Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

After a short rest that included tea and a light snack, Nobu found himself hiking down the Northern face of the mountain with a listless look on his face. Alongside him were Yui, Onihime, Kumiko, and, as could be expected, Hitomi and Inami. He could have brought more people with him, but, feeling it would only complicate things, he asked everyone else to patiently await his return."I'm getting real tired of walking up and down mountains..."Chuckling at Nobu's expense, Hitomi used her aura to casually sweep aside brush as she stated, "It's good for you. If you want to strengthen your foundation quickly, scaling the mountain a few times a day is a step in the right direction.""Yeah, yeah..."Since he apparently no longer had to put a filter on the things he said, Nobu didn't even pretend to be courteous towards Hitomi. This earned him a disproving look from the heterochromatic woman, but, instead of saying anything to correct him, she just continued smiling as a thin branch managed to slip through her hazy, bluish-green aura.Not expecting her Grandmother to perform such an act, Yui didn't immediately react to the branch whizzing towards Nobu's face. Fortunately for the latter, a remarkably thin blue line immediately cut the branch into tiny pieces as Inami plainly stated, "Never drop your guard, even amongst allies."Furrowing her brows, Yui was about to thank Inami for the lesson when the latter simply stated, "No need. From this moment onward, the only person you lower your head to is your Lord. If he refuses to bow, you shall stand with him. If you can't do that, you have no right to stand in that spot..."With Yui walking beside rather than behind Nobu, Inami intended to put as much pressure on the young woman as possible. After all, that position was supposed to be reserved for Nobu's partner, or, more specifically, his wife. If Yui was going to occupy such a position, she would need to adapt to the scorn and resentment directed her way. If she couldn't, she needed to vacate the spot so that someone more competent could whether the trials and tribulations that would invariably follow.Tensing up in response to Inami's words, Yui was at a loss for words until Nobu grabbed her hand and said, "Relax..." in an awkward yet soothing tone. In truth, he wanted to say more, but, with the eyes of several people focusing on him, he refused to say anything cheesy or embarassing.Fortunately, the tensions in Yui's body eased the moment Nobu grabbed her hand. His words also helped, but, compared to his actions, they were supplemental at best.Noticing her Granddaughter's slight yet sincere smile, the corner's of Hitomi's curled upward as she softly mused, "How enviable it is to be young..."Since Hitomi's words weren't exactly discreet, even Nobu was able to hear them. This caused a look of mock disdain to appear on his face as he asked, "Aren't you like fifty or something? Compared to the two chibis, you might as well be a brat. Don't go talking like you're about to kick the bucket..."Raising her brows, Hitomi's smile became ostensibly more sincere as she asked, "Oh? Is Waka-chan worried about me~?"Rolling his eyes, Nobu elected to ignore Hitomi's question since they were already nearing the base of the mountain. A few footpaths had started to appear, and, though it was still rough terrain, it was a lot easier to walk compared to the unmanaged terrain further up the forested slope.Clicking her tongue in a playful manner, Hitomi briefly exchanged glances with Inami before waving her hand to sweep aside another layer of the underbrush. This would leave an easy trail for anyone tracking them to follow, but, considering where they were, she wasn't particularly concerned about the possibility of an ambush. Her own skills were nothing to scoff at, but, so long as she was on the mountain, Inami may as well be invincible........."We're here."After reaching the base of the mountain and separating from Inami, Hitomi led the group along the edge of a river until they reached a series of Jizo statues lining a relatively clean dirt road. It wasn't uncommon for patrols to pass through the region, so, while there were no official roads, there were quite a number of paths present in the forests surrounding the walled city looming in the distance.Just as Nobu was about to ask, Hitomi casually twisted the heads of each Jizo statue. Immediately thereafter, a path that hadn't been present before appeared off to the side. It stood out from the rest of the forest because it was almost like a tunnel formed from hundreds of trees that had been grown in such a way they block out most of the sun's light."One can never be too safe. Even if they were especially careful during their departure, the forces that oppose Lord Senken would invariably take notice of his absence. Though it isn't too likely, you should always be prepared for a potential skirmish. That goes doubly for the three of you. There is no greater shame for a warrior or a kunoichi to outlive their Lord..."Though Nobu couldn't help frowning, Yui, Kumiko, and Onihime nodded their heads with serious expressions on their faces.What none of the girls expected, Hitomi being the obvious exception, was for a raspy yet masculine voice to