I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

Since it was 'his' room, Wu spent a few minutes removing the audio and video-recording devices implanted in the walls and ceiling, removing the explosive tags attached to the underside of the mattress, and replacing the bedding with the quilt Tenten's mother had given him. He didn't really care if other people spied on him, he was pretty used to it, but that didn't mean he would make things easy for them. With his cursory yet thorough search completed, Wu plopped onto his bed, hands behind his head, and eyes closed as he began organizing his thoughts. He didn't know whether it was a coincidence, but the layout of the underground compound was similar to the research facilities located beneath the streets of Konoha. There were a few minor differences, such as the symbol of Otogakure being present on most doors, but Wu couldn't shake the feeling the compounds had been designed by the same person. Recalling the faces of every missing-nin in the Bingo Book, one individual stood out in Wu's mind: Orochimaru, one of Hiruzen's former students. Wu had immediately suspected the Otokage of being Orochimaru the moment she appeared, but it was difficult to be sure. His eyes had never betrayed him in the past, yet he couldn't see through Orochimaru's disguise. There was a genuine possibility that Orochimaru had undergone plastic surgery to change his face, but would he really go as far as enduring a sex change just to conceal his identity? And what was the point of participating in the Chunin Exams if s/he decried the policies and practices of the Five Great Shinobi Nations? It didn't make any sense, especially considering his little promotion. Mulling over the possibilities, the only rational explanation that Wu could come up with was that Otogakure intended to infiltrate Konoha and cause an incident during the Chunin Exams. However, according to what Hiruzen had told him, the de facto leader of the Legendary Sannin shouldn't have 'that' much of a grudge against the village. He had been chased out, sure, but Hiruzen had permitted him to escape. The man didn't even have a Kill on Sight classification within the Bingo Book, and he had been an S-Rank missing-nin for well over a decade. The only reason Wu could think of to explain Orochimaru targetting Konoha was that the man, woman, or whatever, intended to make an example out of his former home. Konoha was the greatest of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, hoarding the continent's largest, most fertile territory. If Orochimaru really was just lashing out against the current system, destabilizing or even destroying Konoha would send the entire Shinobi World into chaos... Though he believed he was onto something, Wu reminded himself that only fools made decisions based on assumptions. That was the reason he had accepted the Otokage's invitation. Otogakure was decidedly different from every other village Wu had researched. He suspected that the compound they were in was just one of several facilities spread through the Land of Sound, so even if he were to go on a rampage and destroy it, it would be like cutting off the head of a Hydra. Unless he could cut off the remaining heads or eliminate the Otokage outright, Otagakure would endure. Recalling the sickly feeling he had gotten from the Otokage, Wu's brows creased ever so slightly. He had never felt such a disgusting Chakra, even when he encountered the creepy Elder that attempted to invite him to join his organization, Shimura Danzo. Both gave off an abominable feeling, like mud mixed with slimy algae, but the Otokage's Chakra was like a swirl of all kinds of different creatures, not just humans... Interrupting Wu's thoughts, a knocking could be heard from his door, followed by a proud, feminine voice informing him, "Lady Otokage has requested your presence, Dadi-sama. Please exit your room and follow me." Rolling forward and onto his feet, Wu bounded to the door, surprising the bluish-purple-haired woman on the other side by opening it immediately after she had finished speaking. Her surprise was only brief, however, as she quickly regained a calm, neutral expression and said, "You're