The sensation of her soft, youthful body sitting directly atop what felt like a solid slab of iron made Rin's face flush an even deeper shade of crimson.
However, she quickly suppressed her swirling emotions. Channeling her medical ninjutsu, she gathered chakra into her palms and began to apply a gentle massage to Hiruko's back. This was a true medical-grade massage, designed to soothe muscles and realign meridians. Hiruko immediately felt a level of comfort unlike anything he had experienced before.
That said, using medical ninjutsu in this manner was an immense drain on chakra—after all, it was an A-rank technique. Usually reserved for life-saving emergencies, no one was typically "generous" enough to use it for a simple massage. As she worked, Rin constantly adjusted her posture, trying to maintain her balance atop him.
Hiruko, meanwhile, was immersed in a state of pure bliss. He had spent years tempering his body with the Lightning Style Chakra Mode, a process that made pain a constant companion. To finally enjoy such exquisite relaxation felt exceptionally gratifying.
After a long while, fine beads of sweat began to dot Rin's forehead, and her movements gradually slowed to a halt.
As the massage ended, Hiruko gave her a thumbs-up. "Rin, that was incredible. I feel completely refreshed. Thank you."
"It's nothing," Rin replied. Despite her exhaustion, seeing Hiruko's satisfied smile filled her with a sense of quiet joy. "As long as you like it, Lord Hiruko, I'll keep doing it for you in the future."
The sheer strength of his physique lingered in her mind. The tactile sensation of those dense muscles reminded her of Lady Tsunade's legendary constitution. She recalled how Tsunade always seemed a bit "exhausted" whenever she visited Hiruko, often appearing physically spent by the time she left.
Elsewhere, in a forgotten corner of the shinobi world.
"We'll choose this spot. It should serve us well enough," Obito stated, standing before a jagged, rocky outcrop. He surveyed the desolate landscape with a look of certainty. "The environment is harsh, but it's secluded. No one will come here to disturb us."
He was speaking to Nagato and Konan. This was a prime hideout White Zetsu had scoured the continent to find—a remote stretch of the southeastern coast north of the Land of Water. It was so isolated that the nearest town was a hundred-kilometer trek away. The surrounding cliffs were barren, devoid even of seaweed. Only a single cave entrance was hidden among the chaotic rocks, though the interior was spacious enough to house them all.
Supplies would be scarce, a problem they would have to solve themselves. However, regarding the materials needed for the Six Paths of Pain, Zetsu could handle the gathering.
"I'm going to collect some critical intelligence," Obito announced. Utilizing his Kamui, he vanished instantly. He had already tasked Zetsu with finding six suitable corpses so Nagato could begin crafting his new puppets. Their ultimate goal was no game; there was no room for error.
Since fleeing the Land of Rain, they had learned that Konoha was coordinating a global dragnet to hunt down the Akatsuki. The pressure was mounting. "Once our strength is sufficient, we will return to rescue our fallen comrades. To go back now would be walking into a trap," Obito's voice seemed to linger in the salt air.
Konan didn't say much, only whispering, "Nagato, I'm heading to the town we passed to get some daily necessities. we have to handle our basic livelihood first."
"I understand. I'll begin work on the Six Paths," Nagato nodded.
He had settled on the name "Pain" during his earlier discussions with Yahiko. Having tasted the world's ultimate suffering, he wanted his puppets—infused with Tailed Beast chakra—to make the rest of the world experience that same agony. He naively believed that only then would the citizens of the Great Nations truly empathize with the plight of the small countries.
After everything they had endured, they had chosen to trust Obito, though Obito was moving toward peace on his own terms: collecting the Tailed Beasts to create a weapon of mass destruction, using the threat of annihilation to enforce a global ceasefire.
Night fell silently. Rumi Uzumaki sat alone in her home, her heart heavy with a sense of displacement.
Today, the other women in Hiruko's household had mysteriously departed. The usual warmth around the fireplace was gone, leaving Hiruko alone in the empty house. Rumi carefully tucked her daughter, Karin, into bed before gathering her courage to step out.
She looked at Hiruko, her face devoid of makeup and showing signs of weariness, yet possessed of a distinct resilience. "Lord Hiruko... I know a woman like me can never be someone important in your heart," she said softly, her eyes a mix of resignation and plea. "But regardless of how you treat me, I am willing to do anything you ask."
Rumi hadn't just fled blindly; she had come prepared. As an Uzumaki, she possessed a powerful bloodline and staggering chakra reserves. Even if Hiruko weren't interested, she knew that ninjas lacking strong bloodlines or minor clans would be desperate to marry her. Even Great Powers would be interested—after all, only Uzumaki blood was truly suited to host the Nine-Tails. In her mind, for someone to "take her in" to gain that power was a standard transaction of the shinobi world.