immediately respond, "Well said. It would appear your long life hasn't been entirely wasted, Hitomi-kacho..."Appearing like a phantom, a muscular man with clothes that screamed 'samurai' appeared with a platinum-hued aura lingering around his body. He was attired in a loose yukata, a pair of hakama-style pants, black-plated tassets, and a blue haori with a dragon pattern and the symbol of the Oda Clan plastered at numerous locations across his body. Even the guard of his white-handled katana resembled the flower-like pattern of the Oda Clan, and, based on the aura exuding from his body, he bore the symbol with tremendous pride."Ara ara~? This isn't a face I expected to see any time soon. Weren't you protecting the Eastern border, Hiashi-dono~?"Snorting through his nose, Hiashi cast his gaze over everyone present before setting his pitch-black eyes on Nobu. Then, with a loud 'pa', he brought his hands together in a respectful yet unyielding manner as he firmly stated, "Hyuudou Hiashi greets the Young Lord of the Oda Clan."Taken aback by the short yet muscular man's obeisance, Nobu's expression hardened as he replied, "Yeah...nice to meet you..."Though he was briefly confused by Nobu's excessively casual response, Hiashi just lowered his head even further before rising to cast a disdainful glare at everyone else. Onihime, in particular, seemed to have earned his ire, as, for a brief moment, the thumb he had resting on the guard of his katana twitched. Half-Oni were considered abominations by most people, but, as a proud warrior of Nian, Hiashi was offended by her mere presence at Nobu's side.Fortunately, Hitomi managed to adequately deter him by flaring her aura and asking, "Hiashi-dono...are you disobeying our Lord? I cannot imagine Lord Senken asking you to come here to cause trouble..."After sending another quick glare Hitomi's way, Hiashi seemed to have reached the conclusion that he should simply ignore everyone else's existence as he supplied another polite bow towards Nobu and stated, "Nobunaga-sama. Please, follow me. Your father, Lord Senken, has ordered that I escort you to your destination...""..."Staring at the man's bushy ponytail with a frown, Nobu waited until Hiashi raised his head before shaking his own and saying, "Yeah, that's not gonna happen. We've never met before and I'm not going to just follow someone I just met to a destination I've never been to. These four are coming with me. If you've got a problem with that, please inform my parents that I couldn't meet with them because you decided to behave like a bigot towards your own allies."Not expecting such a response, Hiashi was at a genuine loss for words as he stared at Nobu with a completely blank expression on his face. Moments later, however, a slight smile developed across his face as he mused, "You really are Lord Senken's child..."Leaving Nobu at a loss this time, Hitomi began to giggle into her sleeve as the tensions that had been building spontaneously relaxed. Then, with a significantly less hostile expression on his face, Hiashi gestured behind him, stating, "You really should hurry. If you delay any longer, Lady Suzuki might not be able to restrain herself. She has been sick for a long time. It isn't good for her to move around too much."Confused by the sudden change, Nobu blinked several times before looking towards Hitomi to find her staring back at him with an amused smile on her face. It was at that moment that he realized he had been played, a hint of red bleeding into his cheeks as he cleared his throat and said, "Lead the way..."Nodding his head in affirmation, Hiashi turned to do just that when a silvery crimson blur pushed him aside, shouting, "My baby...!" in a feminine, audibly stressed tone. In the next moment, Nobu felt as though he had been hit by a truck as a petite woman wearing a crimson kimono tackled him with enough force to send them both crashing into the river."Nobu...!""Suzuki-sama...!"Fortunately, unlike the river Nobu had trained in, the one running adjacent to the forest path was shallow enough to cross without issue. Thus, while everyone else was panicking, Nobu had turned statuesque as a woman who had only appeared in his memories clung to him, tears pouring from the corners of her ruby-red eyes as she cupped his face and asked, "Am I imagining things? I have dreamt of this day for so long that it doesn't feel real. You are my son, my beloved Nobu-chan, are you not...?"Not really sure what he should say, Nobu just swallowed hard before slowly nodding his head in affirmation. If he were being honest, his mother was a lot more beautiful than his memories gave credit. He was grateful for the frigid water, as, despite being related by blood, he was genuinely afraid that his body might react due to her fragrant aroma and the warmth transmitting from her body...Further exacerbating Nobu's difficulties, a loving smile developed across Nana's face as she gently kneaded his cheeks with her thumbs. This was something mothers and old grannies did with young children. Combined with the fact she was currently lying on top of him, the awkwardness Nobu was experienced built to the point that a part of him wanted to throw her away from him. He just didn't have the heart to actually do it...As if finally