Inside the palace bedroom.
Although Mabui had long prepared herself mentally.
When Gento truly brought her into the bedroom, she still couldn't help but panic inwardly.
Gento closed the door, turned around, and let his gaze roam over her body without the slightest concealment.
He walked up to her, reached out, pinched her chin, and lifted her face.
"As my secretary, you won't just satisfy my work-related needs. You'll also satisfy my emotional needs."
His voice carried ambiguity, a teasing smile hanging at the corner of his lips.
Mabui's breathing became a bit uneven, though she did not dodge.
She bit her lip and met his gaze for a moment before gently nodding.
"I understand, Lord Gento."
"Please command me as you wish."
From the moment she voluntarily offered her submission, she already knew what it implied.
The Hidden Cloud respected strength above all else.
If she chose to follow the stronger person, she would naturally have to pay the corresponding price.
Moreover, the man before her was the noble Feudal Lord of the Land of Hot Water.
Not only was he powerful, but he was also quite handsome.
Serving a man like this did not make her feel disgusted.
Gento pressed his thumb against Mabui's moist lips and suddenly spoke.
"Besides, I heard that the shinobi of Hidden Cloud are all highly skilled in taijutsu."
Mabui froze briefly before nodding.
"Yes, Lord Gento."
"Hidden Cloud shinobi undergo rigorous taijutsu training from childhood. Even though my work is as a secretary, I still had to train in taijutsu."
"Basic physical conditioning, combat techniques, reaction speed... all of those are among my strengths."
The smile on Gento's lips deepened.
"In that case, this will be much easier."
"With your body's toughness, you should be able to withstand my Expansion Jutsu."
Expansion Jutsu?
Information regarding the Akimichi clan's secret technique immediately surfaced in Mabui's mind.
Expansion Jutsu could enlarge part or all of the body several times over for combat purposes.
It was the signature ninjutsu of the Akimichi clan, enormously powerful but also highly draining.
However, they weren't fighting right now, so why had Gento suddenly brought up Expansion Jutsu?
Mabui's thoughts raced rapidly.
Abruptly, then, she realized something, and a trace of shock appeared in the way she looked at Gento.
Wait, he couldn't possibly be planning to...
In the next instant, she got to know the answer.
Riiip!
The sound of tearing cloth echoed through the room.
Gento grabbed the collar of her professional outfit and tore it apart.
The fabric ripped open, revealing the wheat-colored skin beneath along with her dark undergarments.
Mabui's body trembled as she instinctively tried to step back, only for Gento's other hand to press against her waist.
"Don't move!"
His voice carried a domineering tone.
Mabui bit her lip and stopped moving.
Her chest rose and fell intensely.
The torn professional outfit hung loosely from her shoulders, exposing wheat-colored skin.
Gento's gaze traveled from her neck downward, sweeping across the full curves wrapped beneath her undergarments, across her flat and toned abdomen, and across her long legs wrapped in stockings.
A trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes as he casually tossed the torn cloth onto the ground.
"Nice figure."
He gave his evaluation.
A blush appeared on Mabui's cheeks.
But she neither lowered her head nor tried to avoid his gaze. She simply looked at him and spoke in a bit of a tense voice.
"As long as Lord Gento is satisfied..."
Gento smiled, reached out, and lifted her into his arms before walking toward the bed.
...
One hour later.
Mabui lay on the bed with vacant eyes.
Sweat covered her wheat-colored skin.
Her breathing was still uneven, her chest rising and falling, her entire body looking as though all strength had been drained from it.
Gento lay beside her, contentedly admiring the woman.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. As expected of a Hidden Cloud shinobi who had trained in taijutsu for years.
Her physical condition was truly resilient.
An ordinary person would have long since fainted, yet she was still conscious.
"From today onward, you'll stay by my side as my personal secretary."
Gento brushed aside the sweat-soaked strands of hair sticking to her forehead, his voice carrying traces of satisfaction.
Mabui slowly turned her head to look at him.
The emptiness in her eyes gradually faded.
Her voice was still somewhat hoarse.
"Yes, Lord Gento."
At that moment, the system notification sounded in Gento's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing Dual Cultivation with a kunoichi!]
[Evaluating the aptitude of the Dual Cultivation target...]
[Evaluation complete.]
[Dual Cultivation target: Mabui]
[Overall: A]
[Partner No.11: Mabui]
[Aptitude: A]
[Claimable: A-rank Family Treasure Chest ×1]
Right away, Gento chose to claim it.
[Ding! A-rank Family Treasure Chest successfully claimed. Open?]
"Open it."
[Treasure Chest opening. Distributing rewards...]
[Reward 1: Complete A-rank Puppet Master Jutsu Collection (includes puppet construction, chakra thread manipulation, human puppet techniques, trap mechanisms, and all related knowledge)]
[Reward 2: A-rank Humanoid Puppet: Black Lily ×1]
Gento raised a brow and immediately checked the reward details.
[Complete A-rank Puppet Master Jutsu Collection]
⟩ The secret techniques passed down through the puppet masters of the Hidden Sand Village. Includes puppet creation methods, chakra thread manipulation techniques, human puppet modification techniques, and blueprints for various traps and mechanisms. Mastering this art allows the user to simultaneously control multiple puppets in battle.
[A-rank Humanoid Puppet: Black Lily]
⟩ The puppet's appearance is a one-to-one replica of a black-haired beauty.
⟩ Height: 168 cm.
⟩ Delicate facial features, a seductive figure, dressed in a black combat suit.
⟩ Hidden inside the puppet are dozens of mechanical weapons. Its fingers can fire senbon, its palms can spray poisonous mist, its chest can deploy a shield, and its mouth can release chakra threads.
Looking at the two rewards, a smile rose on Gento's lips.
The puppet techniques of the Hidden Sand Village, huh?
Pretty interesting.
And...
This puppet had the appearance of a black-haired beauty. It was rather pleasing to the eye.
Although it couldn't compare to a real person, keeping it in the bedroom as decoration wasn't bad either.
He stored away the rewards and looked toward Mabui beside him.
She had recovered somewhat and was slowly sitting up, consciously beginning to clean up the room.
...
Over the next several days, Gento remained within Hidden Gento Village and did not go out.
He brought Mabui along to familiarize her with daily work and handed over some governmental affairs that he was too lazy to deal with himself.
Mabui's abilities impressed him greatly.
Those mountain-like piles of documents were organized neatly in less than half a day.
Those complex logistical arrangements were settled by her in only a few sentences.
She could even identify issues within the Land of Hot Water's tax reports at a single glance.
Leaning back in his chair, Gento looked at Mabui's profile as she lowered her head to report on work, feeling incredibly satisfied.
This woman was far more capable than that vase, Pakura.
Of course, Mabui's "primary duties" had not been neglected either.
Whenever they had free time, Gento would bring her to the Desire Hot Springs to practice "taijutsu."
It had to be said that Mabui's physical condition was excellent.
After all, she was a shinobi raised in Hidden Cloud and had undergone strict physical training since childhood.
No matter how intense the taijutsu exchanges became, she could endure them.
She could even occasionally counterattack at critical moments, bringing Gento quite a few pleasant surprises.
"Lord Gento, your taijutsu has improved again."
Leaning against the edge of the pool, Mabui panted heavily, her face flushed.
Gento wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled.
"That's thanks to you, my sparring partner."
Mabui did not reply. She merely lowered her head and buried her face against his chest.
Just like that, five days passed in the blink of an eye.
That morning, Gento was processing documents inside his office when Shisui pushed open the door and entered.
"Lord Gento, negotiations with Hidden Cloud Village have been completed."
---
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