Mabui hurried back to her home, and the familiar furnishings made her eyes well up the moment she pushed open the door.
On the desk was a photo of her with her parents from when she was little, and in the wardrobe, several frequently worn ninja outfits were neatly folded. The ninja tool pouch in the corner was still in the same state as when she had left.
This was her only haven in Kumogakure, and the only place where she could feel safe at this moment.
She rushed to the desk, her hands trembling as she picked up a pen and paper, her mind replaying Shun's despair-inducing power.
A Perfect Susanoo over 1000 meters tall, the instantaneous movement of Flying Thunder God...
If she told the village the truth...
Kumogakure's strength would be no match for Shun. Instead, it would enrage Shun, bringing the entire village to ruin.
"No, I can't say anything..."
Mabui gripped the pen tightly, her knuckles turning white, and finally crumpled the paper into a ball, tossing it into the trash can.
She abandoned the idea of writing a letter for help and instead opened the wardrobe, only packing a few changes of clothes and the photo from her desk. She didn't want to bring too many things, as if doing so would trick herself into believing she was only leaving temporarily, not betraying forever.
Taking one last look at her familiar home, Mabui took a deep breath, tucked the photo into her ninja tool pouch, and quickly turned to head towards Yugito's house.
She didn't know what awaited her, but she knew that at this moment, she could only choose to obey.
When Mabui arrived at Yugito's house, she hesitated for a moment before gently knocking on the door.
There was no immediate response from inside. Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible sound reached her, making her cheeks flush.
Mabui's body instantly froze, and the tips of her ears turned red. She had carried out many reconnaissance missions and was not unfamiliar with such sounds, but she hadn't expected Yugito to accept Shun so quickly.
"How could it be so fast..."
Mabui bit her lower lip, filled with curiosity but also feeling embarrassed.
She gently pushed the door, found it unlocked, and quietly peeked her head in, seeing the living room empty. From the direction of the shower room, intermittent sounds that made her heart pound continued.
Mabui's face instantly turned crimson to her ears, and she quickly retreated a few steps, gently closing the door. She stood under the cherry blossom tree in the yard, not daring to get closer.
She folded her arms across her chest, her mind constantly conjuring various conjectures.
Was Yugito forced? Or did she truly fall for Shun? But she clearly despised him so much on the island.
The wind gently blew through the yard, and the cherry blossom tree's branches rustled, as if mocking her wild thoughts.
Mabui found a stone to sit on, her eyes occasionally drifting towards the door, feeling both anticipation and nervousness, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, even her breathing becoming cautious.
Time passed bit by bit, the sun gradually set in the west, and the shadows in the yard grew longer and longer.
Mabui sat on the stone, her legs becoming a little numb, before the sounds from inside gradually subsided.
She stood up, and brushed the dust off her clothes, hesitating whether to knock on the door, but afraid of encountering an awkward scene, she could only pace back and forth by the entrance.
Just then, Yugito's slightly hoarse voice sounded from inside. "Mabui, is that you? Come in."
Mabui's heart tightened. She took a deep breath, and gently pushed open the door.
The atmosphere in the living room was a bit subtle. Yugito sat on the sofa, wearing a loose, light-colored kimono, her hair still damp, her cheeks still flushed, her eyes darting away, not daring to look at her.
Shun leaned against the wall nearby, a satisfied smile on his lips.
Seeing Mabui enter, he raised an eyebrow, and said, "You're back? Have you packed your things?"
Mabui's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz. She didn't dare to look at Yugito, only staring down at the tip of her shoes. "Mm... I've packed, I can leave anytime."
Seeing Mabui's embarrassed look, Yugito's cheeks flushed even more, and she quickly changed the subject, "Um... Shun said he's taking us back to the Land of Water. He'll get there quickly using Flying Thunder God, so there's no need to rush. Do you want to have some tea and rest first?"
"No, I'm not thirsty." Mabui quickly shook her head, still not daring to meet Yugito's gaze.
She could sense that the current Yugito seemed a little different from before. There was less of her usual sharpness, and more gentleness. Even the way she looked at that man was no longer purely resistant.
Shun looked at the awkward atmosphere between the two and broke the silence with a smile. "Since you've packed, then let's get ready to depart. I've already made arrangements in the palace of the Land of Water, it's much more comfortable than here."
Hearing the words "palace," Mabui's heart stirred. "Your Excellency Shun, we two are Kumogakure ninjas, and our identities are special now. Directly residing in the palace might cause controversy and easily reveal your relationship with us to outsiders. How about temporarily settling us near the palace? This would be convenient for you to look after us and also avoid unnecessary trouble."
Shun paused slightly, looked at the two beautiful women, and teased, "You have a point. Then I'll follow your suggestion and settle you in a mansion near the palace. Speaking of which, this is my first time 'hiding beauties in a golden house,' and I find it quite novel."
Mabui's cheeks instantly flushed, and she lowered her head, no longer speaking.
Yugito also felt a bit embarrassed, and gently tugged on Mabui's sleeve, signaling her not to say anything more.
Shun gently raised his hand and said, "I'm going to use Flying Thunder God to transport you two to the Land of Water together. Are you ready?"
Mabui took a deep breath and nodded.
Yugito stood up, gently held Mabui's hand, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Her palm carried a warm temperature, which slightly eased Mabui's unease.
Shun looked at their tightly clasped hands, said nothing more, and activated Flying Thunder God, instantly enveloping the three of them.
When they landed again, the three of them were standing in front of a luxurious mansion near the Land of Water's royal palace.
The mansion covered a vast area, and its courtyard was filled with precious flowers and plants. There were also attendants waiting at the entrance, clearly prepared in advance.
Shun led the two into the mansion and said to a female housekeeper, "These two will be the mistresses here from now on. You are to follow their arrangements."
The female housekeeper bowed respectfully. "Yes, Your Excellency."
Shun held Mabui and Yugito's hands and said, "This will be your new home from now on. You can choose your rooms as you please, and if you're not satisfied with the furnishings, you can have them changed. There are a total of twelve maids here who will take care of your daily lives. If you don't like living together, you can choose any of the surrounding mansions."