I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

"We are never, ever, doing that again...!" Shortly after departing Otogakure, Wu, once again, asked how Tayuya was with heights. When she replied they didn't bother her, he promptly picked her up and leaped into the air, bounding through the skies as she screamed curses into his ear like a banshee. "Oh, hush. Did you seriously expect me to 'walk' the three-thousand-plus kilometers between the Lands of Sound and Lightning? Besides, once you stopped screaming, you didn't seem all that troubled by the arrangement. Did you enjoy being carried like a princess...?" Snorting through her nose, Tayuya immediately changed the topic, asking, "So, what now? You must have a reason for coming all the way out to this inhospitable shithole, right?" Shrugging his shoulders, Wu replied, "Not really. While it's true I intend to collect information for the upcoming Chunin Exams; I was telling the truth when I said I wanted to mess around with some Kumo Shinobi. You being here complicates things, but don't worry. At least we can keep each other warm at night." Exhaling an exasperated groan, Tayuya gave Wu an incredulous glower as she remarked, "You just don't stop, do you? If you're 'that' desperate for a woman, just abduct someone from a nearby village and throw her down a cliff once you've had your fill. I can keep myself warm." Never one to pass on a good opportunity, Wu supplied a playful wink and said, "I'd like to see that." before commenting, "As for your suggestion, I'll pass. I only have an interest in strong, tenacious women. You might be as flat as the northern ice sheets, but you're a lot more appealing than some civilian rabble." "..." Ignoring Wu's comment about her breasts, Tayuya asked, "So, where are we headed? You at least have a destination in mind, right?" Shaking his head, Wu revealed, "I was planning to infiltrate Kumo directly before you were so unceremoniously assigned to spy on me. For now, we'll just loiter around the outskirts of the village and focus on gathering intel. If we see anyone interesting exiting the village, we'll follow behind and see what they're up to." Though she wasn't sure what to expect, Tayuya found herself thoroughly gobsmacked by Wu's plan. She knew he was an overconfident idiot, but loitering around one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations was just asking to be captured and interrogated. Infiltration was actually the safer option, as even Konoha lacked the human resources to police their entire village. So long as you could blend in with the civilian population, you could gather a fair amount of information in a relatively short period. Seeing the look on Tayuya's face, Wu asked, "What? I'm only utilizing this method because you're here. If I was on my own, infiltrating Kumo would be a breeze. Since I need to look after you, and you need to keep tabs on me, sticking to the outskirts is marginally safer. After all, if an enemy does show up, I can just throw you over my shoulder and take to the sky." Narrowing her eyes, Tayuya growled, "If you even try to throw me over your shoulder, I'll-" Interrupting Tayuya's threat, Wu rolled his eyes, appending, "Fine, fine. I'll carry you like a princess. Happy?" "..." Taking a deep breath, Tayuya reminded herself that Wu was a lot stronger than her. She had also been approached by the Otokage shortly after her release from prison, the latter assigning her the task of closely monitoring and collecting information on Wu's abilities. After restraining her anger, Tayuya met Wu's gaze and answered, "Fine. I think it's an idiotic plan, but I also know you're stupidly powerful. We'll do things your way. For now..." Though it didn't matter if Tayuya had consented to his plan, Wu gave an appreciative nod, saying, "Thanks, Tayuya. Now, shall we find a nice, cozy cave to buckle down in? It gets close to -28&deg;C at night, and I'd rather not have ice crystals develop on my face and eyelashes." Emulating Wu's act of rolling his eyes, Tayuya lazily replied, "Yeah, yeah. Just lead the way. And remember what I said earlier. I'm not going to be warming your body." Emulating Hiruzen's expression, Wu rubbed his chin and mused, "Ah, yes...but you will be warming yourself, correct? Witnessing such a sight will do more than warm these old bones. Hohohoho-" Dodging Tayuya's punch, Wu gave the enraged tomato a smack on her pert posterior and said, "Let's go." before seizing the initiative to leap off the cliff where they were perched. The Land of Lightning was populated by vast mountain ranges and deep gullies, many filled with mutated fish that could swallow a cow whole. There was very little ground suitable for agriculture, but the abundance of minerals, including the incredibly rare Chakra Ore, had secured its place as one of the most prosperous Lands in the Elemental Nations. Though he doubted he would uncover a vein of the precious resource, Wu was excited by the prospect of spelunking and constructing a secret base within a cave. He didn't have any Jutsu that facilitated rapid