Chapter 111: Blood Cherry
Kato Mikaze watched as Tsunade slowly closed her eyes. Within those starry eyes, warm and tender gazes shimmered, accompanied by a hint of joy and excitement.
“From the confession at graduation season, to pursuing Tsunade all this time, and now finally getting the official seal of approval—it wasn’t easy, considering all the punches I took along the way…”
He felt reluctant to immediately seal their bond with a kiss; Tsunade’s current expression was rare. Kato Mikaze wished to savor the moment a little longer, even imagining teasing her smooth, tender jawline with the stubble on his chin.
Then, just as he watched, Tsunade’s eyes, which had just closed, suddenly snapped open wider than before. Her large, round eyes sparkled brightly, still misty with moisture, but the complex, shifting emotions had vanished. Instead, a firm resolve and a mischievous, sly smile shone in her gaze.
Suddenly, Kato Mikaze felt his collar tighten as Tsunade gripped him forcefully and pulled him down. His head instinctively bowed.
“Kato Mikaze, I hereby declare that from now on, you belong to me—Tsunade, the Slug Princess of Konoha Village!”
“Kato Mikaze, you now have only the right to remain silent. I am officially sealing our bond. From this moment onward, from body to heart, from spirit to soul, you will belong solely to me.”
Tsunade’s soft yet commanding proclamation echoed gently in Kato Mikaze’s ears, just as bold and spirited as when she first responded to his confession years ago.
“Hss!”
“Mm!”
He then felt a slight sting on his lips, accompanied by a faint metallic taste of blood, mingled with a sweet and sour flavor, and beneath it all, a subtle but unmistakably sweet essence.
...
The rooftop fell into deeper silence and tranquility as Kato Mikaze and Tsunade gradually lost themselves in each other.
Under the deep blue night sky, beneath the radiant moon and Milky Way, a pair of pure and perfect lovers embraced in blissful oblivion...
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Time seemed to freeze, like the flowing Milky Way itself halting, as if granting the young lovers more moments of intimacy.
“Well, the official seal is done. From now on, you officially belong to me, Your Highness the Princess! You have to stay by my side forever.”
Before Kato Mikaze could speak, Tsunade took the initiative, speaking as if she alone had led the entire moment.
Though her words were bold, her body remained nestled obediently in Kato Mikaze’s warm embrace, unwilling to part.
“You silly fool, I’ve always been yours—from the day I confessed in front of everyone at graduation, I’ve been yours, and I will always be by your side.”
Kato Mikaze spoke tenderly, whispering heartfelt words as he held his beloved tightly with one arm, while his other hand gently touched the small wound on her cherry-red lips.
“Does it still hurt? You should have bitten my lips instead. Why do you have to bite yourself? Are you silly? My little fool.”
As he spoke with concern, Kato Mikaze summoned his chakra, preparing to use a medical ninjutsu to heal the wound on Tsunade’s lips.
“Hm?… No!”
Tsunade turned her head slightly in his arms, avoiding his healing hand.
“I did it on purpose. I chose the spot carefully, so when it heals, there will be a tiny but eternal scar.”
“Kato Mikaze, I want you to remember that kiss just now—it was my first kiss, and it’s already yours.”
“I want you to always remember my taste, and I want to always remember yours!”
As she spoke, Tsunade gently licked the small wound on her lips, then reached out with two slender fingers to stroke the corresponding wound on Kato Mikaze’s lips.
She didn’t instruct him how to treat his own wound; instead, those large eyes filled with tenderness gazed at his lips and the pale blue sparkle in his eyes.
Though silent, Kato Mikaze understood the meaning behind her look and let his healing ninjutsu fade away.
“Then mine will heal naturally too, leaving an eternal scar like yours. That way, if you ever accidentally lose me, you can identify me by this scar.”
“And besides, that was my first kiss too, now claimed by you, my princess.”
He said this as he gently licked the wound on his own lips, drawing Tsunade’s slender fingers into his mouth, softly sucking them.
“You idiot, such a tiny scar—how am I supposed to tell if it’s real or not?”
Tsunade tried to pull away her finger from his mouth, feeling ticklish.
“Mm… Fool, you can verify it the way you did just now!”
Kato Mikaze didn’t resist; he released her finger gently, matching her strength.
“Just like this…”
Pink cherry, blood cherry—what flavor is it?
Sour, sweet, salty, soft, honeyed.
Kato Mikaze knew this taste. He would remember it forever.
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Long after, the rooftop remained quiet. Kato Mikaze and Tsunade embraced warmly, whispering softly.
“Tsunade?”
“Hmm?”
“What do you think of my idea earlier?”
“What idea?”
“Setting up a swing here!”
“Didn’t you just say you liked swings too?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And tea ceremony—I want the day to come when I can drink tea brewed by your own hands, cold tea or hot, as long as it’s made by you, I’ll love it…”
“Hmm…”
Tsunade’s voice gradually softened until it was barely audible, her only response the steady rhythm of her breathing.
She was exhausted. The previous night she had gambled late into the night, and the entire day she had been busy at Konoha Hospital.
She had even dozed off while dining with Kato Mikaze that evening, only to regain spirit upon returning home.
But after the emotional whirlwind just now, her weary mind could no longer hold on. She nestled into Kato Mikaze’s warm embrace and quietly fell asleep.
Noticing Tsunade had dozed off, Kato Mikaze smiled tenderly, full of love and adoration. He had no intention of waking her; instead, he gently lifted her into a princess carry, bidding farewell to the beautiful nightscape on the rooftop, and returned downstairs to the bedroom.
He carefully laid Tsunade on the bed, refraining from further movement. Finally, he softly kissed her forehead, then curled up beside her, closing his own eyes.
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