I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

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...)

Since Hinata had already told Naruto that they wouldn't be able to see each other until the start of the Chunin Exams, Wu consented when she asked if she could stay in the Senju Clan Compound. He knew Tsunade would say yes, but instead of immediately taking Hinata over to get her settled in, Wu waited until she had calmed down before suggesting, "We should train. I've actually been worried about-" Without waiting for Wu to finish, Hinata unzipped her inordinately baggy hoodie to reveal the upper half of a dark blue, near skin-tight 'wingsuit.' This was one of the reasons Naruto had asked her to cover, as, due to the innovations in her fighting style, Hinata wore clothing that allowed her to be as aerodynamic as possible. After discarding her hoodie like a butterfly shedding its cocoon, Hinata hesitated briefly, a faint red hue coloring her cheeks before she stripped out of her pants. It was nothing Wu hadn't seen before, but as it had been a long time, Hinata felt self-conscious about the condition of her body. Though he noted that Hinata's breasts and bottom had swelled quite a bit in a mere five months, Wu didn't comment on them. Instead, he gave an approving nod, divesting the dark-haired bluenette of her nervousness by noting, "It's clear you've been keeping up with your physical conditioning. Good job, Hinata." Exhibiting a smile she hadn't shown in a long time, Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly, her back straightening as she responded with an adorable, "Nn~!" Then, for the better part of seven hours, the two just trained together, the intensity of their training drastically exceeding what Hinata had displayed during their previous spars... ... .. . "Haaaa....haaaaa....haaaaa..." Despite completely exhausting herself, Hinata had a contented smile on her face as she stared listlessly up at the sky with her forearm resting on her forehead. She hadn't been able to go all out against Naruto because she was worried about damaging his self-esteem. She trained pretty hard in secret, but there was nothing quite as 'liberating' as giving it her all in a fight and still losing. Liberating the red-faced girl from her reverie, Wu remarked, "Not to put a damper on things, but how do you want to go about this? We could have delayed things almost indefinitely before, but now that I'm married, your Clan will want to move forward with the engagement as fast as possible. They may even ask us to forgo the wedding ceremony outright, citing that they wouldn't want to 'embarrass' Tsunade by making things too public..." Though Wu's reminder did put a slight damper on her spirits, Hinata didn't lose her smile. Her father had approached her shortly after Wu's marriage to Tsunade, informing her that it didn't annul their engagement. She had been mulling things over since that very revelation, so she only hesitated for a brief moment before pressing the tips of her index fingers together, a callback to the moment they had been engaged, answering, "I'm...not unwilling..." Realizing what she had done, Wu's eyes narrowed in amusement as he said, "You really have put some thought into this, haven't you? I've always known you were adorable, but damn..." Blushing up to her ears, Hinata attempted to conceal her embarrassment by rolling away from Wu. The former was sitting up, but she was still lying on the grass, so it seemed like the most sensible thing to do. At least until Wu remarked, "This is a view I can get used to..." As Hinata's custom-made wingsuit conformed to her body, Wu was given quite an eyeful. His remark was also calm, confident, and contained a hint of teasing, so Hinata didn't feel pressured. Whenever Naruto made similar remarks, he always had a greedy, desirous look and a hint of desperation in his tone... Turning back to steal a glance over her shoulder, Hinata found Wu staring 'at' her with a relaxed smile on his face. He may have been staring at her ass moments prior, but the moment she turned to face him, his gaze was fixed squarely on her face, his look attentive as if to imply he was waiting to hear what she had to say. Another stark contrast to Naruto, who never stopped talking about himself unless she appeared depressed or outright asked if she could speak... After waiting for several seconds, Wu's expression and tone softened as he pointed out, "You're thinking about him..." Instead of refuting the claim, Hinata nodded her head and replied, "Yes. But I'm primarily thinking about how 'different' the two of you are...I feel partially...well, more like fully responsible for Naruto-kun's behavior. I'm almost positive that the way I was acting before we started dating gave him certain...expectations. Once we graduated, and things didn't progress as 'quickly' as he was expecting...I think he became desperate..." Nodding his head, Wu replied, "That is definitely the case...however, while Naruto has a fairly compelling reason to be resentful toward the world, it was wrong for him to view you as an outlet to 'unload' his burdens. These next few weeks, months, and potentially even years are going to be rough for both of you. But don't worry. So long as he doesn't completely lose his shit and do something irredeemable, I'm fairly certain I can do something about it..." Blinking in surprise, Hinata sat up and asked, "Really? Can you truly help Naruto-kun...?" in a hopeful tone. Shrugging his shoulders, albeit only slightly, Wu replied, "I will try, but it ultimately depends on him. I noticed Naruto had 'matured' a bit after his mission to the Land of Waves. He doesn't lack empathy for other people, so if I can introduce him to someone that 'needs' him, I believe they could help each other..." As Wu spoke, the image of a young Kunoichi with remarkably red hair and slightly darker eyes