I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

As it wasn't the first time Wu had brought his little pseudo-harem to their house, Tsunade didn't really react to the presence of Tenten, Sakura, and Ino outside of saying, "Oh, it's you three." Smiling wryly, Sakura responded with a polite, "Good afternoon, Lady Tsunade." Tenten gave a similar response, but Ino was still in a bad mood, so she remained silent, prompting the busty Senju to ask, "What's got you in such a bad mood? Boy troubles...?" Furrowing her brows, Ino responded with a half-hearted, "Something like that..." before shaking her head and appearing to regain her usual vigor as she asked, "So, what's for dinner?" Before Tsunade could turn to Wu and ask the same, the latter said, "You'll find out soon. For now, the three of you should go and get washed up. I'll head in a little later with my beloved wife." Smacking the back of Wu's head, or at least attempting to, Tsunade said, "Don't be cheeky." before turning to the three girls and adding, "Come on. You can 'explain' things in the bath. I'll hear you out." Without giving the trio a chance to refuse, Tsunade began dragging Ino and Sakura while Tenten followed after them with an awkward smile. In their wake, Shizune, a modest-looking woman with short black hair and large black eyes, arrived with a similarly wry smile as she said, "I see you invited those three over again..." Exhibiting his lack of shame, Wu gave a playful wink as he teased, "No need to be jealous. Tsunade 'did' extend you an invitation to 'help' out. I certainly wouldn't mind." Exhaling a helpless sigh, Shizune remarked, "You really shouldn't say things like that, Wu-kun..." before asking, "Do you need my help in the kitchen? I could cook for you and Lady Tsunade if you taught me your methods." Shrugging his shoulders in a different form of helplessness, Wu replied, "I would if I could. However, unless you can learn how to manipulate Natural Energy, the most you can do is help me prepare the ingredients. Come on, let's get started." As she had gotten used to Wu being the 'man of the house,' Shizune gave a courteous nod before following him into the kitchen. She had served as Tsunade's attendant and apprentice for more than twenty years, so, even though Tsunade had given her permission to leave and lead her own life, Shizune had remained in the Manor to serve as a vassal of the Senju Clan. As such, even though Wu was more than fifteen years her junior, she still looked up to and respected him as her Lord... ... .. . While Wu and Shizune were preparing dinner, Tsunade, Tenten, Sakura, and Ino were soaking their bodies in the onsen-like bath of the Estate. Hashirama, the First Hokage, had been obsessed with natural hot springs during his life, so he had constructed a massive bathhouse, complete with a small waterfall and heated by a rare ore that could only be found in the basins of active volcanoes. With her breasts floating due to their buoyancy, Tsunade exhaled a sigh that alluded to her actual age as she remarked, "Haaaaa...I never get tired of this bath. Returning to Konoha was the correct decision..." Though she 'glowered' at Tsunade's breasts for a moment, much like the other two girls, Ino perked up when she heard the buxom Senju's remark, asking, "What was it like on your travels, Lady Tsunade? Did you ever visit any foreign countries...?" Without rising from the stone she was reclined against, Tsunade made a so-so gesture with her hand, lazily replying, "Once or twice. When you're as famous as I am, traveling abroad just invites trouble. I did spend a bit of time in the Land of Hot Springs, but I mainly rotated between Tanzaku Quarters and a few other towns famous for their gambling scene." Expecting something more 'juicy,' the smile on Ino's face strained as she replied, "Uh...that sounds...interesting?" Unashamed to admit she had wandered down a pretty dark path, Tsunade shook her head and asserted, "It really wasn't. I was just going through the motions for a long time, so don't feel you need to glorify my behavior, kid. I'm glad there are still young girls who look up to me, but you'll enjoy life more by focusing on your own paths, not following in the footsteps of someone else's." "..." x3 Confused by the sudden silence, Tsunade raised her head, an awkward smile developing across her face as she questioned, "Did I get a little too serious for you girls? I supposed that's one of the pitfalls of getting older. Hahahaha~" Recovering from her momentary daze, Ino narrowed her eyes and said, "Speaking