I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

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

(A/N: I noticed how much traction the supplemental post was getting, so here's a bonus chapter.) With the deadline for his return to Konoha fast approaching, Wu found himself at a crossroads. He believed he had made considerable progress infiltrating Otogakure, but he had yet to obtain any valuable information, excluding the recently acquired medical files. If he suddenly disappeared, all of his 'hard work' would go out the window, undone instantly. Though he could easily make arrangements for a 'proxy' of sorts to hold down the fort until his return, Wu didn't immediately decide to do so. After all, while he felt compelled to stick around and learn more, gathering info on Otogakure wasn't his original 'reason' for leaving the village. His actual targets were Kumogakure and Sunagakure, two of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Despite his conflicted thoughts, Wu had a relaxed smile on his face as he softly mused, "Seems I'll need to put more thought into my actions before committing to anything long-term in the future..." Having made his decision, Wu rolled forward, took out a piece of paper, and began writing a letter. He had enough foresight to understand that he would probably be enemies to Otogakure the moment they initiated their plan, so there was no reason to 'cling' to the identity he had forged under their roof. He did, however, want to leave things up in the air, so he wrote a simple 'going sightseeing' before setting the letter on his bed table and promptly 'disappearing.' In reality, he had shrunken down to the size of an ant, slipping under the door and making his way out of the underground compound a few minutes later... ... .. . Arriving outside the gates of Konoha a little less than three hours later, a faint smile developed across Wu's face. He had always been a creature of comfort, so as much as he enjoyed his newfound freedom, he preferred familiarity. After all, he had spent four years cultivating an identity within Konoha. He had no intention of undermining his hard work. After slipping through an underground passage that Hiruzen had shown him before his departure, Wu took a moment to consider whether or not he should return to the Sarutobi Estate or stop by to see how his 'friends' were doing. Most newly established Genin Teams were forced to do two months of menial missions within the village, so there was no reason they should be outside. Deciding to think it over during or after filling his belly, Wu made his way over to one of the more famous eateries of the Akamichi Clan, Yakiniku Q. It was a place where customers were given tiny hotplates or pots of hot umami to grill or boil strips of premium cut meat. The prices were through the roof, but that was actually a good thing as it meant most of the guests were well-off or successful Shinobi. In other words, if you were looking to randomly encounter people from Konoha's various clans, enjoying a meal at Yakiniku Q drastically increased your chances. Upon entering the nostalgic venue, Wu was immediately greeted by an extended member of the Akamichi Clan, remarking, "Oh, if it isn't Wu-kun! It's been some time since your last visit. Would you like a private booth, or are you meeting up with someone...?" Before answering the young waitress's question, Wu passed his gaze over the dining area, zeroing in on a familiar silhouette, his brows rising ever so slightly as he replied, "I'm going to join an existing table. My order will be the same as usual but substitute the green tea for ginseng." As Wu was a regular within the establishment, the young woman nodded before making a quick note and informing him that his meal would be out within ten minutes, a Yakinuku guarantee. Wu just nodded his response to this before meandering his way over to the private booth nearest the back of the restaurant, remarking, "It's unusual to see you eating alone. Did you get in a fight?" Not expecting Wu to be the one to surprise her, even though he was fairly famous for doing so, the young girl hanging her at the table nearly leaped out of her skin, involuntarily exclaiming, "Wu-kun!?" before looking around in embarrassment. Adopting one of his more charismatic and amused smile, Wu replied, "It's good to see you as well, Hinata. Mind if I join you...?" Though a part of her wanted to continue eating alone, Wu's long absence compelled Hinata to exhale a faint sigh through her nose, responding, "Of course, you can." in a kind yet noticeably dispirited tone. Sitting across from the inky-haired girl, Wu footed around the subject he was actually interested in, asking, "You're growing your hair out...?" with slightly raised brows. Exhaling another sigh, Hinata lowered her head slightly and explained, "I know you always told us that long hair is a detriment during combat, but I wanted to try growing it out. Naruto...Naruto-kun prefers girls with longer hair..." Not expecting Hinata to immediately transition the conversation toward Naruto, Wu feigned obliviousness as he asked, "Speaking of which, how is our resident wastrel? Is he still using his ridiculous Chakra reserves as an excuse to slack off in his training...?" Instead of responding to Wu's questions, Hinata exhaled a third, markedly more exasperated sigh. Things hadn't been going especially well between her and Naruto in the past month. Being forced to complete 'pointless' D-Rank missions had Naruto in an understandably lousy mood, but that was only the tip of the iceberg... Catching Wu a little off guard, Hinata reverted to her formerly meek self as she softly inquired, "Do you think it's normal for boys and girls to have sex before marriage? Naruto-kun has been a little...insistent the past few weeks. I keep telling him it's too soon and that we should wait until our wedding night, but he..." Realizing that she might be forcing Wu into an awkward position, Hinata's words gradually trailed into silence. She and the other girls had confided in Wu a lot over the past four years, but he had made it clear during the final weeks leading up to their graduation that their training with him had ended. Shinobi were legally considered adults, so while Wu had said he didn't mind meeting up now and then to trade pointers, he wasn't going to keep 'pampering' them as he had been... Surprising