Guren ll

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Under the leadership of Senju Takuya, Guren followed him to the Senju clan's territory. As she took in the luxurious buildings and beautiful gardens, Guren found herself mesmerized.

"This is truly beautiful," she thought to herself.

In her wildest dreams, she had never imagined such a scene. Soon, she might be the mistress here—how could she not be excited?

They passed through the extravagant front yard, arriving at the more modest yet serene backyard of the Senju compound. Though not as grand, the quiet paths and tranquil atmosphere felt more inviting.

"Dad, you're back!"

Children occasionally ran past, greeting Takuya with enthusiasm. Young women and sturdy servants followed, struggling to keep up as the children's laughter echoed around them.

A hint of envy flashed in Guren's eyes. Such a happy childhood... it was something she had only ever dreamed of. But every time she woke from those dreams, she was met with nothing but cold walls.

"This will be your home from now on," Takuya said, noticing Guren's emotions. "They are all my children. If they misbehave, feel free to correct them."

"How could I?" Guren replied softly, for the first time contradicting him. "Children are naturally playful. Let them grow up healthy and happy."

"As you wish," Takuya chuckled, continuing forward.

Soon, they arrived at a large mansion.

"Husband, you're back!" Uzumaki Kushina, Uchiha Mikoto, and several other women approached, their faces lighting up at Takuya's return.

"Kushina-sama, Mikoto-sama... Hello," Guren greeted them with a respectful bow.

"No need for formalities," Kushina said with a warm smile. "Since my husband brought you here, it means we will be family from now on. If you don't mind, just call us 'sister.'"

"Thank you... sister," Guren replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That's the spirit," Kushina laughed softly, taking Guren's hand. The other women, including Mikoto, nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with kindness.

With the warmth of their welcome, Guren felt her earlier anxiety melt away. The difficulty she had expected didn't arise; instead, she was met with acceptance and kindness. The thought of becoming sisters with these women—women she had long admired—filled her with a quiet joy.

As they entered the mansion, Guren was once again struck by the opulence around her. Hundreds of tables were laden with all kinds of delicacies, each dish exquisitely prepared from the finest ingredients. The aroma was intoxicating, and despite herself, Guren swallowed nervously.

Do they always eat like this? she wondered, a little overwhelmed. Thankfully, her momentary embarrassment went unnoticed. With Kushina's gentle guidance, Guren began to sample the food, each bite more delicious than the last. The meal passed quickly, the lively conversation and warm atmosphere putting her at ease.

After the meal, Takuya called Tsunade over.

"What do you want now?" Tsunade asked, sitting at a cautious distance, her sharp eyes watching him. Takuya's tendency to be forward was something she had learned to guard against.

"Tsunade, must you always be so wary? I assure you, I'm nothing if not a gentleman," Takuya said with a mock sigh of exasperation.

"If you're a gentleman, then the ninja world is full of saints," Tsunade retorted, a smirk playing on her lips.

Takuya glanced around, noticing the amused expressions on the faces of the others. No one seemed inclined to defend him.

"Alright, it seems I'll have to remind you all who's in charge here," he said, his voice light but with a playful edge.

At his words, a chorus of laughter broke out, and the women quickly dispersed, leaving Tsunade, Guren, and Takuya alone.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "What do you need?"

"I'm looking for a ninja named Hiruko. Once you find him, you and Orochimaru will assist him in perfecting his ninjutsu," Takuya explained, his tone suddenly serious.

"Hiruko... that name sounds familiar..." Tsunade murmured, thinking hard but unable to recall more details.

"What kind of ninjutsu are we talking about?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. If both she and Orochimaru were needed, it had to be significant.

"We'll discuss it further once Hiruko is found," Takuya replied, offering no more details.

Tsunade nodded, sensing that was all he would say for now. "Is there anything else?"

"Come closer, and I'll tell you quietly," Takuya said with a teasing smile.

"No, I suddenly remembered I have something urgent to attend to. I'll take my leave now," Tsunade said quickly, realizing where this was headed. She moved to stand up, but before she could, a wave of dizziness overcame her. When she came to her senses, she found herself in Takuya's arms.

"Tsunade, you're being quite difficult. How should I handle this?" Takuya's voice was low, almost a purr.

Tsunade sighed, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. It seemed she wouldn't escape this time. "I have only one request."

"And what might that be?" Takuya asked, genuinely curious.