realizing how awkward of a position they were in, Nana took a moment to sweep aside Nobu's bangs before moving away from him, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding water as she sat properly and said, "This is something I've wanted to do for a very long time..."Just as Nobu was on the verge of recovering some semblance of his mental faculties, Nana caused him to nearly allow the current to take him away as she suddenly performed a low dogeza, her nose touching the top of the water as she tearfully exclaimed, "I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I know my actions were beyond reprehensible. I know I don't deserve forgiveness, but...but...!"Though he would like to say he went forth to grab Nana to assure her that everything was okay, the truth of the matter was that Nobu's brain had stalled the moment he saw the remarkably beautiful woman lower her head. Her words impacted his heart and mind like a hammer, but, despite hearing each and every word she said, the only thing his mind was currently able to process was the fact her kimono was gradually being pulled open by the river's current...Fortunately, just as Nana's obi was whisked away, Nobu recovered enough of his senses to grab her shoulders, forcing her to rise before promptly closing her kimono and saying, "I forgive you..." with a complexion similar to someone who had gone to the beach without sunscreen.........(A/N: Spoiler alert: Nana is a bit of an idiot.)

With Hitomi promptly recovering Nana's obi, Nobu joined Hiashi at the side as Yui, Kumiko, and Onihime helped to fix her kimono. She was apparently incapable of dressing herself, so, despite a Platinum 3 cultivation base, Nana was completely dependent on others to get through her day-to-day living."Has she always been like this...?"With his arms crossed and his gaze firmly fixed in the opposite direction of where Nana and the others were, Hiashi answered, "Lady Suzuki would be heartbroken to hear you refer to her as 'she'. Even if it's only when the two of you are conversing, you should get in the habit of referring to her as your mother. As for the answer to your question...she has gotten better with age..."Forcing a smile, Nobu found it hard to imagine how Nana could be even worse. He had only truly known her for a few minutes and he already got the impression she was completely airheaded. If he hadn't met her himself, he wouldn't have believed it was possible for someone to be as oblivious as she appeared to be..."Don't worry. I don't blame her for what happened. It was my own selfishness that led to this set of circumstances. I'm not sure I can ever truly see her as my mother but I'll do my best..."Though he felt a little uncomfortable hearing Nobu 'confiding' in him like this, Hiashi just nodded his head in approval before closing his eyes and promptly meditating. Most skilled cultivators had mastered techniques to suppress or even erase certain memories that might prove detrimental to their growth. He also knew his Lord would kill him if it was discovered he briefly caught a glimpse of Nana's sarashi, so, before things could get further out of hand, he compartmentalized everything that had transpired over the last couple of minutes...Thinking that Hiashi was simply ignoring him, Nobu just shook his head before staring up at the canopy overhead with a blank expression on his face. He really didn't know what to think right now, so, while it wasn't really a technique, he just shut off his brain as he listened to the sounds of nature as felt the cool Spring breeze washing over his quickly drying body.........After a surprisingly long period of time, roughly forty minutes, Nana, now appearing as a proper lady, appeared alongside her impromptu escort. This allowed Nobu to properly look at her for the first time, a parched feeling spreading through his throat as he internally cursed his father's good fortune.Though she was still rather petite, Nana was considered tall among Nianese women at 163cm. She also possessed a lean and athletic figure that hadn't lost a hint of its charm despite giving birth to four children and suffering nearly two decades of illness. This, combined with her crimson eyes and long black hair, the latter of which was tinged with red highlights, gave her a unique and ephemeral charm that was rare even amongst the most beautiful and mature women.Despite being well in her fifties, Nana could have easily passed as Yui's older sister. If she were to back on Earth, Nobu could easily imagine her getting carded if she attempting to purchase alcohol. Even he had trouble believing she was more than twenty even though his catatonic self had eight years of memories related to her...Sensing Nobu's gaze, a smile blossomed across Nana's face as she stopped mid-conversation with Hitomi to walk over and embrace him. This caused the former to tense, but, after several seconds of extreme awkwardness, Nobu managed to sheepishly reciprocate her embrace with a wry smile.Relaxing the moment she felt Nobu's arms around her shoulders, Nana entrusted her weight to him as she looked up with the kind of smile that pierced through mental walls and emotional defenses as if they were wet paper. Then, in the most sincere tone Nobu had ever heard, she gently cupped his