of which...how is it you're able to look this good at your age? I'm not trying to sound rude, but you barely look older than the rest of us." As Wu had never explicitly informed the girls he had been training about the peaches, Ino wasn't the only person who was shocked by Tsunade's appearance. Those who knew her well simply assumed she was using her infamous 'Eternal Youth Jutsu,' but, as they had never seen her adult form, Ino and the others had no point of reference for her 'true' appearance. Instead of answering Ino's question, Tsunade pointed out, "Actually, you girls look a lot younger than you 'ought' to for girls going through puberty. Tell me, are you getting regular periods...?" Though she was a little taken aback by Tsunade's words, Ino eventually replied, "Yes...?" in a slightly uncertain tone. The truth of the matter was that she had never really 'noticed' her periods. She was certain she was having them, as she occasionally noticed faint traces of blood in her urine and panties, but they were nowhere near as bad as other girls in her class had described. If Kaia, Sakura, and Hinata weren't in the same boat, she might have worried. Narrowing her eyes, Tsunade issued a thoughtful hum that made each of the other girls nervous. The former was known as the greatest Medic Nin in history, literally 'pioneering' the Iryojutsu used through the Elemental Nations. If there 'was' something wrong with them, it stood to reason that Tsunade would be among the first to notice. Making a come hither gesture, Tsunade said, "Come over here. Let me give you a quick check-up. Don't worry; I'll only palpate your chest and use the Diagnosis Jutsu. Nothing invasive." Despite her apparent age, Tsunade had an air of 'authority' about her that made it difficult not to obey her. Ino's nervousness was off the charts, but she still approached the busty blonde tentatively, her body trembling ever so slightly as Tsunade felt around her chest and abdomen before creating a veil of greenish-blue chakra on her palm. Seemingly having confirmed something, Tsunade gave a slight nod and muttered, "Yeah...I thought as much..." before retracting her hand from Ino's abdomen and adding, "You're 'perfectly' healthy, and I mean that in a very literal sense. I'm something of an expert when it comes to things like cell division. In typical cases, a person's body is constantly losing and replenishing cells, somewhere on the order of 1,000,000 cells every single second. Your body isn't nearly as 'active.' If I had to approximate it, you're losing and producing cells around a tenth the normal rate." As her knowledge of Iryojutsu was fairly shallow, Ino's expression was equal parts hopeful and trepidatious as she asked, "Is that a bad thing...?" Shaking her head, Tsunade asserted, "It's an undeniably good thing, from a purely medical standpoint. However, if you have plans of 'maturing' any time soon, you might want to cancel them. As it stands, you're aging a lot slower than normal. I'd need to conduct a more thorough examination and several other tests to approximate just how slow." Since Ino looked as though her soul had vacated her body, Sakura took it upon herself to ask, "Does this have anything to do with your appearance, Lady Tsunade? I already know it's related to Wu-kun...you know, given the circumstances..." Nodding her head, Tsunade revealed, "Wu gave me a very special peach that revitalized the cells within my body, effectively reversing the effects of aging with no discernible detriments. My current appearance isn't the result of any forbidden technique or transformation Jutsu. Because of that brat, this is what I actually look like now." "..." With Sakura also falling silent, Tenten, the only one who was aware of the peaches, remarked, "Wu-kun told me that the peaches were the product of infusing Natural Energy into ordinary peaches over a three to ten-week period. He also mentioned that he infuses Natural Energy into the meals he prepares, albeit in much smaller quantities. So I'm assuming the more we eat his food, the slower we'll age?" Nodding her head in approval, Tsunade remarked, "You have a good head on your shoulders. It's no wonder Wu made such a fuss when I attempted to get him to give up other women. If he disclosed that much, it's clear he trusts you considerably." Feeling a little abashed, Tenten shrunk into the water and replied, "I don't know about that..." in an uncertain tone. She knew Wu informed her about things he probably shouldn't, but she believed it had less to do with trust and more to do