Konoha's Tag-System Ninja

A little lap pillow is nice for a while, but having a lap pillow forever—so soft and cozy—would be perfect.

After finishing their ninjutsu training, the exhausted Shūichi naturally drifted off to sleep, resting comfortably on Pakura's lap.

Pakura lowered her gaze to look at Shūichi's face, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. "What a strange guy…"

Gifted beyond belief, his power and strength were so incredible that others could only look up in awe or fear.

He could be assertive, even domineering, yet he was warm-hearted and sincere, showing trust even to someone who had once been his enemy.

Maybe it was confidence in his own abilities, or maybe it was something else.

Pakura's cheeks grew slightly warm as she thought, "Such a little flirt!"

But there was no hint of irritation in her expression.

Reaching out, she gently brushed her fingers across Shūichi's face, which was graced with a peaceful smile. Memories of her people in the Sand Village flitted through her mind.

She couldn't return to that place she both loved and hated.

And the person resting in front of her was now the only one she could depend on and trust. If this little flirt were a few years older, perhaps she'd take the initiative herself to pursue him!

A rare blush spread across Pakura's usually stoic face.

Most of the time, it was easy to forget Shūichi's age, but when she really thought about it, she couldn't avoid it.

"This little brat…"

Unable to resist, Pakura pinched Shūichi's cheeks and smiled.

There was no way she'd have dared do this if he were awake.

Pinching his left cheek, then the right, she found it surprisingly fun!

"Hey, you're going to ruin my handsome face with all that pinching."

Shūichi's voice suddenly broke the silence.

Pakura jumped in surprise, like a thief caught red-handed, momentarily at a loss.

Shūichi opened his eyes, looking up at her with a playful smile.

Pakura composed herself after a moment, regaining her poised, confident demeanor. In a calm tone, she said, "Lord Shūichi, I was simply helping you relax."

Such a poor excuse! Even her ears felt hot, but she kept her face expressionless, feigning calm.

"Oh, so that's what it was…" Shūichi smirked, shifting his body to face her, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. "Then how about helping with my shoulders and back too?"

Pakura's body froze at his sudden closeness, his warm breath against her abdomen sparking a tingling sensation that coursed through her.

"Um… Lord Shūichi, I…"

For a moment, Pakura was completely flustered, feeling both exasperated and amused.

In this position, how was she supposed to massage his shoulders or back?

This little flirt was obviously teasing her.

And with his warm breath so close, she found herself pressing her legs together without thinking.

Taking in her unique scent, Shūichi felt the tension in her body. He suddenly sat up, still holding her waist, and leaned close to her ear. "Pakura, will you be mine?"

Pakura's mind went blank. She'd sensed Shūichi's feelings before, but she hadn't expected him to be so bold right now.

"Um… Lord Shūichi, you're still so young."

Realizing what she'd just said, she quickly tried to explain.

In ancient times, he'd already be married with kids by now!

And even now, Shūichi had the strength to decimate entire forces.

But Shūichi just laughed at her words. "Oh, so it's my age that bothers you? Sounds like you've already got some ideas of your own!"

"Th-That's definitely not it."

Pakura tried to argue, but it sounded weak even to her own ears.

Still trying to put up a front! Noticing her flushed earlobes, Shūichi seized his chance.

Pakura's body went rigid, letting out a small gasp, her gaze turning dazed as her mind went blank. "Lord Shūichi, he really is…"

"What am I going to do? I'm losing control…"

"Somehow, he's always there in my thoughts, and it's so troubling…"

"But his age…am I being too much?"

Just then, Shūichi's voice cut through her thoughts. "Pakura, turn around."

Dazed, Pakura turned to face him.

Without missing a beat, Shūichi went on the offensive, deploying his special technique.

Sword Style—Witty Lips and Silver Tongue!

Pakura responded with her own defensive jutsu, Earth Release—Tooth Wall Technique.

Unfortunately, the difference in their strength was too great, and her defenses soon crumbled under the relentless assault of Shūichi's Witty Lips and Silver Tongue Technique.

Determined to win her over, Shūichi deployed his secret move—Silver Tongue Enchantment Technique.

And the effects were astounding, sparking a bond as unbreakable as a finely woven thread.

Pakura couldn't resist any longer and ultimately surrendered to Shūichi, offering him her "spoils of war."

Naturally, Shūichi didn't hold back and accepted all the spoils with pleasure.

