"In half a month then," Shinho said after a moment of thought. "Have the ANBU find a secluded sunny beach in the Land of Water."
"Yes, sir." Samui quickly finished the shrimp. "Lord Hokage, are you planning a trip to the beach?"
"Not just me," Shinho smiled. "All of you."
"All of us?" Samui blinked.
"Yes." Shinho listed a few names: "You, Sensei, Hinata, Ino, Karin..."
Samui wanted to speak but stopped herself.
She realized they were all women close to Shinho. Could this be a swimsuit party? The thought alone made her feel flustered.
"Choose a secluded beach, and ensure no one disturbs us," Shinho added. "This is very important."
"Understood," Samui replied seriously.
She had a premonition of what might happen, but for some reason, she also felt a sense of anticipation. Being invited meant she held a special place in Shinho's heart.
After lunch, Samui left with the bento boxes.
Shinho got up and sprawled on the sofa for his midday break, too lazy to work.
After some time, a familiar fragrance roused him.
He opened his eyes to see a pair of pearly white eyes gazing down at him, followed by a delicate collarbone, a Konoha forehead protector, and the faint outline of breasts beneath a mesh top.
It was Hinata, kneeling before him. Startled by his sudden awakening, her breath hitched, accentuating her curves.
"Shinho, did I wake you?" Hinata asked shyly.
"No," Shinho replied, reaching out to pinch her cheek. "I'm always happy to see you."
"Me too," Hinata smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"You're sooo adorable," Shinho complimented. "Come closer."
Hinata, suppressing her shyness, leaned in.
In the next instant, her lips were sealed by his.
Shinho's right hand slid down her body. Hinata's eyes fluttered closed, but she suddenly stiffened, sensing her inside her clothes shifting and changing shape.
The strange sensation made her legs weak, and she sank from a squatting position to sitting on her knees.
"Did you have lunch?" Shinho asked, gazing at Hinata's flushed face.
"Y-yes..." Hinata couldn't meet his gaze, her eyes fixated on her legs.
"You're still this shy?" Shinho chuckled. "Will you faint during the wedding ceremony?"
"No!" Hinata declared with sudden firmness.
"Such a cute reaction." Shinho caressed her burning cheeks. "It makes me want to marry you even sooner."
"M-me too..." Hinata's confidence wavered again, her voice barely a whisper.
"Come up here." Shinho shifted back on the sofa, making room for her.
"Okay." Blushing, Hinata climbed onto the sofa and nestled in his arms.
"How's Hanabi doing lately?" Shinho asked, gazing at her face so close to his.
"She's been very diligent," Hinata replied, then hesitated. "Especially with the Transformation Jutsu. She's been practicing relentlessly."
The Hyuga Clan specialized in Gentle Fist.
Even if Hanabi had become a Gu Master, her obsession with the Transformation Jutsu seemed odd.
Hinata had asked her about it, but Hanabi had brushed it off. She suspected her younger sister was hiding something.
"The Transformation Jutsu, huh?" Shinho stroked Hinata's head. "It's good skill to master."
Hinata was taken aback. She'd thought the Transformation Jutsu was useless for Hanabi, but she didn't argue with Shinho.
"Speaking of which, what did you want to see me about?" Shinho wrapped his arms around her slender frame.
"Shinho... what kind of gift would you like?" Hinata hesitated before asking.
"A gift?" Shinho nuzzled his face against hers. "Why would you suddenly give me a gift?"
"A wedding gift," Hinata explained. "I don't know what to get you."
"About that..." Shinho's gaze fell to her soft lips, and he kissed her again.
Hinata's blush deepened, a seductive allure radiating from her shyness. Shinho's hands moved upwards, past her curvaceous hips, cupping her breasts.
Even through her clothes, the sensation was unmistakable.
Hinata stiffened, instinctively trying to squirm away, but it only made the contact more pronounced.
"Hinata," Shinho murmured, breaking the kiss to catch his breath. "How about we try a new training exercise today?"
Hinata looked at him dazedly, her eyes unfocused, and nodded instinctively.
"Stand up." Shinho waited for her to rise before settling back on the sofa.
Hinata's eyes widened, her blush spreading to her ears, as if steam were rising from her head.
She had never imagined witnessing such a sight.
"Hinata," Shinho beckoned her with a wave of his hand.
In a daze, Hinata knelt down before him.
"It's nothing special," Shinho said with a smile. "Do it just like what we did earlier."
Earlier? Hinata struggled to recall.
