Love Poison Erupts, Tinder Meets Flame

Body heating up?

Connecting the name "Sand Desire Flower Poison" with the symptoms Kurenai described, Xuandou's expression turned peculiar.

Could this "Sand Desire Flower Poison" be a type of aphrodisiac poison that stimulates human desire?

Sunagakure ninjas have always excelled at extracting bizarre toxins from the unique flora and fauna of the Land of Wind.

Many of these poisons are difficult to cure, and some have no antidote at all, posing a thorny problem even for medical ninjas.

The Primary Medical Ninjutsu Mastery he obtained from the system could only handle common injuries.

He was incapable of concocting an antidote to help Kurenai.

If he truly had to detoxify her, it wasn't impossible, but it would require a different method...

To confirm further, Xuandou steadied his nerves and asked softly:

"The heat you mentioned, what does it feel like specifically? Try to be as detailed as possible; this is very important."

Kurenai struggled to maintain consciousness, describing it intermittently:

"My abdomen... it feels like a ball of fire is burning, spreading through my whole body... it's unbearably hot..."

"And I... mmm~..."

Her voice grew lower, carrying an irrepressible tremor:

"Also... my heart... it feels like it's being brushed by a feather, it's a bit itchy..."

Before she could finish, she suddenly bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing as red as sunset clouds.

Hearing this, Xuandou was completely certain; these were the classic symptoms of an aphrodisiac poison.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he bit the bullet:

"Kurenai... you may have been poisoned by an aphrodisiac. This kind of poison... incites the desires within the human body and disrupts the mind."

"Aphrodisiac poison?"

Kurenai's eyes were dazed; the erosion of the toxin had already caused her reactions to slow.

"Xuandou-kun, can... can you help me cure this aphrodisiac poison?"

"The method to detoxify... usually requires... union with a member of the opposite sex, so that the toxin can be channeled out through bodily fluids..."

As his words fell, the cave plunged into a stagnant silence.

Only the sound of their slightly hurried breathing remained.

To break the suffocating awkwardness, Xuandou took a canteen from his ninja pouch and handed it over:

"Drink some water first; it might provide some relief."

Kurenai reached out to take the water, but suddenly, a wave of intense dizziness struck her.

In her vision, Xuandou's figure swayed, blurred, and finally seemed to be shrouded in a pink halo.

Just as she tried to focus her mind, the scorching torrent swirling within her body violently breached the final dam.

"Mmm~!"

Kurenai let out a soft moan.

Her body swayed uncontrollably.

A sense of near-collapse softness washed over her, causing her knees to buckle as she pitched forward.

Fortunately, Xuandou was quick-witted and caught her before she could fall.

"Kurenai, are you alright?"

Xuandou's anxious shout reached her ears.

Kurenai wanted to respond, but her consciousness was already fading.

Before her mind went completely blank, her body followed its instincts and leaned toward Xuandou.

She took the initiative to move close to him, tilted her face up, and kissed his lips.

The kiss between them seemed to briefly suppress the toxin.

But immediately following, a more violent backlash made her crave this sensation, wanting even more.

"Xuandou-kun~ I... I want..."

Facing Kurenai, whose eyes were filled with passion, Xuandou's reason completely vanished.

His hands also became restless...

Soon, the two of them were like dry wood meeting a raging fire, quickly igniting.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, the Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Asuma stood before Hiruzen and spoke angrily:

"Old man, why did you send Kurenai, a chunin who only knows genjutsu, on such a dangerous mission!"

"Insolent!"

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted him sharply.

The pipe in his hand struck the desk with a heavy thud.

"I summoned you here to inform you that you are to depart for the Daimyo Palace to serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, not to listen to you question my decisions!"

"But her team doesn't even have enough members! What if she encounters danger?"

"Konoha is currently short-handed; every ninja must shoulder heavy responsibilities!"

Hiruzen took a deep drag of his pipe, suppressing his anger, and explained in a low voice.

"This is wartime. No one is an exception."

"Then I cannot go either!"

Sarutobi Asuma clenched his fists.