quick to respond. That's good. Otokage-sama will be pleased." Wriggling his brows, Wu asked, "And what, exactly, would it take for her not to be? That woman has been grinning like a predator filled in a room with her favorite prey animals since she first appeared." Furrowing her brows, the bluish-purple-haired woman said, "You should show Otokage-sama more respect. She is one of the only people fighting to eliminate the injustices of the current system. I will tolerate your slights for the time being, as you are still new to our organization, but you should be wary of Kimimaru. His allegiance towards Otokage-sama exceeds even my own. If you are crude or speak ill of Otokage-sama in his presence, he may kill you on the spot." Raising his brows and crossing his arms, Wu maintained a fearless smile as he asked, "Kimimaru? Is he the pale and skinny one with the red dots on his forehead? You haven't exactly introduced yourselves." Realizing that Wu was correct, the bluish-purple-haired Kunoichi surprised him a bit by adopting a sincerely apologetic expression and saying, "Sorry about that. My name is Guren. I'm one of Otokage-sama's disciples. I look forward to working with you to make the world a better place, Dadi-sama." Folding her hands over her lap, Guren gave a polite bow as if she were greeting one of her superiors. Wu's rank was technically higher than hers, so even if he had yet to earn her respect, she gave him the deference his status deserved. Scratching the back of his head, Wu appeared to hesitate for a moment before remarking, "Well, that was unexpected...you're a lot more 'honest' than I initially gave you credit for, huh? I half-expected everyone in this place to be perpetually uptight. You know, like that tomato-haired chick. What was her name again...?" Though there were actually a few redheads in their organization, Guren responded, "Tayuya?" before furrowing her brows slightly and revealing, "The situation of her and the other Sound Five is a little complicated...I'm not going to tell you to get along, but try not to be too hard on her, okay? Not everyone is as naturally gifted as some of us..." As if to demonstrate her point, Guren raised her arm and materialized a blade of sapphire-blue crystal from her forearm. She possessed a Kekkai Genkai that allowed her to manifest and freely manipulate crystals with a variety of unique properties. Most prominent of these was their ability to crystallize physical matter on a molecular level, allowing her to reduce her opponent's to crystalline powder. Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck on end, Wu's golden eyes gained a fiery hue as he hummed, "That's quite the ability...guess I'm not the only one special in this dreary place." Since she had given a demonstration of her power, Guren felt as though she had built enough rapport to ask, "Your Kekkai Genkai, is it an ocular ability? I've never seen a pattern such as yours. What do you call them...?" Improving Guren's impression of him, Wu readily revealed, "Oh, these bad boys? I've taken to calling them the Fiery Golden Eyes. Probably not the most creative of names, but it's a fairly apt description, don't you think...?" Nodding her head in approval, Guren affirmed, "It's how I would describe them." before getting back to the original reason for her visit, adding, "We should continue this discussion later. I would prefer not to keep Otokage-sama waiting." Since Guren seemed like a convenient source of information, Wu adopted his most charismatic smile and said, "It's a date." before punctuating his statement with a wink. Guren was much older than him, but Wu was well aware that there were women who preferred younger men... Proving his point, Guren's face flushed ever so slightly as she averted her eyes and remarked, "Well, aren't you the little charmer..." Narrowing his eyes, Wu's expression morphed into a predatory grin as he asserted, "Even if I could record my name in history, the only meaningful legacy a person can leave behind is their descendants. Beautiful women with unique bloodlines aren't exactly common, so I would be remiss not to befriend those that appear before me..." Understanding the connotation