"Welcome, Itsuki... What's wrong? You look so sad! Are you okay? Anyway, please come inside quickly."
Itsuki, standing at the entrance, looked like she was about to cry at any moment.
Feeling worried, Fuyou let Itsuki into her room and, hoping to calm him down even a little, brewed some green tea and gently offered it to him.
"Fuyou... I... I have been appointed as a maid to the daughter of the Lord of the Land of Fire."
"Eh? But you can still go home sometimes, right?"
"Well... this July, the girl will be married off to the son of the daimyo of the Water Country in an arranged marriage, and I will be accompanying her to the Water Country as her maid. Being a maid is just a cover, and in reality I am a spy for the Fire Country... so I think it will be quite difficult for her to return to her village."
Big tears spilled from Itsuki's eyes. Fuyou quickly put her arm around his shoulders and wiped the tears away with the sleeve of her sleeve.
"You don't know when you'll be able to come back?"
"Yeah···"
"N-No way... and being a spy is dangerous!"
Itsuki looks up at the ceiling, wipes away his tears, and says with a normal face.
"There's no way around it. It was destined to be like this from the beginning. That's why I went to that school to get espionage training and higher education. It's my mission to get that result."
"Can't you somehow refuse the mission? After all, Itsuki-chan serves as Hashirama-sama's aide! The village would be in trouble if Itsuki-chan was gone!"
"Thank you, Fuyou. But unfortunately, there are plenty of people who could replace me... That's right, everyone except the Hokage has plenty of replacements."
Tears spill from Fuyou's eyes. She clings to Itsuki and begs him.
"Please! Stop being a spy! There is no one who can replace Itsuki-chan to me! I want Itsuki-chan to live happily in this village forever!"
Itsuki hugged Fuyou tightly.
There is a moment of silence. A faint steam rises from the green tea.
"Thank you. But I'm a ninja. This mission is for the sake of the Land of Fire, but it's also a mission to protect the Hidden Leaf Village, and to protect Fuyou. So, if it's to protect Fuyou, I'll do my best."
"No... No... Don't go!"
Seeing Fuyougai whining like a child, I felt so much love for him that my heart nearly burst.
Suddenly, Fuyou raised her head and said to Itsuki with a brave look on her face.
"I'll ask Hashirama-sama directly."
"Hibiscus...thank you..."
Even if he spoke to Hashirama directly, the decision made by the daimyo and bureaucrats of the Land of Fire, as well as the village's upper echelons and espionage department, would not be overturned.
Although he knew that the possibility of avoiding the mission was almost zero, Itsuki did not deny Fuyou's words because he wanted to respect her feelings for him.
◆
The next day, Fuyou came to the headquarters of Konoha Village where Hashirama, now the Hokage, was.
The ninjas entering and leaving the building stopped to admire Fuyou's beauty. Without caring about their gazes, Fuyou headed straight for the Hokage's office.
"You are certainly... Ah, but have you made a promise to Hokage-sama?"
There were two ninja standing guard in front of the Hokage's room, and naturally, now that Hashirama had become Hokage, he was no longer someone who could be easily met.
"...There are no promises. But, Hashira... I have something important I would like you to hear, Lord Hokage. Please let me in."
"First, please tell us your business at the counter on the first floor. We will then review whether or not it is something we should convey to the Hokage. If you really want to make a request to the Hokage directly, you will need to submit a permission slip. This will also be reviewed."
Please tell them Fuyou has arrived...
She was about to say that without thinking, but she held herself back. This was a village that had been systematically built according to strict rules. As Hashirama's former fiancee, she couldn't afford to throw a tantrum.
Fuyou went to the location her supervisor had told her to go to and tried to go through the process of submitting her permission to meet with the Hokage.
"Hmm. I don't think it's worth complaining to the Hokage about personnel decisions that have already been made by the Fire Nation side.
"Even if that is the case, please let me meet with you, Hokage-sama. I will explain everything to you."
"But you see, Lord Hokage is a busy man. There are many people waiting in line to see him. I cannot grant permission to see you if your business is like this."
"Isn't there a way to phrase this kind of matter?"
Fuyou couldn't help but raise her voice at the middle-aged ninja who was swearing at her.
The surrounding ninja all turned their attention to her. The ninja in the room and in the hallway started to make a commotion due to Fuyou's out-of-place beauty and her loud, angry voice.
"What's all this fuss about?"
Tobirama, who was passing by on a nearby staircase, became suspicious of the strange commotion and asked the ninja beside him.
