Tsundere.
Saying no while meaning yes.
Natsume stood and walked over to her.
"What are you trying to do?"
Tayuya's hackles rose at once, her little tiger fangs bared.
"You've been sleeping in my bed long enough. Time to give it back."
Natsume shrugged.
Tayuya blinked, then hopped off the bed without a word and ran to the table in the distance.
Her eyes met the pastries; her little fangs reflexively withdrew.
"All right, I'm going to nap."
Natsume lay down and closed his eyes.
Tayuya waited a moment, then slowly leaned in, scrutinizing him from both sides.
She still remembered the agreement with Natsume.
One assassination attempt per day.
This was undoubtedly a good opportunity.
Her eyes flickered.
She wasn't stupid—there was a chance, but it could be a trap.
Thinking it over, she reached out and took hold of Natsume's mask.
When meeting Orochimaru, he had used a transformation technique.
With Terumi Mei, he hadn't—just wore a mask.
Tayuya wanted to test first if he was actually asleep.
She removed the mask; Natsume didn't wake.
But she herself went a little blank.
Such a young face.
And unexpectedly good-looking.
You can never know someone's heart from their face.
Tayuya drew a kunai.
But in the next instant, Natsume grabbed her wrist, smiling kindly. "You lose."
"…"
Tayuya was silent for two seconds, then snapped, "You liar!"
"That's what you get for being so dumb."
Natsume took the kunai from her. "A bet's a bet. I don't think you'll go back on your word, will you?"
"Of course not!"
Tayuya snorted, pouting. "If you're going to kill or cut, do as you please!"
"Let's see how much it can hold."
Natsume patted her small belly. "Eat everything on the table. I hate waste most of all."
Tayuya froze.
That was the punishment?
She was already thinking about when to schedule tomorrow's assassination.
Natsume went to the kitchen and brought her a meal.
"I made it. It's super nasty. You must finish it."
"Hmph! I will."
Tayuya finally understood the punishment.
She picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks, took a deep breath, and swallowed.
The anticipated weird taste never came. Instead, it was so delicious her whole body relaxed.
Tayuya suddenly felt tricked.
Though she knew Natsume was helping her, she refused to admit it.
It had to be this man's prank!
With that in mind, Tayuya finished everything with a clear conscience.
But unlike Hyūga Hinata, her belly was obviously a bit distended.
She'd eaten too much.
Mostly because it was delicious.
Back with Orochimaru, what she ate was mostly nutrient solutions and the like.
Naturally, the taste wasn't great.
"The punishment isn't over yet."
Natsume's annoying voice sounded, and Tayuya glared at him at once.
So it had been a prank earlier!
Next he'd probably have her do squats or some other strenuous exercise to make her throw up the food.
How evil!
"Come with me."
Natsume stood and opened the door.
Tayuya felt her premonition come true.
She clenched her teeth. Just a punishment—she would complete it!
"Go in."
Natsume stopped in front of one of the inn's single-occupant baths. "Take a bath, then change into new clothes."
"…"
Tayuya froze.
She didn't quite process it.
"Let me think… twenty minutes. If you take longer, I'll rip off your horns."
Natsume pretended to ponder.
"Bastard! I won't let you have your way!"
Tayuya reflexively scowled and stepped into the bath.
"Too easy to fool."
Natsume chuckled.
…
Before long, Tayuya opened the door.
She looked a bit bashful.
But Natsume's eyes lit up.
She was wearing a black-and-white little dress, white stockings and small leather boots—extremely cute, doll-like.
"The rest of the time is yours. Train well and try to assassinate me a bit sooner."
Natsume reached out and rubbed her head.
Tayuya tried to dodge but was too late; her little tiger fangs showed in a grimace.
"I will definitely kill you!"
"I'll be waiting."
Natsume pointed to the courtyard. "Go for it."
He'd booked the entire inn himself, so letting Tayuya train here wasn't a problem.
As for whether she'd run?
Natsume figured it was unlikely.
He'd attracted a huge wave of hatred in the last two days.
As the saying goes:
You must prioritize attacking minions with taunt.
Tayuya wouldn't leave until she killed him.
Just as planned.
Natsume watched for a bit, saw that she really was diligently focused, then turned back to the room.
He performed Reverse Summoning.
…
He reappeared in Konoha, then headed to the Gunma Casino.
This time, he intended to have Hinae and Karin go to the Land of Waves to oversee things for him.
Tanzaku Quarters was ultimately too close to Konoha—problems might crop up.
The Land of Waves was farther.
But distance didn't matter with Reverse Summoning.
And once Natsume learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, it would be even less of an issue.
Karin was in the courtyard practicing ninja tool throwing.
Natsume didn't disturb her. He went inside and found Hinae, naked, cultivating the Yin Seal.
"We agreed you'd be the guard. Not very obedient, are you?"
He shook his head, but didn't wake her—just stood at the door watching.
"There are three ways to maintain a treasured sword. Do you know them?"
Seeing her open her eyes, Natsume asked with a smile.
Hinae flushed and nodded.
….
Time passed in the dim training room, filled with a different kind of rhythmic motion.
A dull wet sound rang out as Hinae worked. At times high and eager, punctuated by soft moans, at times slow and sensual - like a beautiful erotic symphony. Her skilled tongue and lips moved with practiced grace.
From hesitant to masterful, Hinae handled the throbbing cock before her, making it pulse and swell ever harder. She savored every inch, her mouth and throat working in perfect harmony as she took him deeper. The way she looked up at him with those innocent eyes while performing such a lewd act drove him wild.
Her delicate hands gripped his muscular thighs as she bobbed her head faster, her silky hair swaying with the motion. The wet sounds of her sucking grew more intense as she felt him getting close. With expert technique, she swirled her tongue around his sensitive head before plunging back down his length.
In the end, exhausted and satisfied, she collapsed onto the mat, a trickle of his essence still visible on her flushed lips as she drifted off to sleep, thoroughly pleased with herself. Her jaw was pleasantly sore from the vigorous workout.
Natsume left the room on shaky legs and stretched, still tingling from the intense release.
…
At the same time, the move to the Land of Waves was settled.
After saying goodbye to Karin, Natsume returned to Kirigakure.
Tayuya was still training hard.
Night.
Natsume called her to dinner; this time she didn't refuse.
In her words, how else would she have the strength to kill?
…
On the fourth day,
Terumi Mei visited again.
"We've confirmed the mysterious powerhouse controlling the Mizukage is inside the Mizukage Building."
She got straight to the point. "We strike tonight."
"Good."
Natsume was a little impatient.
He'd already delayed too long.
After driving off Uchiha Obito, the next event should unlock—the Night of the Massacre.
But before that, he still needed to maneuver a bit and farm some Fate points, so he needed time.
"Your identity is sensitive; it's hard to explain publicly."
Terumi Mei paused, then made up a pretext. "When the time comes, say you're a black-market ninja I hired."