Being questioned so directly and intensely by Shun, coupled with the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind just now, Tenten's cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.
She wanted to say that she was just unsettled after her morning fortune-telling, but she didn't know how to explain the origin of this panic. She wanted to mention the dazzling 'Lovers' card from her Tarot reading, but felt too shy to speak of it.
She stammered for a long time, as if something was stuck in her throat, unable to squeeze out a complete sentence, only making fragmented sounds.
"I... I..."
Shun took in her flustered and shy appearance, a sly smile quickly flashing in his eyes.
He slowed his pace, approaching her step by step, until the distance between them was less than half a foot before he steadily stopped.
He bent down slightly, his gaze level with her lowered head, and teased her in a playful tone, "Tenten, why is your face as red as a ripe cherry? Could it be... you're too happy to see me, or are you secretly in love with me? Have I hit the nail on the head?"
His warm breath brushed against the top of her head, bringing a tingling sensation that instantly tensed Tenten's body.
"I... I didn't..."
Tenten was startled by his direct and bold teasing, her body stiffening. Her eyes darted around nervously, sometimes glancing at the Kunai scattered on the ground, sometimes at the vines outside the courtyard wall, only daring not to meet Shun's deep gaze.
She had never been teased so directly by a man in her life, let alone by Shun. For a moment, she felt all the blood rush to her head, her heart filled with shame and panic, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
Shun saw her trying to cover up and making things worse, and the smile in his eyes deepened, but he no longer teased her.
He straightened up and changed the subject, his gaze locked firmly on Tenten's face. "I just sensed someone secretly thinking about me, and that person will become my queen in the future, so I followed the sensation and came here. I didn't expect to meet you."
These words were half-true and half-false. He had already decided to visit today. The false part was that the so-called 'sensation' was merely an excuse to push things along, just to test her feelings and see if Tenten, as the information suggested, was easily moved by romance and a sense of destiny.
After hearing these words, Tenten's head buzzed, completely losing her composure. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and the 'Lovers' card that had appeared in the morning suddenly became clear in her mind, even the red threads entwined on the card were distinctly visible.
Her cheeks flushed even more, as if on fire, and her breathing became rapid, her chest rising and falling slightly.
She opened her mouth, wanting to retort but not knowing where to start, and a strange tremor, which she herself was unwilling to admit, inexplicably arose in her heart.
Could the 'person secretly thinking about him' that Shun mentioned really be her? But how was that possible?
She had only occasionally fantasized about the appearance of this Ninja World overlord in novels.
Tenten suppressed the panic in her heart and stammered, "Shun-sama... You're joking. How could that be?"
Despite her words, her gaze became even more evasive, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly. She dared not meet Shun's half-smiling gaze, fearing that he would see through her thoughts at a glance.
Shun watched her contradictory and evasive behavior, and the smile in his eyes, along with the look of certainty, grew even stronger.
He slowly raised his hand, gently hooking Tenten's chin. The force wasn't heavy, but it carried an undeniable dominance, forcing her to lift her head and meet his gaze.
His eyes were as deep as the night sky, as if stars flowed within them, carrying a fatal allure. He locked onto her flustered eyes without blinking, not allowing her any escape.
"Tenten, look at me. Your eyes tell me you just lied."
He leaned in slightly, and the distance between them instantly closed to the point where their noses almost touched. Their breaths were clearly audible to each other, leaving her almost no strength to struggle.
"This means you were really secretly thinking about me just now, right?"
Before Tenten could retort, he curled his lips into a light smile, his tone carrying a hint of casual pride, yet it was exceptionally captivating. "Women who like me are all over the Ninja World, far more than a billion. They all wish they could be by my side, what do you have to be shy about?"
Tenten, being a sensitive and imaginative person, had read many romantic novels and picture books about Shun. She already had a vague image of this strategic overlord in her heart.
Now, being guided so directly and forcefully by him, his deep and captivating eyes and soul-stirring words intertwined, instantly broke through her last psychological defense, and her mind uncontrollably began to wander.