with the fact he didn't fear the consequences of exposing the information. After all, he had gone toe to toe with the Raikage and, to an extent, the whole of Kumogakure. Who could punish Wu for revealing a secret or two...? Believing Tenten was simply feeling embarrassed, a teasing grin appeared on Tsunade's face. Before she could tease the aspiring weapons expert, however, Ino and Sakura returned to their senses, the former asking, "Are you telling us that eating Wu-kun's cooking effectively makes us eternally young...?" Shaking her head, Tsunade asserted, "I doubt it's that extreme. You're still aging; you're merely doing so at a much slower rate. If you stop eating his food and avoid letting him treat your injuries, the Natural Energy suffusing your cells should gradually exhaust. You could say his food is diminishing the 'symptoms' of aging, not 'curing' it completely." As if realizing something, Sakura's expression became 'serious' as she softly muttered, "That explains why Hinata's breasts are growing so much faster than ours..." Hearing Sakura's remark, Ino's pale-blue eyes came alive with the light of hope. She hadn't been too worried about her periods, but she 'had' been concerned about her lack of development in the breast department. Her mother was far from the most well-developed in that department, but her distinct 'lack' of improvement had been a sore spot over the past two and a half years. She even bloodied the nose of several of her former 'friends' for calling her a washboard. Now that she knew the 'truth,' she couldn't wait to rub it in their faces...especially as they got older and she remained young. Undermining Ino's plans, Tsunade said, "As a responsible adult, I should probably prohibit you from eating Wu's food in the future. It's not much of an issue right now, but if you're stuck this way into your mid to late teens, a lot of people are going to notice. Being young is certainly a blessing, but you'll receive a lot of judgemental stares if you remain like this and end up going out for a night on the town with your future husbands." Imagining her current self with an 'adult' Sasuke, Sakura's face became as red as a tomato. Ino also blushed, but, as she and Sasuke had never done anything 'explicit,' he wasn't the first person who appeared in her mind... ... .. . (A/N: Natural Energy functions similarly to the energy found in cultivation novels. It drastically affects the apparent age and lifespan of the person cultivating it. This includes Wu, but as he is constantly training, his cells are being destroyed and replenished out of 'necessity.' This is also why he was consistently shorter than the other boys in his class xD...)

With the girls taking more than an hour in the bath, Wu had enough time to kick back and relax as he waited for them to arrive. When they did, he immediately noticed the awkwardness exuding from them, compelling him to ask, "Did someone take a shit in the bath?" Though she was wearing a loose green yukata, Tsunade leaped across the room in an attempt to drop kick Wu as she shouted, "The only little shit here is you...!" Since Tsunade knew to hold back indoors, Wu allowed her feet to impact his face, taking advantage of her stunned reaction to grab her waist and guide her onto his lap as he teased, "Save that energy for the bedroom..." in a soft yet resonant tone. Feeling something large and firm pressing against her butt, a remarkable shade of red colors Tsunade's cheeks as her entire body tensed. Despite her attempts to 'pacify' him, Wu rarely let her get more than a day of rest before 'forcing' her body to submit to him. He never used actual force, of course, but he had a way with words, and his careful ministrations made it exceptionally difficult to refuse him... With Wu holding her waist and the trio of girls staring at her with 'awed' expressions on their faces, Tsunade cleared her throat before doing her best to appear unflustered as she remained seated and said, "We had a discussion about the 'benefits' of eating your meals. With how perceptive you are, I'm sure you've noticed it isn't simply providing nutrients..." Nodding his head in affirmation, Wu revealed, "Yeah, obviously." before asking, "What's the issue...?" Furrowing her brows, Tsunade retorted, "You aren't an idiot, Wu. Limiting the effects aging has on the body isn't bad, per se, but you should have explained in detail the effects before feeding people meals saturated with Natural Energy. If-" Interrupting Tsunade's lecture, Wu stated, "I did explain it. The first time I cooked