I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

Having agreed to meet up with her again following their first meeting, Wu ate breakfast with Guren and Tayuya before heading out to a small market Temari had introduced him to the previous day. Suna had several bazaars in place of a commercial district, so it was possible to find and barter for commodities from all across the world while simultaneously enjoying food from various street vendors. Spotting Wu quickly, as he was the only one dressed distinctly different from everyone else, Temari flagged him down, shouting, "Dadi-kun! Over here-!" Though he had spotted the blonde well in advance, Wu pretended to be pleasantly surprised by greeting, casually raising his hand before making his way over to remark, "You changed your outfit. Is lavender your favorite color?" As Temari had switched out her lavender robe for a comfortable-looking spaghetti-strap tank top, equally as purple, Wu correctly assumed it was the girl's favorite color. In response, an awkward chuckle emanated from Temari's throat as she combed back her bangs and answered, "I learned in the Academy that purple compliments yellow. Since then, I try to wear at least one purple item on me at all times..." Nodding his head in approval, Wu asserted, "It suits you. Still, I can't help but wonder how you can maintain such a fair complexion? Just yesterday, we were roaming around under the hot sun for hours. It's a wonder you're not red as a lobster or brown as a baked potato..." Shrugging her shoulders, Temari admitted, "To be perfectly honest with you, I'm not entirely sure. I do moisturize and apply sunscreen when I'm going to be out for an extended period, but I've never tanned or suffered a sunburn. A lot of girls in Suna are like that." Never one to miss out on a perfect setup, Wu feigned shock as he replied, "I hadn't noticed. Guess a certain someone kept me distracted..." Rolling her eyes, Temari remarked, "We should get going if we're going to catch the earliest screening. The theater here gets pretty crowded in the afternoon, and I don't like cramped places." Adopting a faint smile, Wu responded with a carefree, "Hai, hai..." before extending his hand to grasp Temari's. She tensed as he did so but didn't attempt to break free as he seized the initiative to guide her through the bazaar. He had memorized the layout of every place they visited the day prior, so it didn't take them long to reach their destination, a tiny theater with a single matinee. Suna wasn't exactly the most prosperous country in the world, but the increasing popularity of motion pictures had led to the previous generation's Kazekage authorizing the construction of a theater. While Wu didn't particularly care for movies, Temari's face practically lit up as she exclaimed, "Oh! They're playing one of Yukie Fujikaze's movies, The Adventures of Princess Gale! I love this series, and Yukie Fujikaze is an amazing actress." Seeing the woman with raven-black hair and ice-blue eyes plastered on the movie poster, Wu remarked, "She certainly looks like a princess..." Narrowing her eyes into a broad smile, Temari hummed, "I know, right~? Some rumors claim that the actress, Yukie Fujikaze, is actually a bonafide princess from a ruined kingdom. If she ever comes to Suna on one of her promotional tours, I'll have to ask her directly." Seizing the initiative from Wu, Temari dragged him to the ticket stand to purchase a total of twelve tickets. She hated having people sit in front of or behind her during movies, so two tickets were for herself and Wu, while the rest were to ensure at least a one-seat perimeter around them. As for where she got the money? Being the daughter of the Kazekage meant she was practically royalty within the village of Suna... ... .. . As his stay in Suna stretched from days into weeks, Wu's boredom began to compound with each passing day. He went through the motions during his outings with Temari, but Suna simply didn't have anything 'interesting' to do. When Wu asked her to take him to the most interesting place in the village, Temari used her status as the Kazekage's daughter to grant them access to a fucking greenhouse... Though it was admittedly more scenic than the rest of Suna, Wu's visit to the greenhouse had affirmed just how pitiful the desert-dwelling peoples' lives were. Even more ridiculous was the fact that they didn't 'have' to live that way. They didn't have that many people living within their borders, so if they bargained with a peace-loving shill like Hiruzen, they could migrate and become a part of Konoha. Instead, even Temari 'resented' the people of Konoha because they 'could never understand' the hardships of people who called the desert home. Just like people who rightly avoided flames could never comprehend the misery of those who willfully set themselves aflame... "Are you listening to me, Dadi-kun...?" Blinking back to awareness, Wu met Temari's slightly judgmental gaze and admitted, "I should have been." before following it up with a smile and revealing, "I just got a little distracted thinking about the fact we wouldn't be able to see each other for a while..." "Ah..." Having succumbed to Wu's incessant charms during their time together, Temari actually felt guilty for glaring at him, an awkward smile developing across her face as she proposed, "You could always stick around until the Chunin Exams. We're going to be...'working together' a lot in the future, so I can introduce you to my brothers." Though he did have an interest in Temari's youngest brother, the vessel of the One-Tailed Demon Tanuki, Wu shook his head and said, "I have a prior arrangement to attend. The next time we meet will probably be during the Chunin Exam Finals..." Unaware of the hidden meaning within Wu's words, Temari exhaled a faint sigh, maintaining a faint smile as she said, "Look