construction, but he was strong enough to take scoops out of a reinforced iron block. If he utilized a few dozen Hair Clones, it would be a simple matter to expand a cave system and sculpt some furniture... ... .. . "Are you sure you're okay? I don't mind if you just want to cuddle..." With the night getting even colder than Wu had indicated it might, Tayuya was shivering like a wet dog atop the bed he had carved for her. She had on multiple layers of clothes and a winter jacket, but she had neglected to prepare a proper sleeping bag. She had one, but it was made for camping in temperate forests, not icy mountains. Unwilling to lower herself to ask for help, Tayuya stammered, "P-P-P-P-Piss off...!" while continuing to face away from Wu. The latter had spent the better part of three days preparing for his journey, so he was warm and cozy over on his side of the hollowed-out chamber, complete with a small space heater and a gas stove for heating soup and coffee. Shrugging his shoulders, Wu finished off his thermos of soup before retreating beneath his several layers of bedding. He even had the quilt Tenten's mom had sewn for him, alongside an insulated mat to protect against the cold stone of the cave. He could have offered Tayuya one of his blankets, but he would rather hear her request it directly. The sooner they could get over her refusing to depend on him, the easier it would be to wrest her from the Otokage's influence. Hearing Wu fall silent, Tayuya waited for nearly a full hour before turning over to see if he was asleep. What she discovered was Wu staring directly at her, his golden eyes appearing to glisten slightly in the low light of the cave as he lay on his side, head propped up with his left hand. Then, as if to ridicule her for her obstinance, he raised his covers invitingly, revealing his muscular and naked upper body... "..." With the tips of her fingers turning blue, despite her efforts to warm them between her thighs, Tayuya begrudgingly rose to her feet, the look on her face expressing murderous intentions. However, instead of attempting to kill Wu and claim his bedding, she laid down and curled up with her back against his chest, her voice nearly inaudible as she growled, "I hate you..." Instead of teasing Tayuya, as he was inclined to do, Wu wrapped his right arm around the shivering girl's body, snuggling up to her as the big spoon in their arrangement. She was covered in multiple layers of clothes, but it was surprisingly...comfortable. ... .. . After a sleepless night, Tayuya donned the clothing she had discarded throughout the previous night, her expression set into an aggressive pout with noticeable bags under her eyes. Wu's setup was 'very' warm, so she actually started overheating after the initial chill left her body. As a result, the only clothes she had remaining by morning were her form-fitting spats and tube top... Understanding that his silence would be 'more' effective in this particular situation, Wu took his time performing his morning routine in nothing but his briefs. Tayuya had given him an incredulous look when he pulled out a full-sized vanity from his Storage Pouch, but she didn't say anything. She just watched him for a few seconds before shaking her head and finishing her own preparations. After rinsing his mouth and spitting into a cup, Wu was the first to break the tentative silence, saying, "Sink's open." before walking over to the gas stove and producing a wok. However, when Tayuya didn't respond to his words, even after a full minute, Wu looked toward her and asked, "What's wrong? Never used a vanity before...?" Furrowing her brows, Tayuya averted her eyes and attempted to delay the inevitable, murmuring, "I'm not a hygiene freak...I don't need to brush my teeth and wash my face each morning..." Instead of pressing the matter, Wu remarked, "It's a wonder you're able to keep that appearance. Most girls fret excessively over their looks and end up ruining their natural complexion with various makeups and creams. It looks like you won the genetic lottery with a face like that." Understanding that Wu was complimenting her appearance, the furrow on Tayuya's face morphed into a grim scowl. Even without Wu telling her, she knew she was reasonably attractive. However, in her situation, that wasn't a good thing. If she hadn't struggled desperately to obtain power, her life would have been one continuous nightmare... Pretending not to notice the deeply repressed fury in Tayuya's creamy red eyes, Wu turned his attention to the stove and began preparing breakfast for the both of them. He was certain he could get Tayuya to open up with a few careful probes, but he had learned it was far more effective to wait and have his target confide in him of their own volition. It took a lot longer to get the information, but people tended to trust those they had confided in almost unconditionally. Seeing Wu busying himself with breakfast, the tensions in Tayuya's body gradually alleviated. She was still on edge, always, but her opinion of Wu had improved after he didn't try