for everyone, I told them it would rejuvenate their skin, make their hair glossier, prevent them from getting sick, and help them to retain their beauty for as long as they consumed them regularly. Just ask them..." Hearing Wu's response, looks of realization appeared on the faces of Ino and Sakura. They vaguely recalled Wu making those very claims when he offered to cook them meat skewers. They were just so accustomed to him bragging and teasing them that it never clicked he was being serious. The only person Wu had expressly told was Tenten, but that was because she had only started consuming his meals recently. Shifting her gaze to the duo, a very judgemental expression appeared on Tsunade's face as she asked, "Is this true...?" As the more responsible of the two, Sakura adopted a wry smile as she replied, "I...vaguely remember something similar being said. It was just so long ago, and none of us took it seriously..." Though she maintained her judgemental look, Tsunade could empathize with what Sakura was trying to say. If someone had informed her two or three years prior that there was a mystical peach that could revitalize her body or that she would be marrying someone less than a quarter her age, she would have buried them with a punch. Shaking her head, Tsunade said, "Forget it. Since Wu gave you a proper warning, the two of you are singularly responsible for the conditions of your bodies. Just keep in mind what we discussed before agreeing to join us for dinners in the future. Now, as for you..." Shifting her attention to Wu, Tsunade narrowed her eyes as she asked, "How long are you going to keep playing around? Don't make me punch you..." Releasing his hold on Tsunade's waist, Wu offered a wry smile as he retorted, "Can you really blame me? You know how I feel about you..." Rolling her eyes, Tsunade rose from Wu's lap but not before 'pressing' against him with her bottom. She was used to being coveted, but, as the person she had permitted access to her body, she couldn't help feeling a little gratified whenever Wu expressed his 'sincerity.' Feeling wanted was rarely a bad thing... ... .. . After sending clones to escort Tenten, Ino, and Sakura to their homes, Wu enjoyed another exciting night with Tsunade. He rarely slept anymore, but so long as he didn't overtax his body or mind, he didn't actually need to. In the past, he used the time allotted for rest to organize his thoughts, plan, or to welcome the dawn sooner. Now he had a much better way to spend his evenings, there was no way he was wasting his time sleeping... A stark contrast to Wu, Tsunade 'desperately' needed her rest after the constant wringers he put her through. As a result, Wu had the privilege of admiring her sleeping figure, her beautiful contours illuminated by the low light of the room, and her complexion remaining ruddy even several hours after she had fallen asleep. As it was nearing the time for him to begin his morning routine, Wu softly muttered, "Beautiful..." knowing full well the seasoned Kunoich would stir in response to his voice. Her ear and body visibly twitched, but instead of rising or responding, she pretended to be asleep, maintaining the charade even as Wu picked matted hairs from her face and placed a kiss atop the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead... Recalling the first time he had met Tsunade, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Wu's eyes. He had never once forgotten the 'dream' he had in the past, so the presence of her 'Yin Seal,' something he had been ignorant of, immediately drew his notice. Since then, he had experienced three similar dreams. One showed him standing in the ruins of Konoha, otherwise alone if he excluded the countless bodies that littered the ground. Another had him sharing a bed with Kaia, his head and back propped up on a massive wolf as he cradled three children with the characteristic markings of the Inuzuka Clan. As for the last... Assuming his dreams were some kind of premonitions of the future, Wu's desire to 'conquer' the world came about as a result of his final dream. In it, he sat atop a throne reminiscent of the ones employed by the various Daimyo, hundreds of people wearing the same uniform bowing to him with their foreheads pressed to the ground. Flanking him were several women he recognized, a few he didn't, and three he had encountered 'during' his travels. Tsunade hadn't been among the group, but Wu was pretty sure he now had her firmly within his grasp... Though he didn't know the context of the vision, Wu had