of Wu's words, the blush on Guren's face deepened as she felt uncharacteristically bashful. If she hadn't already resolved herself to become the next vessel of her 'Lord,' she might have been tempted to accept Wu's courtship. He was more youthful than any man she had considered a union with, but his power and intellect shone just as brightly as his eyes... Unable to meet Wu's gaze, Guren turned away from him and reiterated, "We should get going..." in a soft, nearly inaudible tone. Leaving Guren even more flustered, Wu nodded his head, teasing, "Lead the way. I think I'll stick back and enjoy the view." Though Guren was wearing thick clothing that didn't show off her figure in the slightest, Wu's words compelled her to cover her backside, her face practically crimson as she said, "I take it back...you aren't just a charmer. You're a certifiable rogue..." Maintaining a wolfish grin, Wu retorted, "Blame your parents. You clearly inherited some remarkable genes..." Contrasting Wu's expectations, Guren's blush faded rapidly as she hung her head, a melancholic expression marring her beauty. Any other person would have apologized upon seeing this, but Wu just exhaled a faint sigh before remarking, "It seems Tayuya isn't the only one with a complicated past." Then, before Guren could respond, he emerged from the room and added, "You can tell me about it later. For now, we really should head over to Otokage-sama." Regaining some of her previous vigor, Guren forced a smile and replied, "You're right." before turning to lead the way. After a few steps, however, she stopped, looked back, and added, "It's a date..." before continuing on her way, her pace a little faster than usual... ... .. . Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching, the Otokage turned around, an 'amused' smile on her face as she remarked, "The two of you are a bit later than I was expecting. Did something happen?" Having regained her composure, Guren's expression was confident and calm as she replied, "Please forgive our delay, Otokage-sama. Dadi-sama and I were discussing matters of the future and lost track of time. If there is to be any sort of punishment, please allow me to shoulder the blame in its entirety." Setting aside the notion of punishing her apprentice, the Otokage mused, "Oh? Care to share? I'm also quite interested in the future." Regaining the briefest hint of a blush, Guren unhesitantly revealed, "Dadi-sama expressed an interest in the 'union' of our respective bloodlines. He believes that the only 'meaningful' legacy a person can leave behind is their descendants, so he seems to be searching for suitable candidates to fulfill that purpose." Emulating an expression of stupefaction, Wu stared at the back of Guren's head as if she had just betrayed his trust. At the same time, the Otokage's snake-like eyes shimmered within the dimly lit chamber, filled with various tubes, containers, and lab equipment. There was also an operating table in the center of the room, but it was currently bereft the essential tools to conduct a surgery. They were nearby, of course, but the Otokage had put them away to avoid 'spooking' her most recent recruit. Caressing her chin, the Otokage mused, "While I have slightly different views on the matter, I can empathize with Dadi-sama's desire to leave a meaningful legacy. Fortunately, as fate would have it, Otogakure just so happens to be a pioneer in the study of Kekkei Genkai. If you agree to let me take a sample of your blood to study, I can 'very easily' arrange a few willing partners for someone as talented as yourself." As Konoha already possessed more than a few samples of his blood, Wu didn't hesitate to shrug his shoulders and reply, "Sounds reasonable. Just make sure they're easy on the eyes, okay? I get that the 'bloodline' is the most important element, but I'd rather not bed a woman who has more in common with a cow than a human." Expecting Wu to offer at least 'some' resistance to her proposition, the Otokage found herself at a rare loss for words. Soon after, however, she began to laugh in a really creepy manner, starting off low and quiet before getting progressively louder in three distinct stages... ... .. .

