The Bookworm

It took Kushina, Minato, and me four more days to break the Root entrance seal. It was a challenging one but not impossible. Minato informed me that the rest would be handled by Teams 1 and 2. My task here was complete, and now our focus shifted to Tenzo's seal.

Kushina and I worked together on Tenzo's case. Junpei was assigned to Team 2 but would join us if needed. He was skilled in fuinjutsu, having mastered his clan's techniques. Each of us had distinct approaches to fuinjutsu, which was why Minato added Junpei to the team.

Meanwhile, Minato, Fugaku, Dan, and Tsunade were engaging with other clan heads to assess their loyalties. Shikaku had assured them that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio would fully support the Hokage's mission. They were also digging up evidence against the former council members, Homura and Koharu. Sarutobi Hiruzen had retired and rarely involved himself in village affairs unless it was a life-or-death situation. Minato clarified that informing Sarutobi of this plan might inadvertently alert Danzo.

As Kushina and I continued our work on Tenzo, Tsunade joined us in the drawing room to assist with the seal. I shared my theory with her and asked her to remain vigilant in case Tenzo needed medical attention.

Tenzo lay on the mat as I began working on the seal. I channeled a thin chakra string into his tongue, directing it toward the smallest part of the seal. Tenzo signaled me to proceed. I increased the frequency of the chakra flow, but he soon showed signs of discomfort. I immediately stopped and asked Tsunade to check on him.

Tsunade confirmed my suspicions: the seal was directly connected to his nervous system. That was why he couldn't speak about Danzo-his mind physically prevented him from doing so.

"There's one option," I said. "We could disrupt the seal gradually by flooding it with enough chakra to interfere with the signals it sends to his nervous system. It's a slow process, but it might work."

"That seems to be the only viable solution, dattebane," Kushina agreed.

"I'll need to be present at every session to monitor his condition. These sessions will have to be scheduled carefully to avoid alerting Danzo to my frequent absences," Tsunade added.

We all agreed with her plan. Tsunade would inform us of her availability, and Kushina and I, having more flexible schedules, would adjust accordingly. This approach was far from ideal, but it was the best option we had for now.

It's a rare occasion for me to go to an izakaya with Hikari and Yuki. It's Friday night, and they've been asking me to join them for days. Before this, we used to drink at Yuki's place. Since we arrived early due to our office hours, the place isn't too crowded yet. That works for me-I prefer my quiet room and a good book over a night out anyway.

The izakaya is a bit warm, as expected, but we managed to snag a corner table. From here, I could see almost everyone entering. I bought the first round of drinks and some snacks for us.

"So, Sen," Yuki began, teasing as always, "how are things going with Ensui-san?" She laughed while giving me a mischievous look. Moments like this, with lighthearted conversations and laughter, are rare but enjoyable.

I leaned back in my chair, taking a sip of my drink. "It's going well. I like it-stress-free, uncomplicated. You know what I mean," I said with a smirk.

Since we had a silencing seal on the table, I wasn't worried about anyone overhearing us.

"I'm happy for you, Sen," Hikari chimed in. "Honestly, I thought you'd end up old and single, dying a virgin!" She burst into laughter, and soon, we all did. I wasn't offended-it was something I'd thought about myself before Ensui. But I reminded them this wasn't anything serious, so they shouldn't get too excited.

We had been there for over an hour when I sensed a familiar group entering the izakaya. I didn't react or even glance their way. It wasn't that I hated them; I just preferred to keep my distance. Work was work, and my friends were my friends. Kakashi, Obito, Genma, Kawarama, Junpei, Itama, and Shisui all walked in and took seats not too far from us.

"You know, Sen," Yuki started again, giving me a sly grin, "you work with so many hot shinobi. I don't understand how you've never been romantically involved with any of them."

"I didn't peg you for a pervert, Yuki," I said, rolling my eyes. "Besides, I'm not about to ruin the little normalcy I have with them by starting something. Shinobi of that caliber don't get into serious relationships anyway. Most of them stick to casual flings."

"If I were single, I wouldn't mind a fling with any of them," she said with a shrug.

"Focus on Daichi, Yuki," I replied, shaking my head.

We all laughed, and after a few more minutes, we decided to leave the izakaya and go our separate ways.

As I walked alone down the main road leading to the shinobi compound, the evening sky was clear, and the air was crisp. I've grown to enjoy this slow pace of life over the past few months-simple things like grocery shopping or walking home alone have become comforting.