She imagined herself truly becoming his queen, as he said.
The temperature of her cheeks grew even hotter, and her eyes, which were initially flustered, gradually became tinged with a hint of haziness and shyness that she herself hadn't noticed, like glass covered with a layer of mist.
"Shun-sama... I..."
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but only uttered a fragmented murmur.
The next second, Shun swept her into his arms, his arms steadily supporting her knees and back.
He looked deeply into Tenten's eyes, with great confidence. "Tenten, I can now confirm that you are one of my future queens."
As his words fell, before Tenten could react, his warm lips covered hers.
That domineering and experienced kiss, in its lingering twists and turns, pried open her teeth and intertwined with her tongue, conveying his feelings without reservation.
This series of rapid and precise attacks brought Tenten's brain to the brink of overheating.
Her face flushed, her body instantly lost strength, and she leaned softly into his embrace.
"Shun-sama... don't..."
But in that 'don't', there was an imperceptible shyness and flutter.
Shun saw her pushing and pulling, and the indulgence in his eyes deepened. Not only did he not stop, but he leaned down again, responding to her shyness with a deeper, more lingering kiss.
Tenten leaned weakly in Shun's arms. Her hands, which had been pressing against his chest, had unknowingly clutched his lapels.
Shun looked at Tenten's captivated state and secretly sighed, 'She really is gentle and sensitive, easily moved. It seems I already had a good impression in Tenten's heart, which saved a lot of effort.'
He slowly pulled back a little, his forehead resting against hers, their noses touching, their breaths intertwining.
He kissed her again lightly, on the reddened corner of her lips, and said in an unprecedentedly gentle tone, "Silly girl, this is fate's arrangement, and you're also moved, aren't you?"
Tenten, having her thoughts exposed by his words, blushed and buried her face in his chest, softly pouting, "Shun-sama... you're too much, how could you suddenly kiss me like that?"
Though she complained, her body was honest, showing no intention of breaking free. Instead, she greedily absorbed his warmth, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat.
Shun chuckled, the vibration in his chest passing through his clothes to Tenten, making her heart tingle.
He gently patted her back, like comforting a wronged kitten. "Tenten, I was abrupt, but I don't regret it. I know this way of pursuing you is a bit overbearing, but I am serious about you. From the moment I decided to include you among my queens, I never thought of letting go, so you are destined to be mine."
The sun gradually climbed higher, filtering through the giant trees next to the training ground, casting dappled light spots onto their embracing figures.
The scattered Kunai on the ground, the rustling of vines outside the courtyard wall, and the occasional clanging of ninja tools in the distance all became the backdrop for this sweet atmosphere, making the moment exceptionally tranquil and beautiful.
Tenten remained quiet in Shun's arms for a long time. She finally struggled to lift her head and softly voiced the question in her heart, "But... but the outside world says you have many women around you, already seventeen queens. I... I'm afraid I'll just be one of them and won't get your true feelings."
By the end, her eyes showed a hint of imperceptible sadness.
Before she could finish, Shun gently pinched her cheek, then pressed a deep kiss on her forehead. "Others are others, and you are you. With me, every queen has exclusive favoritism, and I won't let you suffer any grievances. Give me a chance to show you my true feelings, okay?"
Tenten looked at the sincerity in his deep eyes, and then recalled the clear 'Lovers' card from her morning fortune-telling.
She nodded gently, a sweet smile blooming. "I... I understand."
Upon receiving her response, Shun's eyes instantly burst with dazzling light. He carefully set her down, but still held her hand tightly, his fingers intertwined with hers, unwilling to let go even an inch.
"Tenten, since you've agreed, then from today on, you are officially mine."
His tone carried a hint of domineering joy, and he looked down at her flushed cheeks, his eyes full of indulgence.
"I'll have someone move your things to the palace. From now on, you'll live by my side so I can take care of you. You're not good at managing finances and lack adaptability, but with me, no one can bully you."
Tenten's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing and a secret anticipation arose in her heart.
"Ah? Move now? This... isn't this too soon? I haven't packed yet."