In order to present himself as someone that could be trusted, Wu never bothered snooping around or trying to gather information covertly. Most of the questions he asked were the kind any 'naive' and overconfident kid in his situation would have asked. After all, except for a few prisoners and some unfortunate souls being experimented upon, everyone in the facility was a Shinobi. They could usually intuit when someone was attempting to pry information from them. After around three weeks of just going with the flow, Wu received a knock on his door, followed by the familiar voice of Guren calling out, "Otokage-sama has requested your presence, Dadi-kun." Springing to his feet, Wu approached the door, opening it to reveal the smiling face of Guren on the other side before asking, "When will you stop attaching honorifics to my name? I even gave you my express permission to call me Dadi..." Exhaling a throaty, amused chuckle, Guren elected not to answer Wu's question. Instead, she narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Come on. It wouldn't do to keep our Lady waiting." Shrugging helplessly, Wu replied, "Yeah, yeah..." before falling into step behind the bluish-purple-haired Kunoichi. The two of them had gotten a lot closer over the past twenty-three days, but there was also a notable 'distance' between them. If he had to guess, Wu would put his money on the possibility that Guren had a terminal illness and didn't want to burden him when she inevitably died... After reaching one of the many labs spread throughout the underground facility, Wu's eyes were briefly drawn to the presence of a group of girls, two of which he recognized. The Otokage was also present, however, so he focused on her as she perused the contents of a thick, manilla-colored folder. Without raising her gaze from the folder, the Otokage revealed, "I have completed the preliminary analysis of your blood and chakra composition. As you are well aware, you possess a rather...remarkable constitution. It's to such an extent that I find it difficult to believe you're even human..." Adopting one of his characteristically cheeky grins, Wu remarked, "I did always tell people I was built different. Now I have proof." Exhaling a light chuckle, the Otokage mused, "Indeed..." before raising her gaze to meet Wu's as she gestured to the girls waiting off to the side, adding, "As you can see, I took your request on the day we met seriously. These are a just a few women I have deemed suitable for carrying your exceptional genes. Each possesses a Kekkei Genkai or is the descendent of a clan with unique abilities bordering on one..." Noticing Tayuya and the green-haired girl whose ass he had poked were among the group, Wu couldn't help asking, "And these girls are actually 'willing' to contribute to my legacy? I may be shameless, but I also take pride in myself and my appearance. I'm not so desperate that I need to force unwilling participants to bear my children." Reacting to Wu's gaze, Tayuya averted her eyes, arms crossed in a huff. The Otokage interpreted this as 'romantic tension' between the duo, so she decided to mediate, revealing, "Tayuya-chan is a distant cousin to the nearly defunct Uzumaki Clan. She endured many hardships to awaken the potential of her bloodline. As such, she can sometimes be a little; how can I put this nicely? Standoffish? Regardless, each girl here has consented to the arrangement. I have also prepared each of their files, so you're free to peruse them if it will help you make a decision." Handing Wu the folder containing his and each of the girls' lab results and medical records, an obsessive smile developed across the Otokage's face as she asserted, "I greatly anticipate the results, Dadi-sama..." Accepting the folder, Wu elicited an amused chuckle from the Otokage as he began perusing the contents, starting with his own file. He was curious to see how the Otokage's results compared to the data provided to him by Konoha's lab technicians. There was always a chance they had been lying to him, so this was an excellent opportunity to ascertain how trustworthy his so-called allies were. Fortunately for Hiruzen, and Konoha as a whole, nothing in the Otokage's report contradicted the information they had provided. It was 'a lot' more detailed, but that could be attributed to the Otokage's research into 'Sage Chakra,' the result of combining Natural Energy and Chakra. Seeing how focused Wu was on the folder's contents, the Otokage issued another light chuckle before choosing to excuse herself. There were still a lot of experiments she wanted to conduct on Wu, but that could wait until his trust in Otogakure had strengthened. For now, she was curious to see who Wu would choose among the candidates she had carefully arranged for him. So long as he selected even a single one of them, she would be getting more information on the boy. And if things went 'particularly' well, she would be acquiring multiple 'test subjects' in the next ten to twelve months. Either way, it was only a matter of time before she got everything she desired from the boy... ... .. . With Guren following after the Otokage, Wu found himself in what some in his position would consider a 'precarious' situation. Excluding Tayuya and the green-haired girl, apparently named Kagero, there were ten complete strangers who had expressed a willingness to 'breed' with him. Quite the predicament, indeed... Noticing that two of the girls shared the same surname as Kagero, Fuuma, Wu raised his gaze from the manilla folder and asked, "So, what? Am I to be the next Patriarch of the Fuuma Clan? Or are you just intending to use my bloodline to strengthen your next generation?" Answering on behalf of Kagero and another woman that could easily be mistaken as her twin, a raven-haired beauty with sharp black eyes and a hime-style haircut replied, "While it is our heartfelt