I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

"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. ... .. .

Standing at 198.2cm tall and 104kgs, the leader of Kumogakure, the Raikage, was a veritable mountain of a man. He had the reddish-brown skin, characteristic of the people within his village, sand-colored hair that combed back into spiky dreadlocks, a pointed beard, and a mustache that jutted away from his upper lip like the brows above his eyes. Around his waist was a large golden belt bearing the visage of the God of Lightning, Raijin, while his forearms were clad in enormous golden vambraces, each bearing special seals that could adjust their weight from 1000-12,000kgs in an instant. Upon learning that Samui, one of his higher-ranking Jonins, had been severely beaten just a few kilometers outside the village, the Fourth Raikage, A, rose to his feet, shattering the wooden desk in front of him as he shouted, "Whaaaaat!? You mean to tell me there's some brat strong enough to take out one of my top Jonins just 'messing around' outside of Kumo!? Where's B!? I'll deal with this little punk myself...!" Though she could understand the Raikage's anger, his assistant, a fairly attractive woman with similar reddish-brown skin, green eyes, and light grey hair pulled back into a neat bun, calmly replied, "Please don't be too hasty, Raikga-sama. While it is true that Team Samui was defeated, they only sustained mild injuries. If the enemy can truly alter his size, conceal his presence, and move at high speeds, unnecessarily antagonizing him might invite a disaster onto the village." Glaring at his long-time assistant, A practically barked, "Then what do you suggest we do, eh, Mabui!? We can't just allow this brat to do whatever he pleases within our territory...!" Nodding in agreement, Mabui replied, "My views are in alignment with Raikage-sama's. However, mobilizing two of our most powerful forces to repel a young boy who hasn't presented himself as a substantial threat is a bit excessive. I suggest sending Darui and C to establish contact with this 'Saiko Dadi,' while Lady Yugito observes from afar. If it turns out he is a threat, the three of them should be able to handle him." Though he wanted to ask what the point of sending three people was when they could send two, A tried his best to see things from Mabui's perspective. If it turned out this Saiko Dadi had been sent as a distraction to pull him away from the village, a catastrophe could occur while he was away. Furthermore, if he failed to kill the brat during their first encounter, he could become a massive thorn in the side of Kumo. Having made up his mind, A crossed his arms and snorted loudly through his nose before saying, "So be it. Send Darui, C, and Yugito, and have the Barrier Team strengthen the detection wards. Even if that brat can shrink down to the size of an ant, he shouldn't be able to conceal his Chakra and presence completely. Put everyone on high alert for the next seventy-two hours." Bowing respectfully, Mabui replied, "Understood, Raikage-sama." before immediately leaving to carry out his orders. They had already upped their alert level following the less-than-triumphant return of Samui's Team, so Darui, C, Yugito, and several other Jonin-ranked individuals were close by, ready to act at a moment's notice. All they needed was a green light from the Raikage, and the combined forces of Kumo would mobilize to repel or try to capture Wu and Tayuya... ... .. . Understanding there was a 'very' high chance of Kumo sending people to eliminate or capture him, Wu performed some shirtless exercises to warm his body and elevate his preparedness. He had learned a little over a year ago, back when he was undergoing medical testing in Konoha's research facilities, that his body was highly susceptible to the Lightning Release. It was the only element he couldn't simply shrug off, so Wu wanted to be in his best condition in case someone like the Raikage showed up. Observing Wu from a few meters away, Tayuya was bored out of her mind. It had been more than three hours since Wu started his 'warm-up' exercises, so she couldn't help thinking he was making things easier for their enemies by exhausting himself. Wu had never openly trained during his stay in Otogakure, so she had no idea that his stamina was virtually inexhaustible. Reaching the limit of her patience, Tayuya called out, "Don't you think this is more than enough for a simple warm-up? Put your clothes back on and stop dancing around like an idiot." Instead of stopping his Tai Chi-like movements, Wu playfully responded, "Don't you worry your pretty little head, Tomato-chan. I'm fairly confident in my stamina. Something for you to look forward to." Clicking her tongue, Tayuya picked up a few rocks and decided to 'help' Wu in his training. To her frustration, he happily 'obliged' her, his golden eyes glistening with amusement as he evaded each of the nearly super-sonic pebbles by a hair's breadth. Interrupting their little 'game' about twenty minutes later, Wu caught one of the pebbles Tayuya had thrown between in index and middle fingers as he said, "We've got company. Be a pet and find someplace to hide. Leave this to your beloved Dadi-sama." Furrowing her brows, Tayuya retorted, "What do you mean, 'be a pet?' Do I look like a fucking dog to you!?" Raising his left brow, Wu generously explained, "It's a term of endearment used when addressing a close friend or loved one. Like how people have 'pet names' for one another. It doesn't mean I 'literally' view you as a pet, Tayuya. Now, run along. Dadi has business to attend." Though she showered Wu with her remaining rocks before doing so, Tayuya promptly retreated to a 'safe' distance. She didn't see the point after Wu's previous performance, but she wasn't so obstinant that she couldn't follow the orders of her 'superior' when the enemy was near. With Tayuya out of the way, Wu took a moment to release some of his hairs into the wind before pulling out his staff and perching atop it in a crouching posture. One