Chapter 19: The Hidden Desire: Kushina's Dilemma

Before leaving the Hidden Sound Village, an event made Hiruzen reconsider his plans.

He created a shadow clone and intended to send it to the Leaf Village, while he himself was about to undergo his second metamorphosis.

Turning to Orochimaru, he instructed: "Stop everything you were planning to do and go with my clone to the Leaf Village. If my clone disappears, assume my appearance and stand in for me as Hokage temporarily until I return. Leave a clone here as a precaution and..."

Placing his hand on Orochimaru's back, Hiruzen applied the Flying Thunder God: Level 2 mark: "I will teleport to you once I finish everything here."

"Another metamorphosis?" Orochimaru inquired, with his characteristic sinister voice. The fluctuation of Hiruzen's chakra was visible, allowing him to reach this conclusion after hearing Hiruzen.

"Yes," confirmed Hiruzen with a nod.

"Understood," Orochimaru replied, accepting the task.

With his clone and Orochimaru departed, Hiruzen went to the corner of the room and began to create a cocoon, exhaling a web from his mouth.

-

-

Five days had passed since Hiruzen began his metamorphosis. In the first two days, his clone continued to serve as Hokage, but after the clone disappeared, Orochimaru, assuming the appearance of Hiruzen, took up the role of Hokage and returned to the Sarutobi clan every day.

On the night of the fifth day, Orochimaru suddenly woke up from his sleep upon sensing an imposing presence by his side.

With emerald green eyes that shone in the dim light, Orochimaru noticed a peculiarity in Hiruzen's eyes; they resembled the Byakugan, but were emerald green in color.

"Did it fail?" Orochimaru sat up in bed, directing his inquisitive gaze at Hiruzen.

Besides the distinct eyes, he noticed that Hiruzen's body showed no visible changes, although he seemed slightly stronger. His hair had now acquired a golden blonde hue.

"No, it was a success." Hiruzen smiled, enigmatically altering the surroundings, transporting them to a completely different place.

"This is called Ame-no-Minaka," Hiruzen explained, anticipating any questions from Orochimaru. "My new eyes allow me to instantly move to different space-times."

"Kekeke," Orochimaru let out a sinister laugh as he stood up and explored the new environment, reverting to his true form and commenting with his characteristic voice: "Indeed, we are in another place. This is amazing."

"Okay, let's return," Hiruzen proposed. "I haven't explored all my new powers yet. For now, I will conduct tests gradually. But now, I will send you back to the Hidden Sound Village and resume my duties."

"Hmm," Orochimaru agreed.

-

-

Today, Hiruzen woke up with a new outlook on life.

He had finally managed to deliver the gift box to the Daimyō of the Land of Fire. When the box was opened, Hiruzen's residual soul inside it took control of the Daimyō's body, allowing him now to command the Land of Fire.

Getting up, he went to the bathroom to attend to his morning needs before facing himself in the mirror.

He certainly had become more handsome. His hair had grown a bit while his eyes seemed to contain a unique charm.

"For now, I'll make my eyes return to normal..." He murmured to himself.

At that moment, only a minor change occurred: his black pupils returned to the center of his emerald green eyes.

After making this adjustment, he left the bathroom.

"Today is the promised day to share chakra with Kushina..." He reflected quietly.

If he delayed any longer, Kushina might be at risk.

"If I seal a hundredth of my soul into her seal, I could completely save her, but..." He pondered silently: "I'll postpone it a bit longer."

After dressing in the Hokage's attire, Hiruzen walked to Kushina's house, creating a clone to take his place at the Hokage's office along the way.

During the journey to Kushina's residence, many recognized him and showed surprise at his altered appearance.

Kushina, upon opening the door, nearly cried upon seeing him. She felt as if she was standing before Minato, though she quickly realized it wasn't him. The resemblance, however, made her nervous and apprehensive.

"May I come in?" asked Hiruzen, bringing Kushina back to reality.

"Y-Yes, Dattebane," she stuttered.

Hiruzen's presence made it hard even to breathe. Being near him provoked an unusual sensation in Kushina, blanking her mind occasionally.

She barely noticed when they entered the living room, and feeling Hiruzen's large hand on her belly sent an unprecedented shiver through her being, different from anything she had felt before, even when touched by Minato.

'I must be going crazy... How can I feel something like this for Lord Third, Dattebane?' she scolded herself mentally. 'For heaven's sake, get a hold of yourself, girl!'

It wasn't fair to blame her; Hiruzen, although he had not yet fully absorbed Minato's existence, had assimilated it into himself. Part of Minato now became part of him; Hiruzen possessed everything that belonged to Minato, except a fraction of Minato's existence that was still his own.

Moreover, the current Hiruzen had an undeniable charm. For someone who hadn't felt a man's touch in almost a month, Hiruzen's touch, bringing the familiarity of Minato, made Kushina experience intense emotions, to the point of closing her eyes while blush took over her face.

'This is madness... How can I feel this way just because he touched my belly? This is Lord Third, not Minato... But why does my heart race this way? I need to control myself. It's not right. Not now, Dattebane.' Her mind blanked out once again.

Minutes later, Hiruzen announced, "It's done."

As she felt his hand move away, Kushina barely noticed the slight shadow of disappointment that crossed his face.

She took a deep breath and thanked him, "You must be busy, and yet you came here. Thank you so much, Lord Third."

"Just call me Hiruzen," he smiled. "And you don't need to thank me; I do this because I don't want you to die. My heart would hurt if something happened to you."

'What does he mean by that?' She widened her eyes, thinking. 'He... He's just saying that because he considers me part of his people, right? Right, right, right, Dattebane?'

Taking a deep breath, she blushed slightly as she said, "I-I can't-"

"You don't always have to," Hiruzen interrupted, smiling. "It can just be when we're alone. If you do that, I would be very happy."

"I... Alright," she agreed, offering a nervous smile, "H-Hiruzen."

Hiruzen smiled.

As she walked him to the door, before opening it, Hiruzen leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek, saying, "See you later, goodbye, Kushina."

"..." Kushina nearly jumped back, her mind spinning with the unexpected kiss on her cheek.

It might seem like just a simple peck on the cheek, something trivial, but for some reason, it sparked in her a torrent of thoughts she knew she shouldn't have. When she regained focus, Hiruzen had already left.

"What is... What's happening to me?" she murmured, leaning against the door and sliding down to sit on the floor, hands covering her face in confusion. She was torn between the desire to cry, despite the absence of tears, and the disturbing realization that she had liked the gesture.

It was so wrong, yet paradoxically it felt so right.

"Ahh, heavens! I don't know anything anymore, Dattebane!" she yelled, frustration coloring her cheeks the vibrant color of her hair.

Touching her intimacy, she realized she was more aroused than she had ever been.

"There's something very wrong with me, Dattebane..." Guilt flooded her, but she couldn't shake off these conflicting feelings.

Somehow, she found herself in her bedroom, naked, with her hand exploring her intimacy. She squeezed her breasts, pinching the nipple until milk started to squirt, in a punitive gesture against herself for allowing such improper thoughts, but this only increased her pleasure.

"Hiruzen... Hiruzen, Hiruzen!" she cried out, his name becoming a mantra amidst the ecstasy.

Reaching climax, her pleasure spilled like never before, making her tremble incessantly in bed as her mind emptied in the face of the intensity of the orgasm. The guilt deepened as she realized how much she enjoyed that moment, so surreal and overwhelming.

Sitting on the bed, the storm of desire now calmed, she felt more lost than ever, confronted with the reality of her feelings and the complexity of emotions that Hiruzen's simple gesture had awakened.