Yuki's words echoed in my mind as I strolled. She wasn't wrong-those men were undeniably attractive. But I couldn't see myself approaching any of them like I did with Ensui. There was no animosity between us anymore, not even after the apologies. Still, the friendships we once shared hadn't been reignited. I wouldn't call them enemies, but they weren't exactly friends either-more like comrades. If it weren't for the Root mission, I doubted I'd be sparring or talking to them now. I don't hold grudges, but trying to rekindle those old bonds would feel artificial.

As for Ensui, I know this isn't serious. I don't know where it will lead, and I find myself wondering-what happens after him? Will there be someone else? Heavy thoughts for a quiet night.

When I finally reached my apartment, I immediately started making dinner. I didn't feel like cooking anything elaborate, so I settled on soba noodles and some pastries for dessert. Simple and satisfying.

In a nutshell, it had been a great Friday night. After taking a shower, I changed into comfortable shorts and a tank top and applied my nighttime skincare routine. The shorts were a light minty green and loose, paired with an off-white tank top. While I don't mind wearing these kinds of clothes at home, I always stick to formal attire when outside. Ensui is out of the village so it is just me and my books.

I settled into bed with a book about Iwa's clans and their history. This book wasn't easy to come by-Jiraiya-sama got it for me, knowing my interest in learning about other cultures beyond the Fire Country. It delves into the formation of Iwagakure and the lineage of their Tsuchikages. Apparently, he "borrowed" it from a high-ranking Iwa jonin. I think I'm starting to build a rare book collection now.

At some point, I must've dozed off with the book still in my hands. The loud banging on my door and someone urgently calling my name jolted me awake. Half-asleep, I rushed to the door, sensing Genma's chakra outside. I opened it to find him standing there, looking grim and bloodied.

"Sen, come with me to the Hatake compound-it's urgent. Otherwise, I wouldn't disturb you in your sleep," he said, his voice strained.

He looked so serious that I didn't bother asking questions. I quickly secured the door with the activation of my seals and followed him through several shunshins.

It wasn't until I arrived at the Hatake compound that I realized the state of my attire. Damn it. I should have changed out of the shorts and into pajamas, at least. But it was too late now. Well, it's not like they haven't worked with kunoichis in unconventional clothing before.

I entered the room behind Genma, and the scene was grim. Nearly everyone present was bloodied and in visible distress. Itama and Kakashi were lying on the floor, their injuries serious, while the rest of them stood or sat, waiting with tense expressions. I quickly gathered that they had avoided going to the official Anbu hospital to keep this off Danzo's radar. The plan had almost fallen apart, and secrecy was crucial now.

Hatake Sakumo was present as well, which wasn't surprising given it was his compound and Kakashi was in critical condition. His face was calm but carried a heavy weight, the kind that comes from seeing his son like this.

"Okay, everyone, I need some privacy. One of you can stay, but not all of you. You're already stressed, and I don't need your distressed chakra interfering with me while I'm treating them," I said, my tone firm.

Junpei quickly ushered everyone out, leaving only Genma behind. Even Sakumo left, understanding that his emotional presence as Kakashi's father could become a distraction during the treatment.

I channeled my chakra and laid out the medical supplies on the nearest table.

"What happened, Genma?" I asked while performing a diagnostic jutsu on Kakashi.

"Both teams were tailing a Root operative when three Root teams ambushed us. It caught us completely off-guard," he explained, his tone heavy.

"At least it's not poison," I said, relieved as I continued the scan. "Kakashi is suffering from extreme chakra exhaustion. Did he use his Sharingan?"

Genma nodded.

"I'm channeling medical chakra into his primary chakra coils to help speed up his recovery, but beyond that, his body will have to naturally heal. Chakra exhaustion isn't something that can be fully fixed by external means," I said, moving over to Itama. His condition seemed the same.

"Itama has the same issue. I've done what I can for both of them. They'll recover in about a week, but make sure they rest, eat well, and avoid any heavy activity-no sparring, no meditation, and certainly no... sex," I added bluntly. Genma's face flushed at the last part.

"Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I'd like to change into something more appropriate before I face the others," I said.

It was only then that Genma seemed to realize my current state of dress. I noticed his eyes darting toward my body, and I cleared my throat loudly to snap him out of his thoughts. Embarrassed, he quickly left the room.

Without wasting any time, I grabbed an emergency scroll containing a spare set of clothes. I changed swiftly into a more modest outfit, packed away my nightwear, and stepped outside.

The others were either seated on the sofas or relaxing on the floor. Sakumo stood up as soon as he saw me approach.

"Sen, thank you for coming here on such short notice. Please, have a seat," he said.

I took a seat across from him, next to Junpei, and offered a reassuring smile.