face with one of her hands and said, "I feel like a piece of my soul just returned. Thank you, my precious...my beloved Nobu..."Feeling an irresistible sourness building in his nasal cavity, Nobu clenched his teeth in a last-ditch effort to stymy his swelling emotions. He didn't even know this woman, yet, the moment he heard her voice, a shudder passed through his body as something deep within him resonated with every word. For a brief moment, he thought this might be an echo of his catatonic self. The version of him that had been forced to suffer at his behest for nineteen years.Wiping away the tears from Nobu's face, Nana's expression, against all rhyme and reason, became even more loving, her voice carrying an unfathomable amount of tenderness as she said, "I'm glad. I thought you were all grown up but it appears there is still room for me to be your mother..."Punctuating her words, Nana guided Nobu's face to her chest. It was a little awkward due to their difference in height but that didn't deter her in the slightest. Even if she had to stand on the tips of her toes or raise herself using her aura, she was determined to comfort her baby boy, the child who had once refused to cry no matter how desperately she pleaded..."Let it all out...mommy is here..."......Seeing Nana cradling Nobu in her bosom, a man with two-toned hair, ashen-grey on top and dark brown on the sides couldn't help furrowing his brows. This was none other than Oda Senken, who, due to feeling too awkward to appear earlier, ended up watching the scene play out from behind a tree.Though he would never admit it, Senken had been dreading this day even more than Nobu. He had never been good at dealing with sentiments and emotions, so, despite rehearsing every day for the last eleven years, he couldn't even bring himself to step out of the shadows. This caused him to feel pathetic at first, but, now that he was watching his beloved wife doting on someone else, a growing urge to give Nobu a few light smacks was developing in the back of his mind."People would laugh if they heard about the Great Lord Senken brooding in the shadows like some kind of jealous lover..."Recognizing the voice in an instant, Senken just snorted through his nose before saying, "He might be my son, but he's also a grown man. Crying into the bosom of his mother at this age is pathetic..."Giggling in response to Senken's words, Hitomi casually approached until she was standing next to him before teasing, "He's a lot like you in that regard. Rather, the longer I observe him, the more I see you and Nana reflected in his character. It's quite jarring at times..."Tearing his eyes away from the scene, Senken looked at Hitomi with a slightly incredulous look on his face as he asked, "Huh? Have you gone senile on me you old bat? That snot-nosed brat and I have absolutely nothing in common..."Rolling her eyes, Hitomi casually remarked, "Even the way you address people is the same..." before pulling out an inordinately thick scroll and saying, "This is all the information I kept out of the other reports. He has a few character flaws, but your son is growing much faster than we ever anticipated. Based on my findings, there is a reasonably high probability that his growth will accelerate with the passage of time rather than decreasing. By this time next year, he may even be stronger than you..."Knowing that Hitomi would never exaggerate such a thing, Senken's expression hardened as the reality of what she had said settled within his mind. He knew Nobu's potential would have to be exceptional if he were to be able to catch up and surpass his peers but it was hard to imagine him going from Foundation Building to the Sixth Realm in a single year. It was beyond monstrous.Since Hitomi had compared Nobu's character to his own, Senken briefly considered what he might do with the power to unify and rule over the entire archipelago. It seemed like a major hassle, but, at the same time, there were a significant number of issues with the current administration. This had been exacerbated by the current Emperor's inability to produce an heir. If something didn't change, and soon, it was only a matter of time before the forces of the Heavenly Kingdom both invaded and conquered Nian.Feeling a headache just thinking about local and international politics, Senken habitually combed through his hair. This earned him an amused chuckle from Hitomi, but, with his thoughts focused on other things, Senken was only vaguely aware that she was even standing next to him.........After forcefully suppressing what he had convinced himself to be the remnant emotions of his catatonic self, Nobu attempted to escape Nana's embrace only to fail miserably. She did let his head go, but, instead of separating from him, she linked her arm around his with the kind of smile that left no room for argument. He could argue, sure, but his instincts told him that wouldn't end well.Fortunately, Nana separated of her own volition after the group had made its way down the long and dark corridor leading to a small cottage in the middle of the woods. As for the reason, it was due to the presence of a man who, from memory, Nobu knew to be his father.Much to Nobu's amusement, and Senken's chagrin, Nana completely shattered the