"Um, I think it might be Fuyou-san, but there seems to be some kind of dispute in the application department."
Tobirama quickly ran down the stairs and headed to the Applications Department counter.
"what up?"
"Ahh! Tobirama-sama?"
"...That's so shocking. Am I a monster or something? So what's the matter? What are you arguing about?"
"It seems that this young lady wants to speak to the Hokage directly, asking for some changes to the Kunoichi personnel. I told her that I couldn't meet with her for such a matter, but she just wouldn't listen."
The man at the counter gave Tobirama an exaggerated look of annoyance.
"You mean about Itsuki? That's already been decided between us and the Fire Nation. It can't be changed."
"But! Itsuki is Hashirama-sama's secretary and is sure to be an excellent employee! A secretary is definitely more suited to her than a spy!"
He appeared between the doors, and more and more ninjas began crowding around the place, causing a commotion.
"Hmph... There's no point in shouting here. It's just bothering the others. Come here for a second!"
Tobirama forcefully grabbed Fuyou's left arm and tried to pull her into another room.
Certainly, arguing here wouldn't solve anything. It would be best to follow Tobirama's lead. Fuyou thought the same, and let herself be pulled along in silence.
...Bang!
I was taken to a room labeled "conference room."
Fuyou feels a little angry that she didn't need to forcefully pull him by the hand when she got there.
"Sit down. I'll listen to what you have to say."
"But it has to be Hashirama-sama..."
"I'm the Hokage's advisor. My right hand man."
Saying this he glared at Fuyou. Fuyou realized that not only Hashirama, but Tobirama too was no longer a Senju but was now the second most powerful man in the village and had risen to a much higher position.
Dejected, Fuyou dropped her eyes to her lap.
"As I said before, it is impossible to overturn Itsuki's personnel decisions. This is a ninja's duty. It cannot be overturned based on emotional arguments."
"Emotional reasoning... That may be true. Itsuki is my only close friend. I want her to live happily in this village forever. But Itsuki has worked so hard and contributed so much to the village since its founding. I think it would be a loss for the village to turn someone like that into a spy."
"Hmph... I know it can't be helped, but you really don't understand anything about ninjas. To think you've come this far after spending two years with Madara."
"...!"
Fuyou bit her lip and glared at Tobirama.
"Now that the village is almost complete, Itsuki's role is over. His next mission is as a spy. It is the duty of a ninja to carry out this task, and for this he has undergone rigorous training and study."
"Why does it have to be Itsuki? There are plenty of replacements for the ninja role, right? Surely there must be someone else to play the spy role as well."
"Because they're excellent."
"...."
Fuyou was at a loss for words.
Excellent.
Yes, it is because of Itsuki's excellence that he has to carry out his duties on the front lines.
Tears well up in Fuyou's eyes.
"The only time a replacement comes along is when the best talent is no longer available."
Fuyou seemed to be thinking about something for a while, her gaze drifting unsteadily.
"If you understand, then give up. See you later."
Tobirama stood up and was about to leave the room.
"Um! Can I come over to your house today? Hashirama said I could come over any time."
Fuyou also stood up and shouted at Tobirama's back. Tobirama turned around in shock at the voice.
"Haa... You're too stubborn to give up! If you go crying to your stupid brother, the situation will only get worse and it could cause a rift in our relationship with the Fire Nation. Don't come!"
"No. I won't talk about that right now. I have something else to ask of you."
"What is it? Tell me."
"Only Hashirama-sama himself can tell you that."
"What? You're kidding me."
Gacha!!
Suddenly the door to the conference room was opened.
"Tobirama, that's enough."
Entered Hashirama, dressed in his Hokage uniform.
Hashirama had heard the commotion from Fuyou and had rushed over after hearing that she and Tobirama had entered the conference room.
"I'm so sorry Fuyou! Being the Hokage is such a pain. If you had just come to my house normally we would have met. It was really tough."
Tobirama glared sharply at Hashirama.
"Um! Hashirama-sama, there's something I need to talk to you about. Would it be alright if I came to your house today?"
"Of course! You're welcome! I'll be home at five today. Could you come then?"
"Brother! The matter regarding Itsuki's personnel matters has already been decided. There is no going back on that. You understand that, right?"
"Yeah... that's true. But you also need to listen carefully to what Fuyou has to say, don't you? Don't take it so seriously."
Letting out a big sigh, Tobirama was the first to leave the conference room.