on the bright side. Once this mess has been settled, we'll have plenty of time to spend together..." As her father had eventually made it very clear what his intentions were for her future, Temari began to look forward to her future 'independence.' She and Wu had kicked it off from day one, so most of her apprehensions about the future had disappeared. Her only complaint was that Wu didn't seem content with just a single woman, readily revealing he had 'several' and would likely 'acquire' even more. Hell, at one point, he had even joked about tracking down her favorite actress and having her join them... Returning a smile of his own, Wu surprised Temari by extending his hand to caress her left cheek as he asserted, "I'm looking forward to it..." in a deep, almost velvety smooth tone. Feeling her throat tense and her mouth dry, Temari inadvertently licked her lips and swallowed. Wu was two, almost three years younger than her, but she felt like putty in his hands. When he began moving his face closer to hers, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing as she tentatively closed her eyes and inexperiencedly puckered her lips. Though he was initially just planning to stare Temari down with his tried and true 'smoldering look,' Wu wasn't the type to pass on an opportunity to make considerable headway in an instant. The 'first kiss' of most girls was an incredibly significant moment in their lives, so, even if they weren't entirely sure of their feelings, they would 'convince' themselves they were in love after surrendering it to someone. Feeling a moist pressure against her lips, Temari's eyes abruptly opened wide as if to confirm she was actually kissing someone. Seeing Wu's face at a near-zero distance confirmed this was the case, causing her swiftly beating her to beat even faster. She genuinely had no idea what to do, so all she could do was trust her instincts as Wu wrapped his hands around her waist and guided her first steps into adulthood... ... .. . "Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye? Temari-chan isn't going to be happy when she finds out you left the village without telling her..." Shaking his head, Wu insisted, "It's better like this. I would rather have her be angry with me than depressed. Besides, it's not like we'll be apart for long. Making a big deal over a temporary separation is just senseless." Though she wanted to explain to Dadi that women, especially young girls, were delicate and sentimental creatures, Guren ultimately shook her head and sighed. She couldn't even be honest with herself, so lecturing others didn't feel right. Instead, she softly responded, "Well, if that's what you've decided, I have nothing else to say on the matter. Let's go home. I'm sure the Otokage is eager to receive us." With Guren punctuating her words by placing her hand on his shoulder, Wu returned a nod before picking her and Tayuya up in princess carries. He also suspected that Orochimaru would be happy to have them back. Unfortunately for her, him, or it, Wu wouldn't be staying for long. He was planning to use his incredibly boring stay in Suna as an excuse to justify traveling to another village, this time alone. Then, instead of doing that, he would return to Konoha and explain his findings to Hiruzen. From the perspective of Orochimaru, it would be like he had dropped off the face of the Shinobi World when, in reality, he would be waiting for the scheming snakes to overextend and expose her neck. With such thoughts on his mind, Wu elected to take a more scenic route, flying over the aptly named Lands of Rain and Grass before traveling East toward the Land of Sound. If not for the deadline of the Chunin Exams, he would have liked to explore both. Every nation had its secrets, and with his power, Wu was certain he could discover, expose, and take advantage of them all. For now, however, he had promises to keep and preparations for his future Clan, the fledgling seed of his future dynasty, to complete... ... .. . While Wu was planning his future conquest, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, members of Team 7 led by the 'legendary' Copycat Ninja, Hatake Kakashi, were returning to Konoha after their first away mission. Though they had initially accepted a C-Rank Mission to escort an elderly Bridgebuilder by the name of Tazuna, things quickly escalated when the group was attacked by missing-nin from Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist. Shinobi from Kiri were famous for their brutality and capabilities as assassins, but Team 7 managed to dispatch the first group fairly easily. Things became infinitely more precarious when they reached the outskirts of Tazuna's village and encountered Zabuza, an infamous assassin known as the 'Demon of the Mist.' As his opponents were a bunch of Genin and a Shinobi that had fallen off the face of the Earth after the Third Great Shinobi War, Zabuza severely underestimated the capabilities and teamwork of Team 7. He managed to escape at the last moment but ended up losing both his sword and one of his arms in the process. Though things went comparably smoothly after their encounter with the infamous assassin, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were in low spirits as they returned home. The former had never expected the outside world to be so 'grim,' a sentiment shared by the other two, even though Sasuke had once witnessed his Clan slaughtered by his own brother... ... .. . (A/N: For those that are curious, both Zabuza and Haku are still alive in this timeline. Unfortunately, while Naruto received a wake-up call after meeting Inari and seeing what life was like in the Land of Waves, he never encountered Haku or got to use his Talk-no-Jutsu on Zabuza. As for what the future holds for the duo, only time can tell. However, so long as life remains, there is hope...)