of the approaching Chakra signatures gave him a similar impression to Naruto, so Wu assumed it belonged to one of Kumo's two Jinchuriki, human weapons with powerful creatures known as Tailed Beasts sealed within them. After learning about Jinchuriki following one of Naruto's little 'outbursts,' Wu had been looking forward to facing a competent one in direct combat. He knew the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox was the most powerful of the Tailed Beasts, characterized by it having the most tails, but Naruto was currently too weak-minded to use the beast's power properly. Thus, if Wu wanted a 'real' challenge from a Jinchuriki, he had no choice but to look beyond the borders of Konoha. "Huh...?" Sensing that his precious Jinchuriki was hanging back, allowing its two companions to rush forward on their own, Wu's expression morphed into a frown. The duo approaching him were clearly Jonin, one even possessing Chakra comparable to a Kage. Jinchuriki, however, were weapons of mass destruction that could wipe out an entire village with a single devastating attack known as a Bijuudama(Tailed Beast Ball). Wu 'really' wanted to try fighting one... Spotting Wu atop his staff, a fairly tall man with dark skin, a bulbous nose, black eyes, and shaggy white hair gestured for his ally, a fair-skinned man with short blond hair, to stop. The latter was the Sensor between the two, but he had been unable to detect Wu even though he could sense Chakra across vast distances. Noticing Wu shortly after they came to a stop, the blond-haired man cupped his chin with his thumb and index finger, remarking, "Wow, he really is just a child. If I had to guess, he couldn't be more than twelve, maybe thirteen years old. If he could soundly defeat Samui and her team at this age, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the future." Instead of responding to his ally's observations, the dark-skinned man looked around for any indicators that Wu's miniature clones were nearby. Samui had given a detailed report of her encounter with Wu, so, despite appearing relaxed, almost bored, the man was actually on high alert. "So, how do you want to handle this, Darui?" asked the blonde-haired man. "Should we approach and try to talk with him, or should we seize the initiative to attack?" While continuing to pay close attention to his surroundings, Darui replied, "I don't see any of his miniature clones. He also isn't attacking us, so we might be able to talk things out if we approach slowly...before that, how go your efforts to sense his Chakra, C? Can he really not be detected...?" Shaking his head, C revealed, "That appears to be the case. I'm looking right at him and focusing my senses to the extreme, but he gives off the same impression as the surrounding terrain. Do you think he could be an apprentice of the Tsuchikage? Someone who has inherited the abilities of the Second?" As there was only a single person throughout history that was infamous for being completely undetectable, C couldn't help correlating Wu's ability with that of the Second Tsuchikage, Mu. The latter possessed an ability that allowed him to become intangible, possessing neither a physical form nor a Chakra signature. This, alongside his many other skills, allowed him to become one of the most powerful Shinobi in his era, his moniker being the 'Non-Person' due to the sheer impossibility of detecting him. Hearing C reference the Second Tsuchikage, the expression on Darui's face became uncharacteristically serious. Mu was known as the greatest infiltration expert and Assassin in the entire history of the Shinobi World. If 'Saiko Dadi' was truly his descendent, they were dealing with a monster that couldn't be allowed to mature... Suppressing the urge to unsheathe the cleaver-like sword on his back immediately, Darui said, "Let's try talking to him..." despite having every intention of cutting off Wu's head the instant he showed a clear opening. Kumogakure had the policy of trying to recruit powerful Shinobi to their side, but people like 'Saiko Dadi' didn't just appear out of thin air. For him to reach his current age and possess such tremendous power, there 'had' to be a force backing him. Understanding his partner's intentions, C's expression morphed into a friendly smile as he waved his hand and called out, "Heeeeeeeey! You're Saiko Dadi-sama, right? Mind if we come over and have a chat with you?" Though Wu immediately answered C's question, his voice didn't come from the direction the two men were expecting. Instead, it came from above them as a chorus, courtesy of several ant-sized clones standing in the air above them, "Sure, why not?" Seeing the dozens of clones hovering above them, the pupils of Darui's eyes shrank. Samui hadn't reported that Wu possessed the ability to fly, so he hadn't been paying any attention to the sky. At the same time, this all but confirmed that 'Saiko Dadi' had some kind of connection with the Tsuchikage. After all, while several Shinobi could traverse the sky using a variety of methods, only the Third Tsuchikage was known to be able to fly freely... With his clones continuing to provide overwatch, Wu leaped over to the small, pillar-like mountain where Darui and C were standing. His actions caused the duo to tense, but neither attacked as they weren't sure if he was the 'real' Wu. If they attempted to assassinate him mid-flight and he was just a clone, they would have undermined their 'friendly' approach for nothing. Shouldering his red and gold staff, Wu adopted a friendly smile as he inquired, "So, what did the two you want to discuss? I don't mind hearing you out 'before' I give you a beating." Hearing Wu suggest he was going to 'beat' them, the brows of Darui and C visibly twitched. Neither believed they would go down easily, but it was clear 'Saiko Dadi' didn't feel threatened by them in the slightest... ... .. . (A/N: Enjoying the story? Leave a comment and consider becoming a patron!)

"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.)

Chapter 36: I, Your Father, am a bit of a Bully