"Tsunade-sama's probably waking up with a monster hangover," Shizune commented thoughtfully.
"Hmmm..."
'Don't worry. She's on my list too.'
We walked to an isolated public bath, away from the crowd. The place was surrounded by bamboo, with steaming pools lined with smooth stones. A wooden screen separated the sections, but I'd chosen a mixed-gender corner, more intimate. Shizune stopped abruptly when she saw the communal pool.
"Sasuke, are you sure about this?" Her voice trembled, her cheeks turning pink.
"Relax," I said, taking off my shirt to dive into the hot water on the other side of the screen. "We'll stay separated. Just a bath and a talk."
She mumbled something but eventually stepped into the water, her movements cautious. I could hear her through the screen, the splashing of water against her skin. My imagination ran wild, but I reined it in. *Calm down, man... Calm down.*
"So, Shizune-san," I began, my voice echoing in the steam. "Yesterday, you talked about Tsunade, about your duty. But have you ever thought about what you'd do if you hadn't followed her orders your whole life?"
Silence. Then, a sigh. "I don't know. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an elite kunoichi, like Tsunade-sama. Not just her assistant. I dreamed of dangerous missions, of glory…" She laughed, a bitter sound. "And then, there was the idea of a family. A husband, kids. But I never had the time."
I let the hot water relax my muscles, listening to every word. "You've sacrificed a lot. But you're still young, Shizune. You have time to chase your dreams."
"Young?" She snorted. "I'm 32, Sasuke. You're 18, you've got your whole life ahead of you, instead of listening to an old woman like me."
I turned slightly, my voice lower. "You haven't missed much, you know. You're strong, smart, and…" I paused, calculated. "You're beautiful. Any guy would be lucky to have you."
A heavy silence fell. I heard a slight splash, as if she'd frozen. "Stop it, Sasuke," she whispered, but her voice was weak, unconvincing. "You're too young to say stuff like that."
"Age is just a number," I replied, trying to sound profound. "What matters is how you feel. And right now, you're in a hot bath, far from Tsunade and her orders. You're free, Shizune. What do you want to do with that freedom?"
She didn't answer right away. I imagined her face, her red cheeks, her eyes lost in the steam. Finally, she spoke, her voice softer. "I… I just want to do exciting things, travel far, eat exotic food, and... um, lots of other things."
"Then start now," I said firmly. "Better late than never. You're Shizune, and you have the right to want things for yourself."
Another silence. Then, a soft laugh. "You're really not the Sasuke I thought I knew."
"Maybe I'm an upgraded version," I said, a smile in my voice.
We kept talking, the hot water easing the tension. She told me stories of missions, moments when she'd stood up to ninjas far stronger than her. I listened, slipping in questions to make her talk about herself, not Tsunade. With each answer, I felt her guard drop. She laughed more easily, her voice less tense.
When we left the bath, she wrapped a towel around herself, her wet hair clinging to her shoulders. I handed her another towel, my fingers brushing hers. A brief touch, but her gaze met mine, and I saw a spark. Not just embarrassment, but something deeper.
"Thanks, Sasuke," she said, clutching the towel. "That was… nice."
"No problem," I replied, my tone neutral but my eyes locked on hers. "We should do it again?"
She hesitated, then nodded, a shy smile on her lips. "I don't know, it's a bit... You know, I'll be going now."
As I watched her walk away, I felt a surge of adrenaline.
*Taming level: 30%*
Shizune was starting to see me differently.
The sun was setting over the city, painting the sky in a burning orange. The streets came alive again, red and gold lanterns lighting up one by one, like fallen stars on earth. The air carried the scent of grilled meat.
I'd convinced her to join me for dinner at an outdoor restaurant, a popular spot in the heart of the hot springs. When I saw her arrive, my breath caught. She wore a midnight blue dress, less daring than the red one from our first meeting, but still form-fitting, hugging her curves with subtle elegance. Her black hair was loose, gently waving in the breeze. She looked like a woman trying to rediscover herself, and damn, it was sexy.
"Sasuke," she said as she approached, a hesitant smile on her lips. "Are you sure this is a good idea? This place is… loud."
I chuckled, gesturing to the crowd around us. The tables were filled with ninjas and civilians, musicians played lively tunes on shamisen, and servers weaved through with trays of skewers and sake. "It's perfect for letting loose, isn't it? Come on." I led her to a table slightly off to the side, under a string of paper lanterns casting a soft glow.
She sat down, smoothing her dress, her eyes scanning the crowd before settling on me. "You're really set on staying here, huh?"
I shrugged, resting my elbows on the table. "For now, I guess." I paused, meeting her eyes directly. "You look stunning tonight, by the way."
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, fiddling with a strand of hair. "Stop it, Sasuke. You're just flattering me." But her tone was softer than defensive, and I knew I'd scored a point.
"No flattery," I said, my voice low, almost intimate. "Just the truth."
*Taming level: 35%*