After reaching Otogakure, Wu, Guren, and Tayuya made their way over to Orochimaru's throne room. Guren had already reported the Rasa's slip up, so, despite appearing as her usual self from Wu's perspective, Orochimaru resembled the man in the Bingo Book as s/he said, "Welcome back, Dadi-sama, Tayuya-chan, Guren-chan..." in a raspy tone. Showing no signs he cared about being 'deceived,' Wu raised his hand and offered his standard, "Yo." while Guren and Tayuya gave comparably polite/respectful responses. Though he had expected Wu to ask at least 'some' questions, Orochimaru managed to stay on topic, asking, "How was your visit to Suna? I've been informed that you and the Kazekage's daughter hit it off remarkably well. As expected of the 'splendiferous' Dadi-sama..." Nodding his head, Wu mused, "She's a good girl. With a bit of polish, she'll make an excellent woman. Speaking of which...I didn't see Kagero. Where is she?" Believing 'Dadi' was concerned about one of his 'pets,' Orochimaru gave a knowing smile as he assured, "Worry not, Dadi-sama. If I had to guess, I would assume your little mayfly is currently waiting outside of your room. Since I knew you would be returning today, I elected to give her the day off so you can...gauge her progress." Amused by his own insinuation, Orochimaru snickered for a few moments before catching Wu a little off guard, asking, "So, where will your travels take you next, Dadi-sama? Iwa? Kiri? I would ask you to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams, but your face and name are already recorded in the Bingo Book. 30,000,000 Ryo from Iwa, Alive Only. It would appear old man Oonoki has taken an interest in you. Ufufufufu~" Shrugging his shoulders, Wu adopted a cheeky grin as he asked, "Can you blame him? I'm pretty fucking amazing." Without trying to refute Wu's claims, Orochimaru mused, "Indeed you are, Dadi-sama. That's why I would like to invite you to accompany me on the day of the Chunin Exam Finals. As one of the people who will rule over the region in the wake of Konoha's ruin, it's only natural that you would have a first-row seat..." Though he had the creeping suspicion that Orochimaru had uncovered his identity and was fucking with him, Wu smiled brazenly and replied, "Count me in. I had always imagined Konoha would become my seat of power, so there's no way in hell I'd miss out on such a 'festive' event. Hell, it may as well be my very own coronation ceremony." Grinning like a demon, Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of excitement as he said, "Very well said, Dadi-sama. I always knew you had tremendous potential. At this rate, you may even be able to 'unify' the Continent in the future. Then, with my research prowess and your power, we can create a world in which everyone can reach their full potential...!" Surprised by Orochimaru's sudden 'vigor,' Wu opened his eyes in genuine shock. He and Orochimaru appeared to have more in common than he previously thought. It was almost unfortunate that he happened to be a man of his word... Offering an authentic smile, the look in Wu's eyes became serious as he stated, "It appears we speak the same language. I'm looking forward to seeing how things pan out...Orochimaru-sama..." ... .. . With only Guren being held back for an after-mission debriefing, Wu and Tayuya made their way to his bedroom, the latter staring at his back with an especially serious expression on her face. The discussion between Wu and Orochimaru had left her thinking that he may have changed his mind about murdering the amoral snake. Fortunately, just as they rounded the corner and spotted a much healthier-looking Kagero sitting on the ground, embracing her knees with a faint smile, Wu softly whispered, "I am a man of my word..." before walking away without turning back. Though there was a chance that Wu was deceiving her, Tayuya found herself exhaling a sigh of relief. The serious effort he had put into making her exercise should have been enough proof to show that he was serious about 'claiming' her, but