Is Everyone So Busy Tonight?

"Did I shake them?"

When he saw that none of the ANBU had caught up, Shinji, hurrying through the village, breathed a sigh of relief.

Hiss.

The moment he relaxed, pain flared from the wound on his back.

He furrowed his brow, his expression darkening.

The wound on his back wasn't serious. Since he'd used the Breathing Technique to stop the bleeding along the way, he'd barely lost any blood.

The trouble was that the wound would be hard to explain!

If Danzo found out that the subordinate he'd sent to watch Shinji had inexplicably blown himself up outside Sunagakure's lodgings, he'd investigate Shinji no matter what else he suspected.

Then there'd be no way to hide the wound on his back.

And if Danzo connected it to the attack on the ANBU Building, it would be easy to identify Shinji as the intruder.

At that point, charges like killing Root operatives and breaking into the ANBU Building would all be pinned on him, the Uchiha remnant.

"Damn, that really was too risky!"

Shinji sighed.

He knew how dangerous it was, but he needed Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan too badly.

He also hadn't expected the ANBU in the Dog Mask to be so alert. From noticing something was wrong to attacking, it had taken less than a second. Shinji hadn't had time to react.

The ninja's techniques had also been exceptionally skillful, chaining together an ambush, an attempt to trap him, and a finishing attack.

If Shinji hadn't mastered Water Breathing, he would have had no choice but to use Susanoo to break through.

Shinji turned into an alley, wondering whether he should just flee the village.

At that moment, a hurried figure approached from the other end of the alley.

"Karin?"

Shinji stopped.

The person he'd run into in the alley was none other than his classmate, Karin!

Karin seemed just as surprised to see Shinji here. She froze for a moment, looking a little uneasy.

But she didn't stop or greet him. Instead, she quickened her pace and hurried past.

Shinji didn't want any more complications, so he didn't say hello.

Just as they passed each other, Karin suddenly stopped and turned around. "You're hurt?"

Shinji hurried to explain, "I had a little accident while training earlier—"

Before he could finish, Karin rolled up her sleeve and held out her pale arm. "Quick, take a bite!"

"Uh..."

Shinji stared at her in surprise.

He knew about Karin's special constitution, which could heal any injury, but he hadn't expected her to offer her arm without even hearing him out.

Though still bewildered, he quickly realized this was the best way out of his predicament.

So he didn't hesitate. Looking at Karin's pale arm, covered in bite marks, he bit down.

In an instant,

a warm current flowed into his mouth and gathered at the wound on his back.

The pain soon faded, replaced by a tingling, itching sensation.

"Thank you!"

Shinji thanked Karin sincerely.

She only nodded, then hurried away.

"Is everyone so busy tonight?"

Watching Karin's hurried retreat, Shinji couldn't help grumbling to himself.

His chance encounter with Karin had solved the problem he'd been facing, but it was still too soon to relax.

When he got back to his apartment, he immediately changed out of his clothes and burned them completely.

Then, looking in the bathroom mirror, he confirmed that the two wounds on his back had healed completely, without even leaving scars.

After that, he sat on his bed to rest and think things through.

"I still need someone to vouch for where I was!"

To clear himself of suspicion completely, he needed someone to vouch for him—someone influential and easy to convince.

Suddenly, he remembered Shion, who had fainted on the training field.

She was the Miko of the Land of Demons, a nation's leader and a person of high standing. Even the Hokage had to treat her with respect. She had no history with the Uchiha Clan either, making her an excellent witness.

So Shinji immediately set off for the training field.

Shion was lying on the ground, fast asleep, drooling a little. He walked over and patted her. "Hey, wake up!"

Shion sat up groggily and rubbed her eyes. "How did I fall asleep?"

"How should I know?"

Shinji shrugged, but kept his eyes on Shion's face, watching for any change in her expression.

The Mangekyō Sharingan was certainly a powerful tool for casting genjutsu.

But it depended on who was using it. Obito could control the Fourth Mizukage with one Mangekyō, but that didn't mean Shinji could do the same.

Still, judging by Shion's reaction so far,

the psychological suggestion had taken hold successfully. As long as he didn't reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan or other highly stimulating things like Susanoo in front of her,

an ordinary encounter wouldn't make Shion remember everything.

Helping Shion to her feet, Shinji asked, "You're not from our village, are you?"

Shion lifted her chin. "You should address me as 'Your Highness'!"

"Your Highness?"

"That's right!" Shion straightened her dress and said, "I am Shion, the Miko of the Land of Demons!"

As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach growled.

Shinji got an idea. "Are you hungry?"

Shion blushed. "A-a little."

"Come on. I'll treat you to barbecue."

Shinji headed out of the training field.

Shion hurried after him, asking curiously, "Why are you treating me to barbecue?"

"Do I need a reason?"

Shinji brushed her off.

Shion quickly said, "You're not trying to befriend me, are you? Well, since you're so sincere, I suppose I'll graciously accept."

Shinji glanced sideways at Shion.

He saw delight in her eyes, as if making a friend was something truly worth celebrating.

"How lonely must she be?"

He couldn't help thinking.

He felt a little guilty about using Shion as his alibi, and unconsciously quickened his pace.

"Wait for me! You still haven't told me your name!"

Shion trotted after Shinji like a little shadow.

They soon reached the lively streets.

Boom.

Fireworks blossomed in the night sky from time to time, drawing cheers from the villagers.

Clearly, the Root ninja's self-destruction and the break-in at the ANBU Building hadn't been enough to cancel the village's Fireworks Festival that night.

Following his memory, Shinji deliberately led Shion to the barbecue restaurant Haku had once mentioned in passing.

Their classmates were meeting there that night to eat together and watch the fireworks.

Shinji had been invited too, but he'd turned them down.

Smelling the barbecue drifting out of the restaurant, Shion smacked her lips. "Wow, that smells amazing!"

"Then shall we eat here?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Shion nodded repeatedly, practically drooling.

Shinji led her into the restaurant.

Hearing his classmates laughing upstairs, he didn't go over to them. Instead, he deliberately chose a private room next door.

He needed to make it look as though he and Shion had been eating there for a long time.

Then he'd find a chance to show his face in front of the classmates next door and join them. That way, all of them could vouch that he'd spent the whole evening eating barbecue and watching fireworks.

Soon, the restaurant staff brought out a grill and plates piled with fresh meat.

Shinji and Shion dug in without hesitation, polishing off the entire table of barbecue beneath the dazzling fireworks outside the window.

When it seemed like the right time, Shinji started thinking about how to make an appearance in front of his classmates next door.

But Shion, full and satisfied, pushed open the private-room door and called down to the owner, "I've made a friend! I'm treating everyone in the restaurant today!"

The diners upstairs and downstairs immediately cheered.

With her hands on her hips, Shion turned back proudly to Shinji, who was staring at her in astonishment.

Click.

Just then, the door next door opened, and Tenten said angrily, "You don't need to treat my classmate!"

Thanks for the recommendation tickets and monthly votes! Please support me! Rolling around!