Hearing the voices, Tsume and Kushina both turned toward the sound.
Nono'u, dressed in her simple nun's habit and wearing a trademark gentle smile, entered their field of vision.
Both Kushina and Tsume possessed somewhat brash, unrefined personalities; seeing Nono'u, they couldn't help but be struck by the aura of motherly warmth and profound gentleness radiating from her. As fellow women, they marveled inwardly, "She's so incredibly gentle."
Nono'u walked over, and seeing that she had successfully diverted Kushina's attention, Saiki quickly stepped forward to handle the introductions.
"Sister Director, this is Sensei Kushina and Sensei Tsume. They were coming to find me."
Turning back to his teachers, Saiki introduced Nono'u. "And this is Sister Nono'u, the Director of this orphanage."
Saiki finished his introduction, and Nono'u bowed politely to the two women. "Saiki has mentioned you both many times. Thank you for your guidance and for taking the time to teach him; I know he can be quite a handful."
Hearing Nono'u speak with the tone of a protective mother or older sister made Saiki feel deeply embarrassed—especially since the two of them had crossed the ultimate line just the night before.
Kushina shot Saiki a sharp, annoyed look, but she was genuinely pleased by Nono'u's gratitude. She smiled modestly. "Oh, it's nothing! We haven't actually taught him much. Saiki is naturally quite brilliant."
"Exactly! Saiki is very sharp. He's actually helped us out of a few tight spots already," Tsume added.
Nono'u offered another gentle smile in response to their praise. She reached out and ruffled Saiki's hair affectionately. "Saiki is still just a child. No matter how much talent he has, he still needs good mentors. Thank you again."
She then extended an invitation. "Please, don't just stand out here. Come inside and have some tea."
"Thank you, but we have to decline. We came specifically for Saiki, and we have urgent business to attend to. We won't intrude further," Kushina replied, turning down the offer.
"Urgent business? Well, why don't you come inside for a quick cup of tea while we discuss it?" Nono'u persisted.
Kushina glanced at the children playing nearby and reconsidered. "Alright, let's step inside for a moment. But we really do need to leave quickly, so please don't go to any trouble."
Once inside the office, Kushina convinced Nono'u to skip the tea. Her expression turned heavy as she looked at Saiki.
"Saiki, you're deploying immediately. You've been assigned to the reinforcement unit heading for the Hidden Cloud front."
"So soon?" Saiki was genuinely surprised. "But Shizune left. Our squad is incomplete."
Hearing that Saiki was heading to the front lines today, Nono'u's heart tightened with anxiety. She knew Saiki was powerful, but she had witnessed the horrific reality of the battlefield firsthand. It was a level of danger that a simple mission couldn't compare to.
Kushina explained, "Lord Hokage has already made the necessary adjustments. You'll meet your new teammate this afternoon. If you have any last-minute things to settle, do it quickly. The unit assembles at the main gates at 3:00 PM sharp. I've already notified Genhai."
Having delivered the news, Kushina glanced at Nono'u.
Kushina had been desperate to find Saiki for two reasons: the deployment orders, and her concern for him after Tsunade and Shizune's departure. She had feared he would be devastated, but seeing the worried look in Nono'u's eyes, she decided to save her own comfort for another time.
With the details settled, Kushina and Tsume left the room, giving Saiki and Nono'u a moment of privacy.
Nono'u struggled to find the right words, eventually settling for a final warning. "Saiki... once you're on the front lines, you must be incredibly careful. Stay sharp. A chaotic battlefield is infinitely more lethal than a standard mission."
Regarding his deployment, Saiki wasn't worried. Between his dual cultivation breakthrough with Tsunade and the consolidation with Nono'u last night, his strength was at an all-time high.
However, as he prepared to leave Konoha, he found himself genuinely worried about Nono'u. He shook his head. "Sister Director, I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about. If Danzo tries to pressure you, ignore him. Don't do anything until I get back."
The mention of Danzo cast a shadow over Nono'u's heart, but she forced a smile to reassure him. "Alright, I understand. Danzo won't move against me in the short term. Just focus on your own safety."
Looking at the gentle Nono'u, Saiki gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and pulled her into a tight embrace. Startled, she instinctively tried to pull away, but Saiki's grip was absolute.
Previously, Nono'u would have hugged Saiki back without a second thought. But after the events of last night, Saiki's proximity triggered a flood of memories—replaying the moments he had pinned her to the bed and taken her—making her feel instinctively guarded.
Realizing she couldn't break free, Nono'u's cheeks flushed pink as she whispered, "Saiki... what are you doing?"
"Sister Director... if I return safely, will you promise to be my woman?" Saiki asked, looking into her eyes with intense expectation.
Placing a death-flag like that before a battle was the ultimate taboo. Did the boy really think he was a protagonist in a tragedy?
Even if he was, his survival had absolutely nothing to do with whether she became his woman or not. It was a purely shameless, rogue-like ultimatum.
Having just asked her to be his "girlfriend" the night before, and now demanding she be his "woman," the memories Nono'u had been desperately trying to suppress since this morning came rushing back with a vengeance.
Even the composed Nono'u felt a surge of humiliated anger. She gave Saiki's head a sharp smack. "Saiki! What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!"
She kept her voice low, terrified the children outside or his teachers might overhear her.
Gripping Nono'u's slender waist, Saiki's gaze remained unwavering. His words became even more unashamed.
"Sister Director, I know what I did last night was inexcusable, but we've already crossed that line. Just promise to be my woman, okay? If you don't, I won't even be able to die in peace on the battlefield."
Faced with such a naked, blunt declaration, Nono'u's shame grew even deeper. Her face was a violent shade of red as she tried to maintain a stern mask. "Stop it! Don't say such unlucky, horrible things!"
Saiki completely ignored the scolding. He doubled down on his thick-skinned act. "So, you're saying you'll be my woman then?"
Staring at the boy's pleading, expectant eyes, Nono'u desperately wanted to slap him. But her resolve crumbled under his gaze.
She thought to herself, "He's still just a child. If this encouragement helps him survive the war, then a small promise is a price I'm willing to pay. As long as he comes home safe, it doesn't matter."
Nono'u possessed the quintessential gentleness of a maiden from the water towns; she radiated a maternal warmth. The expression of extreme shame and embarrassment on her face provided a sense of intense, conquering satisfaction for any man.
Her voice was so quiet Saiki almost missed it. "If you return... I... I will be your girlfriend... for one day."
Saiki's heart nearly hammered its way out of his chest. He lunged forward and planted a quick, sharp kiss on Nono'u's red lips. "Sister Director! I fucking love you!"
Caught off guard by the sudden theft of a kiss, Nono'u's face turned even redder. She raised a hand and gave his head a fierce, humiliated smack.
"I said no behaving like a brat!"
But Saiki was clearly done listening. He tightened his grip on her waist and buried his face directly into the deep, warm valley between her massive breasts, nuzzling frantically against the fabric of her habit.
"You really are a bad boy..." Even as she scolded him, Nono'u's hand softened, gently stroking his hair.
Taking advantage of the moment, Saiki's hands began to migrate downward, eventually clamping firmly onto her two plump, heavy buttocks.
Ultimately, Nono'u could only sigh in helpless defeat. "Alright, enough! Stop it! You have to deploy this afternoon. Go home and get your gear ready."
Knowing he had pushed the "shota advantage" as far as it would go for now, Saiki released her. He gave her one final, serious look. "Sister Nono'u, remember: no matter what Danzo says, do not go to him. I mean it."
Seeing his genuine concern for her, Nono'u offered a warm smile. "I know. Now go. And make sure you watch your own back."