In the simulation, Tenten had already learned everything she needed to learn; all that remained was for her to wait until her own strength grew, and then she could practice using the techniques in actual combat, which was something Ryun in the simulation could not do for her.
What Ryun could simulate was Tenten's physical condition before the bloodline feedback, so training hard in the Flying Thunder God Technique within the simulation held no real meaning for Tenten.
So Ryun released the Genjutsu Inheritance and opened his eyes in reality alongside Tenten.
Tenten was still a bit dazed, but then she suddenly sat up straight, clamped her legs together, and looked at Ryun with a face full of shame and anger.
Ryun said with an innocent look, "I didn't secretly do anything to your body."
"Doesn't doing it in the illusion count the same?!"
With a thump, Tenten bumped her forehead against Ryun's chest, then grabbed a change of clothes and rushed off to the bathhouse; what she wanted to do needed no further explanation.
Immediately after, Anko's head popped out, her face full of surprise as she said, "You actually managed to resolve it?"
"What do you mean, 'resolved it'? I just helped Tenten sort out her emotions a bit."
Anko gave Ryun a thumbs up; she was truly convinced by him.
Now that Ryun wanted more girlfriends, she really had no room to object.
On the contrary, she couldn't imagine what kind of person would be qualified to monopolize Ryun.
"Alright, next I'll have to trouble you to continue keeping watch."
Ryun looked at the sky, worried that Tenten's parents might come looking for her.
He had already fought Ino's parents and grandmother; he couldn't very well beat up Tenten's parents too.
"What are you going to do—you're not going to soak in the hot spring with Tenten, are you?"
"Of course, I'm giving her the True Spirit Seal!"
Anko looked at Ryun with a suggestive gaze, but Ryun wasn't about to talk with someone who had become so vulgar; he really was going to implant the True Spirit Seal in Tenten.
And doing it in the bathhouse was more convenient, wasn't it?
"Get out!"
Tenten shrieked, hurling her washbasin at Ryun as she showered.
Ryun said, "Let me scrub your back for you!"
"I don't need you to!"
"Ahem, actually, I need to observe your body to determine the best way to apply the True Spirit Seal."
"Really?"
"Absolutely real."
"What about when you did it with Sakura and Ino? What was that like?"
"Them? One was in pajamas, one in a swimsuit; actually, they weren't wearing much more than you are now."
Tenten rolled her eyes, but finally turned her back to Ryun and nodded slightly.
Leaving her back to Ryun was the extent of her tolerance.
Ryun didn't make any unnecessary moves either; he was just here to deepen their bond and then apply the Yin Seal to Tenten.
Come to think of it, it would be a shame not to tattoo a dragon on this back...
Might as well make Tenten's Yin Seal into 'Left Azure Dragon, Right White Tiger'... Ouch!
With one hand shielding her front, Tenten reached around with the other to twist Ryun's chin, saying, "You were thinking something naughty, weren't you?"
"I was thinking about our daughter."
"You jerk, always using Sweetie as a shield!"
"Alright, no more jokes. Tenten, you really should consider what kind of mark you want to leave."
"Well... actually, I've already thought about it."
"Oh, what is it?"
"...I don't want to say."
Ryun chuckled and said, "If you won't say it now, when will you? I still need to figure out how to design the pattern; you have to give me some time."
Tenten sighed, put a hand to her forehead, and slowly said, "Sweet."
"What?"
Because it was so brief, Ryun even felt he hadn't heard clearly.
"I said, the character for 'sweet.' Is that not okay?"
"Pfft, it's okay, of course it's okay—but, are you really going to use a written character?"
Tenten shot Ryun a look and said, "Actually, I was originally going to use the character for 'Ryun,' but I changed my mind. I'm using 'sweet'!"
Ryun sighed and said, "Alright, I get it. Tenten, you love the child the most; I can only be second."
Tenten nodded, then noticing Ryun was silent, thought he was angry. She cleared her throat and said, "In the future, I'll definitely have to put the child first, but until then, I still like you the most."
"I don't believe you, unless you give me a hug."
"You want me to hug you when I'm like this? Your motives are impure!"
"Is that a no?"
"Hmph..."
Tenten snorted coldly, but suddenly turned around, covered Ryun's eyes, and then gave him a wet hug.