The fruits tasted great, and he was satisfied, but he wanted even more spoils.

"Lord Shūichi, that place is too dangerous… you shouldn't go…"

"If I'm the lord, then you'll have to listen to me, of course."

Pakura avoided Shūichi's gaze, turning her head to the side, but she nodded slightly. "Yes."

"And don't forget to call me Lord Shūichi."

"Uh… yes, Lord Shūichi."

The morning passed quickly.

After a satisfying lunch at the experimental base with Pakura, Shūichi returned to Konoha in the afternoon.

Though it was tempting to enjoy her warmth, Shūichi knew that true power was essential to protect everything. Training couldn't be neglected.

So, he spent the entire afternoon in the lab, studying Asuka's cells.

Later, after his usual afternoon training, Shūichi stopped by the Hokage's office to report Asuma Sarutobi's participation in his experiments to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As expected, Hiruzen simply nodded, acknowledging it without objection. Instead, he added, "Shūichi, please take care of Asuma."

Shūichi smiled. "You can count on me, Lord Third. Asuma has grown a lot; he won't disappoint you."

Hiruzen could only sigh inwardly, hoping Shūichi's words would prove true.

Time flew by as Shūichi stayed busy, and before he knew it, July arrived.

Returning from Pakura's side, Shūichi had just immersed himself in his experiments when a memory from one of his Shadow Clones returned.

"It finally worked!"

After processing the memory, Shūichi's face lit up with joy.

Kushina Uzumaki had finally mastered the Nine-Tails' power, achieving the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.

Setting aside his tools, Shūichi used Flying Thunder God to teleport to where Kushina was training, arriving just in time to see her sparring with Minato Namikaze on the grass.

Without using Flying Thunder God, Minato was at a disadvantage—Kushina outmatched him in both strength and speed.

Sensing Shūichi's arrival, Kushina, now fired up, shouted, "Shūichi, you join in too!"

Even before her words finished, Kushina spun around and lunged at Shūichi.

Boom!

Fist and palm collided, sending a shockwave through the air as Shūichi's feet left the ground and he was knocked backward.

"Shūichi, without the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, you're no match for me!"

Laughing, Kushina chased after him.

"Not necessarily," Shūichi replied.

With that, he activated his cells' regenerative abilities and unleashed his superhuman strength. Though he was pushed back again, the effect wasn't as severe as before.

However, even with the regenerative boost, he still lagged behind the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode in speed.

So, on the third exchange, Shūichi directly activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Finally, he was able to go toe-to-toe with Kushina in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.

Shūichi knew that, realistically, the Lightning Release Chakra Mode wasn't quite on par with the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode—it was his exceptional reflexes and foundational strength that allowed him to keep up.

Even Kushina was surprised. "I didn't know the Lightning Release Chakra Mode could be so powerful!"

Minato, who was watching from the sidelines, chuckled. "Kushina, it's not just the mode—it's Shūichi himself."

"Didn't you notice? Even in his normal state, Shūichi's reaction speed is almost as good as yours."

Realizing this, Kushina focused her gaze on Shūichi, who was deftly fending off her attacks. She shouted, "Shūichi, why don't you activate your Nine-Tails Chakra Mode too!"

Dodging her kick effortlessly, Shūichi grinned. "Then you'd better be ready."

With those words, he activated his own Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, disappearing from Kushina's sight.

"So fast!"

Kushina turned, only to be hit by a powerful kick that sent her flying.

Now, she found herself completely overwhelmed, forced into a defensive position.

Watching, Minato couldn't help but marvel. "It's like Sage Mode—enhancing one's abilities based on their foundation. The Nine-Tails' power is truly comparable to Sage Mode."

Meanwhile, deep within Kushina, the Yang Nine-Tails smirked. "Losing despite having the same power? What an idiot."

Kushina gritted her teeth at the taunt, pushing herself to tap further into her potential.

Shūichi raised an eyebrow, maintaining his pressure.

He hadn't even been using his full strength just yet.

After a while, Kushina pulled back, looking a bit disheartened. "I really can't compete with you, Shūichi!"

"And that dumb fox even mocked me!"

Deactivating his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Shūichi laughed. "It's because, in my normal state, I'm already much stronger than you, so the same mode amplifies me differently."

"As for the Nine-Tails, let's team up next time and teach him a lesson."

