Hiruko was, at his core, a man who appreciated beauty. Unlike Orochimaru, he held a much deeper attachment to the sensory pleasures of this world. To those who didn't concern him, he mirrored Orochimaru's cold indifference and icy detachment—a temperament perfectly suited for a shinobi—but humans are emotional creatures, and Hiruko was no exception.
Tsunade chose to ignore the muffled, rhythmic whimpering coming from Pakura's room. She moved toward the bathroom with a heavy stride. She had no standing, nor the willpower, to criticize her teammate's "extracurricular" activities.
In the brutal reality of the Shinobi World, Pakura was a prisoner of war from an enemy village. The fact that she was alive at all was technically an act of mercy. Other captured kunoichi often met fates far more harrowing—especially those with Bloodline Limits, who were frequently treated as "broodmares" to diversify a rival village's genetic stock. Cloud Village's abundance of unique abilities was proof enough of that dark history.
Tsunade knew the protocols: if a prisoner wasn't being milked for genes, their mind was being torn apart for intel before their body ended up as a "disposable asset" in a lab. She shook her head, trying to flush the grim thoughts away.
She pushed open the bathroom door, and a wall of steam hit her instantly.
The bathroom was immense, a masterpiece of jade and polished stone spanning nearly a hundred square meters. The central pool was already filled, thick clouds of white vapor rising from the surface. Clearly, Hiruko had prepared this in advance.
He had spent a small fortune on this facility specifically to entice Tsunade to visit more often. It was the chakra-tech version of a sci-fi mansion's spa. The water flow was automated with adjustable pressure and temperature settings; one could soak in the heat and then immediately transition to a vigorous swim.
Tsunade, with her characteristic bluntness, shed her borrowed clothes, revealing skin as soft and flawless as a newborn's. She took a quick rinse under the rainfall shower before diving headfirst into the pool.
Her silhouette was a direct challenge to the laws of physics—curves so pronounced and a bust so legendary it seemed to defy Newton's observations. To an ordinary man, the sight would have been enough to cause immediate lightheadedness.
As Tsunade hummed a small tune while scrubbing her shoulder, the front door clicked.
Hiruko had returned from his morning training. He was breathing heavily, a fine sheen of sweat coating his pale skin. He had spent the morning running hundreds of laps around Konoha—a routine the villagers had grown accustomed to, as he often trained alongside the green beasts, Might Dai and Might Guy.
His black training gear was soaked through, clinging to his lean, muscular frame. He wiped the sweat from his brow, ran a hand through his damp hair, and headed straight for the bathroom. After such high-intensity exercise, the only thing on his mind was a hot soak.
Slide—
The door hissed open, and a wave of humid heat rushed out.
"AH—!!"
A scream nearly shattered his eardrums.
Through the thick mist, a breathtaking figure spun around in a panic. Wet, golden hair clung to a smooth back, and droplets of water traced the elegant curves of her spine.
Hiruko froze. Tsunade froze. Time seemed to crystallize in the steam.
"You—you pervert!"
Tsunade reflexively crouched, her hands flying up to cover her chest—though they proved utterly inadequate for the task. Her face turned a violent shade of crimson. "Who gave you permission to come in?! You built this bathroom just for this day, didn't you?!"
Hiruko stared at her, his expression remaining flat. "This is my house."
"That doesn't mean you can just barge in!" Tsunade's voice trembled with fury. "Get out! Now!"
Hiruko, however, acted as if he hadn't heard a word. He began to strip.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Tsunade's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Taking a bath."
Hiruko pulled off his shirt, revealing a defined, powerful torso. "I've been training all morning. I'm covered in sweat."
"Are you—are you insane?!" Tsunade couldn't believe her eyes. "Can't you see I'm in here?!"
"I see you."
Hiruko reached for his waistband. "And?"
"And get out!" Tsunade slammed a fist into the wall; the entire bathroom shuddered under her strength.
Ignoring the threat, Hiruko stepped into the pool. The warm water cascaded over his muscles as he sank in. He closed his eyes, behaving as if he were entirely alone in the room.
Tsunade was vibrating with indignation. She had never encountered someone so shamelessly thick-skinned. Her golden hair began to flutter as chakra surged through her body.
"You bastard!"
A heavy punch whistled through the steam, aimed straight for Hiruko's face.
Without opening his eyes, Hiruko tilted his head a fraction of an inch. The fist grazed his ear and smashed into the jade wall behind him, spider-webbing the tiles instantly.
"Good power," he remarked tonelessly.
"Go to hell!"
Driven over the edge by his casual attitude, Tsunade stopped caring about her lack of attire and swung again. This time, Hiruko opened his eyes and raised an arm to intercept the strike.
Splash!
Water erupted everywhere as the two began a frantic exchange of blows within the confines of the pool.
"BAM!"
Tsunade swung a devastating kick toward his waist, but Hiruko caught her ankle in a vice-like grip.
"Let go!" she hissed, trying to pivot and kick his chest with her free leg.
Hiruko used her momentum against her, pulling sharply. Tsunade lost her balance and plunged into the depths of the pool.
CRA-PLASH!
She surfaced a second later, golden hair plastered to her face, eyes burning with murderous intent. "Hiruko! I'm going to kill you!"
"You can't beat me," Hiruko replied, his gaze unwavering.
"Try me!"
Chakra began to glow in Tsunade's palms. Hiruko's eyes narrowed; he finally started to take the situation seriously.
In the blur of the struggle, Hiruko dodged a lunge, and "accidentally" made firm contact with Tsunade's...
For a heartbeat, the universe stood still.
Tsunade's face went from red to a glowing purple. Shame and fury warred in her eyes. "You... you absolute bastard!"
Hiruko blinked, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face. So soft.
He quickly regained his composure. "An accident."
"An accident?!" Tsunade gnashed her teeth. "You did that on purpose!"
"Think what you like," Hiruko said coolly, though the tips of his ears were turning pink in the rising heat.
Tsunade lost all restraint and threw a full-power punch. Hiruko moved to evade, but the pool was too small. Their bodies collided again, and this time, Hiruko's hand inadvertently slid across Tsunade's waist, gripping with sudden force...
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