Hearing Rengoku's question, Karin couldn't help but let out a soft giggle.
She slightly lifted her head, looking at Rengoku with those bright, watery eyes, and answered in a gentle voice, "I knew Shishou would definitely take me home, but I didn't expect…"
In fact, Karin had originally only hoped to use the Water of Life to make herself drowsy, so she could peacefully enjoy being held gently in her master's arms.
But in her hazy state back then, she had somehow, without really knowing how, stubbornly kept her master from leaving.
For Rengoku, it didn't really matter where he slept.
And since he had always doted on Karin, he ultimately chose to stay.
Just as the two of them were immersed in this warm atmosphere, Karin hugged Rengoku tightly and said with a very serious expression,
"Mm, Shishou, I like you."
Looking at the shy and adorable Karin in front of him, a fond smile naturally appeared at the corner of Rengoku's lips.
He leaned closer, gently placing a soft kiss on her smooth, jade-like forehead, and said quietly, "I like you too."
Hearing Rengoku say those words himself, Karin's pretty face instantly turned red, like a fully ripened apple.
She felt both incredibly shy and unable to suppress the joy rising from deep inside her.
She leaned lightly against Rengoku and asked softly, "Shishou, why were you able to accept me so quickly?"
Hearing this, Rengoku couldn't help but chuckle, "Silly girl, you're so good. Give me a reason not to accept you."
For Rengoku, as the dignified Fifth Hokage, finding a partner was never a difficult matter.
However, compared to getting to know someone with an unknown background, he actually preferred someone like Karin, someone who understood him and whom he understood in return.
After all, Karin had liked him since she was little, and during the full five years he had been missing, she had steadfastly waited for his return.
That kind of affection had long since settled into deep love. Naturally, Rengoku wouldn't let a girl whose heart was full of him be disappointed.
Karin's feelings for Rengoku were, in truth, the result of many complex emotions layered together.
From her initial admiration and worship, to later dependence and attachment, and now to a love engraved deep into her bones.
Each feeling was like a thread, tightly woven together, forming the inseparable affection in her heart.
And looking across the entire world, it would probably be impossible to find another man who would cherish her as wholeheartedly as Rengoku.
Once she had set her heart on someone, Karin decided she would follow that path to the end.
If Rengoku had ultimately not responded to her feelings, then she would rather remain alone and quietly spend the rest of her life.
At this moment, although Karin hadn't thought about all that, when she felt Rengoku's acceptance, an indescribable joy still rose from the bottom of her heart.
"Alright, Karin, get up first. I've got a lot of things to deal with today, and you need to hurry and report to the barrier team," As he spoke, Rengoku reached out and lightly patted Karin's round, perky backside, signaling her to get up.
Hearing this, although Karin felt very reluctant to part from Rengoku, she still nodded obediently.
She held Rengoku's face with both hands, gave him a quick kiss like a dragonfly touching water, and only then reluctantly moved away from his warm embrace.
"You go wash up and get to work first. Come find me after you're done."
"There are still two Hyuga clan members to revive today."
"Mm, got it, Shishou."
Karin responded. After speaking, she prepared to get out of bed. But just then, she felt her clothes were a bit uncomfortable.
It turned out that the two of them hadn't taken off their clothes when they fell asleep in each other's arms last night, so their outfits were now somewhat messy.
Rengoku's clothes were covered in wrinkles of all sizes, and even the belt at his waist had loosened and come undone at some point.
Karin wasn't much better off. One of her socks had unknowingly slipped down to her ankle, and her halter top had twisted to one side during her tossing and turning in sleep.
Her figure was very full, but Karin's personality was that of a mischievous child.
So although she was a little flushed, she still adjusted her clothes right in front of Rengoku, naturally "accidentally" revealing herself from time to time.
When she noticed Rengoku's heated gaze on her chest, a proud and secretly pleased expression appeared on her face.
Seeing this, Rengoku knocked lightly on Karin's head, somewhat exasperated, "Stop messing around. I'm heading back first."
As he spoke, he casually straightened his own clothes, then gently helped Karin smooth her slightly messy hair.
"Mm, Shishou, I'll come find you later."
Karin stuck out her tongue and stopped being playful.
After Rengoku left, Karin took off her clothes and lightly walked into the bathroom.
Warm water flowed down like a fine rain over her delicate skin, bringing a comfortable sensation.
She stood quietly under the showerhead, letting the water wash over her body, but her thoughts drifted back to what had happened earlier that morning.
As she recalled those interesting moments, the corners of her lips gradually lifted, and a faint, secret smile appeared on her beautiful face.
Then Karin lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling toward the place hidden from her own view. She thought to herself:
'I wonder if Shishou likes it… He probably does, otherwise he wouldn't have been staring.'
Perhaps because the steam in the bathroom was too warm, her cheeks remained flushed with an enticing redness.
———
When Rengoku walked out of Karin's house, he didn't run into anyone along the way.
However, when he gently pushed open the door to his own home, he was surprised to find Ryuri and Kaori staring at him with strange expressions.
The sudden gaze left Rengoku somewhat puzzled, and he couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ryuri walked briskly over to Rengoku, leaned close, and sniffed him, then said suspiciously, "Did you stay over at Karin's place last night?"
Faced with Ryuri's questioning, Rengoku paused for a moment, but still nodded honestly.
"Yeah."
He was also secretly amazed at Ryuri's keen sense of smell, to actually notice the lingering scent on him.
Rengoku subconsciously raised his arm and sniffed himself, and sure enough, he caught a faint fragrance.
It carried the scent of the body wash Karin usually used, mixed with a subtle hint of her own unique body scent.
Ryuri turned her head and exchanged a glance with Kaori, and the two of them both had a glint of gossip in their eyes.
With a grin, she asked teasingly, "So from now on, should we call Karin 'sister-in-law'?"
Rengoku smiled, then said to Ryuri in a serious tone, "We're not married yet, so you can save that title for later."
Then he changed his tone slightly and added, "But her status as your future sister-in-law is already set in stone."
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