In this world, the women of the Uchiha and Hyuga were the centers of attention, but their pride was so absolute they never married outsiders. The Uzumaki, though scattered, held a unique value. Rumi's only wish was for Karin to become a true Konoha ninja. Survival was everything. Compared to the civilian ninjas who were pawns of fate, the Uzumaki were still lucky; they at least had the power to bargain for the lives they wanted.
Hiruko watched her in silence. Beneath his cold exterior, his feelings for her were complex. He knew the other women in the house had essentially "cleared the path" for her, but in the end, it was his decision.
"Since you're here, stay," Hiruko said, his tone casual. He sat down, adding, "I've been wounded by 'wine and women' lately; I think I'll swear off the drink starting today. Let's make the best of the days ahead."
Rumi stepped toward him, bowing deeply. "I am at your disposal, My Lord." She knew her fate was now irrevocably tied to his.
Later, Rumi lay by the fireplace, playing with the infant Karin in her arms. She looked up at Hiruko. "Lord Hiruko, are you leaving for a while?"
Hiruko nodded. "Yeah. I have some matters to settle." He reached down and teased Karin by pulling the pacifier from her mouth, only to pop it back in just as she started to pout, sending the baby into a fit of giggles. In his view, children were meant to provide joy while they were small; they certainly wouldn't be this cute once they grew up.
Rumi watched him with undeniable tenderness. "Please be safe, Hiruko-kun."
"Don't worry."
Hiruko prepared to depart. He had made ample arrangements, leaving behind enough Chakra Clones to continue the training of Kurenai and Anko. His main body was heading out to find a certain woman: Tsunade.
After their last "wild party," Tsunade had apparently become too shy to face him, immediately bolting to travel the world again. Hiruko consulted the Merchant Guild's records and tracked her to the Land of Tea. It was a small, peaceful nation that had sided with Konoha early on, largely avoiding the scars of war.
The Tea Country was famous for its fishing industry and its unique tea leaves. Tsunade and Shizune, drawn by the local reputation for tea-based hydrotherapy, had decided to indulge.
The two women stepped into a high-end bathhouse, changed, and settled into a comfortable spot. Soon, steaming "tea-milk" was brought to them. Tsunade took a sip, a relaxed, blissful smile spreading across her face. "This is incredible. It rivals the hot springs of the Land of Hot Water, and that faint tea scent is just... perfect."
"It really is lovely, Lady Tsunade," Shizune agreed.
As they finished their bath and stepped out into the evening air, their skin was glowing. Tsunade's silver-toned skin flushed a delicate pink under the setting sun. She wore a loose, layered robe that did little to hide her ample curves, her "Great White Rabbits" swaying slightly with every step.
"Give me another million Ryo!" Tsunade demanded.
Shizune's internal alarm bells shrieked. She instinctively clutched her purse like a cornered animal. "Lady Tsunade, stop thinking about that money! The funds we... 'borrowed' from Lord Hiruko are almost gone! And didn't I just give you a million this morning?"
"A million isn't enough for a proper run! Trust me, I can feel it—I'm going to win it all back this time. That tea-milk bath completely washed away my bad luck!"
Tsunade grabbed Shizune's head in a pleading gesture, leaning in so close that her chest was practically pressed against the younger girl. "It's rare to feel this good after a soak. I want to celebrate with a big win!"
Shizune remained unmoved. "Lady Tsunade, don't talk nonsense. There is no tea in the world that can cure your luck."
Before Shizune could finish her lecture, a voice interrupted them. Both women turned, their faces a mix of shock and sudden delight at the familiar figure standing there.
However, Tsunade's smile lasted only a fraction of a second before she forced herself into a pout. She crossed her arms, huffing, "Hmph. I guess that tea was a lie after all. Zero effect."
"If it actually worked, I wouldn't have run into a bastard like you the moment I stepped outside." The memory of Hiruko making her "submit" alongside her juniors still made her teeth itch with embarrassment. Why else would I have run away from Konoha?
Shizune whispered helpfully, "But Lady Tsunade, we did run into Lord Hiruko. Isn't that good luck?"
Tsunade shot her a glare, poking her forehead. "You little traitor! Always taking his side. I waste my time teaching you medical ninjutsu, and this is the thanks I get? This lecher showing up can only mean trouble. I ran away specifically to get a break from his nonsense, and here he is, trying to drag me back."
Hiruko offered a smile that looked remarkably sincere. "How about we go for a drink? Just one drink."
The word 'drink' made Tsunade's eyes sparkle. She reflexively licked her red lips. To her, a cold drink after a hot bath was the pinnacle of human existence. She feigned deep thought, arms crossed and chin tilted up, looking for all the world like she was doing him a favor...
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