it was still a relief to hear him affirm his intent. At the same time, a firm conviction was born into her heart as she hurried to catch up to Wu's back, falling into step beside him... ... .. . After spending two days idling about in the underground compound of Otogakure, Wu exchanged brief farewells with Tayuya, Kagero, and Guren before ascending into the sky. His purported destination was Kirigakure to the South-East, but his actual destination was Konoha in the South. Though Wu had every intention of visiting Kiri and Iwa in the future, there was less than a month left before the start of the Chunin Exams. Wu had no plans to partake in the actual exam, but there was much he needed to prepare before the Finals. Thus, after a quick two-and-a-half-hour flight, he slipped through the gap in Konoha's barrier and immediately made his way toward...Yakiniku Q. The food in Suna hadn't been too bad, nice and spicy, but he had missed eating veritable mountains of meat on Hiruzen's dime... Making his way into the establishment, Wu returned the greeting of the waiting staff before making a beeline toward a group of familiar figures. Two wore green jumpsuits, bushy eyebrows, and bowl-cut hairstyles, one had a perpetually constipated face, long dark hair, and the characteristic eyes of the Hyuga Clan, but the most important person present was the only female within the group, a dango-haired Kunoichi Wu regarded as his girlfriend. As he was approaching from behind Tenten, Wu managed to elicit a fairly adorable reaction from the dango-haired cuttie as he raised his hand and said, "Yo, long time no see, Guy, Lee, Ne-" Before Wu could finish his greeting, Tenten bounced to her feet and gave him a big hug, exclaiming, "It's about damn time you came back, Wu! You had better be home for more than a few days this time...!" Reciprocating the bubbly girl's hug, Wu earned himself a 'warning look' as he gave her pert bottom a light pinch and replied, "No worries. I'll at least be sticking around until the end of the Chunin Exams." Beaming with a radiance that could rival the sun, Tenten stated, "That's great to hear. Guy-sensei gave us the month off to prepare for the Chunin Exams, so let's train together." Hearing Tenten's words, Rock Lee, a strange but sincere-looking boy with glossy black hair and thick eyebrows, exclaimed, "That's a most excellent idea, Tenten! Please, allow me to join you and Wu-kun in your training! Let us experience the flames of youth together...!" Piggybacking off his young protege's words, Might Guy, resembling an older version of Lee despite being completely unrelated to one another, gave a toothy smile and a thumbs-up as he added, "Well said, Lee! But you've forgotten one key detail...!" Exhibiting an expression of shock, Lee exclaimed, "Oh, no! Please, Guy-sensei, endow me with your wisdom...!" Rising to his feet, Guy gave Tenten and Wu one of his best smiles, a faint glimmer reflecting off his brilliant white teeth as he said, "Young Wu here is Tenten's boyfriend. While it is youthful to want to train together, there are times when you should take a step back and allow youth to blossom naturally! Now, go, young ones! Go and experience your Spring-" Unable to bear the antics of her teammate and Jonin-sensei any longer, Tenten dragged Wu to the other side of the restaurant with a crimson hue coloring her face. She didn't mind their antics all that much when they were out and about as a Team, but she could barely tolerate them when anyone whose opinion she cared about was nearby. Though he actually got along well with Guy and Lee, the result of their earnest training ethic, Wu allowed himself to be dragged by Tenten until they reached one of the private booths on the opposite side of the restaurant. Each booth cost quite a considerable amount of Ryo to rent, but Tenten was aware of Wu's arrangement with the Third and knew he could very easily afford it. Breathing a sigh of relief, Tenten attempted to across from Wu before the latter abruptly pulled her onto his lap, asking, "Where you