never forgotten the feeling of being 'worshipped' by others. More importantly, everyone in his dream, especially the women flanking him, exuded power far beyond anything he had encountered thus far. Thus, even though he had no idea if his current path aligned with the vision, Wu wasn't going to rest until he made it a reality. He 'would' establish his Huaguo Sect...no matter who or what stood in his way... ... .. . With five days remaining until the commencement of the Chunin Exams, Wu canceled the joint training and advised everyone to use the remaining time to rest properly. He had never experienced it personally, but he knew it was possible to 'overwork' your body, reducing or even undermining the effects of training. Thus, with the exception of Tenten, everyone else was barred entry into the Senju Clan Compound so Wu could finalize his plans for the exam. Unfortunately, while Tenten was allowed to come and go as she pleased, she also decided to take the five days off to focus her mind and prepare some tools at home. As a result, Wu suddenly found himself with nothing to do, sans Tsunade. However, as she made him 'behave' during the day, Wu had no choice but to spend the waking hours refining his skills with a different, marginally more versatile staff... With three days passing without incident, Wu nearly believed he might get in a full week of training without interruption. Instead, in the early morning of the fourth day, he sensed a familiar Chakra tarrying outside the front entrance to the 200-acre Compound before eventually making their way inside. By the time they had reached his location, Wu was pretending to be on a break, a teasing smile on his face as he mused, "I was starting to think you were going to turn away without coming to say hi..." Adopting a notably melancholic smile, the person that had intruded upon Wu's training, Hinata, replied, "I know you dislike it when people interrupt your training. I just didn't know when else we could talk..." Instead of responding with words, Wu gave a curt nod before slapping the space next to him. He was currently seated on one of the many trees that had been uprooted during his training, so there was plenty of space for the diminutive Hyuga to make herself comfortable. Since Naruto wasn't present, Hinata only hesitated for a moment before sitting next to Wu, her head and shoulders immediately slumping as she revealed, "I...I'm starting to reevaluate my relationship with Naruto-kun..." Though he suspected she had been 'reevaluating' things for quite some time, Wu feigned surprise as he asked, "Is it your father? Or perhaps your Clans as a whole...?" Instead of responding immediately, Hinata paused to consider her words before answering, "I...can't deny that has something to do with it. Naruto-kun and my father have never gotten along. Tou-sama thinks Naruto-kun is a bad influence on me, and the changes in mine and Hanabi's eyes are of great concern to the Elders. Everyone...everyone keeps pushing me to act on our engagement..." As a Clan whose entire prestige revolved around their eyes, the changes in Hinata's and Hanabi's Byakugan were of paramount importance to the future of the Hyuga Clan. Ancient records made mention of a Dojutsu that preceded the Byakugan, significantly exceeding it in power, so the Elders were hopeful that Hinata, Hanabi, or both would attain the ancient power not seen in a thousand years. They believed Wu was the 'key' to rousing this power, so there was a significant amount of pressure on both Hiashi and Hinata to 'make things work.' Though he knew it wasn't what Hinata was trying to get at, Wu made a 'popping' gesture with his right hand, replying, "Then allow me to make things easier for you. After this, I'll head straight over to Jiji and annul the engagement on my end. I'd like to see them 'force' the matter after that..." Exhibiting a bit of panic, Hinata shook her head and waved her hands from side to side as she stuttered, "T-That isn't why I came here! I...what I really came here to do was...was..." Demonstrating none of the confidence Wu had helped her to build in the past, Hinata attempted to hang her head in shame. At that exact moment, Wu cradled her left cheek with his hand, gently caressing it as he forced her to look up at him, saying, "Tell me what you want, Hinata..." in a deep, penetrating tone. With tears building in the corners of her eyes, Hinata honestly admitted, "I don't know...I just know I'm not happy right now and that you...you've always been there for me...for 'us' when we needed you. I'm