""Is that even possible?!" Kenshin exclaimed in surprise.
""Theoretically—yes. Many years ago, I read that the Hyuga Clan had previously shown considerable interest in this phenomenon, and some of the best iryonin women of their generation claimed that with proper control, they could replicate the 'longevity flower' effect, but it was absolutely useless for their husbands."
Hearing her words, Kenshin pondered briefly and decided not to miss this opportunity. The chances of success were slim, but even the faint possibility of passing this skill to another woman was worth that small feeling of awkwardness.
Carefully extricating himself from the embrace of the two little ones, Kenshin placed the Redhead in his spot, then tenderly covered them with a blanket and kissed them affectionately. Both girls smiled contentedly, snuggled up to the fluffy puma, and fell into blissful sleep.
Keiko was shocked and initially refused to do "it" in front of other people, but after listening to Hitomi, she realized it could serve as valuable research material and potentially strengthen her husband.
Kenshin, in turn, had no intention of dragging this out and, with all tenderness, began liberating his affectionate wife, giving her unforgettable sensations with his tongue, causing even the pregnant Hitomi's breathing to quicken.
After the first orgasm, Keiko fully relaxed and stopped being shy, completely surrendering to her beloved. Kenshin masterfully combined incredible tenderness with primal passion, making Keiko cum like a machine, fully satisfying Hitomi's curiosity.
After an hour and a half of passionate love, Kenshin was completely satisfied and filled with a huge amount of energy. His body had become a bit stronger again, but he was still far from even genin level.
The next day, at noon on the 427th day, an event occurred that left Kenshin stumped. For the first time, he didn't know what to do and was full of doubts.
""Are you sure this is a good idea?" the woman wrapped in cloth asked doubtfully, carrying a small five-year-old girl on her back.
""No, but we have no choice. The elder will kill us if we try to hide in another village. And in the city, they'll find us and bring us back!" the forty-year-old man hissed through his teeth, his completely weathered and blackened face adorned with a scruffy, unkempt beard.
""These are mercenaries! What will happen to Omugi and Midori?!" the woman exclaimed, slipping back into hysteria, causing her husband to turn around and raise the stick he had been leaning on the whole way.
The woman squeezed her eyes shut and threw her hands forward, but the blow never came. The man sighed heavily, turned back, and continued on his way, with his wife and son following.
""Who are you?" a menacing voice boomed from nowhere, making the husband and wife look around in fright.
""W-we're refugees, and we're looking for the Nakayama Family!" the man replied in a trembling voice.
The Twenty-Ninth on watch was slightly surprised and was about to chase them away when he suddenly received a mental order from his father to find out the purpose of their arrival.
""What do you want from the Nakayama Family?" the Twenty-Ninth asked, appearing literally out of nowhere.
""L-Lord shinobi, please let us settle nearby! I know how to build and work with my hands, my wife can sew and cook, and the children are trained to gather berries and mushrooms! We won't be a burden!" the man blurted out, bowing deeply and clumsily.
The Twenty-Ninth looked them over from head to toe, then relayed everything to his father, who ordered him to bring them inside the gates. All the most dangerous formations in the area were temporarily deactivated, and the peasant family proceeded until they came upon a massive wall.
Kenshin had no fear of a trick from these peasants, so he met them without worry. Karin followed her father everywhere and nimbly jumped onto his neck, laughing joyfully as she began to play.
As soon as the family of four saw the young man and the red-haired girl sitting on his neck, they froze in place, staring at the unusual sight.
Approaching them, Kenshin silently raised an eyebrow and smiled expectantly.
""Hello, lord. My name is Aketo, this is my wife Janko. We humbly beg you to allow us to live on your territory, otherwise we'll perish..." Aketo said subserviently, falling to his knees. His wife and children followed suit, even the five-year-old girl kneeling.
""Get up!" Kenshin said irritably. He hated seeing children on their knees, so the eight-year-old boy and five-year-old girl cried out in fright as telekinesis lifted them back up.
The husband and wife glanced in surprise at the children raised by an invisible force and pressed their foreheads to the ground as if seeing a deity.
""Did I not make myself clear? Get up!" he shouted, causing the frightened couple to jump to their feet.
""D-don't be angry, lord... We didn't mean to offend you..." Aketo said apologetically, afraid to look this terrifying man in the eyes. Janko was no less frightened than her husband and tried not to move.
The only ones not scared were the two children. They looked curiously at the red-haired girl. She was so extraordinarily beautiful that the brother and sister couldn't look away.
Karin, in turn, looked curiously at the two children but deemed them too small for friendship and decided to continue playing with her father. After becoming Kenshin's daughter, her temperament had changed only slightly. Her shyness and insecurity had completely vanished, and her personality gained dominant notes.
""Why are they scared?" she asked curiously, looking at the peasants trembling with fear.
""Because they're weak, and they have something to lose..." he said, sighing tiredly, unconsciously stroking Karin's ankle dangling at chest level.
""Tell me who you are and what happened to you," Kenshin asked calmly, deciding to hear their request.
Aketo was overjoyed and told Kenshin everything that had forced him, his wife, and children to seek refuge with mercenaries. His story was extremely simple and unadorned, nothing unique.