How long does it take to cultivate a whimpering girl?
Shinji, with his realistic and practical approach, discovered the precise answer through practice.
Three days.
On the ship, with the slender white arm of Yūhi Kurenai draped around his neck, slightly sweaty, Shinji's lips curled into a slight smile. He glanced at Kurenai, who had temporarily deactivated her whimpering mode and was now resting her head on his chest.
To describe Kurenai at this moment, she resembled a cat, tired from playing and wanting to sleep.
"I've already received my payment, and now—"
Before Shinji could finish his sentence, Kurenai interrupted him.
"Don't talk. I'm exhausted. Let me sleep for a while…"
With that, Kurenai tightened her arm around him and snuggled into his chest, finding a more comfortable position.
Seeing Kurenai, who was now completely like a tamed cat, Shinji, being a man of principles, gently pushed her away and got out of bed.
His principle was: once payment was received, there were no further entanglements!
Borrowing a line from his brother in "Farewell My Concubine": "Three days means three days! Not a second more!"
Taking advantage of others was something Shinji, a man of principles, would never do! The agreed payment was the agreed payment, nothing more.
"Payment has been received. You can leave whenever you want."
Looking at Shinji, who had turned his back and was putting on his shirt without any hesitation, Kurenai felt inexplicably annoyed.
Can't I just sleep a little longer while holding you?
The one losing out here is me, as a woman!
Is he really that heartless?
Despite her frustration, Kurenai knew that to this man, it was merely a transaction. And now, to him, the transaction was complete.
Sensing Kurenai's resentful gaze behind him, Shinji turned and smiled at her. Seeing him, with his shirt unbuttoned, revealing his firm abs and chest, Kurenai blushed.
Though he was a scoundrel, there was no doubt that during the process of paying the price, she had indeed become infatuated with him…
Sorry, Asuma…
As Kurenai tightly closed her eyes and turned away, Shinji, sensing that it was enough, casually slung his jacket over his shoulder and left without hesitation.
Hearing the door handle turn, Kurenai's expression became conflicted. The creaking sound of the door opening made her even more conflicted.
Hearing footsteps and the slow creak of the door closing, Kurenai finally opened her eyes, only to see the last glimpse of Shinji closing the door behind him.
Click!
As the door closed, the man disappeared from Kurenai's sight. With his departure, Kurenai couldn't help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction and mild grievance.
He didn't even look back at me!
Clutching the bed sheets tightly and biting her lower lip, Kurenai felt tears of grievance welling up in her eyes, and she cursed softly.
"Bastard…!"
…
Walking down the stairs, one hand in his pocket, the other with his jacket slung over his shoulder, Shinji hummed a tune. Minato, who had dyed his hair black to avoid recognition, looked up from the hotel front desk, his expression complicated.
Minato had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time such a thing happened. More of these morally questionable incidents were sure to follow.
"Minato, you know that doing the same thing repeatedly loses its novelty."
Knowing Shinji's tendencies well, Minato didn't respond. He didn't believe Shinji would stop these morally dubious activities. He would just find more novel ways to indulge in them.
"You've really become like a worm in my belly, knowing my thoughts."
Watching Shinji prop his chin on his hand and say this, Minato fell silent.
So, you really will do it?
"Are you not afraid of divine retribution?"
"What's that?"
Seeing Shinji's puzzled expression, Minato was silent for a long time before finally ignoring him and going back to his work.
Seeing Minato fiddling with kunai, Shinji pretended not to know and curiously asked, "Minato, what are you doing?"
Smiling, Minato explained, "Since there might be battles in the future, I've made some modifications to the kunai and the Flying Thunder God seals to avoid revealing my identity."
"Impressive, you can even do something like that."
Modest in the face of Shinji's praise, Minato replied, "Not at all. Compared to Mr. Anli, I still have a long way to go. Your ability to teleport in real space without relying on time-space techniques is truly astounding."
"But why use seals?"
Picking up a kunai, Shinji listened as Minato explained, "The Flying Thunder God Technique works by contracting a special time-space to achieve teleportation in the real world…"
Swoosh!
Seeing Shinji suddenly disappear and reappear beside him, Minato stopped mid-sentence.
"Can't you do it without seals? Those incomplete spaces don't need cumbersome marking kunai to fix entry and exit points."
Minato: …
I almost forgot, he seems to know the Flying Thunder God Technique too!
That's right, Mr. Anli had asked for the Flying Thunder God scroll before, so he might have learned it!
"Mr. Anli, how do you fix the exit of a time-space without using marked kunai? As far as I know, it shouldn't be possible."
"Just did it because I wanted to."
Seeing Shinji's nonchalant (and slightly boastful) expression, Minato fell silent again, feeling a bit unresolved.
If I had researched the Flying Thunder God to this extent, that man, suspected to be Uchiha Madara, would have been dealt with the moment he appeared!
No marked kunai, appearing and disappearing at will...
"Your Flying Thunder God Technique essentially contracts a special time-space without time concepts, using special marks to fix the exit in the real world to achieve teleportation."
Nodding, Minato agreed. This was indeed the principle of the Flying Thunder God. Though it sounded simple, he had spent a lot of time perfecting it.
And he had made improvements on the Second Hokage's technique. Though he couldn't compare directly, he believed he was faster!
Even Kushina believed that, deeply and genuinely!
"However, the flaw is that you must first send the marked kunai to the destination or pre-mark the location to teleport there. No matter how fast you throw the kunai, there will be a time lag. Even if it's just a fraction of a second, to some people, that can be fatal."
"Exactly." Minato nodded. "So, do you have any tips, Mr. Anli?"
"Make that special time-space your own, like making a woman entirely yours, obedient in every way."
Seeing Shinji speak so matter-of-factly, Minato fell silent again.
Don't make it sound so simple! How do you make that special time-space your own, Mr. Anli? Did you really do that?
Minato was in turmoil.
"Minato, time-spaces aren't originally part of this world. If you figure out their origin, you might do the same."
"Huh?" Minato was stunned. "Aren't time-spaces naturally existing in this world?"
With his point made, Shinji said no more, stretching as he walked away from the front desk.
"Ah, debt collection is tiring. I'll go soak in the hot springs. If any guests come, please treat them well, Minato. This inn is my precious property!"
Watching Shinji's back, Minato knew he wouldn't get more answers about time-space from him. So he didn't ask further.
If time-spaces weren't originally part of this world, how did they come to be? And what did Mr. Anli mean by making a time-space his own…
An idea flashed in Minato's mind, his eyes widening.
Could it be…
Could it be they were artificially created?!
By a god? Only a god could do that, right?
…
The next day, at dawn.
Having rested for the night, Kurenai prepared to leave this place of heartache with her body in optimal condition.
"Um…"
Looking at Minato at the front desk, Kurenai felt a sense of familiarity.
This man, referred to as Minato by Angra Mainyu, seemed like a mere servant, but she felt she had seen him somewhere before.
"Have we met somewhere?"
"Probably not…" Minato laughed awkwardly.
Having found no memory of a man like him, Kurenai didn't ask further.
"By the way, he…"
Turning to look at the stairs, Kurenai felt a bit conflicted. That man didn't show any attachment, not even coming to see her off.
Three whole days, and not a shred of affection?
"Actually, Mr. Anli did specifically mention something related to you…"
Hearing Minato's words, Kurenai was taken aback.
So, there was some affection after all…
"Last night's accommodation fee…"
Kurenai: …