"Nine-Tails?"
"Nine-Tails?"
Uchiha Itachi and Tsunade both stiffened, eyes sharpening.
"Uchiha brat? Tsunade?" The Nine-Tails was just as surprised.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Itachi moved first. Chakra surged into flame and billowed out as a blazing sphere straight at the fox.
Before it struck, Rakuya sighed, flickered, and cleaved the fire aside with a cutting gust.
"Itachi, the Nine-Tails is my pet. Mind your manners." Rakuya stood with hands clasped behind his back, one finger still lowered from the casual parry.
"Your pet?" Itachi's pupils tightened. He had not expected that.
The Nine-Tails was a loner by nature. No one controlled it. Yet here it was, subdued.
"Hmph. If the master were not here, Uchiha brat, I would make your scalp crawl," the Nine-Tails growled, unbowed.
"Enough." Rakuya's tone cooled. "You are all under me now. No infighting. If anyone breaks the rule, I strip your authority."
"Yes."
"Yes."
Itachi and the Nine-Tails answered at once.
A black cloak patterned with red clouds sailed into Tsunade's hands.
"This coat is Liuyun's standard. My name is Liuyun," Rakuya said evenly.
"Akatsuki's outfit? Master, I do not want to wear that. I prefer my own clothes," Tsunade frowned, clearly not a fan.
"Do not like it? Wear what you want." Rakuya nodded, then turned to Itachi. "This world is not yours. Here we have things called Devil Fruits. Ask the Nine-Tails. Once you understand, both of you head out and find me Devil Fruits."
"Devil Fruits?" Itachi and Tsunade both frowned. They had never heard the term.
"Nine-Tails, tell them," Rakuya said, unwilling to repeat himself.
The fox nodded and patiently explained.
"So that is what they look like," Itachi murmured, studying an image.
"All right, Nine-Tails, go with Itachi and start collecting," Rakuya said.
"Yes, Master."
Tsunade, however, looked puzzled. "Master, if they go hunt Devil Fruits, what do you want me to do?"
"You?" Rakuya's gaze slid to her, lingering a beat too long on her chest.
"I happen to be short a wife. Stay and be my wife."
"Wife?" Tsunade's eyes went round. Her fists shot for his face. "Touch me again and I will pound you into paste. Master or not."
"Seriously?" Rakuya's mouth twitched. He sprang back fast.
Why was Tsunade still this hot-tempered? Where was the docile version he had ordered?
"System, out. Now."
He dodged another punch and shouted in a hurry.
[System Notification] How may I assist, Host?
"Did you not say Tsunade would obey me? I asked her to be my wife. Why is she so against it?"
[System Notification] After the upgrade, characters retain one hundred percent of their original Naruto personalities. They will heed you, but do not make requests that violate their values. Warm your bed, become your wife without consent, things like that will be rejected.
"You are kidding me."
[System Notification] For example, if you tried to sleep with Uchiha Itachi, he would resist.
"Get lost. I am not into men," Rakuya snapped.
Silence.
"Liuyun, do not run. Eat my fist." On Fish-Man Island, Tsunade barreled after him. Rakuya was starting to wonder if summoning her had been a mistake.
"Enough." He feigned anger, stepped in, and caught her arm.
If he could not steady things now, how would he later?
"Let go." Tsunade roared and drove her other fist into his chest.
The blow landed with a boom and vanished like a stone into deep water, leaving no mark.
"I…" Tsunade clapped a hand over her mouth, shock and a hint of regret in her eyes.
"Only this once," Rakuya said coolly, releasing her. "Next time I will make you beg for mercy."
She really was a firebrand. If his body were not maxed out, that punch might have done real damage.
"Hmph. And whose fault is that? I do not even like anyone yet and you tell me to be your wife the moment we meet. Of course I am mad," Tsunade huffed, lips pursed.
"Forget the wife. You do not measure up yet. For now you can pour tea and make the bed like a maid."
"What did you say? You want me to be a maid?" Tsunade's eyes flashed murder.
"I will pay ten million. One month as my maid."
"Ten million?"
Her fury flipped off like a switch. In the next second her eyes gleamed with the light of coin.
"Do you accept?" Rakuya asked, supremely confident.
Like Nami, Tsunade loved money, though for different reasons. Tsunade's vice was gambling. Nami's was pure avarice.
Different roots, same leverage.
Seeing her eagerness, Rakuya sighed theatrically. "No? Then forget it. I can spend one million to hire anyone. You are a princess type. No need to lower yourself."
"Who says I will not?" Tsunade grabbed his arm in a rush. "I am willing. A maid is nothing. I used to serve the First Hokage himself. He almost passed out under my care, but I can serve."
Rakuya almost spat blood.
Had he hired a maid or found a nemesis?
"Tsunade, my legs are sore. Knead them."
"Beat it. I am busy."
"Ten million. Do you not want it?"
"Understood, Master. Whatever you say. Where does it hurt? Here? Is that better?" At the mention of the sum, Tsunade's eyes sparkled. Pride vanished. She melted into a diligent little lamb at his side, kneading Rakuya's shoulders with both hands.
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