After visiting the swaddled child in the nursery for a while, Yayoi stopped disturbing him so as not to wake him.
Most of the time, it was now Aoi and Rinko who cared for the baby. The two of them had temporarily set aside their miscellaneous duties at the Tenshu Tower and remained in the Inner Court to focus on looking after the child.
As concubines and Kicho's attendants, it was a responsibility and duty they naturally bore.
To care for the child properly, they had even undergone specialized training some time ago. As the mother, Kicho also came by often to visit and care for him. The child would surely grow up healthy.
As for the child's physical condition, Yayoi had also taken some time to understand it better.
He had not inherited Yayoi's special chakra, but his powerful, surging vitality had made his physique exceptionally robust.
Though it was still only a conjecture, Yayoi was fairly certain that this child would grow into the kind of ninja with an enormous chakra reserve.
Besides his extraordinary body and vitality, whenever the child had slept enough and opened his eyes, he revealed a pair of pure white pupils.
There was no doubt that he had truly inherited the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai from Kicho—the Byakugan.
I'm really looking forward to this child's future...
Leaving the nursery, Yayoi's heart brimmed with anticipation.
An immense chakra reserve, a powerful physique capable of perfectly accommodating such vast chakra, and the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai—Yayoi could already foresee how extraordinary the child's future achievements would be.
With that, the Land of Night's second generation would have no weaknesses.
When he arrived at the bedroom door, Yayoi paused before entering instead of going straight in.
Come to think of it, because of the pregnancy, he and Kicho had not been intimate for nearly a year.
To restore the vitality she had lost, Kicho had spent the more than half a month since giving birth recovering her body and forcefully restraining something.
Even without deliberately paying attention, Yayoi knew Kicho had endured a very difficult time lately.
But today, Kicho's body, which had been dry for nearly a year, finally no longer had to endure.
In other words, tonight's work might be more exhausting than on any previous night.
Still, cherishing his wife was a husband's duty. There was no reason to retreat.
Yayoi drew a deep breath, pushed open the bedroom door, and walked inside.
The bedroom door gently closed, and the windows and curtains in the room were tightly shut as well, making the place seem like a sealed prison.
Only a few lamps remained lit, spaced far apart, leaving the center of the room without its usual brightness and casting it in dimness.
A slender, graceful figure appeared faintly in the darkness at the center, its outline hazy and indistinct.
She wore a light purple kimono embroidered with beautiful patterns, neatly and properly arranged upon her body.
Her long, glossy black hair fell casually across her back and shoulders, carrying an elegant, classical charm.
"Dear husband, you're here. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Come sit down."
"Alright."
Yayoi was slightly surprised, but he still walked over and sat across from Kicho.
A small table stood between them, covered with steaming dishes and a pot of delicious sake.
Yayoi took a bite. It tasted different from their usual meals, yet it was just as delicious.
"Is it good?"
"Mm. Did you make it, Kicho?"
"I studied a little. It didn't seem that difficult. Since it's good, eat some more, dear husband."
Yayoi nodded and ate at an unhurried pace.
He truly had not eaten since returning, and he was indeed somewhat hungry.
Besides, the work ahead would consume a great deal of his stamina. He could not go without filling himself up.
It had to be said, she truly was a thoughtful wife.
"Kicho, aren't you eating?"
Seeing that Kicho had not moved, Yayoi asked.
"I already ate."
"I see..."
"Dear husband, you worked outside all day. You must be a little tired, right? I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to put on a performance and add a different kind of enjoyment for you?"
The corners of Kicho's lips lifted slightly, revealing a breathtaking smile.
"A different kind of enjoyment?"
"Didn't dear husband's Medical Ninjutsu reach the point where you can use it without hand seals? I haven't wasted all this time either. I developed a ninjutsu."
"A ninjutsu?"
"Mm, a Hand-Seal-Less Water Release."
Her clothes were impeccably neat at that moment, and every smile and frown she made radiated a noble, elegant air.
Yet Yayoi inexplicably sensed a suppressed, hazy yearning in Kicho's white eyes, moistened with water.
A soft, seductive voice also slipped from her slightly trembling lips.
Yayoi's mouth immediately went dry.
Kicho was simply too good at this.
◎
The next afternoon.
Aoi and Rinko stood hesitantly outside the master bedroom, wanting to step forward and push the door open, yet recalling something and unable to help hesitating.
Eighteen hours. A full eighteen hours.
Since six o'clock the previous evening, Yayoi and Kicho had remained in the master bedroom without taking a single step outside. Even the breakfast delivered in the morning was still sitting by the door, completely untouched.
Though the master bedroom looked as calm and ordinary as ever from outside, without anything unusual,
once they thought of the two people inside not coming out for nearly an entire day, the intensity of the battle within probably far exceeded their imagination. Its devastating ferocity was beyond words.
"After being in there so long, Lady Kicho hasn't broken, has she?"
Aoi muttered softly.
"Probably not, right?"
Not only Rinko's face, but even the roots of her ears had turned bright red.
The two could not help looking at each other as they swallowed.
The general was being far too reckless. How could he do this to such a delicate girl as Lady Kicho...
"Come in."
A calm, relaxed voice came from the bedroom.
Aoi and Rinko immediately put away their stray thoughts and carefully pushed the door open before entering.
The devastating battlefield they had imagined did not appear. Everything in the bedroom, including the bedding, was arranged neatly, without the slightest mess.
Not far away, both Yayoi and Kicho were fully dressed, their clothing without a single wrinkle or impropriety.
Still, perhaps it was an illusion, but they felt that the general's complexion seemed a little... pale?
As for Kicho... Aoi and Rinko were left staring blankly.
She wore a white kimono decorated with red maple leaves, fitting her body perfectly as she stood there with poised grace.
A flush had spread over her jade-like face, making her radiate dazzling beauty, as though she were still savoring something.
Compared with before, while a trace of youthful innocence still remained on her face, the charm in her eyes and brows was especially enticing and captivating at that moment.
Whenever Aoi and Rinko were accidentally swept by that gaze, it felt as if they had been shocked by electricity. Their bodies trembled, their mouths went dry, and their minds grew dazed.
At the same time, their hearts pounded uneasily... What exactly had Lady Kicho done during this time to create such temptation, perfectly blending innocence and seduction?
"Um, dear husband, Lady Kicho, shall we bring the food over?"
In the end, Aoi was the first to recover and ask.
"Alright, thank you for the trouble."
Upon hearing Yayoi's reply, Aoi and Rinko felt as though they had been granted a pardon and quickly trotted out.
"Oh my, those two were frightened."
Kicho could not help laughing as she watched the two flee in disarray.
"You're one to talk. If it weren't for you, I..."
"Does dear husband not like watching my Water Release? Last night, clearly..."
"I'm going to work. You can eat lunch by yourself."
Without waiting for Kicho to continue, Yayoi, like Aoi and Rinko, directly chose to flee in defeat.
Running away was shameful, but effective.
(Don't laugh at me when I say this, but I bought a car years ago and have never dared to drive it even once because I'm too timid.)
Before you continue