Asuma stood there dumbfounded, as if he hadn't heard clearly.
"Kurenai, what did you say? I think I didn't hear it clearly..."
"You've always been pushing me to leave the Uchiha clan, right? Well, let me tell you, there's no need anymore." Kurenai coldly snorted. "I've gotten used to living in the Uchiha clan. There's no need to move."
"After all, I have already given birth to two children for him. Both me and the children are very comfortable. You don't need to worry about us."
Asuma was completely stunned.
Although Kurenai had been living a secluded life for the past two years and had less contact with outsiders, Asuma never expected this outcome.
After all, as a ninja, it was normal to have long-term missions that kept them away from home. When Asuma became a guardian ninja, it was normal for him to not return home for half a year or even a year.
Asuma's mission frequency was neither high nor low, but with the ever-changing situation in the Shinobi World, many of Konoha's missions were aimed at other countries, inevitably prolonging the time spent away.
In addition, other people also took missions and needed to go out. So, it wasn't just him and Kurenai who didn't see each other for long periods of time. Kakashi and the others were also away from the village for long periods of time.
But he really didn't expect this outcome.
"How is this possible, you and him... How is this possible?!" Asuma took three steps back, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Wait! The children!"
"Two children. If they're not twins, then...?"
"Yes." Kurenai's pretty face blushed slightly, but she still bit her lip lightly and said firmly: "It's just as you think. We've been together for a long time, but it hasn't been made public."
"And now, I think it's time to make it public."
"No! Kurenai, how could you do this?!" Asuma was completely confused and said in a flustered manner: "Did he force you? No! He must have forced you."
"I'm going to kill him right now!"
"Who do you want to kill? The father of my child?" Kurenai's voice suddenly turned cold. "Also, I have already married into the Uchiha clan, so please call me Uchiha Kurenai. Don't casually call me Kurenai anymore!"
"We're not that familiar."
Upon hearing this, Asuma felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His expression changed several times, from confusion to incomprehension, and finally turned into anger.
"Kurenai! Why did you marry him?!" Asuma became even angrier, his eyes were almost filled with murderous intent. "That guy has dozens of wives!"
"How could you be interested in someone like him?"
"What makes me worse than him?"
Asuma's heart was filled with anger.
However, Kurenai simply said calmly: "Natsuo is much better than you. At least he doesn't force his decisions on a woman who has nothing to do with him."
Asuma and Kurenai eventually parted ways on bad terms. Because of the incident, the news quickly spread.
Regardless of Asuma being the 'Hokage's son' or Kurenai being the 'strongest genjutsu shinobi in Konoha', they were both well-known figures.
As expected, this issue was spread and exaggerated.
In the midst of all this, Natsuo couldn't help but laugh at this peculiar situation.
Because although he knew that Kurenai was becoming more and more accustomed to the lifestyle of the Uchiha clan, she herself had not yet made the decision to truly marry him.
She was still hesitating, and although Natsuo had promised Kurenai that once her child was born, she would be free to take the child with her and that he would discreetly support her. However, in her heart, this promise was just a tactic to buy time and convince Kurenai to stay in the Uchiha clan.
If Kurenai was still determined to leave, Natsuo knew she would have to come up with a strategy to change her mind, even if it meant resorting to extreme measures. He may be accommodating to his wives, but that doesn't mean he would allow her to leave with his son.
In the end, Asuma's pressure made Kurenai decide to accept her current life.
At first, it might have been just angry words, but later on, Kurenai did not regret it.
"Although others may gossip, it is still better than being with a man like Asuma who wants to control everything!"
This is her idea.
On one hand, as an independent woman, she is unwilling to accept polygamy, considering it as a personal inequality.
But on the other hand, no matter what others say, she is determined to do what she wants to do according to her own thoughts.
Natsuo naturally encourages this.
That same day, he welcomed Yūhi Kurenai into the Uchiha clan, and performed a marriage ceremony, without thinking about 'since you have given birth to my son, you should stay by my side, there is no need to complicate things'.
Kurenai looked at the solemn ceremony and felt a little relieved. Perhaps her decision was not wrong.
And in her emotional state, Natsuo also received a return gift from Kurenai that day.
Because Kurenai had just given birth and her body was still in the recovery period, it was naturally inconvenient for them to share a room. But after all, they were newlyweds.
On the day when any wife enters the house, Natsuo would only stay in that wife's room. This is the minimum respect.
However, unlike other wives, Kurenai's body was not convenient, and Natsuo himself was prepared to rest obediently for the night.
But the result...
"It's okay." Kurenai blushed and whispered, "There are many other ways, not just this one..."
Natsuo looked at Kurenai, shocked. He didn't expect her to play this way.
Are you sure your name is Kurenai? Isn't it Anko?
Meanwhile...
News of Asuma also reached the ears of the Third Hokage.
"Oh, is that so? Asuma, this child, has grown up and is still jealous of others... He really doesn't understand." The Third Hokage listened to the report from the Anbu, shaking his head helplessly.
Then he began to deal with other matters.
About three hours later...
The Third Hokage held a mission scroll, hesitating.
"Ah, there are too few Jōnin in the village, and they are all working hard." The Third Hokage sighed softly. "But this mission can only be completed by a Jōnin... Send me the list of Jōnin who are still in the village."
Soon, the secretary brought the list.