the young heiress, Wu quickly replied, "While it 'is' normal for some couples to enter a physical relationship before marriage, everyone has their own circumstances. Neither you nor Naruto can be considered normal, so comparing your situation to 'ordinary' people is just dumb. The most important thing is to do what 'you' believe is right. I told you before but a relationship is a compromise. You may have to make concessions to make things work, but that goes both ways. If you're the only one making compromises, you're being taken advantage of." Though he had nothing against Naruto, Wu's appreciation for his former friend had waned considerably. Naruto had 'inserted' himself into their training shortly after he and Hinata became a couple. His presence had caused a number of issues at the time, not simply because he didn't work hard but because his growth, backed by his nonsensical Chakra reserves, was borderline monstrous. Despite his minimal efforts, Naruto had managed to supplant himself as the third stronger person in their graduating class. For a time, he had even secured the second position, but his abrupt growth had spurred Sasuke to petition Wu's personal guidance. They didn't train together often, but Wu would periodically visit the Uchiha Compound to see what the broody boy was up to before beating some sense into him and offering some 'friendly' advice. Shortly after that, Sasuke destroyed Naruto in a spar, upsetting the latter so much that he had accused Wu of 'betraying' their friendship. They had eventually made up, primarily due to Hinata's mediation, but, as Wu had once told Hiruzen, trust, once broken, could never be restored to the way it was... As Wu's words settled in her heart and mind, Hinata's melancholy became increasingly apparent. She 'knew' Wu was right, he rarely wasn't, but she still wanted to make things work between her and Naruto. They had their ups and downs, sure, but she believed Naruto would eventually return to the earnest and hardworking boy he once was... With his food arriving during Hinata's depressive silence, Wu allowed her to mellow for a bit as he consumed a veritable mountain of meat. One of the things he genuinely relished about Konoha was their food culture. His stay in Otogakure hadn't been 'intolerable,' but their cafeteria needed a lot of improvements. Seeing Wu engorge himself with a contented look on his face, a feeling of relief washed over Hinata. Compared to most aspects of her life, Wu was like a constant, unchanging fixture. He had matured considerably over the past four years, but everything from his personality to his heartfelt desire for improvement remained the same. He could be a little 'dense' at times, but Hinata believed that, if she needed him, Wu wouldn't hesitate to offer his assistance and advice. It was just the kind of person he was...abrasive yet incomparably reliable... ... .. . After parting ways with the embattled Hyuga heiress, Wu attempted to return to the Sarutobi Estate but soon found his path blocked by a man with a beige cloak and a white mask bearing a red crescent. "Genin Wu. Report to the Hokage's Office at once." Instead of responding in the affirmative, Wu raised his hand and said, "Good to see you, Raidou-san. I see the old man still has you running around for him." Losing some of the 'edge' radiating off of him, the masked man exhaled a sigh and said, "Wu-kun...you know you aren't supposed to use our names when we're in uniform. If someone were to hear you, it could compromise us..." Shrugging his shoulders, Wu offered a lazy, "Yeah, yeah. Tell Nanao I said hi." before changing his destination to the red compound near the base of Hokage Mountain. He hadn't exactly been trying to remain low-key, so he wasn't too surprised the old man had sent someone to fetch him... ... .. . Staring out over the village from the vantage point of his office, a circular room with very little decoration, Hiruzen mused, "I wonder how he'll try to surprise me this time..." Having already dismissed his guards and activated a sound-suppressing seal, Hiruzen was fully expecting Wu to try and prank him. It was a little game they had started playing just over a year ago. If Wu could sneak up on him undetected, Hiruzen would increase the boy's allowance or permit him a single, minor request. Inversely, if he managed to catch Wu before the young boy could place a hand on his shoulder, Hiruzen could request his help in reviewing the mountain of paperwork cluttering his desk... Fortunately, Hiruzen had a slight advantage in their little game as he could track Wu's presence with his crystal ball. He knew exactly when his young protege was supposed to show up. The only challenging part was timing his words when Wu was in the room. He wasn't a Sensor, so there were several instances where he had spoken confidently to a completely empty room... Straining his senses to their absolute limit, Hiruzen waited for around six and a half minutes before musing, "It looks like I win our little game this time. You can come on out, Wu-kun..." *silence* Turning around, Hiruzen narrowed his eyes ever so slightly as he added, "It isn't like you to feign ignorance, Wu-kun. I might not be able to sense your exact location, but I know you're present..." *silence* "..." Feeling a little embarrassed, Hiruzen returned to his seat and decided to pretend he had invited Wu over to discuss something 'serious.' Before he could get into the proper mentality, however, a hand came to rest on his shoulder, followed by a teasing voice remarking, "You're lucky I choose to play by 'your' rules. I know damn well you couldn't sense me..." Instead of refuting Wu's words, Hiruzen exhaled a chuckle, nodding as he mused, "Your affinity with Natural Energy truly is a marvel...." Then, with a grandfatherly smile, he looked up at Wu and inquired, "Did you enjoy your foray outside the village?" Returning a nod of his own, Wu gave Hiruzen a light pat on the shoulder before making his way around the front of the desk and taking a seat atop empty air. The ambiance within the room became noticeably warmer, but that changed rather drastically when Wu casually revealed, "There is a reasonably high possibility that Konoha will be invaded in the next three to four months..." ... .. .

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

Chapter 30: I, Your Father, Might Become a Father