles, radiating happiness.

"Are you this happy just to cook?"

Hanekawa's gaze unconsciously fell into the snowy-white collar of her clothes.

His arm could clearly feel the soft curves.

"I'm in a good mood."

Yūhi Kurenai pressed her face against his shoulder and said.

"But if you don't let go of my arm, how can I cook?"

Hanekawa smiled and asked.

Yūhi Kurenai instinctively released his arm, taking half a step back in slight embarrassment.

She'd only been thinking about sticking close to Hanekawa, forgetting he'd come to the kitchen to cook lunch.

"What should I do?"

Yūhi Kurenai quickly became eager again.

"Do you still have energy?"

Hanekawa raised an eyebrow and asked.

Yūhi Kurenai's face immediately turned red.

She had overexerted herself that morning, and with Rin Nohara and the others visiting, her mind and body had been startled—so she hadn't fully recovered yet.

But she would never admit it.

"Does cooking require energy?"

Yūhi Kurenai glared at him, puffing out her chest, and said, "Don't underestimate me!"

Hanekawa's gaze fell on her white clothes.

Her fair skin faintly outlined graceful curves.

He recalled Yūhi Kurenai's snow-white body from last night and thought to himself that he really shouldn't underestimate her.

"Y-You... what are you looking at?"

Yūhi Kurenai's heart trembled, and she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, asking.

"Why so shy?"

Hanekawa blinked and asked, “Didn't I already see it last night?”

“You… you bad guy!”

Yūhi Kurenai's legs instantly felt weak upon hearing that.

She didn’t understand why Hanekawa was so much stronger than her, and he also seemed to have a wealth of battle experience.

But then she thought again and found it hard to believe.

The female ninja Hanekawa could’ve had contact with were likely only Rin Nohara and Shizune.

As for Tsunade and Samui, because of their special status, Yūhi Kurenai didn’t even consider them.

“Why do I feel like you’re enjoying this?”

Hanekawa reached out and gently pulled Kurenai’s soft body into his arms.

“I am not!”

Kurenai blurted out without thinking.

“Really?”

Hanekawa grabbed her butt and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Kurenai let out a surprised gasp.

Once she realized what had happened, she bit her lip and tried to ignore his touch.

But she simply couldn’t.

After last night’s events, Kurenai’s body had become particularly sensitive.

Especially since Hanekawa had fully figured out her weak spots.

In just a few seconds, her eyes looked misty, appearing both adorable and seductive.

“See? Your body is being honest.”

Hanekawa’s hand moved to her inner thigh.

“W-Wait…”

Kurenai’s heart trembled with both fear and excitement, but she hadn’t lost her rationality.

She remembered Rin Nohara and Shizune were in the living room.

If they took too long, people would get suspicious.

And though she craved it, her body couldn’t take any more.

Last night and this morning had already pushed her to the limit.

“Y-You go cook first…”

Kurenai grabbed Hanekawa’s wrist with her remaining strength and whispered shyly, “After they leave… you can do whatever you want…”

“Really whatever I want?”

Hanekawa looked at her blushing face and asked.

“…Mm.”

Kurenai didn’t dare meet his eyes. She looked down and answered softly.

Hanekawa instinctively licked his lips.

Among the women around him, Samui and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki were willing to do anything.

Tsunade, as the former Hokage, was very traditional—everything had to be proper.

Kurenai, though also traditional, was still a young woman—brave enough to try new things.

Of course, whether they could go that far… would depend on the moment.

Hanekawa turned and started cooking.

After a moment’s rest, Kurenai composed herself and helped wash and cut vegetables.

Soon, it was noon.

Yūhi Shinku, who had been tricked earlier by Hanekawa, returned home.

Although he realized he had been deceived, considering Hanekawa was the Hokage, he had no choice but to let it go.

Mostly for Kurenai’s sake.

After all, if he really blamed Hanekawa, his daughter wouldn’t be happy.

“You're here!”

Hanekawa walked out of the kitchen carrying bowls and chopsticks.

Behind him was Kurenai, holding a dish.

“Let me take that!”

Sarutobi Asuma eagerly took the dish from Kurenai’s hands.

“Are there more in the kitchen?” Rin Nohara asked.

“Yes.”


Hanekawa set the tableware while answering.

Rin Nohara and Shizune immediately got up and went to the kitchen.

Before long, all the dishes were served.

"Thank you all for coming."

Yūhi Kurenai raised her glass of juice and said.

In the original story, she liked to drink alcohol, but now, due to Hanekawa's butterfly effect, she abstained completely.

Hanekawa had once asked her out of curiosity, and the answer he got was that she didn’t want to get drunk and ruin her image.

"Happy birthday!"

Hanekawa and the others clinked glasses with her.