desire to restore the Fuuma Clan, we have no attachment to the surname itself. If Dadi-sama would prefer our children to be named Saiko, we offer no complaints." "Hmmm..." Shifting his attention to the green-haired Kagero, Wu asked, "Is that so? I would have assumed one of you would be a little...butthurt after the way I treated them in the past." Recalling the incident three weeks prior, Kagero involuntarily shuddered before using her hands to protect her backside. She didn't condemn Wu for attacking her or acting in self-defense, but the trauma of that day was still fresh in her mind. As for the matter of whether she was willing...there was nothing she wouldn't do to achieve the restoration of her Clan... Forcing a look of conviction on her face, Kagero asserted, "I'll be in Dadi-sama's care from now on..." Though he initially planned to eliminate the girl outright, Kagero's 'calm' assertion amused Wu quite a bit. He could see her knees shaking, but the look in her eyes showed she was serious. Her file also credited her with having a unique ability that exceeded even an S-Rank Ninjutsu, the only downside being that it consumed so much Chakra it placed the user in a near-death state. In other words, without adequate preparations, it was a one-time use, kamikaze jutsu. Instead of refuting the girl's conviction, Wu gave a curt nod before turning his attention back to the manilla folder. One of the girls nearest to his age, based on appearances, had caught his notice the moment he entered the room. She had pale hair tied into a lazy ponytail, bangs that reminded him a lot of Hinata, and silvery-grey eyes. More noticeably, at least from Wu's perspective, she exuded a distinct 'chill' from her body. Referencing the girl's profile, Wu mused, ("Yuki Sen...a wartorn orphan who managed to escape the 'Bloodline Purge' currently taking place in Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist. Exhibits basic mastery of her Clan's unique Kekkai Genkai, Ice Release. Can produce an icy vapor that rapidly freezes everything in her surroundings. Neat...") Though he didn't intend to start a harem of girls with unique bloodlines, at least not any time soon, Wu could tell that the Yuki Clan's Ice Release had potential. If he could get Sen and the rest of the girls present to defect to Konoha, the village might actually have a few interesting Clans...assuming he could prevent a certain cyclops from attempting to pilfer them... Snapping the folder shut, Wu gave the group of girls, aged 14-27, one of his best smiles as he said, "First of all, let me thank you for expressing an interest in mine and Otokage-sama's proposition. However, while it might be true that you have each given your consent, that isn't quite enough to convince me of your 'sincerity.' We're talking about restoring and creating brand new Clans here, so I need to choose my partners carefully." Meeting Tayuya's gaze, Wu left the scarlet-haired woman slackjawed as he revealed, "The only person I'm seriously considering right now is the angry tomato. The Uzumaki Clan was legendary for their affinity with all things related to seals, and their vitality is nothing to scoff at. It would be pretty dumb of me not to at least 'consider' having one as a wife..." Passing his gaze over the remaining girls, Wu's expression appeared to soften as he added, "As for the rest of you...I'll have to make my decision on a case-by-case basis. For now, how about we get to know each other first? Even if you're willing now, you might regret it for the rest of your life if you enter into a relationship with someone you hate. I'll talk to Otokage-sama, so, at the very least, you won't have to worry about being sent on any dangerous missions for the time being..." Though the twin-like women from the Fuuma Clan seemed a little irked by Wu's 'polite' dismissal, neither said anything. While they had agreed when the Otokage approached them, the notion of getting knocked up by a boy less than half their age wasn't particularly enticing. They wouldn't have even considered it if he didn't possess an extraordinary constitution and a powerful Kekkei Genkai... Finished with what he had to say, Wu took advantage of his much higher-ranking status to dismiss everyone but Tayuya. A hateful glower appeared on her face at the implication of his actions, but she waited until the other girls had departed before asking, "Don't tell me you want to do it right this instant? Can you even get it up properly at your age...?" Instead of answering Tayuya's question, a teasing smile developed across Wu's face as he remarked, "Awwwww...is the horny tomato worried about little old me? Isn't that just precious..." Narrowing her eyes, Tayuya snarled, "If you don't want to fuck, then what 'do' you want? Unlike you, the rest of us have other responsibilities. I have better things to do than standing around, listening to your bullshit." Rolling his eyes, Wu lazily retorted, "The moment you agreed to Otokage-sama's proposition, I became the most important thing you had 'do.' Now, am I going to have to order you to tell me your story, or are you going to tell me of your own accord?" Blinking in surprise, Tayuya uttered a confused, "Huh...?" before regaining her usual ferocity and asserting, "It's none of your fucking business..." Hitting the tomato head with an 'oh really?' look, Wu asked, "Isn't it? We have just been given a license to fuck like rabbits and make babies. I believe that gives me a pretty compelling reason to know at least a little of your backstory. What do you think?" "..." Though Wu's words were fairly compelling in and of themselves, Tayuya only hesitated for a few seconds before reiterating, much softer this time, "It's none of your fucking business..." Then, even though it went against the policies of Otogakure, she stormed past Wu and walked away without waiting to be dismissed... ... .. .