"I'm sorry... Fuyou. I made you feel bad."
"No, it's fine. What Tobirama-sama and the other ninja here have said are correct. However, I wanted to have my opinion heard by Hashirama-sama, the Hokage... But I didn't come here out of personal feelings; I wanted to give my opinion in a logical manner, following the correct procedure."
Fuyou looked Hashirama in the eyes and said firmly.
"I see... well, that's fine, but then why are you coming home today?"
"There's something else I'd like to ask of you. It's a personal matter so I can't discuss it here."
"By any chance! Are you finally ready to live with me?"
"So I can't talk about it here!"
"Oh, sorry... ahahaha..."
Hashirama was visibly depressed.
◆
It was mid-February, and not even two months had passed since the winter solstice, and by five o'clock it was already completely dark.
Even though the house is different from my previous one, the lights lining the road leading to the gate of my house feel somehow familiar.
When they reached the gate, the gatekeeper opened the heavy door. The house was much larger than it had appeared from the outside, much larger than their previous home.
When I finally reached the front door, I saw a familiar silhouette of a leafless tree in the garden.
"...This. Could it be a hibiscus tree?"
At the same time Fuyou muttered, the front door opened and Hashirama came out.
"Fuyou! Welcome! It must have been cold. Come on in."
I stepped into the entrance hall cautiously, and found Tobirama there too.
"I'll listen with you too."
"Huh...?"
"Sorry. I was so annoyed that I had to listen to it with you. I'll just leave you in the corner and you won't have any say in it. Don't mind."
"Hmph!"
Tobirama, who suspects the connection between Madara and Fuyou, only feels suspicious of Fuyou who says she has something to discuss that is separate from the Itsuki incident.
When Hashirama refused to be present, he insisted that he be allowed to join them in order to clear up any suspicions.
"...I understand. It's okay. But in return, Tobirama-sama, please listen to what I have to say until the end. Please."
"...I understand."
Tobirama averted his gaze from Fuyou and replied dissatisfiedly.
"But first, why don't you eat something? You're always hungry, aren't you?"
"That's fine. I'll just leave after I finish talking."
"Well, well, don't say that. Think of it as a thank you for the inari sushi the other day. It may not be as good as Fuyou's cooking though."
"You're right, I'm hungry. I agree with you on that."
"...Then I'll take you up on that offer..."
"Okay! Hey, Otomi, Oshio, bring the Hanamori sushi to my room!"
A middle-aged woman and a young man came out, bowed, and headed to the kitchen.
As I walked down the hallway, I saw servants, as well as several young ninjas who seemed to be subordinates or apprentices. I could feel the power of the Hokage's presence. Inside the house, there was no trace of the previous house.
And there was also my beloved camellia...
Hashirama had told him that Tsubaki had quit her job as a maid immediately after the peace treaty was signed, feeling responsible for not being able to protect Fuyou. Since then, he had no idea where Tsubaki had gone.
He is worried about Tsubaki, who has always been by his side, both strict and kind.
While I was lost in sentimentality, I arrived at Hashirama's room.
The room is spacious and has two floors, one made of tatami mats and one made of wooden floors. In the wooden floors there is a large table and three large upholstered chairs facing each other on either side.
"Now, Fuyou, please sit in the chair at the back on the left. Tobirama will be in the corner on the right."
"A corner... the distance isn't that different."
When the three of them sat down, the two servants from before brought in a tray loaded with sushi and other dishes. One after another, colorful dishes were lined up on the table. Fuyou, who loves cooking, couldn't help but observe.
"Oh, why don't you bring this first? Here it is! Fuyou's favorite sake, Iroha!"
Hashirama happily showed Fuyou the bottle of sake that had been handed to him by a servant. That was the sake Fuyou had first drunk at the celebration for her coming of age, and since then she had occasionally been served it for an evening drink.
"Are you stupid? You came here to talk to me, so it's weird to make me drink alcohol."
"B-But since you've kindly prepared it for me, I'll just have one bite. Thank you, Hashirama-sama."
Hashirama looked at Tobirama with a triumphant look on his face and grinned, while Tobirama crossed his arms and looked away.
"cheers!!"
"For what?"
"···cheers."
"Tobirama, you don't need toast."
"Huh?!"
"...Uh-huh."
Fuyou couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the two of them. They were just as close as ever.
Seeing that smile, Hashirama and Tobirama's faces also soften.
