"Seiryū, women really do seem to like you."
As they walked toward the place where the Dragon Vein had once been sealed, Sāra moved a little closer to Seiryū.
Lowering her voice so only he could hear, she said, "It is not just Kurenai. Even Lady Tsunade seems to treat you differently."
Although Tsunade did not appear to care much about the situation between Sāra and Seiryū, Sāra could still see a few things.
Tsunade simply did not wear her emotions on her face as openly as Kurenai did.
Kurenai, for example, was still pouting so much that she looked ready to sulk for the rest of the day.
Seiryū sighed with exaggerated helplessness.
"I don't want it to be this way, but my charm is just too great. What can I do?"
Sāra's faint, elegant fragrance drifted to him, and her warm breath brushed lightly near his ear.
Seiryū continued with a serious expression, "And don't let Tsunade's stern look fool you. That woman is far more dangerous than she seems."
Having too much charm was also a burden.
Too many people liked him.
Fortunately, he was a simple and focused person. At the moment, there were only a few people he liked.
Sāra giggled, clearly amused by his shameless confidence.
Tsunade, dangerous?
Well, that much she believed.
"I knew you had other motives when you spent money to buy the title of Prince Regent."
Sāra raised a delicate brow and continued softly, "It was not just to propose to me. You had your own little plans too, didn't you?"
Seiryū looked perfectly righteous. "I am pursuing my own happiness."
Sāra chuckled. "I don't mind, but others may not be so accepting. If I remember correctly, Konoha is monogamous, isn't it?"
"If you want that happiness, you will have to work very hard for it."
"I am working hard."
Seiryū said calmly, "I nearly conquered the entire shinobi world and made it submit to my will."
"But my methods were too extreme, and I was stopped. From now on, I will have to use gentler methods."
Sāra tilted her head.
Since Rōran was far from the major battlefields and lacked a proper intelligence network, she did not know much about what had happened in the shinobi world.
But from Seiryū's words, she seemed to catch something extraordinary.
She stared at him blankly.
Conquer the shinobi world?
Did he mean that literally?
"Speaking of which, Sāra, how exactly do you plan to share your ability with me?"
Seiryū did not continue that topic.
He had already spent a great deal of effort coaxing Kurenai earlier.
Since Kurenai was still sulking, he could not keep provoking her.
Instead, he asked what had been on his mind. "Don't tell me it involves transplanting your cells or something like that."
Sharing the royal family's ability to control the Dragon Vein with someone else.
Could that really be done through cell transplantation?
"What are you imagining now? I already said it is a type of jutsu."
Sāra did not know whether to laugh or sigh. She explained, "However, the way this jutsu is performed is somewhat unique. It is not quite like the jutsu you are familiar with."
As she spoke, her expression became a little strange.
Looking closely, there was even a faint blush on her face.
Seiryū thought of certain special methods and glanced at Sāra's rosy lips.
"Don't tell me the jutsu is activated with a kiss."
Sāra fell silent.
Then she stared at him.
"Do you have a mind-reading jutsu?"
"Not at all. Stories usually go this way."
Seiryū had not expected to guess correctly on the first try, and he grinned. "When a heroine helps the hero control a power he can't master, there is often some dramatic ritual involved. Cliché, but effective."
And he liked it.
"Amazing."
Sāra could only admire the way Seiryū's mind worked.
Then she smiled beautifully, her eyes carrying a hint of teasing.
"So, am I the first?"
Seiryū answered honestly. "No."
Sāra's eyes narrowed slightly. "No?"
Seiryū's tone carried a trace of grievance. "Tsunade once used medical treatment as an excuse to take advantage of me when I was still weak and unable to resist."
"Ah?"
Sāra's mouth opened slightly, and her eyes drifted toward Tsunade behind them.
The disbelief in her gaze was obvious.
Lady Tsunade had actually done something like that to Seiryū?
Was one of the legendary Sannin really that bold?
Seiryū also glanced at Tsunade and said with certainty, "Don't doubt it. She is exactly that kind of person."
Tsunade noticed the two of them looking at her one after another.
Although she could not hear their conversation, she was certain it had something to do with her.