After accepting Wu as a member of Otogakure, the Otokage had him accompany her to a large underground chamber littered with battle scars and wreaked of blood. There, she turned to the perenially unperturbed youth and explained, "As I said before, we do not 'play' around like many of the other Shinobi Villages. While it is true we are planning to attend this year's Chunin Exams, promotions within Otogakure's hierarchy depend on two factors: strength and desire. If you had the power to claim it, even my position as Otokage would be yielded to you." Gesturing to the boar-like man, causing him to make his way over to one end of the battle arena, the Otokage added, "As you appear to specialize in Taijutsu and Earth-Release, Jirobo here will evaluate your strength. His physical strength is the most powerful among my immediate guards, but he is the weakest member overall." Hearing the Otokage call him weak, the look on Jirobo's face immediately soured. He then lowered himself into a broad stance reminiscent of Grand Sumo as a fiery red pattern resembling leafy vines began to spread from his left shoulder, extending down his arm, encroaching up his neck, and branching across his face and chest. Sensing an influx of Natural Energy, Wu's brows briefly perked before he playfully remarked, "If that's the best you can do, big guy, you might need to step down as one of the Otokage's bodyguards." Snorting through his nose, Jirobo looked to the Otokage and asked, "Can I teach this brat a lesson?" Illustrating Wu's point about the kinds of people who answered questions with questions, the Otokage mused, "I don't know...can you~?" Interpreting the Otokage's words as consent, the vines spreading across Jirobo's body rapidly increased in number, encompassing every ounce of his flesh before transforming him into a red-skinned monstrosity that was equal parts ogre and oni. His height didn't change much, but his muscles bulged, several large 'warts' appeared on his shoulders and forehead, and his three tufts of hair abruptly lengthened into a spiky mane. Despite not being impressed in the slightest, Wu made a show of clapping his hands together, a 'surprised' expression on his face as she said, "Good for you. I was worried that you were going bald despite only appearing to be in your twenties. It turns out you can do it if you try." Glaring at Wu with his golden, darkness-encircled eyes, Jirobo growled, "Let's see you mouth off after I plant your face into the ground..." Having decided how he would end the match, Wu stepped away from the larger group and positioned himself on the opposite side of Jirobo. When he had reached his position, the Otokage waited a few moments to see if either side had Anything else to say before raising her hand and 'purring,' "Have fun, boys..." Without hesitating for a moment, Jirobo shouted, "Taste the power of my Arhat Fist, you punk!" before striking forward his right palm, an explosive shockwave rippling outward and barreling toward Wu. Though he could have easily evaded the attack, Wu surprised a few of the observers by smiling and allowing it to strike him directly. The force of the palm strike was strong enough to leave a trail of destruction as it traveled, but the moment it impacted Wu's body, it only managed to disturb his hair and clothing, leaving an area of undamaged terrain behind him. While the Otokage muttered, "Interesting..." Jirobo had a stupefied look on his face as he exclaimed a confused, "Huh?" before following it up with a much louder, "That's impossible...!" Adopting a radiant smile, Wu retorted, "I assumed you were dumb, but to deny something that happened right in front of your face..." As his words trailed off, Wu's form abruptly vanished before appearing right in front of Jirobo as he added, "That's just sad..." Before the fiery-haired ogre could even think to respond, Wu used his staff to smack him 'gently' over the top of his head. The man's face was immediately planted into the ground, his transformation