anything the previous night. If he really wanted her, Tayuya knew there was nothing she could do to prevent Wu from having his way with her body. He even had a good excuse to do so, so even though she didn't trust him, she no longer 'hated' him as much as she had the previous day. If anything, she coveted his strength and, most importantly, his freedom... ... .. . While Wu was busy gradually taming Tayuya, a trio of Kumo Shinobi was prowling around the region he was last spotted. Kumogakure made use of trained raptors to constantly survey the surrounding mountains, several of which had spotted Wu and Tayuya. Thus, even though the duo had yet to do anything overt, Kumo had sent one of their recently established Teams to investigate and capture them. Leading the Team of three, the only person within the group that didn't have dark skin was a tall, fair-skinned woman with a curvaceous figure, bobbed blonde hair, and fierce blue eyes. She wore a 'very' low-cut outfit that displayed her ample bosom, poorly concealed beneath a transparent mesh of armor. A modified Kumo-style flak jacket enveloped her waist like a white corset, while her milky-white legs protruded from a short skirt and fed into a pair of high, toeless boots. Red metallic guards protected both of her wrists, but her most prominent feature, besides her bust, was the red tanto strapped above her shapely bottom. Accompanying the fair-skinned woman were two children, a cautious-looking boy, and an aggressive-looking girl. Both possessed brown skin, but the girl's had a tinge of red, much like the scarlet locks flowing away from her headband and falling over her shoulders like spikes. She also had golden, eagle-like eyes, a stark contrast to the dark irises and fuzzy white hair of her teammate... ... .. . (A/N: Since a few people have been asking, my patreon's account name is Ein's Left Foot.)

"Hmm..?" Though his senses were obscured by the cave wall and encompassing mountain, Wu perked up when he sensed three decently sized Chakra signatures within his range. Noticing Wu's reaction, Tayuya ceased eating to ask, "What is it?" She was also a decent Sensor, but her detection abilities relied on a form of echolocation. It helped her target enemies while playing her flute, but it was nowhere near the level of Wu. Rising to his feet, Wu said, "Finish your breakfast. I'm gonna go out and say hello to our guests." Furrowing her brows even further than usual, Tayuya attempted to say, "I'll go with-" before Wu interrupted her, his expression serious and his tone firm as he said, "I don't babysit people. If you want to follow after me and observe from a distance, feel free. Just stay at least 2km away. I can't guarantee you won't get caught up in my attacks if you're any closer than that..." Without waiting for Tayuya's answer, Wu raced out of the cave. He could sense that one of his opponents was also a Sensor, so he wanted to head them off before they could discover the location of his base... ... .. . Shortly after Wu departed his hidden base, the blonde bombshell leading the search team made a stopping gesture, her voice deep yet calm as she ordered, "Karui, Omoi, swords out. One of our targets is fast approaching, distance-" Before the woman could finish speaking, a teasing voice sounded behind her, tickling her ear as it appended, "Zero meters..." Though the pupils of her sky blue eyes shrank to the size of pinholes, the bob-haired blonde managed to channel lightning-infused Chakra through her body, drastically increasing her speed and reaction time as she turned around, slicing the afterimage of Wu with her tanto. ("He's fast...!") Looking around and seeing no hide nor hair of her opponent, a bead of sweat formed on the woman's brow as she shouted, "Triangle formation!" before leaping back to join her much younger charges. As neither of them had seen Wu, the red-headed girl, wielding a lengthy katana, asked, "What's going on, Samui-sensei...!?" while looking around, the pupils of her eagle-like eyes rapidly expanding and contracting as she focused on various objects in her surroundings. Instead of answering Karui's question, Samui focused her senses to their absolute limits, determined to sus out the location of Wu. If she knew that the person she was looking for was currently perched atop her shoulder with a pensive expression on his face, a fresh layer of goosebumps would replace those already covering her body. While resisting the temptation to slide down into the woman's abundant cleavage, Wu internally mused, ("So this is the standard of a Kumo Jonin and Genin...not the worst, but far from the best...") With several seconds passing without incident, Samui softly whispered, "The enemy appeared behind me for a split second before disappearing. We should assume they specialize in silent assassination, so stay on your toes and watch each other's backs..." Hearing their Jonin-sensei's words, the redhead's body tensed while the white-haired youth outright shivered, muttering, "An enemy that not even Samui-sensei can sense...is this penance for putting