"Hey! Old man, what was that for?! Why'd you hit me?!"
A let out a pained shout, clutching his head as he glared at his father.
The Third Raikage had just punched him without warning.
It wasn't a heavy blow—but it wasn't light either.
It carried just enough force to make A's eyes water in humiliation.
"Shut up."
The Third Raikage didn't even bother explaining himself.
He simply dismissed A with a single cold word, then turned his attention to Yugito.
"Keep a close eye on Konoha while you're here."
"Yes, Raikage-sama."
Yugito responded respectfully.
With that, the Third Raikage turned and left, with A and Killer B following behind him.
As he stepped out through the door, he passed directly by Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, who stood nearby.
He didn't even spare them a glance.
Not a word.
Not a nod.
He simply walked past them as if they didn't exist.
Only after their figures disappeared did Homura and Koharu's expressions darken.
"What kind of attitude was that?!" Koharu snapped angrily.
"We're elders of Konoha!"
Homura's expression was just as unpleasant.
"Such disrespect… this is completely unacceptable."
They had been completely ignored.
It was a blatant show of disrespect.
"Ahem."
Hiruzen cleared his throat deliberately, reminding them to restrain themselves.
After all…
"Do you two have something to say about our Raikage-sama?"
A calm but dangerous voice suddenly cut in.
Yugito was still standing there.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at Homura and Koharu.
The pressure in her gaze was unmistakable.
"I—"
Homura froze.
Koharu's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
They had spoken out of anger—but now that Yugito confronted them directly, they found themselves unable to respond.
"Hmph."
In the end, they could only snort coldly before turning and leaving.
That faint snort was the last shred of dignity they could cling to.
Yugito watched them leave, her eyes filled with open disdain.
Pathetic.
She couldn't understand how a village capable of producing someone like Shiki could also harbor people like them.
Then...
She suddenly realized something.
Shiki was still standing nearby.
Her domineering aura vanished instantly.
Her posture straightened.
She lowered her voice slightly and said,
"Um… I'm usually very gentle, actually."
"…"
Shiki stared at her.
What does that have to do with me?
His eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion creeping into his thoughts.
…Don't tell me this woman actually likes me?
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
"Ahem."
At that moment, the Third Hokage spoke up, breaking the awkward silence.
"To be honest…"
He couldn't help but feel increasingly envious of Shiki.
His strength was already overwhelming.
And yet people like Yugito naturally gravitated toward him.
It was enough to stir jealousy even in someone like Hiruzen.
"Yugito-san," Hiruzen said kindly, "since you'll be staying in Konoha for some time, I'll arrange accommodations for you."
"Thank you for your consideration, Hokage-sama."
Her tone returned to its usual calm and neutral state.
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
"In that case… how about arranging your residence next to Shiki's home?"
"…!"
Yugito's eyes widened instantly.
A trace of undisguised joy flashed across her face.
"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama!"
Her voice carried genuine happiness.
To her, this arrangement was perfect.
A good man.
Hiruzen is truly a good man.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen himself was just as satisfied.
Shiki's home already housed Tsunade.
And with Tsunade's temper…
Once she discovered Yugito living next door, chaos was inevitable.
That would keep Shiki occupied.
And when Shiki was distracted…
He wouldn't have time to interfere with Hiruzen's own affairs.
What a brilliant plan.
Hiruzen felt secretly pleased with himself.
As for Shiki…
He didn't care.
Whatever Yugito thought of him was irrelevant.
It meant nothing.
…
Meanwhile, outside Konoha—
A finally broke the silence.
"…Old man."
He frowned slightly.
"Leaving Yugito behind in Konoha… that's an extremely dangerous assignment."
"Why did you let her stay behind?"
The Third Raikage glanced at him.
His expression was complicated.
Are you really this slow?
Before he could respond, Killer B suddenly spoke up in his usual rhythmic tone.
"Yo! Big bro, big bro—can't you read the sign?
Yugito's heart's with the Golden Lion—clear as sunshine!"
"…What?!"
A froze in shock.
His eyes widened.
He immediately turned to his father.
"Is that true?!"
The Third Raikage sighed.
"…I'm starting to question whether choosing you as my successor was the right decision."
"W-What does that have to do with anything?!"
A protested.
But he quickly forgot about that.
His expression turned anxious.
"If that's the case… why would you allow Yugito to stay here?!"
Yugito wasn't just any shinobi.
She was the Two-Tails' jinchūriki.
A living weapon.
Leaving her in another village was an enormous risk.
The Third Raikage rolled his eyes.
"You think I didn't consider that?"
Of course he had.
However—
"Konoha's leadership is rotten."
His voice turned cold.
"First Sakumo Hatake… and now Minato Namikaze."
"They call Konoha the cradle of geniuses."
"But it's just as much their grave."
A fell silent.
He remembered Minato well.
One of the few men faster than him.
He had always hoped to challenge him again someday.
But now…
That would never happen.
"…So?" A asked quietly.
The Third Raikage smirked.
"So Konoha will eventually belong to Shiki."
"With his nature… there's no way he'll tolerate being controlled by weaklings."
His eyes were filled with contempt.
"A group of weak fools trying to suppress someone stronger than them…"
"It's laughable."
To him, the fate of the strong was simple.
To die in battle.
Not to surrender to political pressure.
Suicide?
That was the act of a coward.
Killer B nodded thoughtfully.
"So leaving Yugito behind… builds a bridge, strengthens the link."
"Our village's blood won't fade, our influence won't sink."
The Third Raikage smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Finally.
Someone with sense.
A stared at Killer B in disbelief.
"…You actually figured that out?"
Killer B grinned.
"…Didn't you?"
"…."
A's eye twitched.
If I had, would I still be asking?!
"Yo! Big bro clueless, can't see the clue—
Golden Lion's got her heart, and you never knew!"
Killer B laughed, slipping back into his playful rhythm.
"Get lost!"
A snapped, annoyed.
But his expression remained thoughtful.
His father's words lingered in his mind.
His gaze shifted forward.
Contemplative.
And for the second time again...
He began to truly understand the weight of Shiki's existence.
PS: Umm... Thanks Lazy bro, I was just about to take a nap and saw your comment. >.<
--------------------------------------
Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 50 Advanced Chapters and R-18 Content!
--------------------------------------
Update schedule: 7 chapters/week
Every 300 power stones = 1 Extra Chapter
By voting with [power stones], you can easily get double the number of chapters.