Rin Nohara, Uchiha Shisui, Might Guy, and Shizune drank juice.

Yūhi Kurenai’s father, Sarutobi Asuma, Yamato, Hatake Kakashi, and Hanekawa drank alcohol—though not strong liquor, just the mild sake commonly consumed in the ninja world.

"The taste is still amazing!"

Sarutobi Asuma took a bite of fried shrimp and sighed in admiration.

"Once you finish the railway, you can return to Konoha and eat like this every day."

Hanekawa glanced at him and said.

"No!"

Before Sarutobi Asuma could respond, Yūhi Kurenai rejected the idea outright.

"Why not?"

Sarutobi Asuma asked in surprise.

"Hanekawa is the Hokage now—he’s busy with a lot of responsibilities."

Yūhi Kurenai huffed. "At most, he can cook for you twice a week."

"You’re just hogging him for yourself!"

Sarutobi Asuma complained.

"When is the Transportation Department’s project scheduled for completion?"

Hanekawa asked with a smile.

Yūhi Kurenai was about to speak when she suddenly stiffened.

She felt a foot lightly brushing against her calf—twice.

There was no doubt it was Hanekawa.

Her heart raced, an inexplicable thrill running through her.

Instead of stopping him, she trapped his foot between her legs.

Hanekawa shot her a glance.

This girl was getting bolder by the day.

No wonder some women changed so much before and after marriage.

"Probably another three months, but it’s hard to say for sure."

Sarutobi Asuma thought for a moment. "It depends on whether the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning discover new mineral deposits."

"There will definitely be new ones."

Yūhi Kurenai chimed in.

"How do you know?"

Sarutobi Asuma asked, puzzled.

"Because I’m the Hokage’s secretary."

Yūhi Kurenai smirked proudly. "I get intel faster than you do."

"Then I’m doomed!"

Sarutobi Asuma looked as if struck by lightning. "Hanekawa, can you assign me to a different job?"

Compared to laying railways everywhere, he’d rather stay in Konoha or go on missions.

After all, he didn’t enjoy such a dull routine.

"You can discuss it with your brother."

Hanekawa said casually.

"Great!"

Sarutobi Asuma perked up. "With your approval, my brother will probably let me come back."

As the Hokage, Hanekawa’s words carried enough weight to make his brother reconsider.

"So what will you do when you return?"

Shizune picked up a piece of chicken cutlet and asked. "Shisui and I both have jobs now—we can’t go on missions with you."

"No problem!"

Sarutobi Asuma grinned. "I’m a jonin—I’m qualified to lead a team!"

"You want to become an instructor?"

Hanekawa was surprised.

Though what truly caught him off guard was Yūhi Kurenai’s antics under the table.

Her soft, nimble toes kept poking at his leg, clearly enjoying herself.

"That’s the idea."

Sarutobi Asuma admitted.

Hanekawa’s mind stirred.

In the original story, Sarutobi Asuma’s students were the next generation of Ino-Shika-Chō—Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Chōji Akimichi.

But at this point in time, they had just been born—far too young to be his students.

This was an opportunity to separate the Sarutobi clan from the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.

Still, success or failure didn’t matter much to him.

With absolute strength on his side, the Sarutobi clan couldn’t cause any real trouble.

He just didn’t particularly like Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Fine."

Hanekawa nodded slightly.

"I’ll pick three outstanding students and bring them to you."

Sarutobi Asuma grinned confidently. "They might even surpass your own students."

"I’ll be waiting to see."

Hanekawa couldn’t help but chuckle.

His three students—Hinata Hyūga, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki—were each more overpowered than the last.

"Senior Hanekawa."

Uchiha Shisui seized the moment to ask, "What’s my next mission?"

Hanekawa paused.

That was a good question.

He hadn’t actually considered what Uchiha Shisui should do after completing his investigation of the Bounty Exchange.

"Do you know about the Shinobi Sect?"

Hanekawa suddenly thought of something and asked.

"The Shinobi Sect founded by the Sage of Six Paths in legend?"

Uchiha Shisui blinked in surprise.

"Exactly."

Hanekawa nodded, then asked, "Do you know why the Sage of Six Paths established it?"

"To reduce conflict and bring peace to the ninja world through shinobi."

Uchiha Shisui answered without hesitation.

"I have a mission for you."

Hanekawa smiled. "Rebuild the Shinobi Sect."

First, because he had promised Tsukihime.

Second, because he had realized what the rebuilt Shinobi Sect should be—a university for shinobi.

"What?!"

Uchiha Shisui’s eyes widened in disbelief. "M-Me? Rebuild the Shinobi Sect?"

Yūhi Kurenai, Hatake Kakashi, and the others were equally stunned.