appeared in his mind. He had investigated each of the Genin that would be participating in the exams, and one stood out like the sorest of thumbs. Not just due to her ridiculously red hair, but because of her monstrous Chakra reserves... Since he was already formulating his plans around 'accompanying' Hinata during the Chunin Exams, Wu felt no reservations about revealing, "There is a Kunoichi from Kuso participating in the exams that is almost certainly a member of the Uzumaki Clan. They concealed her surname, but even a blind person would be able to see how ludicrously red her hair is..." Shaking his head, Wu added, "Even if she isn't a member of the Uzumaki Clan, her circumstances would make just about anyone's blood boil. If we informed Naruto that she is a distant relative, he might 'literally' tear apart the people on her Team..." Though she was afraid to ask, Hinata did precisely that, asking, "What is her situation like...?" in a trepidatious tone. Demonstrating with his left arm, though not actually biting, Wu revealed, "Those fucking monsters use her as a backup Chakra reserve. They bite into her skin and literally suck the Chakra out of her along with her blood. Some of the bite marks on her body...forget it. Though I'm certain you can imagine, it's better that you don't hear the specifics..." As Wu's words just made her imagination run even wilder, a genuinely pained expression appeared on Hinata's face, complete with nascent tears in her eyes as she asked, "How could anyone be so cruel? Please tell me she's at least older than we are..." Shaking his head, Wu revealed, "According to her registration, she is from the same age group as us. When you consider that some of the scars on her body are 'very' old...let's just say, even if Naruto doesn't take action, I will. And no, I will not show mercy to those bastards..." Though she could only imagine how bad the girl's situation was, Hinata didn't attempt to deter Wu's 'justice.' She had never fully grown out of her innate gentleness, but she had long overcome her fears of hurting others. Some people, such as the bandits her Team had discovered keeping both women and children locked away in a cave, deserved to die... Seeing the 'resolution' in Hinata's eyes, Wu extended his hand to pat her head for the first time in months. His actions briefly surprised her, but she quickly regained a smile and admitted, "I missed this...not just the petting, but being able to spend time together..." Nodding his head, Wu gave a casual, "Same..." before getting marginally more sincere as he added, "My missions may take me out of the village in the future, but, once we're married, I swear to never make you feel alone or devalued when I'm around. I know you're aware of much I appreciate you, but I won't relent until you feel it in your soul, not just your body and mind..." Though she was reeling due to the rather drastic change in topic, Hinata's face became bright red in response to Wu's forceful yet incredibly moving statement. He exuded confidence from every pore of his being, and as far as she was aware, he had never once lied to her. Thus, even though she felt like her world had been flipped over multiple times in just a single day, Hinata managed a genuine, heartfelt smile as she wiped away a tear from her narrowed eyes and hummed a happy, "Nn~!" In response, Wu moved his hand from her head to the side of her face, his thumb tracing the bone of her cheek as he brought his face closer...a motion Hinata didn't hesitate to mirror... ... .. . After the previous incident with Tsunade, Wu practically dashed over to the Higurashi Tool Shop to inform Tenten of what had transpired. He felt a little guilty, as her entire reason for returning home was to focus her mind, but he also knew she would feel even greater exasperation if he didn't tell her immediately. Somewhat surprisingly, Tenten wasn't surprised by Wu's revelation. It was apparent to her, all of the girls, and even most of the guys in their circle of friends that the relationship between Naruto and Hinata was poisonous to them both. Wu had also informed her about his engagement to Hinata, so Tenten had already prepared herself for the 'inevitable' moment in which everything came to a head. The one thing Tenten 'was' surprised about was that Wu already had a 'rebound girl' lined up for Naruto. However, when she heard the specifics, she was actually a little angry at him for not helping the girl earlier. With Wu's relationship with Hiruzen and his status as the incumbent Lord of the Senju Clan, she was 'certain' he could have done something about the girl named Karin's situation. The Uzumaki Clan was, at one point in time, the most dependable ally of Konoha. There was a massive memorial for the Clan near the center of the village, so if Karin truly was a member of the defunct Uzumaki Clan and was being mistreated in such a way, there was no reason for Konoha 'not' to grant her asylum. Fortunately for Wu, he already had an excuse prepared, citing that there was no 'guarantee' the girl was from the Uzumaki Clan. If they attempted to grant her asylum and it turned out she was just an exceptionally gifted young Kunoichi, Konoha would be accused of poaching talent from allied or, at the very least, neutral nations. While it ultimately wouldn't matter if they offended a tiny village like Kusa, the Shinobi Nations were merely the 'underside' of society. The various Lands were ruled by the Daimyo, so it could cause a lot of problems for Konoha if the Fire Daimyo found himself under pressure from his fellow Lords. Simply put, while helping Karin was the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, it was a potentially massive mistake from a political one... Explained even simpler, politics sucked... ... .. . (A/N: Thoughts? Me brain empty.)

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...)

Chapter 58: Relinquish