Swish!
In the next instant, the pair appeared on the large bed of a hotel suite. The mattress dipped under their combined weight, shaking softly.
Pakura blinked up at the ornate ceiling in confusion. "W-where is this?"
"Tatsuno Town, Tsukimiya Inn, Suite 307," Uchiha Gen answered casually, propping his head on one hand with a grin.
Pakura's eyes widened.
She knew Tatsuno Town well, it was the closest settlement to the Sunagakure front lines, their supply station and lifeline.
Her gaze sharpened. "No, seriously... how did you do that?"
Gen tilted his head. "You've heard of the Flying Thunder God, haven't you?"
"Of course I have. It's the Fourth Hokage's signature ninjutsu—the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze."
"I've only recently mastered it," Gen said lightly. "You're the first to know."
Pakura froze, momentarily speechless. Her heart swelled with pride for her lover's terrifying genius, yet the shinobi in her couldn't help the pang of jealousy.
Sunagakure struggled to raise even a handful of talents, yet Konoha seemed blessed with one prodigy after another. And now, the Yellow Flash's fearsome jutsu which was thought to be lost, had returned through Gen.
A blessing for Konoha, a warning to the rest of the shinobi world.
He leaned in, voice teasing, "Don't go spreading that around. Now, take a bath. You can't escape me tonight." He pinched her chin playfully.
Pakura gave a token protest. "I didn't bring a change of clothes."
"There are robes and pajamas in the wardrobe," Gen replied smoothly. "But if you insist on your own, I'll just fetch them for you."
Seeing no way to dodge, she gave his hand a twist and slipped free. "Fine. I'll bathe." She crossed the room to the wardrobe, selecting a set of pajamas.
Gen lounged on the bed, chin resting on his palm, openly admiring her graceful silhouette. The curve of her waist, the long line of her legs, the proud kunoichi of Sunagakure moved like flowing fire.
His gaze lingered, deliberate.
Pakura, sensitive as ever, felt the heat of his eyes on her back. Pride and shyness warred in her chest, and she hurried her motions, cheeks warm.
Soon the sound of water echoed through the suite. The wooden bathroom door kept her form hidden, though the splashing stirred his imagination.
Gen rose, slipped into a hotel robe, lit a cigarette, and poured himself coffee. Stepping out onto the balcony, he inhaled the cool night air.
The desert was harsh, with brutal days and frigid nights but its skies were unmatched.
The Milky Way spilled across the heavens in silver fire, the moon casting a pure glow over the dunes. Compared to the Land of Fire, the stars here seemed endless, raw, and untamed.
By the time he stubbed out the cigarette and drained his cup, the bathroom door creaked open.
Pakura emerged, damp and radiant, but her hair dry. Gen raised a brow. "Didn't wash your hair?"
"I'll do it tomorrow. I didn't want you waiting too long," she answered with a gentle smile.
He chuckled. "So thoughtful. I'll just have to repay that kindness."
Sweeping her up without warning, he carried her back to the bed.
Pakura's cheeks colored. "At least turn the lights off."
"The main light, yes," Gen agreed, flicking the switch. A warm bedside lamp remained. "This way, the atmosphere's better."
She laughed softly, conceding. And in the quiet glow, the night was theirs and spring warmth shared without restraint.
Morning came.
At six, Pakura stirred, eyes hazy until they focused on Gen's sleeping face. She nudged him gently. "It's late. You need to send me back."
He exhaled, half-awake, and murmured, "Mn." Then, with a lazy smile, added, "I'll stay here another day. How about we continue tonight?"
Her whisper was barely audible, softer than a mosquito's hum. "Mm…"
The two rose, dressed quickly, and in a flash of Flying Thunder God light, Gen returned her to her tent at the Sunagakure camp.
Back in the Inn, he ordered breakfast, ate leisurely, then left town to test the technique he had spent all night refining the Soul Contract Summoning.
He wrote the formulas on a scroll, imprinted a fragment of his soul, and attempted to activate the contract. Failure.
Unfazed, he adjusted the design, tested again.
Hours passed.
By noon, he had nearly perfected the system. Only the summoning location lacked precision. Another obstacle; most shinobi couldn't afford to split off fragments of their soul.
A workaround was necessary.
Skipping lunch, he pressed on.
After two more hours of grinding experimentation, he achieved it. The final version required only mental energy instead of soul fragments. By channeling chakra into the scroll, ordinary shinobi could sign contracts.
The difference was that soul signers like Gen had priority and authority trumping all others.
Satisfied, he returned to Tatsuno Town for a late lunch, then immediately flashed to the Land of Lightning, where he imprinted Kyouki's soul onto the summoning scroll as well.
The round trip was brutal on his chakra reserves. It took him nearly four hours to recover.
When evening fell, he appeared once more in Pakura's tent then waited.
She returned, weary from duty, only to be whisked away again. Disguised with Transformation Technique, the pair dined quietly in town before shopping hand-in-hand beneath the lanterns.
By nine, they were back at the Inn.
Pakura retreated into the bath again. Gen, ever incorrigible, stripped and with a flash of Flying Thunder God, appeared right inside the steamy room.
She yelped, covering herself instinctively. "Gen! Why did you..."
"It's faster if we bathe together."
Her lips curved, half-exasperated. "Faster? More like you're plotting something."
He grinned wolfishly. "Well, if you put it like that, how could I disappoint?"
"Don't get handsy."
"Alright."
"Not with your mouth either."
Gen smirked. "Neither this nor that? Demoness....you're the one tempting me. Now suffer the consequences…"
The sound of water mixed with laughter and gasps, a rhythm of splashes and soft cries weaving together, a symphony of three voices, carrying on for over an hour.
When they finally emerged, Pakura's cheeks glowed, her voice tender as she leaned against him. "Gen… what is this?"
He placed a scroll into her hands. "A Summoning Contract. With it, you can summon Shuryu, Shizukamaru, or Kyouki. Sunagakure is too far from Konoha. Even with Flying Thunder God, I can't always reach you in time. If you're in danger, they'll protect you."
Her eyes shimmered, touched to the core. She threw her arms around his neck, whispering, "You're so good to me."
"Then later, you'll cooperate with me, won't you?" he teased, kissing her forehead.
Pakura blushed fiercely. "…Mn. I'll cooperate."
"Good. Now, let me teach you how to sign it. My scroll works differently than normal contracts."
Under his guidance, she imprinted her will onto the scroll. Once complete, Gen tucked it away, giving her one last warning.
"You can summon them, but never grow careless. Summoning takes time. And Pakura, never trust anyone completely. Not even allies."
Her lips curved knowingly. "And what about you?"
He met her gaze steadily. "Not even me. Someone impersonated me not long ago. Tried to frame me."
Her expression sharpened. "What happened?"
"You'll know in time. It's been dealt with. But remember, if you ever doubt me, summon Shuryu, Kyouki, and Shizukamaru. They're fragments of my soul. Only I can command them instinctively. If they hesitate or disobey, the 'Gen' before you is a fake. Even the most perfect Transformation can't mimic that. Not even 'them'."
Pakura nodded, lips brushing his as she whispered, "I understand… mn…"