The Third Hokage looked back and forth at the list.
He suddenly slapped his head and said: "Oh, Natsuo Jōnin hasn't been on a mission for so long!"
"Although I understand the difficulties, he faces in reviving the Uchiha clan, the village is currently in a crisis, so please assign him this mission."
And so, a mission order from the Hokage was delivered to Natsuo.
[Rank B Mission: Assassinate the Left Guard of the Land of Lightning, 'Kakishi Motoharu'.]
The position of the Left Guard is a military position, not a high rank, but it holds local military power.
The key is that the location of this 'Kakishi Motoharu' is right in the Kumogakure supply depot, and he is constantly surrounded by patrolling Shinobis.
On the surface, assassinating a low-ranking official may not even qualify as a B-rank mission. But in reality, this mission definitely carries risks close to an S-rank.
"Is this revenge?" Anko's chest heaved with anger, her eyes widened. "Could it be that even the Hokage would seek personal revenge?"
Kurenai's expression also turned grim. She couldn't help but remember Asuma's actions when she wasn't part of the Uchiha clan.
Changing her teammates, assigning her the same mission as Asuma...
It's truly sickening!
The only question is whether it was Asuma's doing or the Third Hokage's action. Could it be both?
"I'm sorry, Natsuo, it's all because of my stubbornness..." Kurenai's face turned red with embarrassment. This mission is not easy. With Natsuo's strength as a Jōnin, he might have to risk his life to complete it.
"Hey, what are you thinking?" Natsuo couldn't help but chuckle.
"It's just a mission. Do you really think I would go to my death?"
"Then are you going to refuse?" Anko asked in surprise. "As shinobis, we can't refuse the Hokage's missions."
"Who said I was going to refuse?" Natsuo smiled. "Don't forget, we Uchiha also have secret techniques."
"Secret techniques? What secret techniques?"
The two women looked at him curiously.
"Our Uchiha Clan's Secret Technique is called: Wealth Release Technique."
Natsuo smiled and increased the quest reward by double, then handed it to the quest hall.
With the generous reward, the shinobis quickly came to claim the mission and went to complete it. Before long, news of the mission's completion arrived, and Natsuo went directly to sign the report for completing the mission. A report that was written by the shinobi himself.
Anko: "..."
Kurenai: "..."
Third Hokage: "..."
They never expected Natsuo to do such a thing. After all, shinobis mainly complete missions for money. Who would have thought that Natsuo would simply pay to have someone else solve it?
But even the Third Hokage couldn't find fault with it. Shinobis are allowed to use external assistance when completing missions.
For example, they can spend money to purchase information to aid in completing the mission.
Natsuo took it a step further. He directly paid to have the mission completed.
This is just... The Third Hokage's mouth twitched, but he could only suppress the Uchiha clan within the rules, likewise Natsuo also played his tricks within the rules. Everything was reasonable and legal.
Next, Third Hokage frequently assigned tasks to Natsuo. Natsuo casually outsourced all the tasks.
The Third Hokage hinted that the village shinobis should not accept Natsuo's tasks.
Then, the next second, Natsuo contacted Akatsuki.
Third Hokage specifically assigned a confidential mission that should not be disclosed to outsiders, in order to isolate the possibility of Natsuo hiring people.
Then Natsuo agreed on the surface, but as soon as he took a step out of the village, he turned back.
After wandering the streets for a long time and eating a lot of snacks, he finally went to the Hokage's office to report. "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage, the mission failed this time."
'Ah? Why did it fail?'
'Because as soon as I left, I suddenly discovered Orochimaru's trace, so I had no choice but to retreat...'
'What? There was no trace of Orochimaru at the gate?'
'How would I know? As soon as I saw him, I quickly withdrew!'
'Why didn't I check it carefully?'
'As for why I didn't fight Orochimaru desperately...'
'Come on, I'm just an ordinary Jōnin. How could I not fear Orochimaru, whom even you couldn't kill?'
Third Hokage, who was stuck with a set of excuses, had to quickly arrange for other ninjas to take over. Extremely dangerous high-level missions often had significant consequences and could cause great damage to Konoha if delayed.
He doesn't know what the Third Hokage was thinking with this back and forth, but Natsuo seemed to be having fun.
Sasuke, Kurenai, Anko, and others looked displeased.
"This is targeting us Uchiha!" Sasuke said with a disgruntled expression. "Now I understand why my father had several arguments with our clan members in the past. This is clearly targeting us!"
Although Sasuke was young at the time and didn't know much, even he could sense the atmosphere among the Uchiha.
Kurenai also snorted. "I thought the Third Hokage was a qualified and good Hokage, but now I'm disappointed."
Anko was even more direct and said: "In recent years, Konoha has been declining. This must be the Third Hokage's fault!"
However, Natsuo chuckled lightly.
"Why bother taking it to heart... After all, the Third Hokage has worked hard and achieved a lot. It wouldn't be surprising if he died at any time."
"Why do we need to be so calculative?"
Everyone was confused. What kind of reasoning was this?
After a while, due to the increasingly tense situation in the Shinobi World, the Third Hokage decided to hold a joint Chūnin Exam to showcase the strength of the new generation of Konoha and maintain the precious peace they had.
At this moment, Natsuo, who had grown a little tired of it all, smiled faintly.
"It looks like something interesting will happen..."
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