Just as Ryun tried to savor Tenten's scent, with a splash, Tenten had already jumped into the water, hiding her body, leaving only her little head above the surface, sticking her tongue out at Ryun.
Ryun shook his head. Did she think such a small trick could evade him?
He hadn't even given her the Yin Seal yet.
Then, under Tenten's reluctant gaze, Ryun also entered the water, beckoned to her, and pointed to his lap.
With a look of tragic indignation, Tenten slowly shuffled over and sat down, though by then she had retrieved her washcloth.
Ryun, however, didn't continue their playfulness. He let Tenten lean against him and began implanting the True Spirit Seal.
Seeing Ryun was serious, Tenten set aside her thoughts, closed her eyes, and focused on feeling it.
As the spiderweb-like sealing formula traveled through Tenten's entire body before abruptly contracting, the character for 'sweet' appeared on the lower left side of Tenten's navel, with the main body of the seal located at its bottom right corner.
Then, without waiting for Tenten to observe it herself, Ryun began injecting Yang Release chakra into her for the first time.
Tenten let out a muffled groan, turned around, and buried her face against Ryun's shoulder, biting down on a strand of his hair.
This feeling of chakra being injected into her body was something Tenten had already grown accustomed to.
But it seemed that with the True Spirit Seal, the sensation was somewhat different.
Perhaps it was because being infused with life force kept her body in a state of utmost comfort?
Just as Ino and Sakura had said, life force was the power that the body loved most.
And so, Ryun continued infusing Tenten with Yang Release chakra until midnight, by which time Tenten's body had become burning hot.
Only then did Ryun stop and gently shake Tenten's shoulder.
"Ryun, don't mess around... our child just fell asleep."
Ryun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Seeing no sign of Tenten waking up, he simply dried her off, picked her up, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to her room.
"Sister Anko, Tenten's parents didn't come, did they?"
"Nope!"
Anko's voice came from outside the window. "I even specifically looked toward Tenten's house; nothing happened there."
"Seems like they probably don't know she's here with you, or maybe Tenten warned them beforehand."
Ryun nodded; then he could rest assured letting Tenten stay.
After settling Tenten in, Ryun was about to go rest himself when Tenten grabbed his hand.
This scene felt somehow familiar.
Looking back, Tenten was wrapped tightly in her futon, her eyes sparkling, and she said, "I won't do... that sort of thing like Anko, but can you hold me?"
"Wouldn't it be too heartless to just leave after you've given me the True Spirit Seal?"
Ryun really wanted to say that the True Spirit Seal and a child were different.
But seeing the sly glint in Tenten's eyes, Ryun knew this was a girl being coquettish.
What more could he say?
Ryun lay down beside Tenten and, through the futon, held her close.
Tenten also snuggled into Ryun's arms, the top of her head pressing against his chin, revealing a contented smile.
Outside the window, Anko peeked in secretly. This scene made her feel vaguely envious.
Although she had been the first to get a taste of the sweet fruit with Ryun, it also meant she could never go back to sharing the green, unripe fruit with him.
Fortunately, Ryun knew to cherish this time.
Meanwhile, another person's situation was rather bleak.
Anko performed the Body Flicker Technique to the top of the wall, looking into the distant darkness, and said, "Hey, still not going home? If it's really that bad, how about we two have a drink?"
Uzuki Yūgao emerged from the darkness, a helpless expression on her face.
She had been ordered to protect Ryun, but it turned out Ryun already had Mitarashi Anko permanently stationed there.
The two were evenly matched in strength, and if it came down to a life-or-death fight, she might even be worse off than Mitarashi Anko.
Over time, she had naturally been discovered by Anko, which put her in an awkward position.
If she were just carrying out a mission, it would be one thing, but she understood that the Third Hokage had sent her for more than just that; therefore, even though she had been discovered, she couldn't go back.
What on earth was she supposed to do?
"Don't make that face. In a little while, I'll have to start preparing for the Chūnin Exams, so I'll still need you to protect Ryun-kun. So we can definitely be friends first!"
Hearing 'Chūnin Exams,' Uzuki Yūgao's expression shifted slightly.
This time, Konoha was holding the joint Chūnin Exams with Sunagakure. Half of everything in her dream had already been foretold; would the other half come true as well?
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