"Wakama... Mmph, have you gotten bigger again...? Nngh..."
"I'll be gentle..."
Thump-thump—Thump—Thump
Suddenly, the entire building began to shake violently.
Uchiha Yuki instinctively tried to jump off the bed but was pressed back down by Senju Wakama.
"Wakama, that's not us moving!" Uchiha Yuki exclaimed, her face filled with terror.
The whole house was trembling. Yuki thought people were fighting fiercely outside. If two brawlers caught up in their fight accidentally stumbled in here, they'd be seen tangled together like this!
"Of course, I know," Senju Wakama raised an eyebrow. "Our exclusive hot spring villas use special soundproofing materials, so we won't be disturbed by outside noise. But some movements can't be completely isolated."
At that moment, the shaking came in bursts, not a continuous rhythmic tremor. Just feeling the vibrations made it clear someone was being unilaterally beaten.
Senju Wakama didn't stop his movements, chuckling as he said, "It must be Tsukuyo beating someone up. It'll stop soon, don't mind her."
Tsukuyo often 'corrected' people in her private villa. This kind of one-sided tremor definitely meant Tsukuyo was 'correcting' someone.
Regardless, it had nothing to do with Senju Wakama. He was certain Tsukuyo had built this house; she wouldn't demolish it no matter how rough she got.
Uchiha Yuki wanted to say more, but Senju Wakama gave her no chance.
"Alright~ Yuki, I'm going to start moving now..."
And then, the bed began to suffer, and the entire room filled with Uchiha Yuki's suppressed, delicate cries.
...
Senju Wakama's guess was correct.
The exclusive hot spring villas belonging to Tsukuyo and her brothers were built consecutively, essentially connecting the private hot spring areas for the siblings. However, these villas were often vacant.
Ever since Tsukuyo built the waste-recycling circulation system, the Senju clan's logistics saved a lot on firewood; they even had surplus fuel. Consequently, the artificial hot springs in the resort area developed at the edge of the clan grounds flowed continuously. With shinobi labor being far more efficient than ordinary people's, the water in these springs was changed over a dozen times a day, and the supply to the vacant villas wasn't stopped either.
These villas occasionally hosted special, honored guests. Tsukuyo had considered that the hot spring resort would attract more and more visitors in the future. To avoid lacking rooms for esteemed guests during peak season, she had built these so-called 'exclusive' hot spring villas.
During the off-season, they served as private spaces for the Senju siblings.
During peak season, this row of luxurious, special hot spring villas became exclusive guest suites for VIPs.
However...
When there were no VIPs, Tsukuyo often beat up Senju Wakama here.
This was one reason Wakama hadn't wanted to come here initially. Although it was undisturbed, every inch of the walls and floor held vivid, unforgettable memories for Senju Wakama – an indelible psychological scar.
Still, since Uchiha Yuki had requested it, Senju Wakama had agreed to come here.
It just so happened they encountered Tsukuyo 'correcting' a guest.
Senju Wakama had been holding back quite a bit of frustration earlier. Now that they had finally changed locations, even if they were interrupted, he had to finish at least once.
Meanwhile.
Inside Tsukuyo's hot spring villa.
The courtyard was filled with the colors of autumn.
Patrinia, asters, peonies, roses... and many other nameless plants grew lushly throughout the garden, while plumes of silvergrass swayed in the wind. Plants that should have been mere weeds appeared meticulously trimmed in this courtyard, retaining their most beautiful forms. Different wildflowers combined, blooming extravagantly.
On the narrow veranda connecting to the garden.
Two figures sat opposite each other across a low table.
One, a delicate figure with silver hair styled in a double bun, adorned with purple corn cockle hairpins – none other than Senju Tsukuyo.
Sitting opposite her was, naturally, Hyuga Bai, who had come to experience the Senju clan's artificial hot spring business.
Beside them, a small stove bubbled, heating water.
Tsukuyo elegantly prepared tea, smiling at Hyuga Bai opposite her. "Well? Do you feel your appearance has become more... harmonious?"
Hyuga Bai's robes were stained with bright red blood – traces from Tsukuyo's earlier beating, still fresh. Tsukuyo had just performed a simple 'correction' on Hyuga Bai. She had straightened his slightly uneven teeth and had also 'opened' the corners of his eyes.
In short, Tsukuyo had cracked Hyuga Bai's head open, then instantly healed him.
Tsukuyo had said that as long as the basic conditions were acceptable, she wasn't too demanding about looks, because whatever face she wanted to see, she could simply 'beat' the person into having that face.
Hyuga Bai, already 'healed' by Tsukuyo, sat opposite her, wanting to speak but hesitating.
He had already removed the cloth covering his eyes and held a hand mirror, staring blankly at his reflection.
He remembered suddenly giving in to a wicked impulse, doing something offensive – proposing to the Senju Princess despite his humble status. At that time, Hyuga Bai had thought he would definitely be rejected. Having done such a crazy thing, perhaps he would never see the Princess again. Ending any possibility of future meetings like this seemed fine too.
But Tsukuyo's reaction had been far beyond Hyuga Bai's expectations.
So much so that even now, Hyuga Bai felt as if he were dreaming.
The somewhat unfamiliar self reflected in the mirror left Hyuga Bai speechless.
And this time, Hyuga Bai thought about many things.
The first time he met Tsukuyo, he was severely injured and near death. He had truly lost all hope then, resigned to dying, but Tsukuyo had 'healed' him.
In just an instant.
Not only were his injuries healed, but even the 'Caged Bird' seal was gone.
At that time, Tsukuyo's smile was as beautiful and dazzling as summer blossoms, leaving Hyuga Bai unable to think of anything else.
Meeting Tsukuyo this time, Hyuga Bai was beaten to near death by her, only to be healed by her again.
Twice... healed.
No matter how slow he might be, Hyuga Bai now realized the Senju Princess's abnormality.
He understood even more clearly now: anyone from any ninja clan, upon learning of the Senju Princess's healing ability, would try every possible means to make her 'one of their own'.
Therefore, Tsukuyo seemed unfazed by a stranger's marriage proposal, handling it with ease.
She probably was seriously considering marriage partners.
And because she was simply too terrifying, no man could truly handle her.
Hyuga Bai looked at his refined reflection in the mirror, feeling only that his pair of white eyes revealed a delicate, transparent foolishness.
Looking again at the elegant and beautiful girl before him, Hyuga Bai felt her lovely smile was filled with a feigned, naive malice.