Chapter 31 - Back In Konoha

''It seems that Suna hasn't caught on to our plan yet'' Sukuna said as a crow sat on his shoulder that had just delivered a letter from Itachi's side. 

''Ofcourse not! I planned it for years, until Sukuna-chan came along'' Orochimaru said as she gave a seductive smile. 

''Still, that Suna allowed 25% of their main force to participate is not only stupid, but unresponsible as well. If they all die, they will most like fall from the Top 5 Shinobi Villages'' Sukuna said as he write something on the other side of the letter and gave it to the crow. 

''Bring it back little one'' Sukuna scratched the back of the crow as it shrieked and flew away. 

''To think even Itachi Uchiha is willing to help you, you're hiding many more things than. Don't you?'' Orochimaru said with a smile on her face. 

''You know, I've been thinking right....'' Sukuna changed the subject as they neared the Leaf, causing Orochimaru to pout. 

''What should I call you now, considering we need another identity for you'' Sukuna asked as he looked at her, although her appearance looked decently similar because of the eyes and pale skin, not many would think that far. 

Besides, it wasn't like she was felt like going anywhere, she was obsessed with research..... 

''In that case..... Maru, it means circle or cycle. It sounds nice since everything turned into a cycle'' Orochimaru smiled widely as she laid eyes on the Leaf's walls. 

''Fine by me, just make sure to wear your mask before we enter. Your face is pretty obvious'' Sukuna said as they neared the gate. 

The guards politely bowed as Sukuna entered the Leaf Village with 'Maru' in tow. 

… 

''Lord Hokage, may I enter?'' A male hasty voice sounded through the door. 

''Ofcourse Shikaku, come inside'' Hiruzen's tired voice sounded as the door opened quickly. 

''Why the rush?'' Hiruzen asked as he looked up. 

''He has returned'' Shikaku said, making Hiruzen's frown grow deeper, ''Do we still have no idea where he went?'' 

''No sir, but he had a woman with him'' 

''Anything noteworthy about her?'' Hiruzen asked. 

''Well, she wore a mask... Besides that, her figure. Nothing else was obviously standing out'' Shikaku said with an embarrassed smile as he showed a picture to Hiruzen. 

''Damn brat is already trying to hook up at his age, youth these days have no shame! He does have good taste though.'' Hiruzen said with a bitter smile.... 

If only he knew who she actually was, he might have died from a heart attack. 

… 

''SUKUNAAAA!!!'' A loud yell sounded through Sukuna's garden as he came through the gate. 

He turned his face towards the origin of the voice, but didn't get very far before a small figure crashed into his body and locked her legs around him like a vise. 

''Welcome back'' Akai said with a beautiful smile as she came walking towards him as well. 

''Mmm, I'm back'' Sukuna said with a light smile as he patted Rin's back who clung to him as if she was scared he was going to leave again. 

Akai's vision suddenly narrowed as She looked at Maru following behind Sukuna, ''Hoho~… Who is this?'' 

Maru had a mischievious grin behind her mask as she grabbed Sukuna's arm and put it between her ample breast, ''My name is Maru, we will be sisters in the future'' 

Akai felt a vein appear on top of her head while Rin peeked her head out from Sukuna's shoulder with a cold look on her face. 

''Get off me and go to the basement'' Sukuna wrestled his arm loose and slapped her jokingly on the back of her head. 

''Ara~…. You want to lock me up in the basement and experiment the fun we can have in there?'' Maru said with a teasing tone which made Sukuna swear he was going to have anger problems from this woman. 

Seeing Sukuna's cold face, Maru hastily left with a teasing grin on her face which Sukuna could sense through her mask. 

''Sukuna, who is that?'' Akai said with a smile on her face which wasn't quite a smile. 

The corner of Sukuna's mouth twitched as he explained, ''She is one of the new researchers I found, she is quite mentally challenged so she is going to use my facility for now'' 

Akai and Rin narrowed their eyes as Akai said with a deadpan voice, ''I'm moving into your place'' 

''What are yo-….'' 

''I'm sleeping on the floor in your room'' Rin added with a deadpan expression. 

Sukuna's expression turned helpless, these two had bonded quite a bit when he was gone. 

''Then you might as well sleep in my bed if you two are so scared she is going to eat me'' Sukuna shrugged as he walked inside. 

The two of them blushed as Rin hid her face in her bosom while Akai clicked her tongue before following Sukuna inside. 

… 

''It's been a while, Sukuna'' Hiruzen said as he looked at the kid, he had visibly grown by a few inches since he last saw him while his gaze seemed to peer into his soul. 

''Something came up'' Sukuna shrugged with a nonchalant expression. 

''Well, we did have to resign your position as referee in the Chuunin Finals. But in return, we decided to promote you to Chuunin regardless since your skill have clearly surpassed your rank'' Hiruzen said with a sigh as he remembered Tsunade nearly bashing his head in for going through with removing Sukuna as a referee while Kurenai clearly looked disgusted with his decision. 

''That's fine by me, I don't really care'' Sukuna said with an unchanging expression. 

Hiruzen looked at the kid with a deep gaze as he crossed his hands. The kid looked at him as if he was a stranger, as if being here was a waste of his time. 

They never had a close relationship, but at least they could converse normally. Now it just seemed that Sukuna looked at him as if he was a passerby. 

''Alright, there will be a seat for you on the platform between me and the Mizukage for you. Just please don't pick a fight'' Hiruzen said with a bitter expression. 

''Sounds good'' Sukuna shrugged, at least Hiruzen finally showed him some respect to his status as the Senju's Patriarch instead of a child. 

Seeing Sukuna turning to leave, Hiruzen hastily said, ''I heard that you entered the village with a woman, could you elaborate where she is from?'' 

