Chapter 63: Gifts and Promises
"Don't lie to me," Tsunade murmured, though her voice lacked any real conviction. "There's no such thing as immortality in this world... but... since you don't care about our age difference... then I promise you." Her words were soft, almost whispered into his chest, and she kept her head lowered, hiding the blush she could feel spreading across her cheeks.
The truth was, her feelings for Shinra had taken root long ago, when he was still just a remarkably perceptive and powerful child. It had been confusing and unbelievable at the time—how could she feel that way about a little boy? But feelings were feelings, and they refused to be rational. She had even experienced pangs of jealousy over Mikoto and Kushina's closeness to him.
She had never spoken of it, burying it deep out of a mix of embarrassment and fear. The ten-year age gap was a chasm, and the thought of the scornful whispers—"cradle robber," "cougar"—had been enough to silence her. But if Shinra himself didn't care, why should she let the opinions of others dictate her happiness?
A triumphant smile spread across Shinra's face at her acceptance.
"Don't get too cocky," Tsunade warned, trying to reclaim some of her usual bravado as she saw his expression. "Maybe one day I'll get tired of you and kick you to the curb."
Shinra's smile only widened, becoming a knowing, confident smirk. "Hah! That day will never come. Once you become my woman, you are mine for life." His tone was possessive, leaving no room for argument.
The sheer, domineering confidence in his voice sent a simultaneous, undeniable thrill through all three women, their eyes glazing over for a fleeting second.
"What's the matter?" Shinra preened, mistaking their dazed expressions for awe. "Captivated by my kingly aura? I know it's inevitable. A handsome man like me is destined to captivate a multitude of women."
"Oh?" Mikoto's voice was sweet but carried a dangerous, sugary edge. "So, having Sister Tsunade isn't enough for you? You plan to captivate a 'multitude'?" She deliberately emphasized the last word.
The spell was broken. Tsunade and Kushina's gazes sharpened, turning from dazed to distinctly unfriendly. This scoundrel was already thinking about other women while they were right here!
"I was just joking!" Shinra backpedaled quickly, feeling three sets of delicate but firm fingers find their way to the soft skin of his waist. "I was just trying to be cool! Do you have to take it so seriously?"
In truth, he had just been narcissistically showing off. Instead of a successful display of charm, he had successfully trapped himself.
'But really,' he thought, 'a man as dashing as me exudes coolness without even trying.'
"Let's eat!" he declared, deftly removing the hands from his sides and changing the subject. "I could smell the food from the doorway, and it's making me hungry."
"Then you should go take a shower first," Kushina said, wrinkling her nose playfully as she extricated herself from his hug. "You smell like sweat."
"I don't smell anything," Shinra retorted, sniffing his own arm. But he went to wash up anyway; even without a strong odor, the sticky feeling of dried sweat was uncomfortable.
After a quick shower, he changed into a fresh, clean kimono and returned to the dining room. The table was laden with a feast far more extravagant than usual, making his mouth water.
"I thought you didn't want to cook meat?" he asked, looking at the various meat dishes.
"Today is your birthday," Mikoto explained softly. "Naturally, we want to make you happy. This is part of our gift to you."
Kushina then brought over the wrapped packages from earlier. There were three. Shinra opened Mikoto's first. Inside was a beautifully crafted, elegant kimono.
His smile was all the thanks Mikoto needed, and she blushed, looking down shyly. In their culture, a girl giving a kimono to a boy was a profound gesture, symbolizing a wish to be together for a lifetime. Mikoto's gift spoke volumes.
"Mikoto, you're so sly! I didn't even think of giving a kimono!" Kushina pouted, her cheeks puffing out. They had shopped together, but had kept their final gifts a secret from each other.
Shinra carefully folded the kimono and set it aside, then turned to Kushina's large, square box. When he opened it and pulled out the contents, he couldn't help but laugh. It was a large, fluffy, and very cute teddy bear.
"Kushina... this is a wonderful gift, but it seems more like something a girl would like?" he said gently.
"Hmph! Take it or leave it!" she huffed, feigning offense.
"Since it's a gift from you, I will cherish it deeply," Shinra assured her. He raised a hand, and a golden, rippling portal—the Gate of Babylon—opened in the air. The dazzling display made all three women blink in surprise.
He carefully placed the teddy bear inside the vault, where it became the first official "treasure" in his collection.
"What kind of jutsu was that? It's so bright!" Tsunade asked, rubbing her eyes.
Shinra just smiled mysteriously. The Gate of Babylon's visual effects were certainly flashy, even if its contents were currently a bit lacking.
"And what did you get him, Sister Tsunade?" Mikoto asked, curious.
"You'll see when he opens it," Tsunade replied with a knowing smile.
Tsunade's gift was a long, narrow box. Shinra opened it to reveal a sheathed katana. The handle was intricately wrapped and adorned with golden patterns.
"I found this in the Senju family vault," Tsunade explained. "It's said to be able to cut through iron as if it were mud, a blade without equal. It's called the Soul-Severing Sword. A legendary blade."
"The Soul-Severing Sword? On par with the Sword of Kusanagi and the Samehada?" Shinra was intrigued. The Kusanagi and Samehada were famous in this world, but he had never heard of this particular sword.
"Indeed," Tsunade confirmed with a nod.
Shinra drew the blade. It gleamed with a brilliant, cold light, its sharpness palpable even from a distance. Unlike the dormant, volcanic power of Ryūjin Jakka, the Soul-Severing Sword was all outward—proud, sharp, and deadly.
Of course, the two were incomparable. Even in its sealed state, Ryūjin Jakka's innate quality far surpassed this blade. But as Shinra held it, he felt a strange resonance within his eyes, a faint stirring connected to his Susanoo.
"Thank you, Tsunade. It's a magnificent gift. I will put it to good use." He opened the Gate of Babylon once more and carefully placed the sword inside his treasury.
"As long as you like it," she said, her smile genuine. "Now, let's eat! Mikoto spent a long time making this cake. Cut it and let's taste it." Tsunade took the sword and, with a practiced motion, sliced the large, beautifully decorated cake in the center.
The celebration lasted well into the night. By the time it was over, it was too late for Tsunade to return home, so she stayed the night. She would be leaving for the battlefield in the morning.
Back in his room, Shinra didn't go straight to sleep. He had one more important event for the day. He closed his eyes and willed himself into the System space. A familiar, glowing lottery wheel awaited him.
There was no way he was sleeping before he took his birthday draw.