receding as he fell into a shallow coma. Turning away from the downed manner, Wu shouldered his bo staff and playfully mused, "Does anyone else want to 'test' the great and powerful Dadi-sama~?" Though the pretty boy with silvery-white hair and red markings on his face looked like he was prepared to take on the challenge, he stopped mid-step as the Otokage raised her hand and said, "That's enough. It's apparent our young friend here is every ounce as 'great' as he purported himself to be. Henceforth, he shall be regarded as a Jonin of the Sound. Tayuya-chan, please be a dear and escort our friend to his new quarters. Section A, Room 2." As her own room was in Section B, the angry tomato clicked her tongue before responding, "Understood, Oro&mdash;Otokage-sama..." Then, with her reddish-brown eyes focused on Wu, she added, "Come with me, squirt." before the Otokage promptly corrected her, teasing, "I believe you meant to say, 'Please, follow me, Dadi-sama.' Be respectful to those with higher ranks than your own, Tayuya-chan. Unless, of course, you would like to accept Dadi-sama's invitation for a match?" Though she would ordinarily accept any challenges pitted against her, Tayuya hadn't been able to detect even the shadow of Wu's movements when he blitzed Jirobo. Thus, while she didn't feel an ounce of respect for the young boy that had 'invaded' their hideout, she begrudgingly replied, "Yes, Otokage-sama..." before returning her attention to Wu and adding, "Please, follow me to your quarters, Dadi-sama..." Unable to resist, the smile on Wu's face blossomed even further as he gave a playful wink and teased, "I'm willing to make an exception for you, tomato-head. Feel free to call me Dadi from now on." "T-Tomato head...!?" Changing her mind, Tayuya pulled out a silvery flute and prepared to risk her life to teach Wu a lesson. However, before she could place her lips against the mouthpiece, a delicate-seeming but strong hand came to grip her shoulder, followed by the silvery-white-haired man narrowing his mint green eyes and stating, "Lady Otokage has given you an order..." in a flat monotone. As an involuntary shudder spread through her body, Tayuya lowered the flute from her mouth and replied, "Understood..." before looking at Wu a third time and repeating, "Please, follow me...Dadi..." Smiling from ear to ear, Wu could barely contain the laughter echoing in his mind as he replied, "It would be my pleasure, Tomato-chan~." ... .. . After parting ways with the Otokage and her entourage, Wu followed closely behind Tayuya, matching her steps with his own as he did so. He could feel the anger radiating from the 162cm tall girl, but she didn't turn around or say Anything. Instead, she guided him through several nearly identical corridors before bringing him to a spacious, lavishly decorated room. Having fulfilled her duty, Tayuya immediately turned to leave before Wu stopped her, asking, "Hey, I outrank you now, right? Answer some of my questions before you go." Inhaling a deep, steadying breath, Tayuya turned to Wu and asked, "What would you like to know...?" in a low, growling tone. Before asking his questions, Wu wagged his finger as if he was chastising a child, musing, "Ah, ah, ah. It's, what would you like to know, Dadi? I may have given you permission to address me informally, but I take pride in my illustrious and majestic-sounding name." Balling her hand into fists, Tayuya narrowed her eyes and repeated, "What would you like to know, Dadi...?" Nodding in approval, Wu replied, "Much better." before proceeding to ask, "That transformation of that striped pig, is everyone in Otogakure able to use such an ability? It's faint, but I could sense the same energy coming from each of you." Instead of answering Wu's question, Tayuya managed to tick him off ever so slightly by asking, "You're a Sensor...?" before doing herself a favor by answering, "You'll hear about it eventually, so I might as well answer you. It's a transformation derived from a