Kakashi and Shizune

Konoha, Hokage's Office.

The tool Shizune was still there, approving a huge stack of documents. Not far in front of her, Kakashi happily pulled out The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja and began admiring it.

Shizune saw what Kakashi was doing, and her heart filled with sorrow.

She wasn't that ugly, was she?!

Yet Kakashi was sitting there reading a little pornographic book without even sparing her a glance. Was there anything more heartbreaking in this world?!

And Lady Tsunade—who knew whether she had taken Hikari out to eat and drink their fill, leaving Shizune here as a tool.

It was truly so heartbreaking.

Resentment!

Kakashi, who had been studying positions through his little pornographic book, suddenly looked up. The Three Tomoe in his left eye immediately spun and transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan.

A tangible black aura floated above Shizune's head. Kakashi had initially thought someone was trying to harm her, but when he saw that Shizune herself was the source of that resentment, he could not help but be shocked.

This woman is terrifying. My 2D wives are still better!

"Teacher Shenguang's illustrations are really amazing."

Since Kakashi did not speak up to comfort her, Shizune's resentment deepened further.

If this were a world with yokai, then with resentment like Shizune's, she could probably reincarnate directly as a top-tier great demon with heaven-defying strength.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in!"

Hearing the knock, Shizune quickly reined in her emotions and put on a standard smile.

The door opened, and pineapple-haired Nara Shikahisa walked in.

"Shizune, these are documents that Lady Tsunade needs to approve. Please take a look."

After saying that, Nara Shikahisa stepped aside. Behind him, Choza Akimichi strode over while carrying a stack of documents more than half a meter high.

Shizune: What should I do? I really want to cry.

She had wanted to try a sweet romance, only to end up as a tool. That would have been one thing, but the real problem was that there was a handsome guy in the room whom she could look at but not have. It was simply too painful.

Seeing the bitterness on Shizune's face, Nara Shikahisa felt a little embarrassed as well.

But he could not be blamed for this. Although the Konoha Crush Plan brought by Orochimaru had not completely crushed Konoha, quite a few people had died in the fighting, and many buildings had been destroyed.

According to Konoha's customs, expenses for finances and supplies needed to be personally approved by the Hokage. So, there was nothing he could do.

Kakashi silently shrank back, trying his best to lessen his presence.

Don't look at me. Don't look at me. I don't want to read a single one of those documents!

Shizune rubbed her temples and nodded heavily. "Fine. Choza, please put them over there first."

Choza Akimichi set down the documents, then quietly left.

There was no helping it. Though broad and round, he was kind-hearted—far better than an old schemer like Nara Shikahisa. Seeing Shizune looking so wronged, he truly felt bad about it and could only leave quickly to lessen the guilt in his heart.

"Ah..."

With no one else around, Shizune got up and took a few steps. Looking at the laughing, chatting people passing outside the window, she was so envious that tears streamed down her face.

Lady Tsunade was right back then. A godforsaken job like being Hokage must never be taken, even if it kills you!

Now Tsunade had gone to the Daimyo's Mansion to report to the Daimyo, tossing this whole mess onto Shizune. She truly felt that life was far too hard. If she could do it over again, she would definitely persuade Tsunade not to become Hokage.

Although she had spent more time outside with Tsunade being chased by debt collectors, thinking about it carefully, that kind of life had its own charm too.

Lady Tsunade, come back quickly. I really can't take much more of this.

While Shizune was looking at the scenery, Nara Shikahisa gave Kakashi a look, and the two quietly slipped away.

Once again, they were atop Hokage Rock. Kakashi looked at Nara Shikahisa helplessly.

"Can we pick somewhere else next time?"

Nara Shikahisa grinned. "Doesn't this place make us look more impressive? Or is it inconvenient for you to read your little pornographic book here?"

Kakashi fell silent and stared at Nara Shikahisa with a dead-fish eye until the latter's scalp went numb.

"Alright, alright, I was wrong. We won't bring that up again."

Kakashi's gaze softened considerably. "I remember that when Teacher Shenguang's new work came out, certain people lined up to buy it."

"Haha!" Cold sweat nearly broke out on Nara Shikahisa's forehead.

If Jiraiya's novels had excellent writing and compelling content, then Teacher Shenguang's works had excellent writing and enticing illustrations. The adorable beauties inside made many men unable to resist collecting them even if they did not read pornographic books.

Unfortunately, Nara Shikahisa was one of those men.

The people who understood men best were men themselves.

It could be said that as long as a man still had a breath left in him, he would lust after women.

It was something carved into a man's bones. Even death would not change it.

"Let's talk business."

"Lady Tsunade has successfully completed her report. She should start returning tomorrow morning."

Kakashi's expression did not change. He looked uninterested in the matter.

Nara Shikahisa continued, "I want to ask you about Asuma. If Lady Tsunade asks you, what do you intend to say?"

"This matter doesn't seem to have much to do with me."

As for Asuma, Kakashi could only say that they knew each other. They were not especially close.

There were many things Kakashi did not mention, but that did not mean he did not know about them.

Take the Ino-Shika-Cho families, for instance. While the Third Hokage had still been alive, they had treated him with utmost respect and had even sent their own children to become Asuma's students.

Now that something was wrong with Asuma, Nara Shikahisa had noticed the suspicious details and wanted to drag Kakashi into the water.

"Kakashi, don't be so heartless."

"We've been companions through hardship and danger, after all. When I'm in trouble, how can you refuse to help me?"

Kakashi's expression eased somewhat. This matter was neither overly complicated nor simple. The main question was how Nara Shikahisa wanted to handle it.

"Some decisions should be made as soon as possible."

"Indecision only invites chaos."

"No one in power likes fence-sitters."

After offering that warning, Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from Hokage Rock.

Ah...

Nara Shikahisa let out a sigh.

As the strategist of the Ino-Shika-Cho families, things were not easy for him either.

If Asuma had made no moves, they only needed to proceed step by step. After all, the Third Hokage had been Tsunade's teacher. Even if their relationship had not been good, there was still some old bond between them.

But Asuma had recently left the Hidden Leaf Village. That made the situation far more thought-provoking.

With Shikaku's intelligence, the current situation could not stump him at all. The reason he had asked Kakashi was because Kakashi was a very straightforward person.

It could be said that Kakashi had changed ever since his father, Hatake Sakumo, died.

Putting missions first? That was all nonsense meant to fool fools.

What he truly wanted was simply to stand on the Hokage's side.

"Looks like I need to make a decision too..."