She could not help snorting coldly.
"If you keep whispering, especially if you are whispering about me, I will smash both of your heads in."
She was still quite annoyed.
Somehow, Seiryū had become someone else's husband.
That alone was already irritating, but what angered her even more was that Seiryū did not seem opposed to it at all. In fact, he looked rather enthusiastic.
It made her feel as if something that belonged to her had been taken away.
Her possessiveness toward Seiryū was very strong.
Seiryū waved a hand, completely unafraid of Tsunade's threat.
"We weren't saying anything. We were just talking about the things you did to me in the past."
"Like owing me money, bullying me, and so on."
"Owing you money, fine. That happened."
Tsunade's face darkened. "But bullying you? When did I bully you?"
Seiryū immediately tried to produce evidence.
"Do you want me to take out my little notebook of grudges? I wrote down quite a lot, especially the time you forced a kiss on me. Mmm, mmm, mmm."
Before he could finish, Tsunade covered his mouth with her hand.
"Shut up!"
Tsunade gritted her teeth.
This brat really dared to say anything.
Could that be called forcing a kiss?
There had clearly been a reason for it.
"You dare to do it, but you don't dare admit it. Can't you take responsibility like I do?"
Seiryū slapped Tsunade's hand away and huffed. "You refuse to admit what you've done, and you are supposed to be the Fourth Hokage? I, the Prince Regent of Rōran, look down on you."
Tsunade fell silent.
He still dared to bring up the Prince Regent of Rōran?
Did he really think she had no temper?
"Fine, I won't look down on you."
Seeing Tsunade's expression grow worse and worse, Seiryū wisely stopped provoking her.
She was even harder to deal with than Kurenai.
So Seiryū changed the topic in what he considered a very clever way.
"So, what are we eating for lunch?"
"I don't know."
Tsunade was so angry that she laughed.
That topic change was truly impressive.
Seiryū turned his gaze to Kurenai. "Kurenai, you decide."
Kurenai was still sulking because Seiryū had somehow become someone else's husband, so she had decided not to speak to him today.
"Hmph. I don't know."
With no other choice, Seiryū looked at Sāra. "What about you, Sāra?"
Sāra blinked. "I believe my answer should also be, I don't know."
Seiryū fell silent.
Very well.
Were they already united against him?
It certainly felt that way.
Before Seiryū could look at her, Shizune also joined in.
"I don't know either."
Seiryū glanced at her sideways.
"How can you, the cook, not know what to eat? That is irresponsible. What kind of cook are you?"
Shizune froze.
She felt insulted.
She only cooked at Tsunade's home. When they were out on missions, she did not carry ingredients and seasonings with her, so of course she did not know what they would eat for lunch.
She had only told the truth.
How had she ended up being criticized?
She was angry, but considering that Seiryū's mind worked strangely and his behavior was unpredictable, she chose to forgive him.
At the same time, she also noticed something unusual.
Although she was surprised that Seiryū was apparently the Queen of Rōran's husband, Kurenai and Tsunade's reactions seemed even stranger.
Did they look jealous?
Kurenai was understandable. Among their peers, everyone knew how attached Kurenai was to Seiryū. Besides, the two of them were not related by blood.
But Tsunade's reaction shocked Shizune.
Could it be...
She inhaled sharply.
What an enormous secret.
Would she be silenced for knowing this?
Shizune stole a glance at Seiryū and muttered inwardly.
Was it really that outrageous?
Seiryū was certainly outstanding, but she had not expected even Lady Tsunade to...
She admitted that Seiryū was excellent and liked by many girls, but Tsunade as well?
That was beyond her imagination.
And yet, somehow, it seemed rather nice.
She supported them.
Wholeheartedly.
There was even a strange feeling of wanting to see how their relationship would develop.
A love-hate relationship slowly turning into real feelings.
That was surprisingly compelling.
As for Shizune's own feelings toward Seiryū, she admired and respected him, but there was nothing romantic there.
She preferred gentle, refined men with calm personalities.
Not someone like Seiryū, who loved attention, had a strange mind, and acted unpredictably.
"We're here."