latter's facade of a Lord who had been patiently awaiting their arrival. She sauntered over to him without a care in the world before promptly pulling him by the arm as she asked, "Sen-chan, what are you being shy for~? Come and meet your son~!"Though he grumbled something under his breath, Senken didn't resist as Nana pulled him over to within less than a meter of Nobu. She wanted to pull them all into a hug, but, the moment his feet impacted the ground, long spikes of Mithril-colored aura rooted him to the spot as he said, "Long time no see..." with the straightest expression he could manage given the circumstances.With a remarkably similar expression on his face, Nobu returned a curt, "Mmm..." before crossing his arms to match Senken. Under normal circumstances, this would have caused the atmosphere to quickly turn tense, but, having none of their shenanigans, Nana forcibly pulled Nobu the remaining distance before practically bonking his and Senken's heads together as she hugged them both.After squeezing the duo tightly for several awkward moments, Nana released her hold on them but didn't allow them to separate as she adopted a serious expression and said, "Don't fight." in a stern tone. Then, despite wanting to stay near both of them, she joined the other girls at the side to give the father-son duo the chance to converse on their own terms..."...""..."With neither knowing what to say, Senken and Nobu just stared at each other in absolute silence for the better part of a full minute. When they finally did speak, it was Senken asking, "What do you want to do?" with a serious look on his face. He actually wanted to apologize for his failures as a father, but, no matter how he forced himself, the words simply wouldn't form within his throat.Scratching the back of his head, Nobu forced a smile as he said, "I was thinking of staying on the mountain for a bit. There are some things I want to accomplish before setting out to do my own thing...""Mmm..."Having received daily reports from Hitomi, Senken was well aware of what Nobu had been doing since arriving in Yumegakure. He had originally wanted to tease Nobu for playing around all day, but, knowing how quickly he was progressing, Senken was afraid he might inadvertently offend the young man he had spent the last nineteen years thinking of but knew nothing about..."Very well. I have discussed the matter with Hitomi and agreed to let you stay on the mountain for the next year. Your mother won't like it, but I should be able to convince her by saying it's for your own good. When you're ready to return, we'll be there waiting for you..."Not really knowing what else to say, Senken extended his hand to give Nobu a pat on the shoulder. He could still vividly recall the days when he toured the Province causing countless problems for its residents. His son deserved the same opportunity, so, much like his father before him, Senken just gave Nobu a few light pats before walking away with a smile on his face..."Nana is going to kill me..."......(A/N: Nobu could have had such awesome parents...)

After quickly packing up camp, Nobu and the girls spent the better part of two and a half hours transitioning from the Eastern base of the mountain to their estate on the Northern side.Fortunately, now that he had broken through the Second Realm and become increasingly familiar with his Aura, Nobu could now generate a layer of wind to keep most insects at bay. It caused his clothes to billow and rustle as if he were constantly being battered by the wind, but, compared to being swarmed by mosquitos, it was infinitely better.If there was anything Nobu could complain about, it was the fact that his cultivation method wasn't suited for stealth in the slightest. He produced a shot ton of sound due to the rustling of grass and leaves that followed his every movement. This earned him more than a few amused looks from the girls, who, for the most part, produced little to no sound as they moved through the dense forest.Comforting his ego by reminding himself that he wasn't a shinobi, Nobu enjoyed the two-and-a-half-hour hike quite a bit. It was only once the walls surrounding his estate came into view that his mood soured, as, standing near the entrance to the gate was none other than Inami.Restraining a sigh, Nobu missed the looks he received from several members of his entourage. Yui, Yuriko, and Onihime, in particular, were very concerned about him. What they didn't know was that the primary reason for his frustration was Inami's height. He already knew she was small, but, due to the circumstances of their last encounter, he had been sitting on his ass or lying on his back most of the time they were talking. It was only now that he understood how truly short she was..."Welcome back, Waka-danna. Congratulations on your breakthrough."Though the girls seemed to expect it somewhat, Nobu was slightly taken aback when Inami crossed her hands over her lap and performed a polite yet reserved bow. She had also changed into a white kimono with a red obi and what he believed to be a modified haori. It was similar to the coats worn by the Captain-class Shinigami in Bleach but it had been modified to allow her six bluish-black tails to flow behind her as if they were unaffected by gravity.While