It feels as if the passage of time over the past two years, and all the bad things that happened, never happened, and that the present is just as it was before.
The three began to eat.
Fuyou places beautifully cut pumpkin, cucumber, and radish on a plate and examines them carefully before putting them in her mouth.
Hashirama watched the scene with a smile. Suddenly, his eyes fell on the fingertips holding Fuyou's chopsticks. They looked rough and coarse. The backs of her hands were also noticeably chapped and flaky.
...Maybe it's because Madara is gone and there's no one to heal them. They're having a hard time...
"Fuyou, the inari sushi we had the other day was delicious! Just like Itsuki said, you could get that at a specialty store."
"Brother...!"
Tobirama casually warns his stupid brother for insensitively bringing up Itsuki's name.
"Thank you so much. Itsuki-chan even gave me money...and thank you, Tobirama-sama too."
"That's great! Please make them again. I'll buy them for 300 yen each next time."
"It's expensive."
They finished their meal with the conversation centering around Hashirama's insensitive subject.
Then Hashirama suddenly stood up, went over to Fuyou and knelt down.
"Fuyou. Put your hand out."
"Huh? Huh? What is it? Stop it. Stand up!"
"It's okay, it's okay."
Hashirama gently took both of the confused Fuyou's hands and gently placed them on top of his own.
"a···"
In no time at all, your rough hands will heal and turn into white, smooth and beautiful hands.
"From now on, tell me before it gets to this point!"
"...."
Fuyou was embarrassed that Hashirama had seen her rough hands, so she blushed and looked down.
"You just want to touch me by saying that. Hmph."
Tobirama says sarcastically, but his heart feels uneasy at Hashirama's actions, which he is unable to do.
"Well then, it's time to hear Fuyou's story!"
The servants cleared the table neatly and the three of them moved to the tatami mat.
Fuyou and Hashirama were sitting facing each other, and Tobirama was sitting in the corner of the large room, between the wooden floor and the tatami mat, with one knee raised.
"Hashirama-sama...um...I..."
"Yeah."
"Um... well... um..."
...Ah, this is so frustrating! Just tell me quickly!! ...Tobirama muttered in his mind.
"Please marry me."
"Huh?!"
Hashirama and Tobirama's voices spoke in unison.
"I know very well that I'm in no position to say this at this late date. But after Madara-sama was gone, the one I missed was Hashirama-sama. I realized that the only one who truly loved me and cherished me was Hashirama-sama... I love him too. Even now, Hashirama-sama..."
"Don't mess with me! What are you talking about?"
Hashirama glared at Tobirama who was yelling, putting a lot of chakra into him.
Shivers... Something cold runs down Tobirama's back.
"Fuyou. Thank you. Please lift your head."
Fuyou timidly raised her head and watched Hashirama's expression, wondering what his reply would be.
"I still love Fuyou with all my heart. When I found out that you were in love with my friend Madara, I prepared to step aside. But I couldn't change my feelings. I can't believe that Fuyou will come back to me of her own accord."
Hashirama said, a little teary-eyed, and smiled gently.
"Let's get married, Fuyou!"
"Hashirama-sama...!"
"Wait a second! This is strange. You're an idiot, brother! Calm down. Fuyou, what are you plotting? Are you teaming up with Madara and plotting something? Come clean! I'll let you off the hook for now."
Looking at Tobirama's face as he stood up and approached Fuyou, Fuyou looked sad.
"I don't think it's surprising that people are suspicious. It's too convenient. But I really want to marry Hashirama-sama. I want to be with you..."
"Tobirama, I understand how you feel. However, Fuyou and I had originally agreed to talk it out. Besides, you have now forfeited the match, so you no longer have the right to interfere."
"Brother..."
Tobirama managed to suppress the anger, jealousy, and suspicion that was pent up within him, and silently left the room.
Hashirama and Fuyou embraced each other.
"Hashirama-sama...I'm truly sorry for everything that's happened."
"You don't need to apologize. It's just a little detour. It's no problem."
Hashirama gently supported Fuyou's chin and kissed her.
Five years had passed since their first kiss next to the hibiscus tree when Fuyou was fifteen years old.
Hashirama felt his body getting hot, as if he was back in the hot summer when the hibiscus flowers were in full bloom.
Gently opening his eyes and parting his lips, Hashirama looked at Fuyou's face.
Her large, tear-filled amber eyes and long eyelashes, her straight nose, her pure white skin, and her elegant lips...it makes you realize once again that she has transformed from the innocent, cute girl she was at fifteen into a fine, grown-up woman.