"Sakumo-san, please don't worry about Kakashi and Itama now. Both of them are fine. It's just chakra exhaustion. Kakashi overused his Sharingan, and Itama seems to have pushed his Mokuton beyond his limits," I explained.

Sakumo looked visibly relieved at my words. He nodded thoughtfully before speaking. "Thank you, Sen. As you're already involved in the Root mission, you deserve to know exactly what happened," he said, gesturing for Junpei to continue the explanation.

Junpei, sitting beside me, began recounting the incident. "It wasn't an ambush, but neither side expected a confrontation. We were following a Root operative. Kakashi, Genma, Obito, and Itama were on the team, but I decided to join them since I had nothing better to do. Then, three Root teams-twelve highly trained and deadly operatives-showed up. We had no choice but to go all out. If we'd let them go, they'd have reported back to Danzo, and all our plans would've been exposed."

He paused, rubbing his temples. "We were far to the east of the village in a dense forest area. Kakashi had to use his Sharingan, and I used mine as well. Itama had to rely heavily on Mokuton. The moment we activated our abilities, we knew we couldn't hold back. It turned into a bloodbath. We couldn't afford to let even one escape. But... the strain of using the Sharingan is catching up with me. My head's been pounding ever since."

Before he could continue, I stood up and activated my medical chakra. Without warning, I placed my hand on his head and began healing him. He stiffened but didn't pull away, though I could sense his discomfort.

"I know Uchihas don't usually let outsiders heal them, but it won't do you any good to keep suffering from that headache. You dragged me out here in the middle of the night, so don't start with that nonsense now. Just sit still and let me help," I said firmly.

Junpei stared at me intently, a bit taken aback, while someone behind us started snickering at the scene.

As I continued, I frowned. "Junpei-san, your eyes are in terrible condition. If you don't take this seriously, you'll go blind-completely-in two or three years, maybe even sooner. Judging by the state of your chakra pathways, I'd say you've been using the Mangekyo Sharingan regularly."

His reaction was immediate. He grabbed my wrist, his expression darkening with suspicion. "Not many people know about the Mangekyo Sharingan, Sen. How do you know about it?" he asked, his tone edged with anger.

Obito moved closer, standing by Junpei's side. It seemed he was just as curious about my answer.

I sighed, removing my hand gently from Junpei's grip before crossing my arms. "It's not as secretive as you think. I know about it because I read about it in a book. A book that wasn't exactly meant to be read by someone like me. Jiraiya-sama stole it from a high-level Iwa jonin. It contained detailed information about several clans, including the Uchiha. That's how I know."

Everyone in the room was staring at me now, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.

Junpei's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? We're one of the founding clans of Konoha. The Uchiha have been here since before the village was established, fighting the Senju. That's what our clan history says," Obito chimed in, trying to clarify.

I shook my head slightly. "Yes, the Uchiha are one of the founding clans, and that's undeniable. But according to the information in that book, the Uchiha didn't originate in the Land of Fire. They came here about 250 years ago from the land of Tea, likely migrating during a conflict or for survival. Your clan's roots may go back much further. Iwa seemed to have records of it because they had an interest in the Sharingan since ancient times."

Junpei and Obito exchanged glances, their faces betraying a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. The room fell silent for a moment as they absorbed this new perspective on their clan's history.

"The Uchiha came to the Land of Fire around 250 years ago. Just like the Hatake clan-they aren't originally from here either. The Hatake are actually from the Land of Iron. They were once samurais and nomads. I don't know why they migrated, but one faction of the Hatake settled in Konoha when the village was established."

To my surprise, Sakumo Hatake smiled and nodded.

"She's right, Obito. The Hatake originated in the Land of Iron. Even now, many of my relatives are still there, serving as samurais. That's why the Hatake don't have any kekkei genkai," Sakumo confirmed.

"To clarify further," I continued, "I know about your Mangekyo Sharingan because the Uchiha clan was once part of the Land of Tea. Iwagakure still has records about your clan's secrets. Secrets that don't seem to be much of a secret anymore, apparently."

Junpei's face twisted into pure shock, which was unusual for him. In the months I'd known him, I'd never seen him look so rattled. The man always seemed prepared for anything.

Breaking the tension, Genma brought tea for everyone. I gratefully accepted my cup and began sipping.

"Why didn't you ever tell us this before?" Junpei asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.

I shrugged. "I'm not close to any of you. How would you have reacted if I'd shared this information out of the blue?" I asked him calmly. He leaned back, looking slightly more relaxed but still intrigued.

"So... how much do you know?" Junpei pressed, his gaze fixed on me.