his entire entourage bowed towards Inami, Nobu remained with his head high as he forced a smile and said, "Thanks..."Noticing the awkwardness in Nobu's words and actions, Inami's ears twitched slightly as she raised her head and asked, "Is something the matter, Waka-danna?"Shaking his head, Nobu caused everyone to tense as he honestly answered, "Not really. I was just a little surprised by how short you are. I knew you were tiny but I wasn't really paying much attention the last time we met..."Though her expression didn't change, the inordinately fluffy ears atop Inami's head twitched as she asked, "Does Waka-danna...have a problem with my height?"Shaking his head a second time, Nobu answered, "Nah. Like I said before, it's just a little surprising. I don't really care how tall you are so long as you're of age..."Perking up in response to her Master's words, a visibly excited glimmer appeared in the depths of Onihime's deep purple eyes. If she excluded Inami's large, almost rabbit-like ears, she was only a centimeter or two shorter than the six-tailed kitsune. Their figures weren't all that dissimilar, either. Rather, thanks to her half-oni heritage, Onihime was pretty confident that her thighs, hips, and butt were bigger than Inami's...While Onihime was allowing her thoughts to run wild, Inami just stared at Nobu for several seconds before nodding her head and saying, "I see. I had almost forgotten how brash and honest you were. I'll have to keep that in mind during our training..."Though she was tempted to remind Nobu that his words and actions had consequences, Inami had already discussed the matter of his behavior with Hitomi and the Elders. They had effectively linked the fate of their Clan with Nobu, so, while they would do their best to correct his behavior, they had come to the conclusion it was best to let outsiders teach him the harder lessons in life. Their goal, at least in the interim period leading up to Nobu's rise, was making sure that he felt more at home on the mountain than anywhere else in Nian.........With such sentiments in mind, Inami escorted Nobu, Yui, and Onihime to his room while everyone else split off to either rest or return to their respective duties.Upon entering the room, Nobu immediately became aware of the peculiar aroma that seemed to have permeated the entire area. His sense of smell hadn't improved during his breakthrough, but, now that he no longer had a cloth covering his face, he was a lot more susceptible to even subtle changes in aroma and odor."Have you been staying in my room while I was gone?"Though her expression didn't change, the pupils of Inami's eyes contracted slightly as she casually answered, "Very perceptive...however, to answer your question, I haven't been staying here. I have just been visiting rather frequently. Though I am ashamed to admit it, my instincts have been acting up ever since our previous encounter..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu was about to ask what she meant when Inami took it upon herself to explain, "You see, with few exceptions, intercourse between a kitsune and a male partner frequently results in the latter's death. As you are well aware, I had to restrain myself considerably just to avoid accidentally injuring you. Because of that, the symptoms of my heat have yet to settle. They should diminish by the end of Spring, but, for the time being, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that my body craves you..."Surprising Nobu, Yui, and Onihime, Inami slowly sauntered over to the futon that Nobu frequently used when resting. Then, stopping just short of touching herself, she nestled face-first into the spot where he usually lay, her tails flickering behind her as she audibly inhaled his aroma."...""...""..."Exchanging looks, Nobu noticed equal parts confusion and concern in Yui's gaze. This was clearly an abnormal situation so she couldn't help fearing for everyone's safety. After all, the most senior member of their entire Clan was basically behaving like an animal in heat right in front of them. If the other clanswomen learned about this, it would be a scandal unlike any other.Almost as soon as that thought had crossed Yui's mind, her body tensed as Inami rolled lazily onto her side and said, "Don't worry. After discussing the matter with the other Elders, we have decided to respect Waka-danna's unique perspective. While it is certainly troublesome, we have come to the conclusion that it is not our place to dictate how he should act and behave around others. I believe your Grandmother has told you something similar, yes?"Recalling the advice her Grandmother had given her, Yui reluctantly nodded her head in response to Inami's words. This earned her a slight smile from the vulpine woman, who, rather shamelessly stated, "Then it's fine. So long as you don't go around spreading rumors, there's nothing to worry about. All I care about right now is being close to Waka-danna..."Though her words were both carefully chosen and practiced, Inami wasn't lying when she said she wanted to be close to Nobu. Rather, it would be a big problem for all of them if they weren't close to each other. Thus, even though she felt indescribably embarrassed, she tightly squeezed Nobu's pillow before curling up her