"Is Kazuma causing trouble?"
Asuma frowned and asked, "Chiriku, what makes you say that?"
"Intuition. Let me finish first."
Chiriku told Asuma what he had heard from the Daimyo.
"A few days ago, Kazuma suggested to the Daimyo that the position of Hokage should be abolished. The Land of Fire should be fully controlled by the Daimyo, and the Hokage of Konoha is redundant."
"What did the Daimyo say!" Asuma asked eagerly.
Chiriku raised his hand to calm him down, "Of course, the Daimyo did not agree, but Kazuma has no intention of giving up this idea."
Asuma breathed a sigh of relief, "Since the Daimyo did not agree, what is there to worry about? With Kazuma's ugly appearance, he can't cause any big waves."
Chiriku shook his head, "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried that Kazuma will make a move against the Daimyo."
"Where did that intuition come from this time?"
Chiriku looked at Asuma seriously and said in a deep voice, "I have a feeling that something big will happen in the next few days."
Asuma curled his lips and said, "Don't worry, you and I both know Kazuma's strength. At most, he's Jonin level."
"Asuma, you are still not steady enough. It seems that the Third Hokage had a reason to let you join the Guardian Shinobi."
Chiriku shook his head and got up to go back to his room to rest.
Looking at Chiriku's retreating back, Asuma muttered, "Tch, I came here myself, it's not the old man's arrangement, and my goal is you, Chiriku."
"What a pity! After all these years, I haven't found anything."
Asuma touched his thick beard and felt a little proud. If Kurenai saw how manly he had become, she might fall in love with him at first sight.
He really wanted to return to Konoha quickly.
...
Time ticked by, and as evening approached, a figure landed in the capital of the Land of Fire, bypassing the main gate entirely.
Lin Yu landed on a towering building, looking down at the bustling streets and the smoke rising from the chimneys below. He couldn't help but sigh at the difference between the village and the city.
Compared to Konoha now, the prosperity of the capital of the Land of Fire was far beyond what could be compared.
Just mentioning the pleasure districts alone, there were dozens of times more than in Konoha. No wonder Jiraiya was unwilling to stay in Konoha and instead roamed the ninja world.
There was a reason for this.
"No need to bring back any specialties. Let's take care of the important things first. I, Uzumaki Lin Yu, am a ninja who keeps his word!"
Lin Yu's gaze fell upon the incredibly luxurious and massive pavilion at the very center of the capital. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret: if only he could move the entire thing away. Unfortunately, it occupied too much space, otherwise, he could have even saved some Wood Style chakra.
Whoosh...
Lin Yu stepped on the rooftops, continuously leaping towards the pavilion while spreading out his senses. Lin Yu still had some impression of Asuma's chakra.
Kagura Shingan, activate.
An incredibly vast sensing ability spread out, covering more than half of the capital of the Land of Fire. Lin Yu chose not to expand it further but focused his attention on the few kilometers around the pavilion.
Soon, ninjas, like chess pieces, appeared in Lin Yu's mind.
"The Daimyo's mansion is indeed full of hidden talents. There are five or six Jonin-level ninja alone, and ten Special Jonin, but there seem to be no Kage-level individuals."
Lin Yu closed his eyes and sensed for a while, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He looked towards a certain side courtyard near the pavilion and chuckled, "Found you!"
...
Knock, knock, knock.
"Chiriku, open the door! I have something to tell you."
Asuma knocked on Chiriku's door, holding a steaming plate of appetizers and two pots of small wine.
"Asuma, have you also come to your senses? Do you want to go inform the Daimyo with me... What are you doing?"
Chiriku rubbed his smooth bald head. Although he had a good relationship with Asuma, Asuma was usually a very serious and dedicated ninja.
He had just told him about Kazuma's matter, and how long had it been? He was already inviting him for drinks?
"Sigh, let's go inside and talk."
Asuma also sighed. He knew that doing this would make Chiriku think he was a very open-minded person, but he couldn't help it. As he calmed down, his longing for Kurenai grew stronger, and he couldn't hold back any longer.
He wanted to confess to Chiriku, then resign from the Guardian Shinobi, and return to Konoha Village to find his beloved Yuhi Kurenai.
His current mature demeanor would surely win Kurenai's favor!
"Chiriku, I'm planning to leave. This might be the last time we drink together."
Chiriku looked at Asuma silently for a long time and said, "Asuma, are you trying to escape?"
"Chiriku, you know me well enough after all these years, I'm not that kind of person. I just..."
Asuma's expression was pained. He picked up the wine bottle, poured himself a cup, and drank it down in one gulp, then said, "Actually, the biggest reason I joined the Twelve Guardian Shinobi was for you, Chiriku!"
"Me?!"
Asuma's words immediately unsettled Chiriku. He remembered the day they were appointed as the Twelve Guardian Shinobi, Asuma, with his mustache, kept staring at his backside.
Chiriku felt a chill in his heart. He slightly covered his buttocks and said with a trembling voice, "A, Asuma, you can't do this. I am a practitioner of the Way, devoted to a life of quiet contemplation. We... it's not possible!"
As Chiriku said this, he also drank two big gulps from the wine bottle. The burning sensation helped him regain a sense of security.
With the two men alone in a room, one of them "speaking his truth," Chiriku couldn't help but imagine endless scenarios.
"You misunderstand, I just..."
Asuma was about to explain when, inexplicably, a wave of heat washed over him, quickly engulfing his entire body. His bearded face seemed to be flushed with blood, becoming vivid.
"It's so hot..."
Chiriku, sitting opposite him, felt the same sensation as Asuma. He unconsciously loosened his collar, revealing some of his bronzed, muscular chest.
But this scene, in Asuma's eyes at this moment, was like seeing a peerless beauty posing for him. He gulped, his voice hoarse,
"Chiri, Chiriku, could you lean closer? I want to see."
At this moment, Chiriku's entire bald head was flushed red, and his eyes were hazy as he looked at Asuma. This look was stunning!
Asuma's sexy mustache, his bushy beard, his thick lips – all were deeply imprinted in Chiriku's mind, unforgettable.
"Asuma, the way you look now... is really beautiful."
The two leaned closer and closer. At this moment, only each other was visible in their eyes. The male hormones in their bodies erupted instantly, and the room was filled with "smoke"!
And the culprit behind all this was casually strolling through the luxurious Daimyo's mansion.
Lin Yu had no interest in watching two heavyweights battle. It would undoubtedly be a war without smoke.
Lin Yu took out a small bottle containing red pills. The number of pills inside had decreased by more than half. It should be enough for Asuma and Chiriku to enjoy themselves until tomorrow.
This was the price of not paying wages!