Inside the room, the heavy sound of gasping breath slowly began to settle.
But the thick, musky scent of their union remained, a physical testament to how intense the "battle" had been.
Lying atop Tsunade's flushed, voluptuous frame, Saiki breathed shallowly.
His nose was buried in the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling the intoxicating scent of her skin.
Seeing the beads of sweat glistening on her pale throat, he had a sudden urge to lick them away, but he managed to control himself.
The Dual Cultivation was complete.
Even though Tsunade had technically consented through her silence, Saiki didn't dare move yet.
He was terrified that the moment he pulled away, she would revert to her cold, distant self.
A woman's afterglow lasts much longer than a man's.
Because of the intensity of Saiki's final sprint, it took several minutes for Tsunade to return to reality.
Feeling Saiki's weight and remembering her own compliance, Tsunade felt a fresh wave of shame.
She wanted to push him off, but her heart held her back.
However, as they rested, she felt his weapon beginning to stir against her thigh again.
She couldn't pretend to be asleep anymore.
"G... Get up!" Tsunade whispered, giving him a light, bashful shove.
If he could, Saiki would have stayed in her embrace until the end of time.
But since she had spoken, he knew the act was over.
With a dejected sigh, Saiki pushed himself up on his arms.
The twin snowy peaks that had been flattened against his chest instantly sprang back into their majestic, perky shape.
Their eyes met. Seeing Saiki staring at her with such raw devotion, Tsunade's face burned even brighter.
She put on a mask of fake anger and glared at him. "Move it. Now."
She realized then that her plump, muscular thighs were still clamped around his waist, and her calves were locked behind his back.
She hurriedly uncrossed her legs and turned her head to the side, unable to meet his eyes.
But Saiki didn't get up. He stayed hovering over her, staring.
He was afraid. He was terrified that if he left her bed now, she would close the door on him forever.
Seeing him stay put—and worse, feeling his "warrior" entering a battle-ready state again—Tsunade hit her limit.
"GET OFF ME! Do you hear me?!" She glared at him, her voice low but vibrating with genuine fury.
Saiki didn't move. Tsunade tried to scoot back, but Saiki slumped forward again, pinning her down and wrapping her in a hug.
"Saiki! What the hell?! Let go! NOW!" Tsunade thrashed beneath him.
But Saiki held her slender waist in a death-grip.
His solid chest crushed her large, soft breasts into flat circles of pale flesh as he refused to budge.
Despite her pounding on his shoulders, he wouldn't let go.
"Tsunade... I love you. Please... please just accept me," Saiki confessed, his voice loud and clear in the silence.
He had learned from his last mistake; he wasn't letting her hide behind "treatment" this time.
Hearing the confession, Tsunade froze for a heartbeat before her struggle turned violent.
"What are you thinking?! I don't love you! Stop dreaming! This was for your recovery! I only did this because I had to!" she screamed, her voice bordering on hysterical.
"No! I don't believe you! You love me too, Tsunade! If you didn't, you would never have given yourself to me like this!" Saiki roared back.
To emphasize his point, he thrust his hips several times with brutal strength.
Tsunade tried to fire back another denial, but as her womb took several direct hits, the soul-shaking pleasure made her scream.
Her eyes rolled back, her vision blurring as her internal restraints buckled.
"Stop... stop... STOP IT!" she gasped, her hands pushing frantically against his stomach.
Saiki stopped instantly. He knew he couldn't push her into a genuine hate-spiral.
Right now, they needed to talk.
Tsunade let out a breath of relief, but she didn't resume her struggle. She was terrified of triggering him again.
Saiki looked at her, his eyes bloodshot and intense.
"Tsunade. I love you. I am completely serious."
His volume panicked her. She slapped his shoulder.
"Keep your voice down! Kushina is in the next room! Do you want her to hear us?!"
Seeing her so worried about being discovered made Saiki feel a flicker of hope.
He felt her body contract and pulse around him in a nervous reflex.
He hugged her tighter, burying his face in her ear.
"Sister Tsunade... I love you. I really, really love you. Without you, my world is grey. Please, don't leave me again," he whispered, his voice thick with a genuine, heartbreaking vulnerability.
Hearing the pain in his voice, Tsunade's body went limp.
She felt the powerful thud of his heart against her chest. She felt the absolute, unwavering strength in his arms—the strength of a man who wanted to pull her into his very soul.
Each word of his confession was like a boulder dropped into a still lake, sending massive waves through her already shattered heart.
Her breathing turned into short, sharp gasps. She had to bite her tongue to keep from sobbing.
As Saiki had said, the first time was a necessity.
But tonight? Tonight was different. She had come here because she loved him.
Saiki's condition was bad, yes. But he could have recovered through meditation and time.
Tsunade had chosen to offer herself. She had chosen to crawl into his bed while he was asleep.
Her mind screamed "No" because of the age gap and her status as his mentor.
She feared the judgment of the world. She wasn't like Saiki; she couldn't just ignore the eyes of others.
She tried to push him away again, her voice sounding hollow and weak.
"You... you're talking nonsense! It's treatment! Just treatment! Who... who could ever love a brat like you..."
The words died in her throat, as if she were choking on her own lie.
Under the moonlight, Saiki pushed himself up slightly.
His eyes were bright with a terrifying clarity, locking onto hers.
There was no mockery in his gaze, no games. Only a stubborn, ancient brand of love that made her feel faint.
"I don't care about 'treatment'," Saiki rasped, his voice heavy with conviction. "I only know that you came to me when I was broken. I only know that I am holding you now, and I'm never letting go."
He pulled her closer, his arms a vice of possessive need.
"Sister Tsunade... don't push me away. Not tonight."
Tsunade felt the last of her strength evaporate. The will to fight died the moment she looked into his eyes.
She was forced to look up at him, her face burning with a heat that reached her very marrow.
Her heart felt like it was going to burst through her ribs.
The denial was on the tip of her tongue, but not a single sound came out.