Chapter 5: Proposal
When they returned to the daimyo's residence, everyone inside could not hide their surprise.
Over the years, Minamikawa Yuu had never shown the slightest interest in women.
Although handmaidens served within the residence, he always kept them at a distance, and to this day there were no rumors of anyone ever attending to his bed.
So no one expected that after this outing, the daimyo would return with a strange woman at his side.
That alone was shocking enough.
But when they saw the woman clearly, the shock only deepened.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya looked different from ordinary women at a glance, and her beauty was especially striking.
Her white hair and pale eyes were even more unusual in this era.
Standing there, she looked like a goddess descended into the mortal world, inspiring an indescribable sense of awe.
Among the attendants, strange rumors quickly began to spread, saying Lady Kaguya was a visitor from the heavens.
If she truly was such a goddess, then perhaps it was only natural that His Highness the daimyo would be captivated.
Yet compared to what everyone imagined, Minamikawa Yuu's behavior afterward was even more unexpected.
From the day Ōtsutsuki Kaguya followed him back to the residence, he began to actively show his devotion.
Calling it devotion was putting it politely.
He was fawning.
He personally delivered three meals a day, and before nightfall, he always visited Kaguya's quarters.
Not only were his visits frequent, but every movement he made was measured and proper, strictly following etiquette as if he feared offending her with even a single misstep.
Given his status as the daimyo of the Land of Ancestors, such behavior was so earnest it was almost humble.
If the person receiving it were anyone else, they would probably have been moved to tears.
Unsurprisingly, those actions attracted countless eyes.
Many retainers complained in private, believing His Highness had become negligent, abandoning state affairs for a woman. To them, it was a blow to the dignity of the daimyo.
But Minamikawa Yuu had no choice.
She was not some ordinary mortal.
She was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
In the shinobi world, that name alone was enough to suppress everything.
Forget mere state affairs. Even if it were something more important, as long as it could win her favor, Minamikawa Yuu would not hesitate to give it up.
Under his persistent enthusiasm, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's attitude gradually softened.
During their time together, Minamikawa Yuu discovered that Kaguya did not seem to be the cold, heartless existence he had imagined, someone who viewed mortals as ants.
She had her own emotions, though they were distant and restrained.
And because she did not understand mortal life, she seemed indifferent to many things, like a goddess watching from far above.
But as long as you stayed close enough, you could still receive her kindness.
And because she lacked worldly knowledge, earning that kindness was not particularly difficult.
In only one month, through Minamikawa Yuu's efforts, their favorability had risen to a certain level.
Under the moonlit night, scarlet flowers bloomed quietly.
At some point, Kaguya lifted her eyes and looked forward.
A young man stood there in silence.
His features were handsome, delicate and refined, and he carried an unusual temperament that left a deep impression at first glance.
At this moment, he had lowered his head, lost in thought, as if he were struggling with some problem.
"Yuu…"
Kaguya murmured softly, calling his name.
When he did not react, she raised a hand toward him, as if she wanted to touch his face.
But before her fingers could reach him, another hand caught her wrist.
Minamikawa Yuu had done it instinctively. He grabbed her hand and held it in his palm.
Only after the motion was complete did he realize what he had done, and he jolted as if waking from a trance.
Fortunately, Kaguya did not react strongly.
She simply stood there, her Byakugan quietly watching him, her expression unchanged.
Minamikawa Yuu finally breathed out.
"What are you thinking about?" Kaguya asked. "You seem very distressed."
"Have you run into trouble?"
"Mm, yes."
Minamikawa Yuu smiled faintly.
"There is indeed some trouble. It's been bothering me."
"Can I help?" Kaguya asked.
From the beginning until now, this was the first time she had actively expressed her own will.
Minamikawa Yuu felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. His efforts over the past few months had not been meaningless.
But he still shook his head.
"I can handle it."
"Besides, I can't keep troubling you."
He smiled again, but this time there was something deeper behind it.
"As you said yourself, Lady Kaguya, there will come a day when you must leave. If I always rely on your help, what will I do when that day comes?"
"I can take you with me," Kaguya said. "As long as you are willing."
Hearing that, warmth rose in Minamikawa Yuu's chest.
The Kaguya before him did not seem to be hiding some complicated motive.
During their months together, although she had not revealed her true purpose, she had told him about her origins from beyond the heavens.
She came from the Ōtsutsuki Clan beyond the heavens. She did not belong here. One day, she would leave.
Of course, that was a matter for the future.
After all, compared to the long lifespan of the Ōtsutsuki, Minamikawa Yuu might already be dead long before she ever left.
But for Kaguya, who was naturally indifferent, being able to say such words already showed how much space he occupied in her heart.
Time continued to pass.
Half a month later, Minamikawa Yuu gathered his courage and proposed to Kaguya.
For him, it was an extremely risky step.
The one he was proposing to was not a mortal woman, but a visitor from beyond the heavens.
With the power she possessed, if he offended her, even as the daimyo of a nation, his end would still be miserable.
If not for the foundation built over the past months, Minamikawa Yuu would never have dared to take that step.
Fortunately, Kaguya did not refuse.
On the day he proposed, Kaguya looked as indifferent as ever.
Faced with his words, she responded calmly, only asking one question.
"If I have to leave one day, are you willing to go with me?"
Her voice was soft, her expression detached, but Minamikawa Yuu, who had come to understand her, knew she was serious.
So he smiled as well, answering with the same seriousness.
"Naturally, I am willing."
After he spoke, Kaguya looked at him for a long time.
Then she finally nodded.
From that day onward, their relationship entered a brand new chapter.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya became Minamikawa Yuu's wife.
To outsiders, the rumors claimed she was merely a concubine.
But within Minamikawa Yuu's residence, there was only Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and no one else.
When word spread, the entire Land of Ancestors buzzed with discussion.
Many elder retainers were distressed, heartbroken, and restless.