Teasing (2)

Sosuke sat on the seat beside Shijimi Tamako, clapping his hands softly.

He watched Miss Tamako before him with a smile on his face.

Beside him, Tamako looked like a startled rabbit, her large, clear eyes wide with panic as she stared at Sosuke, who had appeared by her side so suddenly.

This adorable expression only served to deepen the smile on Sosuke's face.

It was hard to imagine that this cute, flustered expression, so like a frightened little rabbit, could belong to the willful princess he had met that morning, a thought that Sosuke found quite amusing.

Under the complete hypnosis of Kyoka Suigetsu, anyone who had seen his Shikai would never be able to escape this eternal cage; their five senses were entirely under Sosuke's control.

In other words, they would see whatever Sosuke wanted them to see and hear whatever he wanted them to hear. Once they had seen his Shikai even once, they would be trapped in this nightmare forever.

Just then, Shijimi Tamako's face crumpled into a tearful expression, and she pointed a trembling finger at Sosuke, as if wanting to say something aggrieved.

Suddenly!

She snapped her two fingers together and slashed sharply toward Sosuke's neck!

The tearful expression on her face had long since been replaced by cold indifference, and a sneer of contempt curled the corner of her mouth.

"Are ninjas really nothing more than this?! You are too confident! Pay the price for your arrogance!"

Under the moonlight, an object hidden between her fingers reflected a sharp, metallic glint.

The handmaidens nearby watched in shock as their princess suddenly launched a counterattack.

However, the scene that followed shocked them even more!

Shijimi Tamako's sharp, decisive strike hit nothing but empty air before everyone's eyes. The lack of resistance caused her to lose her balance, and she couldn't help but lunge forward!

Her face was filled with utter disbelief!

How is this possible?! How could that guy disappear right before my eyes?!

Meanwhile, in the wide eyes of the handmaidens, they saw Sosuke's body suddenly vanish the moment she struck, only for him to reappear behind the princess with a calm and dignified posture.

Sosuke gave a light flick, resting the scabbard of Kyoka Suigetsu diagonally against Shijimi Tamako's slender neck.

He gently steadied her as she leaned forward.

Seeing the shock on Shijimi Tamako's face, he smiled and spoke.

"Miss Tamako, tell your subordinates to stand down. After all, we were sent by Konoha Village. If the Daimyo finds out you treated us this way, I fear you might face some punishment."

Sosuke's voice was slow but magnetic, and his words carried an unquestionable weight.

Shijimi Tamako glared coldly at the mask on his face, her pretty features frozen, as if trying to etch Sosuke's image into her memory.

"Tell them to stand down!" she ordered her subordinates with a hint of indignation.

Sosuke watched it all quietly, seemingly unbothered.

Although this princess possessed decent martial skill and was an excellent actress, in his eyes, it was all quite trivial.

What did leave an impression was her feigned, pitiful, tearful act—she really did look like a long-eared rabbit.

At the thought, Sosuke couldn't help but smile faintly.

Seeming to hear Sosuke's chuckle, Shijimi Tamako stared with fury at the man who had managed to subdue her in an instant!

Such a humiliating defeat made her deeply resentful toward Sosuke!

Of course, she wasn't someone who lacked perspective. If she had initially only wanted to prove that her strength was no less than that of a so-called ninja, Sosuke's performance had left her deeply shaken. Is this the power a ninja can display? she wondered. Under such bizarre power, is an army even useful against a ninja?!

"Hey! What is your name, you guy!! I admit it! You are very strong!"

Despite her intense embarrassment, Shijimi Tamako stared at Sosuke and asked without hesitation.

"Aizen. Miss Tamako, just calling me Aizen will suffice. I believe that after tonight's battle, Miss Tamako understands our strength. So, starting tomorrow, please allow us to guard your side."

Sosuke said softly, offering only a slight smile toward the scheming princess.

Soon, the others withdrew.

The samurai who had been lying scattered around the house were carried away one by one.

Shackle and Pupil had not been injured in the scuffle, but they watched Sosuke, who had resolved the situation so miraculously, with astonishment.

They were all baffled by the extent of Sosuke's strength.

This guy!! When exactly did he move during the fight?! Why didn't we notice his movements at all?!

Naturally, Sosuke would not explain any of this to them.

In an exquisite room elsewhere.

Shijimi Tamako suffered from insomnia. Her beautiful eyes were wide open, shimmering with faint light as she lay on the wooden bed, her mind replaying the moment she had attacked Sosuke over and over again!

She thought of that composed figure, dodging her sharp attack as easily as if he were teasing a child—no, "sharp" was probably a joke in front of him.

She had gone to the trouble of putting on an act of surprise in front of him, but he had likely seen through her performance all along. At the thought, Shijimi Tamako felt a surge of vexation!

Arrogant guy! But, tomorrow seems like it will be more interesting!

The next day.

Early in the morning, Shijimi Tamako received them once again.

At this moment, facing Sosuke and the other two, Shijimi Tamako no longer displayed her previous wilfulness and caprice. Her attitude was calm and composed, and she looked at the group with a smile, as if she were not the same person who had looked at them with such disdain just yesterday.

It had to be said that as the daughter of a Daimyo, Shijimi Tamako was quite outstanding; at the very least, her appearance was truly captivating, with long eyelashes, large, delicate eyes, and a mouth as lovely as a cherry.

If Sosuke had not witnessed her temper tantrums yesterday, nor the way she feigned pity while secretly launching a sudden Strike, he might have been deceived by her performance today.

As for now, seeing her act, Sosuke merely smiled slightly beneath his mask; he wanted to see exactly what this Miss Tamako was planning.

As if sensing Sosuke's amusement, Shijimi Tamako stopped keeping up the hypocritical act.

Looking at the three of them, she softly stated her request.

"I am actually very interested in ninjutsu. Although my father, as the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, possesses unparalleled power, it is not what I desire. What I want is strength that transcends the ordinary, and the power you have displayed is exactly what I am pursuing."

After speaking, she cast a deliberate glance at Sosuke from the corner of her eye.

Among the three, she believed that this Aizen must be a formidable individual; the mere fact that he could reach her side without anyone noticing was proof enough of his capability!