The two women walked up to him and looked him up and down without a word.
One wore an almost-smile, while the other gave him a meaningful look. Their gazes made Xuandou squirm.
He chuckled awkwardly.
"Um... let me explain..."
Kushina huffed.
"Explain what?"
Kurenai added quietly:
"Explain why you're such a womanizer? Why you fall for every woman you meet?"
Xuandou: "..."
He instinctively looked at the two women watching from behind.
Anko chewed on a dumpling and shrugged innocently, her expression clearly saying: Don't look at me. This has nothing to do with me.
Pakura's smile grew even brighter, her schadenfreude written all over her face: Serves you right for fooling around.
Xuandou took a deep breath and decided to use his ultimate move: changing the subject.
"Um... look how beautiful our new ninja village is! Want to take a look around together?"
Kushina and Kurenai exchanged a glance and snorted in unison, neither answering.
Just as Xuandou was racking his brains for what to say next, hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.
"Lord Xuandou!"
Kurai Masanobu came running over, out of breath.
The sight of the enormous complex that had appeared out of thin air left him rooted to the spot.
"Th-this... this..."
"Lord Xuandou, when... when was this built? This was an empty lot just yesterday!"
Xuandou inwardly cheered.
My lifeline is here!
He hurried forward a few steps, putting on an air of casual composure.
"A trifling matter. Hardly worth mentioning."
"Masanobu, what brings you here?"
Kurai Masanobu tore his eyes away from the buildings with difficulty, swallowed, and remembered his business.
"Oh, yes, my lord. Now that you are the Land of Hot Water's Kuni no Miyatsuko Shugo-kō, custom requires you to have an official residence."
"But your fief has only just been designated,