butter in my cereal? Or is it-" Though she would ordinarily humor her young protege's penchant for babbling when he was nervous, Samui's tone hardened as she hissed, "Omoi! Stay focused...!" Before the quibbling youth could respond, Wu sent shivers down Samui's spine as he said, "It won't help. The fact I've been able to sit here for so long should tell you how screwed you are. The real question is, how badly should I beat you...?" While Samui was unable to see Wu's location due to being just above her collarbone, Karui quickly spotted him with her incredible vision, shouting, "He...he's on your shirt!?" before promptly appending, "How the hell is he so tiny!?" As if she were swatting a mosquito, Samui used her lightning-fast reflexes to smack the location Karui was looking. However, while she was able to land a direct hit, Wu's durability remained unchanged, even in his smallest form. Samui had also held back to avoid injuring herself, so he was utterly unscathed when she tentatively raised her hand to check. Raising his own, Wu offered a friendly "Yo." before remarking, "You should know that it's my policy to return violence with violence. You can't change the fact that you're going to suffer a beating, but the intensity depends on your actions. But don't worry. Even if I spank your ass until you can't walk, I won't kill you." Though her first instinct was to smack Wu many, many more times, Samui suppressed the urge, asking, "Who are you? Why are you sneaking around the outskirts of Kumo...?" Making himself comfortable on Samui's shoulder, Wu replied, "Does it look like I'm sneaking around? If I wanted, I could infiltrate Kumo and sit in the Raikage's chair without anyone noticing. Right now, I'm just pissing about and having a bit of fun..." Punctuating his words, several other Wu's appeared around Samui and her group in an instant, one even popping up between them to shove the two Genin away. They did their best to keep their footing but soon found themselves face-planting into the ground as the Wu's on their backs grew to their full size. "Omoi! Karui...!" Before she could go to the duo's aid, the trio of Wu's surrounding Samui began poking at her with the tips of their staves. She was faster than him in terms of speed and reaction time, but the near-perfect coordination of his clones was enough to leave even Hiruzen feeling helpless. The force behind his thrusts was also reinforced by 8,000kgs of weight, so Karui's attempts to block ultimately resulted in her being knocked back and forth like a pinball. When she tried to jump up to escape the encirclement, one of the clones he had waiting on her foot manifested itself, grabbing her by the ankle and slamming her to the ground. Believing that kindness toward one's enemies was cruelty to oneself and allies, the ten clones surrounding Samui prevented her from bouncing back to her feet. Whenever she would try, they would intercept her with a lattice formed from their staves before ultimately pinning her neck, wrists, and ankles with two each. Omoi and Karui didn't fare much better, but as they were around his age, Wu just pushed them around for a bit until they stopped resisting. Plopping down in front of where Samui was pinned, Wu sat cross-legged and asked, "Does it hurt? I mean, lying on your chest like that can't feel too comfortable..." Despite the numerous bruises covering her body, Samui's eyes were as sharp as daggers as she glared at Wu and asked, "What do you want? If you-" Before Samui could finish speaking, one of the Wu's placed the tip of his staff on her spine, forcing the air out of her lungs as it slowly slipped out of his grasp. At the same time, the original narrowed his eyes and said, "It isn't polite to answer one question with another..." As the weight on her spine increased, the pained groan Samui was stifling became an anguished scream. She felt like her spine was about to snap in two, but the clone eased off just as she screamed. Just as Wu was about to ask a different question, Samui, panting with one eye closed, groaned, "Just...kill me...! I'll never betray my village...!" Tilting his head to the side, Wu asked, "Are you an idiot? I don't recall ever asking you to betray your village. As I said before, I'm just pissing around and having fun. This little display of mine is to prevent you from believing you have 'any' right to question or detain me. Understood?" To demonstrate his point, Wu waved away his clones, adding, "Let's give our new friend here some breathing room. Oh, and heal up the brats while you're at it." While his clones went off to carry out his orders, Wu returned his gaze to Samui, brows raising as he asked, "Do you enjoy being pressed down that much? You look confused and disappointed..." Furrowing her brows, Samui propped herself and attempted to rise to her feet. Before she could, Wu asked, "Did I say you can stand? Take a seat. I might not ask you to divulge your village's secrets, but that doesn't mean we can't have a chat." Though she narrowed her eyes, Samui did as instructed, sitting in seiza despite