Sukuna slowly grinned as he turned towards Hiruzen and asked, ''She was beautiful, wasn't she?'' 

Hiruzen was momentarily startled and nodded, ''She was quite stunning indeed, where is she from?'' 

''HAHAHAHAHAHA'' 

Hiruzen heard Sukuna's mocking laughter as he disappeared, causing Hiruzen even more confusion. 

'This makes the torture of being harassed for three straight days all worth it' Sukuna said internally as he basically jumped over the road with a shit-eating grin on his face. 

Again, if only he knew who she was..... 

Sukuna didn't take long to arrive home, he grabbed a drink before he went to sit on the lounge area outside as Akai and Rin seemed to went to check up on the production. 

Ever since he left, the production kept increasing by a ridiculous amount. Sukuna had also made sure some people were sent to the Land of Sound to start producing products there as well. 

Their previous 30.000.000 Ryo a day went to 145.000.000 a day, nearly reaching the 10% mark of the village's income. 

Ofcourse, 10% might not sound like much. But the village had many more expenses than the Senju's had if Sukuna didn't have more plans. 

The door was unceremoniously opened and shook Sukuna from his thoughts as Tsunade came walking inside with a hurried pace. 

''Glad that you know how to knock....'' Sukuna said with a dry expression. 

''It's urgent'' Tsunade said with a serious expression as Sukuna perked his eyebrows. 

''It's rare to see you this flustered'' 

''The Raikage has sent a letter to the Hyúga's'' Tsunade said with a complicated expression as Sukuna leaned over the backrest. 

''About marriage, right?'' Sukuna asked while closing his eyes which caused Tsunade to open her mouth in surprise, 

''You knew?'' 

''I expected as much, the Hyúga's have made it public that Hinata is my fianceé, indicating that they reduced their policy of keeping it within the family. They will try to force the Hyúga's to give up Hinabi before someone else scoops her up'' Sukuna said with nonchalant expression as Tsunade took a seat on the lounge chair next to the couch he sat on. 

''You predicted this?'' Tsunade frowned. 

''More like, expected it'' 

''I see. Well, I have no intention of agreeing to their request since their proposal have to cross the Higher-Ups first since it's about a marriage that would 'ally' our villages. But we all know their intentions'' Tsunade said resolutely. 

''Regardless, whether you all agree or not, it doesn't matter'' Sukuna said with his eyes closed. 

''What the hell are you planning this time you brat? The finals are tomorrow, you caused me to fight with my teacher already'' Tsunade said with slight anger. 

''Nothing, as long as he keeps his mouth shut, nothing will happen'' Sukuna said with a cold look on his face. 

''*Sigh*…. I will try to clean up the mess you create'' Tsunade sighed and said with a reluctant expression. 

''Wouldn't expect anything less'' Sukuna said with a shit-eating grin. 

Tsunade wanted to punch a hole in the wall but calmed herself down as she remembered she caused this situation herself. It was her own poor decision making that got her in this position. 

If Sukuna knew of her thoughts, he would definitely be shocked that she finally took responsibility for her own situation. 

''Tomorrow, you will be seated next to Hiruzen, I will be seated a stage lower in front of you and the Mizukage. If you don't know someone, just tell me'' Tsunade said as Sukuna might not have the time to research everyone's skills before tomorrow considering his long leave. 

''Thank you, but for now, I'm going to sleep'' Sukuna replied as he stood up. 

''I can imagine you're tired after being gone for a month, I won't disturb you any longer'' Tsunade said as she got up as well. 

At that moment, Maru came walking in while holding a plate of food as Sukuna could sense the teasing grin on her face. 

''Ara~? You're leaving already? I thought I would make you some food for you two'' Maru said while swaying her hips seductively. 

Tsunade's expression worsened as she looked at the woman, her figure looked almost identical to her own while her breast, her pride, might be small then this woman's.... 

Sukuna had a helpless smile on his face before he suddenly realized something, a smirk appeared on his face as Tsunade spoke, 

''Nice to meet you, my name is Tsunade Senju'' Tsunade stretched out her hand with a 'warm' smile as Maru stretched out her hand, ''Nice to meet you, I'm Sukuna-chan's wife, Maru. Due to some complications, I can't take off my mask'' 

Maru had changed her skin color to a pale color instead of her white skin since Tsunade was sure to find out otherwise. Despite her stupid decisions, Tsunade wasn't THAT stupid. 

''W....wife?'' Tsunade stammered as she looked at the woman, she had a mature figure no woman in her begin twenties could obtain while her behavior seemed like a mother's. 

''Correct, my wife'' Sukuna interrupted and suddenly slapped Maru's ass as he said, ''Time for bed, Tsunade has other business to take care off'' 

Both Tsunade and Maru were shocked at his statement as he put a hand around Maru's waist and pulled her along. 

They both couldn't find the words as Sukuna pulled Maru out of Tsunade's side, causing her to grit her teeth and curse, 

''Shameless brat, shameless minx! The damn brat is being intimate at his age, children these days are shameless!'' 

As Tsunade stomped away with a red face, Sukuna pulled Maru along as she clung to him, ''Sukuna-chan, have you changed your mind? I'm sure our child would be quite the specimen. Why not get started here? The kitchen table is fine too!'' 

Sukuna didn't say anything and suddenly smiled at Maru, causing her to flinch as the creaking of a door opening sounded through her ears. 

''S..sukuna-chan, this is the b-….'' 

''Goodnight'' 

A shoe hit Maru's plump rear as she was unceremoniously kicked down the basement stairs, leaving a surprised yelp behind as Sukuna smashed the door closed and rubbed his hands with a smile on his face, 

''Finally cleaned the rubbish''