"Asking me to hide in a safe place to protect those pampered nobles while watching my comrades fight and die on the front lines—I, Asuma, cannot do that!"

Hiruzen stared at his son for a moment, finally softening his tone as he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

"Asuma... once the war ends, I intend to step down as Hokage."

Asuma's pupils constricted at these words.

"What? Why?"

"Since the Third Shinobi World War began, Konoha has been struck repeatedly by various nations without achieving a single victory decisive enough to deter our enemies. The Daimyo has seen no return on his investment in the village and is already dissatisfied with me."

Hiruzen's voice was low, heavy with exhaustion.

"Politics never ends on the battlefield. People are already impeaching me before the Daimyo. Once the war concludes, I will have to step down from the position of Hokage."

Asuma stood stunned, staring blankly at his father's greying temples, momentarily speechless.

"Jiraiya and Tsunade are traveling abroad, and Orochimaru's performance on the battlefield has been lackluster..."

"The selection of the next Hokage requires the approval of Konoha's high command and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. I no longer have control over who will become the Fourth Hokage."

Upon hearing this, Asuma silently lit a cigarette and took a fierce drag.

He realized that he had never once tried to view things from his father's perspective.

Now, putting himself in his shoes, he realized that the old man didn't have it easy either.

Hiruzen stepped closer, his voice dropping even lower.

"I need you to gain the Daimyo's favor. Once your term as a guardian ninja ends, I will use my connections to arrange for you to teach at the Ninja Academy. The heirs of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans will be assigned to your class."

His gaze was like a torch.

"By then, when the Fourth steps down, holding the support of the ninja clans and the trust of the Daimyo, you will be in a position to compete for the seat of the Fifth Hokage with victory firmly in your grasp."

Asuma suddenly wore an expression of anger.

"The position of Hokage should be earned through strength! Not through these kinds of schemes!"

"If a Hokage position is obtained through such means, I, Asuma, would rather not have it!"

"Naive!"

Hiruzen rebuked him sternly.

"Every generation of Hokage is born from the legacy of the past! The Will of Fire must be continued, and the future of Konoha must be entrusted to those who truly understand it!"

Seeing his son still standing defiantly, Hiruzen suddenly recalled his son's weakness and spoke up.

"After the war ends, Kurenai Yuhi will be promoted to Special Jonin. At that time, she will also enter the academy, responsible for the instruction of the heirs of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans."

Asuma looked up abruptly at these words.

Seeing that his strategy was working, Hiruzen continued.

"She will be kept away from dangerous missions and will teach securely within the village—until you two are wed."

"By then, when you run for the Fifth Hokage, you will have the support of almost every ninja clan in Konoha, and you will successfully become Hokage!"

Hiruzen spoke every word with deliberate weight.

"This is my promise to you. All you have to do is become a Hokage worthy of her and worthy of Konoha's future, and pass on the Will of Fire!"

Asuma's lips trembled, but all his words of rebuttal were stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.

"Sarutobi Asuma!"

Hiruzen stepped back, his voice regaining the majesty of the Hokage.

"As the Third Hokage, I order you to depart today for the Daimyo Palace to fulfill your duties as a guardian ninja. There shall be no delays!"

After a long silence, Asuma finally lowered his head and knelt on one knee.

"...As you command."

He rose, pushed open the door, and left without looking back.

He whispered to himself in his heart:

Kurenai, you must wait for me.

Wait for my return... and I will tell you my feelings myself.

The hallway lights stretched his shadow long across the floor.

Silence returned to the Hokage's office.

Seated at the Hokage's desk, Hiruzen watched the direction his son had departed, took a deep drag of his pipe, and slowly exhaled.

"Asuma, one day, when you sit in this chair yourself, you will naturally understand..."

His gaze drifted toward the statue of the Second Hokage, filled with an indescribable complexity.

"The position of Hokage must be entrusted to someone who has truly inherited the Will of Fire, and who... is willing to burn themselves for the sake of Konoha."

"Asuma, I will pave every path for you... because you cannot lose!"