having nothing to protect her knees from the abrasive, ice-cold stone. She had spent her entire life in the Land of Lightning, so she was fairly used to the pervasive chill that permeated the whole region. After nodding his head in approval, Wu surprised Samui by 'revealing,' "My name's Dadi, Saiko Dadi. You may address me as Dadi-sama, Lord Dadi, or Dadi, the Magnanimous. And you are...?" Since there was a good chance Wu had heard her speaking to Karui and Omoi, Samui honestly replied, "Samui...just Samui..." Nodding his head, Wu mused, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Just Samui. However, considering I just wiped the floor with you and your little Tag Team, I would appreciate it if you addressed me formally. You wouldn't want me to think you're disrespecting me, right~?" "..." Though she wanted to say that Wu had done nothing to deserve her respect, Samui begrudgingly replied, "Please allow me to express my sincerest apologies...Dadi-sama..." Narrowing his eyes in amusement, Wu made Samui think he was about to try and pry information from her. Instead, he promptly rose to his feet and dusted himself off, saying, "Well, see you around, Samui-chan. When you return to Kumogakure, notify the Alphabetical Ape that I'll probably be in the area for a couple of days. He's welcome to send people after me, but I can't guarantee I'll be as nice as I was today." Finished with what he had to say, Wu walked past the stunned Samui with his guard down. Luckily for her, she did not attempt to attack him as an additional seventeen hair clones were loitering around within her clothes. If she 'had' struck, not only would she have found her face firmly planted in the dirt, she would have been forced to walk home naked... As that thought crossed his mind, Wu internally mused ("Maybe that's what I'll do to the next group~?") before disappearing from the stupefied blonde's senses... ... .. . Witnessing how effortlessly Wu had played the group from Kumo, Tayuya found herself at a loss for words. She knew he was strong, but seeing dozens of clones blink in and out of existence, effortlessly overwhelming his opponents, she didn't know what to think. It was just so- Eliciting a surprisingly girly yelp from the usually aggressive tomato, Wu placed his hand firmly on Tayuya's shoulder, teasing, "Enjoying the view?" before backstepping her attempt to turn around and kick him in the chin. After seeing that it was Wu who surprised her, Tayuya's surprised look morphed into a glower as she growled, "Don't sneak up on me like that...!" Tilting his head to the side, Wu asked, "How 'should' I sneak up on you then? Because, after hearing that little yelp of yours, I'm definitely going to keep doing it..." Going red in the face, Tayuya attempted to punch Wu, surprising herself as the hit actually landed. Immediately afterward, however, she regretted her actions as an intense pain radiated through her hand and wrist. Wincing in pain, Tayuya angrily hissed, "What the fuck is your face made from!?" Tilting his head to the opposite side, Wu replied, "Pure, unadulterated badass? Either way, you probably shouldn't try to strike me in the future. While I find your little outbursts cute, it gets annoying 'having' to dodge just to avoid injuring you. Now, give me your hand..." Without waiting for Tayuya's response, Wu grabbed her hand and began healing it. Her first instinct was to tear it away, but upon realizing what he was doing, she clenched her teeth and bore it. When he was finished, however, she immediately shoved him, saying, "Don't fucking touch me..." before storming off toward their little love ne&mdash;cave. ... .. .

Ignoring the prisoners that pleaded for his aid, Wu made his way to one of the more secure cells within the underground prison, a padded room with a massive vault door for an entrance. There, he found Tayuya in the second stage of her transformation, head hanging low and body bound in a belted straight jacked covered in multiple sealing talismans. Similar tags covered her eyes like bandages, but she managed to detect his presence, raising her head to growl, "You..." in an angry yet audibly fatigued tone. Though she couldn't see him, Wu wriggled his brows and replied, "Yes, it is I. Your beloved Dadi-sama has returned...!" Jerking at her restraints, Tayuya attempted to lunge forward, shouting, "I'll fucking kill you, you traitorous piece of shit...!" Exhibiting no fear or concern, Wu twirled the key to Tayuya's cell around his finger as he playfully remarked, "I'm starting to have second thoughts about letting you..." "Huh...why would you...?" Since it would save him the trouble of a lengthy explanation, Wu replied, "Otokage-sama gave me the key. Oh, and, by the way, you'll be coming with me on my next excursion. How are you with high places...?" "..." As her mind struggled to comprehend what was going on, Tayuya fell silent and just 'stared' at the entrance to her cell. She couldn't imagine 'anyone' being able to defeat the Otokage, and the cell door was rigged to explode if anyone tried to open it