are running off to~?" in a teasing tone. Regaining her blush, Tenten gave Wu a light smack and softly exclaimed, "Jeez, Wu! Not when we're in public...!" Raising his hands, Wu allowed Tenten to liberate herself from his lap, this time sitting next to him before she exhaled another sigh and asked, "So, how was your trip? Meet any cute girls while you were away...?" As he had already made his intentions 'very' clear to the dango-haired girl, Wu didn't hesitate to nod his head, answering, "You'll meet them soon enough. As for the specifics, we'll discuss them once I've had a chat with the old man. Things could change drastically depending on what he has to say on the matter, and I don't want to provide you false information." Though she nodded her head, Tenten couldn't help asking, "Can you at least tell me how many? Two? Five? Ten...?" Shrugging his shoulders, Wu revealed, "It really depends on what the Third had to say, but I can guarantee at least five people will be joining our house once it's established. If everything goes according to plan, it will be closer to ten, but I doubt it will exceed it. Even five women seem like a hassle, but it's necessary for my ambitions..." Nodding her head, Tenten was sincere as she said, "I understand." She still had a lot of doubts about the future, but she also believed in Wu. So long as he remained the same boy she had fallen in love with, she could endure sharing him. At least, that's what she kept telling herself the past two months Wu was absent. Preempting one of Tenten's future questions, Wu grabbed her hand and said, "I never crossed the line...even when the opportunity was literally staring me in the face..." Adopting a marginally more prominent smile, Tenten exhaled a light sigh through her nose before squeezing Wu's hand in turn, saying, "I always knew you were a man of your word. Still, if it gets too difficult, don't hold back on my account. Just try not to get anyone pregnant. I want at least one of your firsts, and having your first child is pretty up there in terms of important firsts. Promise me 'that' little right, and you're free to cut loose as much as you want." Narrowing his eyes into an affectionate stare, Wu was being fairly sincere as he asserted, "I knew choosing you was the correct choice, Tenten...my only question is, when do you 'want' to have a baby? Because if it's in the distant future, I'll need to restrain myself so that certain individuals don't get too stressed. There are quite a number of women who will be wanting my children..." As she had thought about it 'a lot' over the past two months, Tenten only hesitated for a moment before replying, "If waiting until I'm a Jonin takes too long, I'm willing to start trying at sixteen. I would prefer to wait until we're twenty, but eight years is a pretty long time to wait considering the things you have in mind..." Catching Tenten a little off guard, Wu unhesitantly replied, "Sixteen it is. I know at least one fiery-tempered redhead who will protest, but I can use her 'frustration' to promote her growth further. Until then, we should work to increase your strength as much as possible. Some of the women I have met on my journey possess incredible talent and Chakra Reserves. I won't allow them to look down on you." Seeing the fiery conviction in Wu's eyes, the sense of longing that had waned a bit over the past two months was promptly rekindled in Tenten's heart. One of her secret apprehensions was that she would be among the weakest members of Wu's harem despite being the 'first' woman he chose to stand beside him. Thus, even though she knew she was probably going to suffer a bit in the month to come, she smiled excitedly and replied, "'We' won't let them," placing heavy emphasis on the 'we.' ... .. . (A/N: To those of you who are 'concerned' about the lack of lemons, know that there will eventually be quite a few. I just want to avoid the backasswards nutjobs who point fingers and accuse people of some of the worst things imaginable just to make themselves feel vindicated.)

