Kurenai Yuhi came to Shiki's place as well, already knowing exactly where to find his daughter—since she wasn't at home, this was the only place she could be.
Sure enough, the moment he stepped inside, he saw her beside Shiki, busy fussing over him.
Pinching his shoulder to check for soreness… tapping lightly as if testing pressure… then rushing off to bring water and a towel.
She was so absorbed in taking care of him that she didn't even notice her father's arrival, which made Yuhi Shinku exhale a long sigh.
"Kurenai… it's time to go. We can't trouble Shiki-kun this much."
But Kurenai shook her head firmly, not budging an inch.
"You can't say that, Dad. I'm here to help Shiki-nii, and he doesn't mind at all."
Shiki, who hadn't said anything up to this point, gave her a slightly strange look but he didn't comment.
Honestly, having her around felt more like having a little sister hovering at his side, so he simply let her be.
Yuhi Shinku, however… did not share Shiki's relaxed mindset.
Unlike Shiki, he was thinking much more deeply about the situation.
Yuhi Shinku could only stand there speechless, a dry sigh stuck in his chest.
Truthfully, if Kurenai really ended up with Shiki one day, he wouldn't complain at all.
Strength? Top-tier.
Talent? Top-tier.
Character? Well… cold, proud, and lion-like—but absolutely trustworthy.
Most importantly, Shiki had saved Yuhi Shinku's life before.
And their ages weren't far apart—Shiki was only fourteen.
But even though he liked the idea, watching his daughter stare at Shiki with sparkling eyes still made his chest tighten.
"Alright, food's finished, drinks are done.
Kurenai! We're leaving!"
"Huh? So soon?"
"Soon my ass! Look outside—it's pitch black!"
Kurenai puffed her cheeks but didn't argue.
She followed her father toward the entrance.
"Shiki-nii, I'm leaving now! I'll come see you again next time!"
"Mm."
This little girl always made Shiki want to laugh.
"Then, Shiki-kun, we'll head out first."
"Yeah."
Konoha wasn't big.
They could meet anytime—nothing to feel sentimental about.
Under the moonlight, Shiki stood in the courtyard, blond hair glowing faintly.
Like a lion king waking from slumber.
"So handsome…"
Kurenai whispered, unable to restrain it.
Girl, you know he heard that, right?
Yuhi Shinku held back a sigh and glared at his daughter.
"Let's Go."
He grabbed Kurenai by the shoulder and dragged her away.
As they disappeared down the street, Shiki didn't think much of it.
His mind was on something else—
What Yuhi Shinku had mentioned during dinner.
"The White Fang's mission…? So it's already that time."
So the higher-ups were finally preparing to target White Fang.
Not surprising.
Konoha White Fang—Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake—was not only overwhelmingly strong, but also universally respected.
Too respected.
And he didn't belong to the Hokage's faction.
Nor to Danzo's.
Nor to any of the other internal groups.
A man like that—
Merits too high. Reputation too high. Influence too high.
Of course they'd target him.
This meant only one thing:
Sakumo Hatake…
was going to die soon.
"Disgraceful."
Shiki's eyes narrowed.
"To choose death like that…
White Fang, you're just a coward."
The famed Konoha White Fang, didn't die on the battlefield, didn't die protecting comrades...
He committed suicide at home.
Ridiculous.
At least in Shiki's eyes, if someone dared to scheme against him…
He would kill them.
All of them.
Suicide?
A shameful ending.
Shiki sighed, cleaned up the plates and sake cups on his table, and went to rest.
The next morning, Shiki fastened two spare high-quality ninja swords to his waist.
Because of his relentless training, he had gone through more ninja blades than most weapons shops could stock.
He planned to go out...
He needed a large open space to test the Fuwa Fuwa Fruit properly.
The courtyard was far too small.
And more importantly…
Hiruzen Sarutobi had that annoying crystal ball that could spy across the village.
Until he reached full power, Shiki didn't want to expose too much.
Konoha was called the "cradle of geniuses."
But under Hiruzen's rule?
Geniuses rarely ended well.
Just as Shiki was preparing to head out, he heard an irritated voice outside.
"Didn't I make it clear enough yesterday? Or are you really itching to die?"
Tsunade's tone was sharp enough to cut steel.
Kato Dan had followed her again.
Again.
Is this guy a cockroach? That vitality…
Yesterday, Tsunade had punched him so hard his organs practically rearranged themselves.
But being a jōnin, he recovered fast—
and Tsunade didn't actually use a killing blow.
If she had?
Kato Dan would already be on a stone tablet.
"T-Tsunade, I'm only doing this because I care about you!"
Kato Dan forced a bright smile.
Truthfully, he admired Tsunade's monstrous strength...that power was no joke.
But more importantly…
He wanted to win her over.
"Get lost."
Tsunade shot him a deadly glare.
If they weren't both Konoha shinobi, she would've punched him into tomorrow by now.
At that moment, Shiki stepped out of his house—exactly into the middle of Tsunade and Kato Dan's argument.
The first thing he thought?
"Are you two sure you're not at the wrong house? Arguing at my gate first thing in the morning?"
Seriously?
Tsunade turned instantly, eyes brightening.
"I'm looking for you!"
Leaning against the door frame, Shiki cast her a lazy glance.
"Oh?
Then I wonder what business Tsunade-sama has with me?"
His words used honorifics.
His tone absolutely did not.
It was casual, dismissive—
the tone of someone too proud to bow.
But Tsunade didn't complain.
The ninja world respected strength, and this boy had blocked her monstrous punch without a scratch.
If anyone had earned the right to speak casually to her, it was him.
Kato Dan, however, felt his brain melting.
Tsunade had never gone out of her way to look for him.
And to make it worse—
When Shiki opened the door, he completely ignored Kato Dan's existence.
Very rude.
"Hey now… be careful how you speak.
Do you realize who you're addressing?"
"Hmm?"
Shiki didn't care about small fry.
But that one line made him turn his head slowly.
Even Tsunade's expression changed into an annoyed one.
What does my title have to do with you, idiot?
"You may call yourself the Golden Lion," Kato Dan stated,
"but I'm still a recognized Konoha jōnin.
I am Kato Dan."
In his mind, Shiki was still just a genius kid.
A strong kid, yes… frighteningly so.
But young all the same.
Kato Dan, on the other hand, had already made a name for himself long before Shiki ever stepped foot in the Academy.
That alone, he felt, deserved at least a bit of respect—certainly not the casual, dismissive attitude he was being shown now.
Shiki smiled.
Playfully.
Almost pityingly.
"So?"
Kato Dan spoke with a gentle tone and a warm smile.
"So when you meet a senpai like me, you should show a little respect, don't you think?"
"…Ah. Got it."
Shiki nodded with a gentle smile too.
Kato Dan didn't notice the way Tsunade silently took two steps backward.
Because she knew.
She absolutely knew.
Shiki was about to do something very, very bad.
"That's the spirit, kid!
Good. As long as you understa—"
Kato dan never finished.
Shiki's eyes sharpened...like a lion locking onto prey.
His hand slid onto the hilt of his blade.
And then...
The air itself seemed to freeze.
A heavy, oppressive pressure erupted from Shiki's body—a wave of raw dominance that crashed outward like a storm.
Conqueror's Haki.
Golden Lion's overwhelming aura.
Centered on Shiki, it spread outward in an invisible shockwave.
"W-What…!"
Even Tsunade stared, stunned.
Though Shiki was only targeting Kato Dan, she could feel it too
A power that could crush weaker wills outright.
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