scared, Wu-kun...but I think...I believe I can do anything so long as you're there to support me..." Though her body was trembling madly by the time she finished speaking, Hinata managed to confess everything she had been bottling up inside of herself for the past five months. There was still a lot more she wanted to say, but she had gotten all the important parts across. The rest was just a series of complaints about Naruto's possessiveness and growing 'need' to control her... Expressing his honest thoughts on the matter, Wu smiled and said, "You picked a hell of a time to bring this up...two days before the Chunin Exams are scheduled to take place? Let me guess...you intend to stoke Naruto's rage and then defeat him to gain some form of closure...?" Instead of answering Wu's question, Hinata turned away from the hand he was using to caress her cheek. The truth of the matter was that she still loved Naruto...she just hated the person he had become... Interrupting Hinata's thoughts, Wu whispered, "Look at me, Hinata..." in a soft, nearly inaudible tone. When she eventually complied, the look on his face was incomparably serious as he asserted, "You're an amazing girl...I would be honored to have you as my wife..." If she had been teary-eyed before, Hinata became a veritable faucet when she heard Wu's response. She had wept many times over the past few weeks, but this was the first time since her mother had died that she truly, unabashedly sobbed her eyes out. She couldn't even describe the pain she was feeling, but the pervading warmth enveloping her told her everything was going to be okay... ... .. . (A/N: Me have no words...only sadge...)

"You know, I kind of figured you'd be the last one up. You like showing off, don't you~?" Instead of falling for Wu's 'provocation,' Sasuke appeared calm and stoic as he stated, "I won't remain in your shadow forever, Wu. Once I surpass you, I'm sure defeating 'that man' will follow soon after." Spreading his arms in a 'come hither' gesture, Wu's already cheeky smile became more so as he teased, "I cast a pretty big shadow..." Interpreting Wu's words as a trigger, Sasuke lowered his center of gravity and performed a rapid sequence of hand signs for his Clan's famous Fire Release: Fire Ball Jutsu. The original Jutsu allowed the user to temporarily augment their lung capacity using Yang Chakra, subsequently using it as a fuel source to create a rather sizeable inferno once exhaled. The version Sasuke used functioned off of the same principles, but instead of allowing the flames to spread and engulf a target, he condensed them into a much smaller area, drastically enhancing the speed and penetrative capabilities of the Jutsu. Though he was able to dodge the laser-like cone of condensed flame, Wu could feel the skin on his body drying out due to the intense heat. Instead of being bothered by this, however, an excited smile developed across his face as he accelerated toward the 'defenseless' Uchiha. While most people struggled to deactivate or modify active Jutsu due to the intense focus required to shape and control the technique, Sasuke's eyes followed Wu like a hawk that had locked onto its prey, a trio of pitch-black tomoe revolving within his abruptly scarlet irises. At the same time, he swept the beam of flame in Wu's direction, widening an imaginary focal point to convert the attack from a high-velocity laser to an encompassing flamethrower. Grinning fiercely, Wu extended his left hand and diffused his Chakra to form an invisible, inverted cone. The moment Sasuke's flames entered into it, they became condensed to a point before rebounding, much like a shaped charge. Luckily for Sasuke, Wu didn't angle the inverted flames at him as the escape velocity of the 'charge' nearly exceeded the speed of a lightning strike. Though Wu directed the concentrated blast a few meters away from him, Sasuke was impacted by the resultant explosion. Tiny pieces of shrapnel pierced his clothing and even tore into his flesh, but the expression on his face remained serious and resolute as he formed hand seals in the middle of being blasted away. Before crashing into the ground directly, Sasuke flipped over at the last moment, his feet sliding through the dirt before he planted both hands on the ground and used the Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall. The moment he completed the technique, a five-meter tall, one-meter thick wall of earth formed a semi-crescent barrier in front of him, obscuring him from view. As Wu wondered what the boy was up to, he