After reading through the contents of the scroll, Rasa arranged to have Wu, Tayuya, and Guren stay in one of their diplomatic suites. Each had been given a room of their own, but Tayuya didn't even bother checking hers out before making herself comfortable in Wu's. As a result, the latter was using her increasingly pliant ass as a pillow when someone knocked on his door, interrupting his reading of a bout about poisonous plants and herbs native to the region. Before Tayuya could rise after him, Wu ordered her to 'behave,' leaving the pouty redhead lying on her stomach as he made his way over to the door, opening it to find a 157cm tall girl with teal eyes and sandy-blonde hair fixed into four 'starburst' pigtails. She had on a light-purple outfit that vaguely resembled the fusion of a low-cut kimono and a nurse's uniform, hanging from her shoulders to reveal a mesh armor extending from her neck and presumably covering the rest of her torso. She also had on a scarlet sash and some kind of fishnet material covering her left thigh and right calf, the purpose of which Wu could only imagine. Seeing Wu checking her out, the blonde-haired Kunoichi took the liberty to do the same while questioning, "You're the 'infamous' Saiko Dadi? You certainly don't look like someone that could take on a Kage...just how old are you?" Adopting a mischievous smile, Wu replied, "Old enough to understand the implications of your visit, young enough not to give two shits. Do you want to come inside, or would you prefer to let me have the honor...?" Though she was momentarily confused by Wu's words, a tinge of pink spread through the girl's cheeks as she narrowed her eyes into a half-lidded expression and remarked, "You certainly have the confidence part down. Unfortunately for you, I didn't come here for the reasons you seem to believe. My father asked me to show you and your friend around Suna. But if you're that desperate for a woman's touch, I can drop you off at the red light district before returning home." Rolling his eyes, Wu teased, "Yeah, yeah...you keep telling yourself you're just here to be my guide. With badassery like mine, do you think I haven't been through this same song and dance before? Also, plan on introducing yourself any time soon?" Furrowing her brows, the blonde-haired girl replied, "Temari of the Sand..." in a low growl. Despite her denial, she clearly understood why her father had tasked her with being Dadi's escort during his stay in Suna. The boy was strong enough to defeat a Tailed Beast and contend against a Kage at twelve years old. Their alliance with Oto was also recently forged, so 'strengthening their ties' mutually benefited both parties. She just didn't want to admit she was being treated as a tool to further Suna's interests... Directing his gaze to Temari's chest, Wu playfully remarked, "Temari, huh? It suits you..." As her name meant 'hand ball,' Temari immediately understood what Wu was implying as he stared at her breasts. The sudden urge to punch him swelled within her mind, but, understanding the disastrous consequences of doing so, she forced a smile and replied, "Thanks. My mother gave it to me..." Increasing Temari's desire to punch him a thousandfold, Wu shamelessly remarked, "It clearly isn't the only thing she gave you..." Inhaling a steadying breath, Temari's expression and tone became serious as she said, "My mother died more than twelve years ago. I would appreciate it if you didn't make such crass jokes..." Catching the sandy-blonde a little by surprise, Wu's cheeky smile turned into an awkward, ostensibly apologetic grin as he scratched the back of his head and awkwardly inquired, "Is that so...?" before following it with a sincere-sounding, "Sorry..." Recovering after several surprised blinks, Temari crossed her arms and averted her gaze to the side as she softly replied, "Don't worry about it. She died a long time ago. Besides, I can kind of understand why you'd feel the need to crack jokes at a time like this. My youngest brother also had power and responsibility thrust upon him. It...isn't easy, is it?" Shaking his head, Wu asserted, "It's a better position to be in than the shoes of my enemies. It also permits me to meet cute and considerate girls such as yourself. In that regard, I would argue I'm quite fortunate..." Seeing Wu immediately revert to his playful persona, Temari exhaled a tired sigh before adopting a faint smile and pointedly remarking, "At least you're aware of it. If any other guy tried to approach me, my father would review every aspect of their character and background before summoning them to his office to inform them of their inadequacies and warn them of their proper place. This is probably the longest conversation I've had with a boy outside my immediate family." As Temari kept mentioning her family at virtually every opportunity, Wu's expression became 'serious' as he remarked, "Your father is a wise man. If I had a daughter half as cute as you, I'd have her walk around with a stick and teach her to beat the shit out of any boy brave enough to approach..." Though she knew Wu's words were pure lip service, Temari couldn't help exhaling an amused chuckle. She still wasn't all that enthused about the circumstances she had been forced into, but at least Wu was easy to talk to... ... .. . Observing the interaction between Wu and his daughter using a technique that allowed him to link his vision to an eye formed of sand particles, Rasa gave a curt nod and muttered, "It seems I was worried for nothing..." While it was true he frequently invited his daughter's would-be suitors to his office, Rasa only did so because he wanted to find someone 'worthy' of her. If the people targetting her couldn't even look