"Not much. Just that the Mangekyo Sharingan is the second and deadliest stage of the Sharingan. It grants each user unique abilities, but the more you use it, the closer you get to permanent blindness," I said, glancing at both him and Obito.

They stared at me like I'd just kicked their favorite puppy.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, Obito. The Uchiha are part of the Land of Fire now. It's been 250 years-plenty of time to call this your home. Yes, the wars with the Senju started over territory disputes, but I'm glad the founders put an end to that hostility and established this village. That said..." I smirked. "You guys still seem to indulge in the occasional 'who's got the bigger dick' competition, don't you?"

Obito, mid-sip, choked and sprayed tea all over Junpei and Genma. Sakumo coughed into his hand to hide his amusement, but Genma was not faring well, glaring at Obito as he wiped himself off.

"I said what I said," I added, unbothered. "Let's not pretend the rivalry is completely gone. Sure, Uchiha and Senju work together on teams now, but the old grudges linger. If they didn't, you wouldn't hesitate to ask Tsunade-sama for advice on your eyes," I said bluntly, my gaze locking on Junpei.

Sakumo sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as though he were suddenly very tired.

"Let me check Kakashi and Itama again, and then I'll take my leave," I said, standing up and walking toward the two unconscious shinobi.

Junpei's POV

It had been a long night since we ambushed the Root operatives. The aftermath was brutal-a bloodbath none of us would forget soon. Kakashi and Itama were completely chakra-exhausted, and the rest of us weren't much better off. My head throbbed from overusing my Sharingan, and Genma looked like he could collapse at any moment. Going to the Anbu hospital wasn't an option. We had no choice but to figure things out ourselves. That's when I told Genma to bring Sen. She had worked with us before and already knew enough about the situation to be trusted.

What I wasn't prepared for was the sight of her walking into the compound in her night clothes. I'd never thought about Sen that way before. Sure, I knew she had a crush on me-it wasn't exactly a secret-but I had always ignored it. She was almost 17, three years younger than me. Age didn't matter much to shinobi after 15, but I'd never allowed myself to entertain the idea of anything more. Yet tonight, I couldn't stop myself from noticing how much she had changed.

She had grown into herself in ways I hadn't realized before. Sen usually wore loose, practical clothes, the kind that concealed rather than revealed, but now, in that tank top and shorts, there was no hiding her figure. Her curves were impossible to miss-subtle, but there in all the right places. Her golden-pink hair, long and wavy, fell past her hips, and she had draped it over her chest as if trying to maintain some modesty. The gesture only made her look more endearing.

I couldn't stop my eyes from lingering. Her figure was striking, but it was more than that. There was a confidence in her tonight that made her seem... different. Maybe she is cranky from being disturbed from her sleep. I caught myself thinking about the way she carried herself, about how her clothes clung to her in all the right ways. She wasn't bad to look at, not at all. In fact, she was beautiful. I hated to admit it, but I couldn't deny it anymore.

Even so, I forced myself to focus on the situation. I wouldn't mind touching her perfect breasts . They looked perfect to just hold in my hands . I know what i am thinking about my own comrade in a situation like these . She is with a Nara so that's that. Fuck .. I didn't know thinking about her breasts would make me so hard .This wasn't the time for distractions, especially ones like this. But she made it hard to look away, especially when she sat right next to me. There weren't many people who could order me around and get away with it.

The information she revealed was nothing short of mind-boggling. I still can't believe she knows more about Uchiha history than some of the Uchiha clan members themselves. It's impressive, really-her knowledge is almost uncanny. She's a true bookworm, devouring every piece of information she comes across with such passion and precision. It's honestly adorable how her intelligence shines through in such unexpected ways. I may have to speak with Fugaku Ojisan about what she uncovered regarding Iwa's interest in the Sharingan. She's brought up things I didn't even know myself, and I wonder if it's worth bringing to his attention. It's both concerning and fascinating to think about how much she knows.

She wasn't just a medic or a teammate. Tonight, she felt like something more. It unsettled me in ways I didn't fully understand yet. Maybe I'd been blind to it before, or maybe something about tonight had changed things. Either way, I couldn't shake the feeling that she'd gotten under my skin.

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I hope you liked the plot so far

The clan lore is not canon i just added it for the story. Uchihas and senjus were descendants of Indra and Asura who were the sons of Hogoromo Otsatsuki . They were based in the land of Tea where the disastrous battle happed between kaguya and her sons hogoromo and himura . thats why i stated that uchihas were from the land of Tea . which is also right . i dont know after who much time indra left the land of tea or if his descendants left it .

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