Her body was burning up?
Thinking of the name "Sand Desire Flower Poison" and the symptoms Kurenai had described, Xuandou's gaze immediately turned strange.
Could this Sand Desire Flower Poison be an aphrodisiac poison that stirred human desire?
Sunagakure ninja had always excelled at extracting all manner of bizarre toxins from the unique plants and animals of the Land of Wind.
Antidotes for many of these poisons were difficult to obtain, and some had no antidote at all, making them thorny problems even for medical ninja.
What he had received from the system was only basic Medical Ninjutsu proficiency, enough to handle ordinary injuries.
He could not help Kurenai detoxify by concocting an antidote.
If he absolutely had to remove the poison, it was not impossible, but he would have to use another method...
To confirm further, Xuandou steadied himself and asked softly:
"When you say you're burning up, what exactly does it feel like? Try to describe it in detail. This is important."
Kurenai struggled to stay conscious and described it haltingly:
"My abdomen... it feels like a fire is burning there, spreading through my whole body... it's unbearably hot..."
"And I... mm..."
Her voice grew quieter, carrying a tremor she could barely suppress:
"And... my heart... it feels as if a feather is brushing over it. It's a little ticklish..."
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing crimson.
At this point, Xuandou was completely certain. These were the typical signs of an aphrodisiac poison taking effect.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he forced himself to speak:
"Kurenai... you may have been afflicted with an aphrodisiac poison. This kind of poison... stirs the desires within the body and disrupts the mind."
"An aphrodisiac poison?"
Kurenai looked confused. The poison's effects had already slowed her reactions somewhat.
Then she immediately understood.
A stifling silence settled over the cave.
Only their slightly hurried breathing remained.
To break the suffocating awkwardness, Xuandou took a canteen from his ninja tool pouch and offered it to her:
"Drink some water first. It might help a little."
Kurenai tried to reach for the water.
However, a powerful wave of dizziness suddenly struck her.
Fortunately, Xuandou reacted quickly and caught Kurenai before she fell.
"Kurenai, how are you feeling?"
Xuandou's anxious calls reached her ears.
Kurenai wanted to respond, but her consciousness had already begun to blur.
Before her awareness faded completely, her body followed its instincts and moved closer to Xuandou.
She leaned toward Xuandou of her own accord, tilted her face up, and kissed his lips.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, in the Hokage's office.
Asuma Sarutobi stood before Hiruzen and demanded angrily:
"Old man, why did you send Kurenai, a Chunin who only knows genjutsu, on such a dangerous mission?"
"Insolence!"
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, cut him off sharply.
He struck his pipe hard against the desktop.
"I summoned you to inform you that you are to leave for the Daimyo's Residence today to serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, not to listen to you question me!"
"But her team doesn't even have a full roster! What if she runs into danger?"
"Konoha is short-handed right now. Every ninja must shoulder heavy responsibilities!"
Hiruzen took a deep draw on his pipe, suppressed his anger, and explained gravely.
"This is wartime. No one is exempt."
"Then I can't leave either!"
Asuma clenched his fists.
"Hiding somewhere safe to protect those pampered daimyo while watching my comrades fight and die on the front lines-I, Asuma, can't do that!"
Hiruzen studied his son for a moment before finally softening his tone and exhaling a thick cloud of smoke:
"Asuma... once the war ends, I will step down from the Hokage position."
Asuma's pupils contracted at those words:
"What? Why?"
"Since the Third Shinobi World War began, Konoha has suffered repeated attacks from the other nations, yet we have failed to win a single victory sufficient 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 and weary.
"Politics has never been confined to the battlefield. Someone has already petitioned the daimyo for my removal. Once the war ends, I will have to step down as Hokage."
Asuma froze, staring blankly at the gray at his father's temples, momentarily speechless.
"Jiraiya and Tsunade are traveling far from home, and Orochimaru's performance on the battlefield has been poor as well..."
"The selection of the next Hokage requires the approval of Konoha High Command and the daimyo of the Land of Fire. I can no longer control who becomes the Fourth Hokage."
At that, Asuma silently lit a cigarette and took a hard drag.
He realized that he seemed never to have considered things from his father's perspective.
Now that he thought about it on his father's behalf, it seemed the old man did not have it easy either.
Hiruzen stepped closer, lowering his voice further.
"I need you to gain the daimyo's approval. 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 blazed:
"Then, when the Fourth steps down, with the support of the ninja clans and the daimyo's trust in hand, you will be assured of victory when you compete to become the Fifth Hokage."
Asuma's expression suddenly turned angry.
"The Hokage position should be won through strength! Not through methods like this!"
"I would rather not become Hokage at all than gain the position through these methods!"
"Naive!"
Hiruzen rebuked him angrily.
"Every Hokage has emerged through succession! The Will of Fire must endure. Konoha's future must be entrusted to someone who truly understands it!"
Seeing his son still stubbornly holding his head high, Hiruzen suddenly remembered his son's weakness and said:
"Once the war ends, Kurenai Yuhi will be promoted to Special Jōnin. She will also enter the academy then, taking charge of teaching the heirs of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans."
Asuma's head snapped up.
Seeing that his tactic had worked, Hiruzen continued:
"She will stay away from dangerous missions and teach safely in the village-until the two of you marry."
"Then, when you run for Fifth Hokage, you will gain the support of almost every ninja clan in Konoha and successfully become Hokage!"
Hiruzen spoke each word distinctly.
"This is my promise to you. What you must do is become a Hokage worthy of her and worthy of Konoha's future, and carry on the Will of Fire!"
Asuma's lips trembled, but all his objections caught in his throat, leaving him unable to speak.
"Asuma Sarutobi!"
Hiruzen stepped back, his voice regaining the authority of the Hokage.
"As the Third Hokage, I order you to depart today for the Daimyo's Residence and fulfill your duties as a Guardian Ninja. There must be no delay!"
After a long silence, Asuma finally lowered his head and knelt on one knee:
"...Yes, sir."
He rose, pushed open the door, and left without looking back.
He repeated silently to himself:
Kurenai, you must wait for me.
When I return... I'll tell you how I feel in person.
The corridor lights stretched his shadow long.
Silence returned to the Hokage's office.
Seated in the Hokage's chair, Hiruzen gazed in the direction his son had left, took a deep draw on his pipe, then slowly exhaled.
"Asuma, one day, when you sit in this chair yourself, you will naturally understand..."
His gaze turned toward the statue of the Second Hokage, filled with an indescribable complexity.
"The Hokage position must be entrusted to someone who has truly inherited the Will of Fire, and... who is willing to burn himself for Konoha."
"Asuma, I will smooth every path for you... because you cannot lose!"