After settling the new arrivals, Uchiha Raizen headed to his private suite. Soaking in the hot springs, he felt the exhaustion of a busy day slowly melt away.
Click.
The door slid open. A tall, slender figure stepped inside.
"My Lord, please allow me to serve you."
The newcomer was the woman who appeared to be the leader of the group from the Grass Village. Raizen looked at her and nodded.
"What is your name?"
"This humble one is called Sakurako."
Shedding her outer robe, she stepped toward Raizen.
"You are the Jōnin, aren't you?" Raizen asked.
Sakurako approached and took up a towel, beginning to gently scrub Raizen's back. "I am merely a minor Jōnin from a village as small as Grass. I cannot compare to a Jōnin of the Land of Fire; perhaps I could not even defeat a Genin of the Hidden Leaf."
Raizen chuckled. "Every place has its own secret techniques. Sakurako, to become a Jōnin in the Grass Village, you must possess outstanding ability. There is no doubt about that. You needn't humble yourself so much."
Sakurako sighed softly. "Currently, Sakurako is a guest in your home and dares not be arrogant. I only wish to serve you well and receive your favor."
"Rest assured, Sakurako," Raizen said with a smile. "I cannot promise how much I will love you in the future, but I will certainly ensure you never want for food or shelter. Naturally, if you remain loyal and dutiful, I will share a spark of my affection with you as well."
"Thank you, My Lord," Sakurako said, moved by his words. "My Lord... please allow Sakurako to accompany you tonight."
Raizen took a long look at her and smiled. "Then I shall trouble you tonight, Sakurako."
"Raizen-sama... Sakurako has never... please, be gentle."
"Don't worry. I am a gentle man."
That night, Raizen was enveloped in tenderness.
The next morning, Raizen left the women's hot spring inn under the somewhat resentful gaze of Uzumaki Keiko. When he returned to the Uchiha compound, before Kurenai or the others could even begin to question him, Princess Tsukihime marched up to him.
"You stayed out all night!" she demanded. "Did you go out to find some 'wild flowers' again?"
"How did you know?" Raizen replied with a thick-skinned grin. "You really are like a mind-reader. You guessed correctly!"
"You... you're detestable!" Tsukihime fumed. "Is this Princess not alluring enough? Why would you go out for some cheap thrill?"
Raizen looked her up and down, lingering on her chest. "Princess, your features are exquisite. You are perhaps the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. But... alas, your figure just isn't living up to its potential."
It wasn't that Raizen only liked large curves—he appreciated all shapes. However, Tsukihime was far too arrogant, and he wanted to take her down a peg. A man shouldn't be suppressed by his woman's pride.
Besides, he had already discussed the clan's revitalization with Kurenai. For the sake of the Uchiha's future, he had to be... 'proactive,' and Kurenai had shown her understanding and generosity. As for the other women, they were there by choice for the heir mission and knew their place. He owed no one but his first love, Kurenai; to the others, he had provided safety and significant wealth.
"Hmph! You really do despise me for being small!" Tsukihime puffed out her cheeks, glaring at him.
"Princess, if you dislike the way I am, you are free to leave the Uchiha compound at any time. You can break our engagement whenever you wish. After all, our betrothal was merely a transaction."
"Hmph! You provoked this Princess, and now you want to be rid of me? Dream on!" Tsukihime snapped. "I, Tsukihime, am sticking to you for life. Why? Because you're the most handsome man I've ever seen in this world!"
"Hmph! You scoundrel, I'm staying. But don't think you can look down on me. Even when it comes to having children... I'll be the one on top!"
Raizen shrugged helplessly. "As you wish for now, my Princess. But once you officially marry into the Uchiha, your willful nature will have to be tempered. If you won't follow the rules of the house, I'll have no choice but to send you back to the Capital."
Tsukihime's eyes flashed with anger. "You wouldn't dare!"
"My Princess, the moment you marry me, you take the Uchiha name. Do you understand what that implies?"
"Hmph!" Unable to out-argue him, she could only let out a frustrated huff.
Raizen's voice turned serious. "You've been in the Uchiha compound long enough. It's time to reign in your temper. Otherwise, our 'transaction' ends here."
Their engagement had been set by the Daimyo to appease the Uchiha. While Raizen had agreed, he wasn't going to live with a spoiled girl who constantly caused him headaches. He wanted a partner who added value to his life—or at least didn't subtract from it. A life of constant bickering was worse than being a "single dog."
"You... you're bullying me!" Tsukihime suddenly burst into tears like a wronged child.
"I am speaking the truth. This is reality. If you cannot accept it, you can choose the life you want. I won't stop you."
"The life I want?" Tsukihime stopped crying instantly. She looked up and shouted, "I want to be big!"
Raizen: "..."
He truly couldn't keep up with her mental gymnastics. One moment she was arrogant, the next she was aggrieved, and then... this.
"I want the Papaya Nutritious Juice! I want to grow!"
"I want to be the most beautiful and the largest girl here! Give it to me! Give me the juice! I want it, I want it, I want to drink it now!"
Seeing Tsukihime acting like a typical girl, Kurenai smiled faintly. "The Princess finally has some feminine charm. That 'manly' aura she had before is completely gone."
"She was probably provoked by our 'luxury wagons,'" Momoko laughed.
"Hahaha!" Anko joined in, roaring with laughter. "Out of all the women here, she's the smallest now. Of course she's frustrated. She probably dreams about growing every night."
Anko then glanced toward Konan. "Speaking of people who haven't been 'renovated' by the juice yet, there's someone else too!"
Momoko noted, "Konan-sama is a bit larger than the Princess. She probably doesn't care."
Kurenai added, "A powerful expert like her likely wouldn't be bothered by such trivial things."
Konan: "..."
How do you know I don't care? When I see all these 'wagons' swinging around in front of me every day, it's impossible NOT to care!
At least she had the Princess as a "floor" to feel better about. But if Tsukihime drank the juice and grew as well, Konan knew she would be the one feeling depressed.