tails, closing her eyes, and relishing in his aroma.Observing Inami's actions, both Yui and Onihime were at a complete loss for words. Prior to this moment, they couldn't even imagine their Clan's legendary Guardian behaving in such a manner. It was almost like she was a maiden in love, and, were it not for the fact she held the highest position in the entire Clan, they might have even accused her of going rogue...Fortunately, at least for Inami, Nobu's thoughts were very different from the indoctrinated duo. He had been thinking a lot these past few days, so, while Inami's behavior was stalker-level creepy, it was also extremely convenient for him. Thus, after a few seconds had passed, he surprised everyone by saying, "Whatever. So long as you don't cause trouble or swagger around like a big shot, you're free to stay here. If that's too difficult, you're free to stay in the room next to Suzune..."While Yui's and Onihime's conditioning caused them to break out in a cold sweat the moment they heard Nobu's brash and overly casual words, Inami just returned an amused smile as she peered at him between the veil of her tails. Had he spoken this way before their previous liaison, she wouldn't have hesitated to give him a tongue-lashing. Now that the fate of the Yoshitsune Clan rested on his shoulders, she actually felt that it was normal for him to speak and behave in such a brazen manner. Rather, if he was the type of person to lower his head and willfully follow someone else's orders, he would never be able to unify the archipelago...As that thought crossed her mind, Inami briefly recalled the moment Nobu had carelessly smacked her bottom. She had never considered herself a masochist, but it had crossed her mind quite a few times these past couple of days. Each time it did, the perpetual fire in her body would become even more prominent, and, were it not for the fact Nobu had to meet with his parents in a few hours, she might not have been able to restrain herself...Exhaling a hot sigh, Inami's tails unfurled like a blossoming flower before she forced herself to a seated position and asked, "Have you prepared yourself? You'll be meeting with your Lord Father and Mother in less than five hours. We'll need to set out within the next half an hour to avoid being late."Raising his brows, Nobu asked, "You're coming with us? Weren't you supposed to be trapped on the mountain or something?"Though she was a little annoyed by the reminder, Inami's expression remained calm as she said, "I will be part of the group escorting you down the mountain. From then onward, you will be escorted by the Matriarch, Yui-chan, Kumiko, and your servant. The others will need to stay behind.""Hmm..."For a moment, Nobu considered asking if Yuriko could come along. He noticed she had been pretty stressed out lately so he had tried to make it up to her by pounding the shit out of her the previous night. This had helped her calm down quite a bit, but, the moment they returned to the estate, her mood had noticeably soured."Nobu..."Hearing Yui's voice, Nobu shifted his direction to the raven-haired beauty with a questioning look in his eyes. To his surprise, she seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking, saying, "While it is ultimately your decision to make, it isn't you who should be making compromises. Even if you see us as equals, we live to serve you. The more exceptions you make for Yuriko, the more troublesome her behavior will become. It is fine if you want to make her your Concubine. However, she needs to break away from the mentality that she has an intrinsic right to be with you..."Nodding her head in approval of Yui's words, Inami stated, "Yui-chan is correct. I noticed it during my investigation but that girl is steadily becoming more and more unstable. If you continue along your current course, there is a chance she will go rogue. As someone who has witnessed hundreds of kunoichi going rogue, trust me when I say it is never pretty. Unless you want her to be killed or executed, you need to put your foot down and make your relationship as Lord and Retainer clear.""..."Though he didn't want to admit it, Nobu knew the two girls were right. He had been warned quite a number of times yet he has continued treating Yuriko differently than the rest of his entourage. This was because he truly did see her as someone special, but, at the same time, he had also noticed the tell-tale signs of her becoming unhinged and clingy. Thus, even though he wanted to pretend there wasn't an issue, Nobu ultimately exhaled a sigh, saying, "Fine...I'll talk to her when we get back..."Understanding that he had a soft heart despite his brash nature, Yui grabbed Nobu's hand with a supportive smile on her face. Truthfully, she didn't mind if he and Yuriko became genuine lovers. It was common for Lords to have between three and ten wives. The thing she was most worried about was Yuriko going rogue and scarring Nobu for the rest of his life. She knew he would never be able to forgive himself if Yuriko had to be put down after going on a rampage, so, while it was ultimately her last resort, she was fully prepared to kill her former rival before things got too far out of hand.........(A/N: Loyalty can be scary...)

Chapter 87: Unexpected Encounter