forcefully. If Wu was truly here to let her out, he must have been handed the key. Confirming Tayuya's suspicions, Wu inserted the key into the door, a loud hissing sound echoing through the prison as a series of pressure valves were released. A few seconds later, she could feel a slight warmth coming from in front of her, the result of Wu bringing his face closer to inspect the seals covering her eyes. "Doesn't look like they'll explode..." Without waiting for Tayuya's confirmation, Wu removed the bandage-like seal to find the zesty watermelon glowering at him with her golden eyes. "Did you miss me?" Jerking her head sideways, Tayuya tried and failed to stab Wu with the tip of her pointed horns. The latter's hand moved so quickly she hadn't even been able to see it, grabbing her horn and arresting her momentum just as it pricked his skin. Catching Tayuya by surprise, Wu remarked, "That's one of the things I like about you, Tayuya. You have such...ferocity..." Excluding the part about how her actions gave him the inexplicable urge to try and 'tame' her, Wu released his vice-like grip on Tayuya's horn and began undoing the belts restraining her. As he did so, Tayuya just stared at him with a fierce yet confused look on her face. Despite her attitude making her seem much older, Tayuya was actually the youngest of the girls arranged by the Otokage. Kagero was easily the most diminutive among the group, but she would be turning seventeen in less than three months. As for Tayuya, she had recently turned fourteen, a testament to how ridiculous the Uzumaki legacy was. She was barely a few months older than Tenten, but her Chakra reserves exceeded most of the Jonin Wu had encountered. Finished with the bindings, Wu adopted one of his cheekier smiles and said, "Feel free to thank me." in a teasing tone. Snorting through her nose, Tayuya wiggled out of her full-body straight jacket to reveal she was wearing spats and a sleeveless black crop top underneath. She was nearly as flat as Sakura, but her earthy brown skin gave her an appeal that other girls lacked. Noticing Wu's gaze, Tayuya frowned, asking, "What are you looking at, brat? Want me to tear those eyes from your stupidly smug face?" Irking the aggressive strawberry quite a bit, Wu replied, "You're welcome to try. Just keep in mind that I can also be quite 'fierce.' Just ask Kagero's ass." "..." As she was well aware of the misfortune that Kagero had suffered, much of the ferocity drained from Tayuya's face as she placed her hands on her hips, undaunted by Wu's gaze as she questioned, "So, what's this about an 'excursion?' Did Otokage-sama give us a mission...?" "Something like that," replied Wu. Then, as it was clear Tayuya required an actual explanation, he casually appended, "I told her I would be heading to the Land of Lightning for some fun. She suggested I take you with me, so it looks like you'll be keeping tabs on me to make sure I'm not a traitor. Just try not to watch me too closely, okay? I'm not shy, but I'd feel bad if you were traumatized before our first night together..." Though it was a bit of an exaggeration, Wu indicated his endowment by holding his hands up and spreading them fairly wide. Tayuya immediately understood what he was referring to, but her expression didn't change in the slightest. Instead, she just crossed her arms and asked, "When are we leaving?" Giving the dauntless tomato one final look, Wu turned away, answering, "I don't mind, but I would assume sometime after you collect your flute and get dressed. In the meantime, I'm gonna go say hi to Guren. The Otokage asked me to check in with her before we depart." Snorting through her nose, Tayuya was half-tempted to accompany Wu as she was. However, while she had long-since grown resistant to the gazes of others, traveling to the Land of Lightning in her undergarments wasn't a bright idea. The closer you got to the center of the region, the thinner the air and the lower the temperature. There was a reason Kumo was referred to as the Village Hidden in the Clouds... ... .. . While Tayuya went off to prepare winter clothing, Wu meandered through the halls of the underground compound, stopping just short of his actual destination as Guren was already outside, presumably waiting for him. When their gazes met, neither said anything for several seconds until Wu abruptly raised his hand and offered a friendly, "Yo!" Exhaling a sigh, Guren moved away from the wall she had been leaning against, approaching Wu with a stern expression as she said, "Don't just up and leave like that in the future...some of us were worried about you." Adopting an ostensibly apologetic smile, Wu replied, "Yeah, I already got chewed out by Kagero, and the Otokage didn't seem particularly pleased by my actions. Guess I'm just too used to doing whatever I want. Sorry if I upset or concerned you." Though her expression said otherwise, Guren shook her head and said, "It's okay...the most important thing is that you came back. Just make sure you inform Otokage-sama before leaving in the future, okay? That way, if