Danzo remained in the palace, recounting the millennium of changes to Kaguya.
It wasn't until nightfall that he finally managed to extricate himself from her embrace and leave.
Spending the entire day in her arms, being occasionally patted on the head, and receiving constant affectionate gazes made Danzo feel deeply uncomfortable.
Was it guilt over the years of separation? Or was it because both of her sons had either died or betrayed her?
Danzo couldn't shake the feeling that her maternal instincts were overflowing.
At one point, he subtly hinted that he was merely a fusion of her consciousness and a human, not truly her child.
But Kaguya seemed entirely unconcerned with that fact. She didn't even inquire about Black Zetsu's situation, completely ignoring the subject.
All the explanations Danzo had prepared went unused.
Fortunately, his plan was progressing far more smoothly than he had anticipated.
...
Inner Palace, Main Hall
Kneeling beside the table laden with exquisite dishes, Ichikawa Naomi keenly sensed Danzo's mood.
"My lord, would you like to enjoy dinner while watching a dance performance? I've handpicked the finest dancers for you."
"No need. You will suffice for tonight."
Naomi's eyes sparkled with delight. She had been sent away unfinished the previous night, which left her anxious.
As she served him, she deliberately adjusted her posture, emphasizing her curves beneath the sheer fabric of her gown. Her ample figure was in stark contrast to Pakura's more delicate frame, especially as she knelt, her full hips accentuated by the position.
When she turned to pour his drink, she leaned forward intentionally, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what lay beneath.
Perhaps it was the lingering sensation of having been held by Kaguya all day, but Danzo found himself more interested than usual, indulging in both the meal and Naomi's artful attentions.
If judged purely on appearance, she might not be the most beautiful among the women, but she certainly knew how to please a man.
However, no matter how skilled she was, she always remained the lowest in status before Danzo, humbling herself completely.
This submissiveness made her incredibly sensitive—even Danzo's gaze alone was enough to leave her breathless.
Before the meal was even finished, she collapsed against his arm, her body trembling, a deep flush spreading over her skin. The tatami beneath her bore the evidence of her state.
A soft chime rang out as Naomi, still gasping, reached for a silk cord and gave it a gentle pull.
At the sound of the bell, a group of attendants in translucent robes swiftly entered, clearing away the dishes and tidying the space before silently departing.
If Danzo wasn't mistaken, those were the very same dancers from earlier.
"My lord, would you like them to stay?" Naomi whispered.
"No. Just you tonight."
With that, he pulled her into his embrace.
"My lord… I won't be able to handle this alone. Perhaps I should use Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Danzo's roaming hands caused her to fumble the hand seals twice before finally succeeding on the third attempt.
With a soft poof, two figures emerged from the smoke—Pakura and Kurenai Yuhi, both devoid of any clothing, kneeling gracefully on either side of him.
Danzo's hand paused for a brief moment before tightening around Naomi's waist, making her let out a small gasp.
Though the clone of Pakura looked perfectly real, Danzo could tell at a glance that its consciousness still belonged to Naomi.
Kurenai, however, was real—flesh and blood, without any disguise.
One of the attendants had never left the chamber, remaining just outside the gauzy curtains.
Danzo had assumed it was one of Naomi's servants, meant to assist her.
But he never expected it to be Kurenai.
Their coordination was flawless—using Body Flicker Jutsu the moment the Shadow Clone Jutsu was cast.
Yet to Danzo, such tricks were transparent.
"...My lord, punish me if you must," Kurenai murmured. "As long as it pleases you, I have no regrets…"
"Oh? You still have the nerve to talk back…?"
...
The Next Morning
At dawn, Danzo left the chamber.
Naomi, still on the bed, propped herself up and reached for the silk cord once more, ringing the bell.
Six attendants entered in perfect synchrony, silently drawing back the curtains.
The disheveled bedding, intertwined bodies, and lingering traces of the night before were laid bare.
Without hesitation, the attendants set to work—some supporting Naomi, others cleansing her skin with warm cloths.
A soft moan escaped from the other side of the bed as Kurenai stirred awake. She sat up abruptly and immediately knelt.
"Enough, stop kneeling already," Naomi said impatiently. "If you can conceive the lord's child, that would be ideal."
Her tone carried a trace of irritation. After all, she had put in so much effort last night, only for Kurenai to benefit in the end.
Still, if Danzo favored Kurenai, it meant he would visit more often. That was at least some consolation.
Two attendants gently eased Kurenai back down and placed a cushion under her legs, carefully tending to her body.
Kurenai remained completely still, allowing them to cleanse her, but her eyes were filled with turmoil.
Having been in the Land of Wind for over six months, she had long since understood Naomi's position of power.
She had attempted to escape multiple times, all to no avail.
Not only was Naomi influential, but she was also utterly ruthless and domineering.
Yet last night had completely overturned everything Kurenai had come to believe.
However, the moment Naomi's gaze met hers, a chill ran down Kurenai's spine, and she quickly averted her eyes.
"Are you pleased with yourself?" Naomi asked coldly.
"...No," Kurenai stammered.
Naomi scoffed. This woman might not be killed outright, but she had endured punishments far worse.
"Punish all those old crones who trained her in the bedroom arts—thirty lashes each. Absolutely useless."
After issuing her command, Naomi turned her gaze back to Kurenai, her expression filled with displeasure.
"As for you… I'll let this slide since it was your first time. But you'd better learn quickly. If you embarrass yourself like that again…"
A slow, sinister smile spread across her lips.
"I have plenty of ways to make you regret it."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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