him in the eye and request his permission to pursue her, how could he trust them to remain firm if his daughter's life was in danger? At least with someone like Dadi, he could be sure she would be protected. The strong were usually just as possessive. If something jeopardized what was 'theirs,' they would fight for it with every fiber of their being... Canceling his Jutsu, Rasa returned his eyes to the scroll penned to him by Orochimaru. It rehashed the details of their upcoming invasion of Konoha but also outlined a path for future cooperation. Once 'destroyed,' Konoha, or, more accurately, another village, would need to be constructed in its place. Suna lacked the workforce and population to protect their interests abroad, so Orochimaru had proposed a union between Dadi and Temari to prevent arguments over the distribution of land and resources. Simply put, the duo would become the leaders of a village that served the interests of both Suna and Oto. Though the arrangement would invariably favor Otogakure, Rasa knew that, with his strength, he couldn't possibly defend both Suna and a newly formed village. He would have needed to assign someone to protect and administrate the region, so who better than his daughter and a boy whose potential seemed limitless? Dadi wasn't even a teenager but could already defeat Tailed Beasts without external assistance. If anyone could protect his daughter and a newly established village, Saiko Dadi could... ... .. . After accompanying Temari around her shithole of a village for the better part of six hours, Wu returned to his room to find Tayuya in the middle of doing handstand pushups. Her physique had improved tremendously in just a single month, so it was now possible to make out the outline of her abdominal muscles as she strained to keep her balance and complete her most recent set. As he had come to appreciate watching others train after years of being an involuntary mentor, Wu snuck over to the bed and silently scrutinized Tayuya's form and progress. The prickly redhead had a lazy, almost cat-like personality at times, but she could also be really hardworking when she wanted to be. It would be some time before she met Wu's standards, but she was making steady progress, and it showed. Finished with a 'light set,' totaling 100 verticle pushups, Tayuya exhaled a sigh and controlled her transition to become perfectly horizontal without touching the ground. Then, while continuing to support herself with just her hands, she spread her legs wide, eventually doing a full split before raising herself onto the tips of her fingers and holding the posture. It was quite the sight to behold from Wu's perspective, but he resisted the urge to comment as one of the things he despised most was being interrupted in the middle of his training... Fortunately, Tayuya's rather peculiar planking exercise was one of the last in a routine that has lasted more than two hours. When she was finished, her scarlet locks were caked to her body, but there was a gratified smile on her face as she absentmindedly traced the line of her abdomen. Before meeting Wu, she had never imagined developing her physique to the point she had visible abs. It was only possible due to an uncompromising diet and a considerable amount of exercise, but she was gradually beginning to take pride in her results. Seeing Tayuya admiring herself, Wu couldn't help but ask, "Would you like a mirror, my narcissistic little tomato?" Starling slightly, Tayuya looked toward Wu with slightly widened eyes before regaining her usual edge as she asked, "Do you always have to be such a voyeur...?" Shaking his head, Wu asserted, "You're not the only one captivated by your progress. Seeing your muscles develop and watching your flexibility improve fill me with just as much gratification as you. After all, I'm bound to 'benefit' quite a bit in the future." Rolling her eyes, Tayuya retorted, "You could 'benefit' right now if you weren't so concerned with a brat that isn't even here..." Since he was supporting his head with his left hand, Wu shrugged and raised his right as he mused, "I would think you had a vested interest in me being the type of man who keeps his promises." Unable to refute Wu's words, Tayuya just snorted through her nose in a pouty huff. She had never once felt this 'frustrated' before meeting and getting to know Wu. If the very notion didn't disgust her, she might find another man just to alleviate the 'itch' that was beginning to drive her a little crazy... Making her way over to Wu's bedside, Tayuya's expression became serious as she said, "Let me sit on your face..." Turning his eyes up at the zesty redhead, Wu teased, "Is that any way to ask for a favor~?" Spurred by her 'frustration,' Tayuya's revised Cursed Seal of Heaven began to stir, quickly transitioning from her base state to her level two, now completely symmetrical transformation as she growled, "Please let me sit on your face...Wu-sama..." As he found Tayuya's transformed state more than a little charming, the color of Wu's eyes shifted from gold to a fiery red as he replied, "That's my girl..." before lying on his back, patting his chest, and adding, "Come to daddy..." With Wu's consent, Tayuya didn't hesitate to strip away her spats and top before straddling the former's face. Her muscle density and, as a result, her weight increased quite a bit in her transformed state. However, as he was used to casually spinning around a staff that weighed 8000kgs, Wu was able to freely maneuver Tayuya's bottom with his hands before giving her the 'medicine' she needed to tide herself over until he could break her, and many others, completely... ... .. . (A/N: When horny gets literal...)

Chapter 47: Planting Seeds