you end up being captured by the enemy, we might actually be able to come and rescue you..." As he could tell Guren was being sincere, Wu adopted one of his more sincere smiles, his voice softening as he replied, "Thanks, Guren...you're a good friend. And you'll be pleased to know that I 'did' inform the Otokage this time. She's permitting Tayuya and me to go to the Land of Lightning for some fun and recreation." Nodding her head, Guren revealed, "Yes, I have been made aware. Just don't cause too much trouble, okay? You're remarkably powerful, Dadi-kun. Everyone here is aware of it. However, you're also cheeky and more than a little overconfident. Be safe during your travels, and try not to bully Tayuya..." Catching Wu a little off guard, Guren wrapped her arms around him and gave him a firm hug. Her ability to crystalize things at the molecular level made it difficult for her to approach others, but Wu accepted the embrace with a smile, reciprocating it with a bit of 'spice.' "Ah...!?" Feeling Wu pinch her butt, Guren's back became ramrod straight, a ruddy hue coloring her cheeks. She nearly smacked the shorter boy across the face but stopped when she found him smiling at her with narrowed eyes and a faint smile as he pulled her closer. She had made it pretty clear that they couldn't be together, but until she explained the 'reason,' Wu feigned obliviousness. Despite the drastic disparity in their ages, Guren found herself cowed by Wu's behavior, her ruddy complexion deepening as she averted her eyes and muttered, "We can't..." Though he had no intention of taking things that far, Wu narrowed his eyes further and mused, "I highly doubt Otokage-sama would disapprove. Knowing her, she would probably want to watch, document the event, and collect samples..." As there was a 'considerable' amount of truth to Wu's words, the blush on Guren's face spread to her ears. It didn't help that Wu was massaging her bottom, his hands powerful and firm despite their small size. Then, taking advantage of the disparity in their heights, Wu leaned forward and buried his face into her breast, shamelessly inhaling her scent. Feeling panicked, Guren forcibly extricated herself from Wu's clutches, the blush on her face now a deep crimson as she turned away, practically shouting, "Good luck on your travels...!" before retreating into the relative safety of her room. She had been with Oto since she was a young girl, so, despite being in her mid-twenties, she had no real experience with men. Wu didn't quite fit into that category, but his actions made him seem a hell of a lot more mature than his appearance suggested... ... .. . Assuming Tayuya would take a while to get prepared, as most girls did, Wu spent some time checking in with some of the girls the Otokage had 'prepared' for him. He didn't visit all of them, but he made sure to say hi to the girl from the Yuki Clan before teasing Kagero a bit near the entrance. Excluding Guren and Tayuya, the two of them had the most 'value' among the girls stationed in the underground bunker. If he could convince them to expatriate and emigrate to Konoha, it would strengthen his position in the future. With Tayuya showing up nearly a full hour after he had started picking on Kagero, Wu couldn't help remarking, "You sure took your sweet time." Having discarded her usual clothes for a more practical outfit, consisting of black trousers and a beige, fur-lined parka that was currently unzipped, showing off her tube top and exposed midriff, Tayuya crossed her arms and retorted, "Bite me." in her usual, standoffish tone. Without missing a beat, Wu gave a playful wink, musing, "Maybe tonight." before ruffling Kagero's hair and saying, "Hold down the fort while we're gone, mayfly." With a deadpan expression on her face, Kagero just sunk into the ground, escaping Wu's clutches and leaving him alone with Tayuya. The latter had a deadpan of her own, but there was a prominent 'edge' to it as she flatly replied, "Yeah, good luck with that. You blew your chances with me when you ran off the first time. But, who knows, I might be willing to give you a second opportunity if you beg...?" Catching the scarlet-haired Kunoichi by surprise, Wu immediately brought his hands together, rubbing them like a gambling addict offering a prayer to the Gods, stating, "Oh, great and mighty Tayuya-sama. Please bestow unto this lowly one your compassion and grace...!" After recovering from her brief stupor, Tayuya's expression revealed a fair amount of disgust as she growled, "You're really fucking annoying..." Without missing a beat, Wu supplied a second wink, musing, "I could be fucking you. But that'll have to wait. For now, double-check to make sure you have everything you need. We're not turning back if you forgot your toothbrush." Narrowing her eyes, Tayuya pushed past Wu, asserting, "I didn't forget shit..." as she made her way out of the underground compound. In reality, she really had forgotten her toothbrush, but there was no way in hell she was going to admit it... ... .. .

Chapter 35: I, Your Father, am Warm