Kushina, always cheerful and optimistic, laughed heartily with her hands on her hips. "Sounds good to me!"

"Though, in this mode, I should be the third-strongest in the village, right?"

At this, Shūichi glanced at Minato.

Minato smiled and replied, "That's right."

"The Third Hokage is first, Shūichi second, Kushina you're third, and I'm fourth!"

Delighted, Kushina pumped her fist. "Now that I can sense malice too, I'll take over the task of guarding against that White Zetsu intruder!"

Shūichi quickly deferred. "I'll leave that to Minato-sensei."

Kushina then turned her gaze to Minato, her expression suggesting that he'd better agree.

With no other option, Minato nodded. "I'll arrange for the Anbu to support you."

Kushina beamed. "That's more like it."

From that day on, Shūichi gained an additional responsibility: becoming Kushina Uzumaki's sparring partner.

With the powerful Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, only Shūichi in all of Konoha was strong enough to serve as a sparring partner.

Even Minato Namikaze, in his normal state, couldn't manage it.

Two weeks flew by.

Once again, Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Minato to the battlefield, this time intending to leverage Minato's reputation to completely crush Iwa's hopes and force them to accept peace talks, finally ending the long-drawn war.

Sure enough, within three days, news of a major victory at the front lines came back.

A few days later, Shūichi received word from Shinnosuke that peace talks between Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure had resumed.

On July 28, in the 46th year of Konoha, Minato returned from the front lines.

Shūichi, enjoying Pakura's company at the Daimyo's mansion, received the memory feedback from his Shadow Clone and immediately rushed back to Konoha.

"Jiraiya-sensei has already gone to the Land of Rain?"

Upon hearing this from his teacher Minato, Shūichi frowned instinctively and said, "Sensei, I'll head to the Land of Rain right away and join up with Jiraiya-sensei."

Minato nodded. "I'll be counting on you, Shūichi. If there's any fighting, fall back immediately."

He maintained a respectful wariness regarding the Rinnegan, prioritizing Shūichi and Jiraiya's safety above all.

"I understand!"

Shūichi nodded, and in the next instant, his figure disappeared.

Before long, he arrived in the misty, rain-drenched Land of Rain and activated Sage Mode, expanding his sensory range.

"Found him!"

Disabling Sage Mode, Shūichi vanished once more.

Moments later, Shūichi entered a small town in the Land of Rain, finding himself in an izakaya where Jiraiya was bantering with a bar hostess.

"Shūichi, I knew you'd track me down—come over here!"

Jiraiya, unfazed by Shūichi's arrival, raised a slightly tipsy hand and waved him over.

Taking a seat opposite Jiraiya, Shūichi quipped, "Looks like I came too early and interrupted your fun."

Jiraiya chuckled. "No, no, you're right on time."

The heavily made-up hostess smiled as she poured Shūichi a drink.

"Thanks, but I don't drink," Shūichi politely declined with a slight smile.

Jiraiya laughed, "He's still underage—no drinking for him."

The hostess seemed surprised. "This young man doesn't look it at all!"

Indeed, Shūichi's height and aura didn't seem like that of a typical 13-year-old.

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow at the ever-serious Shūichi. "Shūichi, shall I introduce you to a lady as well?"

Still satisfied from his time with Pakura, Shūichi confidently refused.

Besides, could anyone here compare to Pakura and the others?

Clearly, Jiraiya was truly famished.

After a brief while, Jiraiya and Shūichi left the izakaya and entered a secluded alley.

"Shūichi, did you sense anything?"

At this moment, Jiraiya's playful demeanor vanished. Though he wore a smile, his gaze was serious, fixed on a tall tower in the distance.

Following his gaze, Shūichi asked, "Is Nagato there?"

Jiraiya replied, "Not entirely sure. His chakra feels different from before."

"Is that so?"

Shūichi infused chakra into the ground beneath his feet, activating the Listening Technique, and quickly expanded his sensory field.

He soon locked onto a faintly familiar chakra, his eyes narrowing. "So that's how it is. The situation seems… quite tricky."

Jiraiya turned to Shūichi. "What's the situation?"

Releasing the Listening Technique, Shūichi replied, "I suspect it's related to the First Hokage's cells."

Hearing this, Jiraiya sighed with a touch of resignation. "Seems we're facing the most difficult scenario."

"So, Shūichi, what's the plan?"

"How about I scout ahead, while you provide backup from the outside?"

(End of Chapter)

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