Just as Shizune's thoughts were running wild, the group arrived at the underground chamber where the Dragon Vein had once been sealed.
The place had now been rebuilt.
Sāra said, "This altar was built by one of my ancestors. At least, that is what I believe."
"It is also where the Dragon Vein was born. Only here can I perform the jutsu."
Looking at Seiryū, Sāra smiled.
"Seiryū, are you ready?"
She leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"This is my first time performing it, so please be patient if I make a mistake."
Her fragrance drifted faintly toward him, and her rosy lips looked especially alluring.
Seiryū, however, was not shy.
"Everything has a first time. This is my first time too. We're in the same situation."
Sāra fell silent.
She suddenly wanted to tear that mouth apart.
For some reason, she felt a little sympathy for the people who spent every day with Seiryū.
His mouth could truly be infuriating.
What did he mean, they were in the same situation?
How was that the same?
Seiryū looked around. "Is this place stable? I remember it was destroyed last time."
Sāra smiled. "Of course it is stable. Rebuilding this place cost three million ryō."
"Oh, so I paid to rebuild it? At least that closes a loose end. The money wasn't wasted."
"You benefit from it and still act like you suffered a loss. Three million ryō not only secured your connection to this beautiful and charming Queen of Rōran, but is also helping you again now. Thinking about it, I seem to be the one who lost out."
"You can't calculate it like that. Where is the loss? I contributed too. And if it meant being connected to someone as beautiful and charming as you, Sāra, I would even be willing to have several wives later."
"That sounds strange. Somehow, it feels as if you are taking all the benefits."
"Hehe. Not really."
"I was not complimenting you. I was criticizing you."
"I never said you were complimenting me. Can't I just be happy on my own?"
Sāra fell silent again.
She truly sympathized with the people who had to stay around Seiryū all the time.
After briefly explaining things to Tsunade and the others, Sāra pulled Seiryū toward the center of the altar.
"Enough wasting time. Let us begin the jutsu."
Seiryū did not resist.
"Sāra, are you that impatient? Be gentle. Take your time. Don't look at me like that. I am actually very shy."
"I cannot tell at all."
"I am a reserved person."
"..."
Sāra ignored him.
Instead, she took a deep breath and suppressed the fluttering in her chest.
She did not know whether Seiryū was shy, but she certainly was.
Having to initiate this kind of ritual with Seiryū made it impossible for her not to feel embarrassed.
However, when it came to bringing Seiryū to Rōran, she was serious.
When the moment arrived, Sāra could not quite bring herself to look directly at him.
Her voice carried a rare trace of shyness.
"Are you ready?"
Seiryū said seriously, "I have one more question."
"What question?"
"How long will it take? What if it takes too long and I can't breathe properly? Will that interrupt the jutsu?"
Sāra's cheeks turned completely red.
"I don't know. This is my first time performing this jutsu. No one explained that part to me."
What kind of question was that?
How would she know?
Her mother had never told her anything so specific.
And now, thanks to his interruption, she had to prepare herself all over again.
"Is that so?"
Seiryū nodded in understanding and continued, "One more question. Do I need to do anything special, or should I just stay still?"
Sāra could not listen anymore.
If she let him keep talking, she felt she might die of embarrassment.
"Forbidden Jutsu: Divine Transfer!"
She formed a hand seal, and the special chakra unique to Rōran's royal bloodline spread outward.
A faint glow rose around Sāra's body.
Then she held Seiryū's face gently with both hands, leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his.
Tsunade stared.
Kurenai froze.
Shizune's eyes widened.
Someone needed to explain what was happening.
Why would the Queen of Rōran suddenly do that?
Could it be that this jutsu required a kiss to activate?
It had to be performed with the Queen of Rōran's husband.
Only now did they fully understand.
So that was the reason.
Kurenai's anger flared instantly.
Tsunade clenched her teeth.
Shizune cautiously watched the two of them.
This was intense.
Hum.
As their lips touched, the altar began to emit a faint light.
Threads of pale green chakra gathered around Seiryū and Sāra, weaving together until they wrapped the two of them like a cocoon.
This was the forbidden technique passed down through the royal line of Rōran.
Divine Transfer.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)