technique known as the Cursed Seal of Heaven, a unique Kinjutsu developed by Otokage-sama. It allows us to draw in an energy known as Natural Energy, drastically enhancing our strength, speed, durability, and stamina..." Crossing his arms, Wu exhaled an intrigued, "I see..." before delaying Tayuya's departure a second by asking, "Can you show it to me? That pig didn't put up much of a fight, so I wasn't able to get a proper grasp of the technique's capabilities." Though she wanted to refuse, Otogakure placed a heavy emphasis on respecting the hierarchy between members. In simple terms, anyone in a lower-ranking position was obligated to obey their superiors unless they were willing to risk their lives to acquire greater authority. Exhaling a sigh, Tayuya interpreted Wu's words literally by parting her hair and revealing three angular markings on the nape of her neck. After that, she activated the mark, allowing it to gradually spread across her body as she explained, "This is known as the Level 1 Curse Mark..." before wincing in pain as the fiery markings rapidly spread across her entire body. Unlike Jirobo, whose skin turned red and warty, Tayuya's became a shade of earthy brown. Her hair lost its scarlet hue, becoming closer to pink, and her eyes became amber-gold, surrounded by inky-black sclera. Then, just as Wu thought the transformation was ending, the bandages she wore as a hat began to unfurl as six bone-white horns grew from her head. Two of them curved around to the front, resembling the horns of a bull, two grew along the dividing line of her body, and the final two grew in the opposite direction of the horns framing her face. Never one to pass on an opportunity to annoy someone, especially a girl, Wu raised his brows and remarked, "You suddenly become horny. Pretty cool." Furrowing her brows, Tayuya resisted the urge to slam her fist into Wu's abdomen as she asked, "Anything else you want to ask, Dadi? If it's all the same to you, I would rather be anywhere else but here..." Exhibiting his absolute lack of shame, Wu ignored Tayuya's remark and asked, "Can I touch them...?" with a curious glimmer in his eyes. Inhaling a deep breath, the muscles of Tayuya's jaw flexed a few times before she relented, leaning forward to allow Wu to touch her horns. He was still just twelve years old, so his height was around 158.3cm, slightly shorter than other boys his age. He could easily remedy that with his Size Alteration Technique, but Wu honestly didn't care if other boys were taller than him. Once they were face down in the dirt, most of them barely came up to his ankles... Though he wasn't sure what he expected, Wu was a little disappointed by the texture and feel of Tayuya's horns. They were sharp and really easy to hold onto, giving him a slight urge to spin the girl around, but their texture was like bone that had been left out in the sunlight for years. They were also frustrating asymmetrical, but that seemed to be due to an imbalance in the distribution of Natural Energy. If the curse mark was able to spread uniformly, he suspected the horns would grow symmetrically. Feeling increasingly annoyed as time passed, Tayuya asked, "Are you just about done, Dadi?" in an audibly annoyed tone. In response, Wu surprised her by immediately releasing his grasp on her horns. In the next moment, however, he left the amber-eyed girl feeling confused and seeing red as he playfully mused, "Horny suits you. Your original appearance isn't bad, but this is a hell of a lot more unique. It's certainly better than that pig's transformation, that's for sure." Taken aback by Wu's words, Tayuya found herself at a loss for her own. Exacerbating matters, Wu followed his playful remarks by immediately turning around and disappearing into his room, allowing the door to slam shut behind him... Recovering from her stupor, Tayuya balled her right hand into a fist and growled, "Smarmy-mouthed brat..." before storming off in a huff. ... .. .

Chapter 29: Reflection : Legacy