The desire for Fuyou that he had been suppressing until now, thinking of her as a child, suddenly begins to overflow.
"Fuyou... I'll never let you go..."
Next thing I knew, Fuyou was lying on the tatami mat with her head resting on a cushion.
Fuyou's long, lustrous hair spreads out unevenly across the tatami mat.
As Hashirama devoured Fuyou's lips, he took this reality to heart.
How long I've been waiting for this moment...
Meanwhile, Fuyou was desperately trying to kill her mind so that she wouldn't think about anything.
Guilt towards Madara.
Guilt towards Hashirama.
Intense self-loathing.
And fear.
However, there is something that I want to protect even if it means ignoring all of that.
And now I have the strength to protect it.
Hashirama's lips moved to Fuyou's neck, gently tracing her nape.
"Fuyou, I love you."
The words and voice I had heard somewhere overlapped with the sweet whispers of Hashirama.
The large palm that had healed his own hand earlier was now wrapping around Fuyou's breasts and kneading them.
Her top was removed, revealing her white breasts. Hashirama kissed her cleavage as if to confirm it. Then he removed her skirt. This time he kissed her navel.
Then a rain of caresses from lips, tongues, and fingertips falls over my entire body.
She felt that this gesture conveyed the strength of Hashirama's love for her.
"Ahhh..."
The voice that she had been holding back suddenly leaked out.
"I've used Mokuton to seal this room, so it won't matter how much you shout."
Hashirama whispered in Fuyou's ear as he played with her nipples.
"No... no, I..."
Fuyou couldn't help but verbally deny her body's reaction, which was the complete opposite of what she felt.
"There's no need to be embarrassed. I want to hear how you feel, Fuyou."
Hashirama said this and looked at Fuyou with a very gentle smile.
Fuyou's face contorts slightly with pleasure and disgust, and her eyes become moist.
Hashirama's body grew hotter as he saw that expression.
He is overcome with the desire to conquer all of Fuyou.
Then he sucks hard onto Fuyou's neck.
"Ahhh. No..."
There was a round mark of congestion on her white neck. Fuyou looked a little frightened.
He then removes her underwear, spreads her legs, and buries his face in her.
"No! No! Hashirama-sama! Stop it...ahh-ahh!"
He uses his tongue to confirm that part of Fuyou's genitals has hardened, and stimulates it even more vigorously.
I had heard that a woman's sweet and sour scent, like rape blossoms, can drive a man crazy, and that didn't seem like an exaggeration.
There is no longer any reason in my thought process.
Hashirama explored Fuyou's wet vagina with his fingers, then grabbed her waist with his left hand and pressed his own object against it.
"Hashirama...sama..."
Fuyou called out to Hashirama as if pleading for help, but he couldn't hear her.
"Ahhh!! Ouch..."
A voice that sounded like Fuyou's scream echoed.
Without a care, Hashirama grabbed both of Fuyou's arms with both hands, pinning them down to the tatami mat, and penetrated her body in one go.
"...!!!"
Fuyou's head naturally turned completely white.
Hashirama's penis, of frightening thickness, thrusts violently into Fuyou's uterus.
"Ahh, ahh... Ahh! Ahh!"
The dull pain gradually changes into pleasure.
...I hate it, I hate it...
Seeing that Fuyou was about to reach climax, Hashirama stopped moving.
Hashirama asked, seeing Fuyou looking at him with a pained and troubled look on her face.
"Did you really want me that badly?"
"...."
Fuyou turns her face away and says nothing.
Hashirama slowly turned Fuyou over onto her stomach, lifted her buttocks and penetrated her from behind.
"Fuyou, if you want it, you'd better say it clearly."
"Please...give Hashirama-sama...to me..."
Fuyou felt so humiliated that she wanted to die. Tears flowed from her eyes.
The gentle love from a moment ago had now turned into a strong desire to dominate and lust.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah..."
Fuyou's breasts swayed violently in time with the movement of Hashirama's hips.
In contrast to the feeling of humiliation, a hateful pleasure washes over me.
...No! I don't want to go!
"Hibiscus...!"
His huge penis seemed to swell even more, and then it began to vigorously pump its liquid into Fuyou.
"Ah! ... Aaaahhh!"
At the same time, the hibiscus flowers also died.
Hashirama leaned over Fuyou's smooth, white back.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha...
Their breathing resonates with each other.
