After a whirlwind of eating, Saiki leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh.
With his stomach full, the hollow, drained feeling in his chest eased slightly.
Watching him, Nono'u couldn't help but chuckle, though her eyes were filled with lingering affection.
"Full yet? If not, I can bring more from the kitchen."
She poured him a glass of water.
Saiki took it and shook his head. "No, I'm good."
He paused, then asked, "Sister Director, was there any trouble in the village today?"
Nono'u shook her head gently. "No. The village is surprisingly calm. The news of Lady Tsunade acting as Hokage has spread, and the civilians seem very relieved to have her in charge."
Saiki's brow furrowed slightly. "It went that smoothly? That's... unexpected."
"Lady Tsunade's reputation is immense," Nono'u explained. "Between her lineage and being the student of the Third, the people trust her. It's only natural."
"Reputation..." Saiki murmured. "That's a fickle thing to rely on."
Nono'u blinked, a flicker of worry returning to her eyes.
She knew Saiki's personality: he was mature and possessed a sharp, cynical understanding of human nature that far eclipsed his years.
It made him guarded and suspicious. She desperately hoped he could let go of some of that darkness.
Noticing her concern, Saiki looked at her, confused. "What's wrong?"
Nono'u smiled helplessly. "You... just relax a bit. Lady Tsunade can handle the politics."
Saiki offered a small, knowing smile. "I'm not worried about her competence. I'm just... thinking out loud."
He looked out the window, his gaze turning pensive. "In this world, strength is the only true foundation. Fame and status are just the decorations. Sister Tsunade has the strength, so the people fear and respect her. That's how it should be. And I trust her."
Nono'u felt her heart loosen slightly. She knew about the darkness within the Leaf; she understood why Saiki was disillusioned.
In her eyes, Saiki was still just a child who had been forced to grow up too fast—someone who had become too extreme.
Because of Danzo's threat, he had slaughtered the man. Then the Third Hokage and the Elders had followed him into the grave. Nono'u was truly afraid that Saiki had developed a taste for blood.
Her greatest fear was that Saiki would lose faith in Tsunade and the village entirely, and who knew what catastrophe he would trigger then?
But she also knew that everything Saiki had done was motivated by a desire to protect her and the orphans. She didn't have the heart—or the right—to lecture him.
Her mood brightened as she looked at him. "Just focus on resting, Saiki. Don't cause any more trouble. Don't make things harder for Lady Tsunade."
Staring at Nono'u's gentle, beautiful face and feeling the hollow ache in his core, a "wicked" idea began to form in Saiki's mind.
With standard meditation, his recovery would take weeks. But if he engaged in dual cultivation with Nono'u... would his Pre-natal Qi recover faster?
Noticing Saiki's intense, unblinking stare, Nono'u blinked in confusion. "What? Is there something on my face?"
Saiki snapped out of it, shaking his head. "No. You're just so beautiful, Sister Director. I got distracted looking at you."
Nono'u's cheeks flared with a soft pink hue. "You... you brat! Stop talking nonsense!"
As if to prove his sincerity, Saiki's voice grew louder and more insistent. "I'm not lying! You really are the most beautiful woman I know. You're way more gentle than that violent Tsunade."
Every woman loves being told she is beautiful.
Even if Nono'u was a world-class super-spy, in front of Saiki, she was just a tender-hearted older sister. His praise made her blush even deeper.
"Always with the silver tongue... Lady Tsunade is the most beautiful and powerful kunoichi in the world. How could I possibly compare to her?"
She spoke the words of protest, but the radiant, melting smile on her face told Saiki she was secretly thrilled.
Seeing her happy, Saiki leaned in, whispering with a cheeky grin, "In my eyes, you're the best. Pretty, kind, and so, so soft."
Nono'u was officially flustered by his sudden sweetness. She shot him a playful, scolding look. "Alright, that's enough! Your stomach is full and now your mouth is running wild. Where did you learn to be such a smooth-talker?"
"It's not talk, it's the truth," Saiki chuckled.
Watching him, Nono'u wondered what was going on in that complicated head of his. She just shook her head with a sigh.
Still, the compliment left a sweet, warm feeling in her chest.
Regarding the "incident" where Saiki had taken her purity, Nono'u hadn't forgotten. But her subconscious still categorized Saiki as a "child," so she chose to view that night as a tragic, unavoidable mistake.
Choosing not to overthink it, Nono'u stood up to clear the table. "I've got hot water ready in the kitchen. Go and wash up."
Saiki did feel a bit grimy. Even though his cultivation method kept his body "pure" of toxins, the mental weight of the grime remained.
"Yeah, I'll go now."
He gathered a change of clothes. He wasn't bold enough to ask Nono'u to bathe with him—yet. But as he reached the door, he turned back.
"Sister Director... can you come to my room in a little while? I have something very important to tell you."
With that, he bolted before she could answer, leaving Nono'u with a faint, suspicious furrow in her brow.
As stated before, she viewed their first time as a mistake. That didn't mean she was eager to repeat it.
Saiki was immature; he might try to pester her. But Nono'u knew that such an error could not happen again. She steeled herself to be firm; she wouldn't let him push her around.
When Saiki asked her to come to his room, her mind immediately jumped to the "bad" things.
"I have to make it clear to him," she thought. "If he called me there just to try something wicked, I have to stop him once and for all."
Saiki was indeed planning something "wicked," but he was confident she wouldn't be able to say no.
He knew using his "injury" and "need for healing" as an excuse was a low blow, but Saiki genuinely loved her. It wasn't just about her body—though her body was certainly a major factor.