The kiss? With the tongue? She glanced at Shinho, then, summoning her courage, parted her lips.
Soon, her cheeks curved slightly.
"Just like that." Shinho sighed. "Hinata, you're quick to pick up on things."
Hinata's mind went blank.
Unable to speak, she relied on her memory, acting instinctively.
Shinho watched her, fascinated by the flush on her face.
He was most surprised, however, that she hadn't fainted.
He reached out and gently stroked her hair.
After a while, a faint scent brought Hinata back to her senses.
She felt a tension in Shinho's body. The next moment, he held her head tightly, their breaths mingling.
Hinata frowned, but her desire to be a good wife pushed her to face the challenge without fear.
"S-Shinho..." Hinata gasped.
"Thank you, Hinata," Shinho said after a few moments. "Go upstairs and wash up."
"Okay." Hinata rose and went upstairs.
Closing the door behind her, she recalled what had just happened, feeling a wave of drowsiness wash over her.
Did we really do that? But... she had willingly participated.
Hinata pressed her fingers to her lips, a look of infatuation on her face.
"Shinho..." she whispered.
Fifteen minutes later, footsteps echoed from the stairs. Shinho looked up to see Hinata descending.
"Shinho." Hinata stood before him, her cheeks flushed a charming shade of red.
"You've already given me my gift, so there's no need to worry about what to get me," Shinho said, pinching her cheek.
Hinata paused. This was the gift?
Since Shinho said so, she accepted it with a nod.
"Good girl." Shin
He pulled her into an embrace. "We'll get married next year."
"Yes!" Hinata's heart fluttered with excitement.
"When do you want to set the date?" Shinho asked.
"New Year's Day," Hinata replied after a moment of thought.
It wasn't that New Year's held any special significance for her; she simply wanted to get married as soon as possible, and New Year's Day was the first day of the new year.
The Shinobi World used the Gregorian calendar, so New Year's Day was January 1st.
"New Year's Day?" Shinho chuckled.
He understood Hinata's eagerness. From August to January was indeed quite a long wait, and it wasn't too close to his wedding with Tsunade.
However, he had a better date in mind.
"Let's set it for December 27th," Shinho said softly. "It's only a few days apart."
Hinata's eyes welled up as she looked at him.
December 27th was her birthday. Tsunade was also getting married on her birthday, signifying their equal importance to him.
"Yes!" Hinata exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion.
"You should go home now," Shinho said, giving her a quick kiss.
"See you tomorrow, Shinho." Overjoyed, Hinata left the Hokage's office.
Shinho stretched, then returned to his desk to work.
That evening, he went to Samui's house to "educate" his two secretaries.
…
August 1st. The day before Shinho and Tsunade's wedding.
Poof! Jiraiya appeared in a puff of smoke.
He took a deep breath, savoring the refreshing air of Mount Myoboku. He looked around, quickly spotting Fukasaku in the distance.
"Good morning, young Jiraiya," Fukasaku greeted him with a smile.
"Chief Fukasaku, why did you call me back today?" Jiraiya asked seriously. "Does the Great Toad Sage have a new prophecy?"
Fukasaku's expression stiffened.
"Hmm?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled. "What happened?"
"The Great Toad Sage has passed away," Fukasaku said with a sigh.
"Impossible!" Jiraiya was stunned. "How could the Great Toad Sage die? Who killed him?"
"No one killed him," Fukasaku shook his head. "He died of old age."
"Old age?" Jiraiya was dumbfounded. "The Great Toad Sage lived for over a thousand years. How could he suddenly die of old age?"
"Immortality is a myth in the Shinobi World," Fukasaku countered.
"..." Jiraiya wanted to argue but couldn't find the words.
"The Great Toad Sage passed away yesterday," Fukasaku continued. "Before he left, he entrusted me with two messages for you."
"What are they?" Jiraiya asked instinctively.
"First, with the Six Paths Sage's help, the prophecy of Mount Myoboku's destruction has been averted. You no longer need to wander," Fukasaku said.
"That's wonderful!" Jiraiya's joy was immediately extinguished by the memory of the Great Toad Sage's death.
"Second, the Child of Prophecy is Naruto Uzumaki. You are to guide him to become the next Hokage," Fukasaku paused. "When he becomes Hokage, peace will reign in the Shinobi World."
"Really?" Jiraiya's eyes widened. The prophecy he had pursued his entire life was finally within reach? Thinking of Tsunade's wedding tomorrow, he felt a mix of emotions.