Hashirama turned onto his back and pulled Fuyou onto his chest. He could hear his heart beating.
...There's no turning back now. There's no getting back...
Fuyou told herself that it was pointless to worry any further, and gently opened her eyes.
Hashirama's thick, reliable chest bore several small, old scars.
Gently, I trace one of the scars with my finger.
I wonder if any of these scars were inflicted by Madara-sama...
Hashirama said, watching the movement of his fingers.
"I wonder when that wound came... I've had enough of fighting. From now on, I'll create a world for the ninja where no one can live without getting hurt... right, Fuyou?"
Saying this, Hashirama smiled and squeezed Fuyou's hand tightly.
"What kind of world is that?"
"It's difficult to put it in one word, but if I had to say, it would be a world without the cycle of conflict and hatred. To achieve that, we need to further strengthen the village system established by the ninja alliance."
"...And you're willing to make some sacrifices to achieve that?"
"You mean Itsuki? Political marriages and espionage... Maybe they're necessary to nip the seeds of conflict in the bud. Personally, I don't think that would be necessary if we just got to know each other and abide by the agreement. I may be the head of this village, but I'm not a ruler. I'm merely a guide. I can't make decisions on my own."
Fuyou removed Hashirama's hand, slowly got up and looked down.
Hashirama also stood up and draped his jacket over his shoulders.
"Maybe I can change the subject of Itsuki's espionage activities. I'll think about it."
Hearing these words, Fuyou began to devise further strategies.
Her plan to get engaged to Hashirama, embrace him and gain his trust was a success.
Next move.
I will definitely save the tree within these two and a half months.
With her back to Hashirama, Fuyou stared intensely at the clothes scattered on the tatami mat.
◆
Although the plum blossoms are in bloom, it is still February and the cold weather has not yet passed.
It had been snowing since the morning. Fuyou and Itsuki were sitting under the kotatsu and eating mandarin oranges.
"Hey, Itsuki. I have something important to tell you today."
"Hmm? What? What happened?"
Itsuki quickly swallows the tangerine and sits upright to look at Fuyou. Fuyou also sits upright to face Itsuki.
"I've decided to marry Hashirama-sama."
"Huh?!"
For a moment, Itsuki couldn't understand what Fuyou was saying.
"...R-Really?"
"Yes... We're planning on getting married in May."
"Why didn't you consult me about anything?! Why!?"
Itsuki becomes angry at Fuyou and raises her voice.
"I'm sorry... but we only decided to get married yesterday. I went to Hashirama's house yesterday and proposed to him, and it was decided then and there. That's why I didn't have a chance to discuss it with you."
"How can you come up with the idea yesterday and propose to me the same day? It doesn't make sense!"
Itsuki's anger doesn't subside. If anything, he becomes even more angry at Fuyou's seemingly thoughtless actions despite her supposed intelligence.
Ignoring Itsuki's anger, Fuyou calmly continued speaking.
"So, I want Itsuki to be my maid. Please. I haven't asked Hashirama-sama yet, but I'm sure it will be okay."
"But I'm from the Fire Nation..."
...! ...
Itsuki realized that Fuyou was trying to stop him from being made into a spy.
"Hibiscus... is it for me?..."
Fuyou looks at Itsuki's face and smiles brightly.
"Ever since I was little, Itsuki has always protected me. No, Itsuki's very existence has helped me. If I hadn't met Itsuki, I think I would have just silently followed what the adults and those around me told me to do, and lived a life where I didn't know if I was going to live or die. That's why Itsuki saved my life. Now it's my turn to protect Itsuki. Please."
"Fuyou... why... for someone like me..."
Tears spill from the tree's eyes.
"Don't say something. It's something Itsuki has always said to me. There's no other girl as wonderful as you, you know? Ufufu."
"But even so, marrying a man you don't love... I don't want to see Fuyou unhappy!"
Itsuki's tears flow more violently than ever. Fuyou stands up and sits beside him, wiping away his tears.
"It's okay. I realized that I still have feelings for you, Hashirama. And above all, you love me with all your heart. You won't be unhappy, so it's okay."
"You know... it seems like I'm the one crying more often now."
The two of them looked at each other and laughed.
Now that Fuyou had decided to leave the village in pursuit of Madara, she was determined to protect the tree, even if it meant deceiving Hashirama.
To achieve this, he will use any means necessary.
Even if I commit a crime...
Want to read more? Visit patreon.com/FairyDragon to read chapters up to 3 months in advance.