sensed a 'thread' of Chakra move through the ground and rapidly condense beneath his feet. Once it had reached an appropriate level, it erupted from the ground in the form of multiple spikes, attempting to skewer him but failing as he shrunk to his smallest size and slid down one with his hands behind his head... Feeling no 'feedback' from his Jutsu, Sasuke took immediate evasive action, flipping backward several times so that his view was no longer obstructed by his earth wall. When he saw no traces of Wu anywhere, he strained his eyes to their absolute limit, knowing the boy could 'pop' up just about anywhere. "Man, this hair could house a crow...." Interrupting Sasuke's focus, Wu expanded to the size of a small doll atop the boy's head, appending, "How many bottles of conditioner do you go through in a week?" Clicking his tongue, Sasuke said, "Get off my head." instead of trying to remove Wu forcefully. Fortunately, Wu did precisely that, hopping off the raven-haired youth's head to say, "You're improving rapidly, but it was a mistake to obscure your own vision, especially when your opponent is an incredibly talented, potentially even peerless Sensor such as myself. I'm only giving you a six this time around. You can do better." Instead of getting angry or upset, Sasuke gave a curt nod in response to Wu's words before turning around, placing his hands into his pocket, and saying, "It's a shame you aren't participating in the Chunin Exams. I still have a lot of tricks up my sleeve..." Shrugging his shoulders, Wu remarked, "You're welcome to show them to me now." but Sasuke just continued walking away, exuding the 'cool' aura he had inadvertently cultivated since his Academy days. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Wu shifted his attention to the peanut gallery and said, "Okay, you lot, go ahead and git. I, Your Father, have a beautiful wife patiently awaiting my return. If you aren't staying for dinner or planning to live here in the future, bugger off." Hearing Wu's braggadocious words, Kiba asked the first question that came to everyone's minds, "Are you going to be cooking? If so, I'm down to chill and eat dinner at your place." As the food Wu cooked was always inexplicably delicious, everyone who had been allowed to try it eagerly looked forward to the next opportunity. His secret was the same thing that permitted him to farm the revitalizing peaches: Natural Energy. By infusing it into the food he served, he could drastically enhance the flavor while providing various benefits to anyone fortunate enough to consume it. Making a shooing gesture with his right hand, Wu asserted, "I don't need snot-nosed brats ogling my bride while I toil away in the kitchen. Anyone with a dick can go shove it in a hole somewhere." Though everyone present was fairly used to how crass Wu could be, the boys within the group couldn't help feeling slightly annoyed. They knew Wu was trying to brag, and, after seeing his wife, they honestly couldn't blame him. The only two people that didn't seem to mind were Lee and Shino, but the former was perennially enthusiastic while the latter never showed his emotions in public... ... .. . With the exception of Hinata, who followed after Naruto despite her stomach producing an audible growl, all of the girls accompanied Wu to the Main House of the Senju Clan Estate. The opportunity to sample Wu's cuisine was too good to pass, so after checking to see if it was okay with Sasuke, Ino and Sakura tagged along with Tenten, a frequent guest, and diner within the Estate. On their way to the Main House, Ino openly remarked, "I still can't believe you got married to Lady Tsunade, Wu-kun. I know you like strong women, but how exactly does that work? I know she looks young, but isn't she like thirty-seven years older than you? And what about Tenten?" Answering in Wu's stead, Tenten had a half-lidded expression as she pointedly replied, "Wu-kun and I are doing just fine, thank you. Both my parents and Lady Tsunade have given us their permission, so we're still dating with the intent to marry once I become a Jonin. You should worry more about yourself, Yamanaka-san..." Furrowing her brows, Ino said, "I told you to stop calling me that. I know you don't like me, but can't we at least try to get along around Wu-kun...?" Narrowing her eyes further, Tenten retorted, "I don't see why that should matter to you. You're not Wu-kun's girlfriend or anything, so why should I try to get along with someone I dislike?" With her left eye twitching visibly, Ino suppressed her urge