"Please, save me some dignity in front of Guren," Tsunade whispered, her voice barely audible as she avoided meeting his eyes.

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**Ding!**

[Marry your wife Guren and receive the reward: Crystal Style Bloodline Limit!]

**Ding!**

[Fall in love with your wife Guren and receive the reward: Mental Power +1!]

Hearing the system prompts in his mind, a faint smile appeared on Senju Takuya's face.

Though the rewards were modest, Guren herself was more than satisfactory. Her tall stature and willingness to comply with any request made her an ideal partner in his eyes.

After a night of intimacy, Takuya led Guren to the Senju clan's training grounds.

"Husband, what are we doing here?" Guren asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

"I'm here to help you improve your strength," Takuya replied, his tone even.

Guren hesitated, concern flickering across her face. Did he think she was weak?

"Don't overthink it," Takuya said, noting her expression. "As my wife, you can't just be a pretty face. You need to have the power to protect yourself, even when I'm not around. Everyone here has undergone special training under me."

"Oh," Guren sighed, relieved. She had momentarily feared that Takuya was disappointed in her abilities.

"Alright," Takuya continued, "show me what you can do."

"Understood," Guren nodded and stepped toward a wooden training dummy.

"Crystal Style: Crystal Shuriken!" she called out, her hands weaving through a series of hand seals. In an instant, dozens of shuriken shaped like snowflakes materialized and shot forward, embedding themselves in the training dummy.

"Crystal Style: Crystal Pillar!" she continued, forming more seals. Sharp crystal spikes erupted from the ground in a straight line, deadly to anyone in their path.

"Crystal Style: Jade Crystal Labyrinth!" Guren shouted, her voice filled with determination. The wooden dummy was quickly encased in crystal, her most powerful sealing technique. Anyone trapped inside would be doomed.

Guren demonstrated more of her Crystal Style techniques:

"Crystal Style: Crystal Pentagonal Prison!"

"Crystal Style: Clone Technique!"

"Crystal Style: Tearing Crystal Falling Dragon!"

After a while, Guren had exhausted her repertoire. She turned to Takuya, breathing heavily.

" I'm out of chakra," Guren panted, struggling to catch her breath.

"That's enough," Takuya said, placing a hand on her shoulder. A warm, soothing energy flowed into her, restoring her chakra and physical strength.

"Husband, what did you just do?" Guren asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Just a small trick," Takuya replied with a faint smile.

Guren was astonished. A technique that could instantly restore chakra and stamina? If word got out, people would fight over it. Yet to Takuya, it was merely a small trick?

"I have a good sense of your abilities now," Takuya said. "Next, I'll give you some special training."

"Good!" Guren's eyes sparkled with excitement. Being personally trained by Takuya was a rare honor.

"First, some of your techniques, though visually impressive, are impractical," Takuya noted. "For instance, the Crystal Shuriken. Instead of expending energy to create decorative snowflake-shaped shurikens, it's better to focus on something more effective—like a slender, sharp spike."

He reached out, and a short, slender crystal spike formed in his hand, its edge razor-sharp.

"Husband... how?" Guren was speechless. Crystal Style was supposed to be her unique bloodline limit. How could Takuya use it?

"Bloodline limits are, at their core, just a combination of chakra natures," Takuya explained. "Crystal Style, for example, is a mix of Earth and Water chakra. It's not impossible for someone like me to use it."

Guren was even more confused. While Takuya's explanation was logical, the specific ratio of chakra natures for each bloodline limit varied. Even for those with the bloodline, mastering it was largely instinctual. Attempting to use it without the bloodline was extremely risky. How was Takuya able to do it so effortlessly?

"These things may be difficult for others, but they're not a problem for me," Takuya said calmly. "In addition to Crystal Style, I can also use other bloodline limits."

To demonstrate, Takuya showcased Scorch Style, Boil Style, Lava Style, and Wood Style right in front of Guren's eyes.

"Do you believe me now?" Takuya asked, watching Guren's stunned expression.

"I... I believe you," Guren stammered, nodding slowly. Seeing Takuya effortlessly wield multiple bloodline limits shattered her understanding of the world. She had never imagined that someone could use multiple bloodline limits with such ease. Mastering even one chakra nature transformation was a monumental task. Combining two was dangerous. Yet Takuya did it without breaking a sweat.

Guren couldn't help but think, "This is true genius. Only someone like Takuya could become the strongest ninja in the world."

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