to shout as she said, "You're way too serious...if I had known you were going to be so butthurt about it, I would have just lied to you. I honestly don't even get why you're so angry. If Wu-kun was against it, he could have stopped it or said no whenever he wanted. What am I going to do, overpower and force him...?" Attempting to prevent 'yet another' fight between Ino and Tenten, Sakura made a placating gesture with her hands, her expression awkward as she said, "Calm down, you two. I get why you're angry, Tenten, but it's not like Ino had any malicious intentions..." Directing her half-lidded gaze to Sakura, Tenten's tone was flat and piercing as she said, "Considering you were partly responsible for what transpired, you should just keep your mouth shut, Sakura..." With the expression on her face becoming even more awkward, Sakura looked to Wu as if to prompt him to speak out in her defense. Fortunately for her, he did have something to say on the matter, stating, "If you need someone to direct your anger towards, feel free to target it at me. As Ino said, I could have put a stop to things whenever I wanted. I just went with the flow because it was interesting and exciting. I'm not going to tell the three of you to get along, but squabbling like this serves no purpose. Besides..." Pulling Tenten toward him before she could begin to pout, Wu sealed her lips with a rather assertive kiss, hefting her by her butt while Sakura and Ino could only watch. The two had started dating Sasuke around seven months before graduation, but the most intimate acts they had performed with the 'resolute' youth was holding hands, linking arms, and going on a handful of dates. They 'had' kissed a few times, but it was nothing like the interaction between Wu and Tenten. Though she offered a middling resistance in the beginning, largely due to the presence of Ino and Sakura, Tenten eventually gave up and permitted herself to melt in Wu's embrace. She intended to chastise him for fondling her butt in 'public,' but that was a matter for future her to worry about... After nearly two full minutes of kissing, Wu permitted Tenten to catch her breath, his expression smoldering and voice deep as he asserted, "You're the only girl present qualified to receive my affection. Also, as cute as you are when pouty, you're outright beautiful when you exude the confidence I love you for...smile for me, dango girl..." Turning her eyes up due to Wu calling her 'dango girl,' Tenten's anger was nowhere to be seen as she said, "You're such a dork, Wu-kun..." Without missing a beat, Wu retorted, "Perhaps...but you know you love it, just as I love everything about you. Especially this..." Since he still had his hands on Tenten's ass, Wu gave it a firm squeeze. As fond as he was becoming of large breasts, the elasticity of a woman's ass was a direct reflection of the effort they made to improve or maintain their appearance. Tenten worked harder than most girls, so Wu felt as though he could appreciate her ass all day without feeling like he was wasting his time. As the blush in her cheeks bled to her ears, Tenten adopted an insincere 'warning' look as she whispered, "Behave yourself..." Releasing his hold on the petite brunette's ass, Wu raised his hands as if to yield as he playfully mused, "If that's truly what you desire, your wish is my command..." Rolling her eyes, Tenten resisted the urge to retort, instead shifting her attention to Sakura and Ino. Both had rather prominent blushes on their faces, but Sakura had the good sense to avert her eyes while Ino had a pouty, slightly teary-eyed expression on her face. The latter had been trying to 'pressure' Sasuke in a similar way as she had Wu, but the former was significantly less 'easy going' than the latter. Thus, even though she was dating the boy she had always had a crush on, Ino felt more than a little frustrated after nearly a year of 'restraint.' Feeling a little amused by Ino's reaction, a taunting smile made its way to Tenten's face. She wasn't 'trying' to taunt the boyish blonde; it just kind of happened, prompting Ino to internally scream ("This cheeky bitch...!") as her hands formed into indignant fists... ... .. . (A/N: Teenage drama at its finest. And yes, Ino does have a somewhat boyish look. She developed the habit of wearing more casual clothes due to her training and kept her hair relatively short, similar to her younger self or Shippuden Sakura. Think Android 18, just in the style of Naruto.)

Chapter 57: When an Immortal Ascends, so Too do the People Closest to Them