Lusful Sasuke: Taming Kunoichis

I could feel she was on edge, torn between wanting to let go and fearing crossing a line. With little experience with women, I didn't want to come off as pushy. I'd keep refining the relationship and jump at the chance when she gave clear signs.

A server placed chicken skewers and sake on the table. Shizune took a sip, more to compose herself than out of desire. "You know," she began, her gaze lost in the crowd, "I've been here for a week, and this is the first time I've felt… a little free. But it scares me."

*I guess she's not looking for a one-night stand but a real, emotional relationship.*

"Scared of what?" I asked, tilting my head, looking sincere. I knew the answer, but I wanted her to say it, to open up even more.

She sighed, her fingers tightening around the glass. "Scared of losing myself. My whole life I've wasted it, and I realize I've built nothing for myself. No close friends, no love, nothing." Her voice trembled, and she looked down.

"And you're talking to me like I still have a chance to start over, but… I don't know if I can."

I placed my hand near hers, not touching, just close enough for her to feel my presence. "Shizune, you've spent your life sacrificing for others. You have the right to want something for yourself. You have the right to be happy."

She looked up, her lips trembling slightly. "And if I don't even know what I want?"

I leaned closer, my voice soft but firm. "Then start with small things. This dinner, for example. You're here, with me, not with Tsunade. That's a start, right?"

She laughed, a light sound that vibrated the air between us. "You're clever, you know. Too clever for an 18-year-old."

"Maybe I'm young, but I've seen things that have aged me. And you're not old, Shizune. You're…" I paused, searching for the right word. "Remarkable."

Her laughter faded, replaced by an intense gaze. She stared at me, as if trying to read my soul. "You're different, Sasuke. I remember you in Konoha, always angry, always distant. And now, you're here, talking to me like… like my situation really matters to you."

"You matter," I said simply, holding her gaze.

She blushed again, her fingers gripping her glass. "What you're doing is dangerous, you know?" she murmured, but there was a smile in her voice, a hint of curiosity.

"Maybe," I replied, a smirk on my lips. "But I'm not here to hurt you."

*Taming level: 40%*

We continued eating, the atmosphere relaxing.

When the musicians played a slower melody, I stood up, holding out my hand. "Come on, let's take a walk."

She hesitated, then took my hand, her fingers warm against mine. We moved away from the crowd, following a path lined with lanterns. The night was mild, the air charged with a new tension. "Sasuke," she said suddenly, her voice low. "It feels good to… talk. To feel seen."

I stopped, turning to her. "That's how it should be... And I'll make sure to prove it."

She looked at me, her eyes shining under the lantern light. For a moment, I thought she'd say something, but she merely smiled, a fragile yet sincere smile.

The streets of the hot springs were still vibrant, even late at night. The lanterns flickered, casting shifting shadows on the pavement, and the air smelled of sake and grilled meat. Shizune walked beside me, her midnight blue dress shimmering under the lights, revealing the curve of her thigh through the slit.

*Taming level: 45%*

We approached her inn, a discreet building with wooden shutters and paper lanterns hanging at the entrance. She slowed, her fingers nervously playing with a strand of hair. "Thanks for dinner, Sasuke," she said softly but hesitantly. "It was… really nice."

I stopped, meeting her eyes directly. "Glad you enjoyed it. But the night's not over, is it?" My tone was light, but my words carried a clear invitation.

She blinked, surprised, then laughed nervously. "You're incorrigible." She took a step toward the door, but I saw her gaze linger on me, as if searching for a reason to stay.

"Come on," I said, gesturing to the inn's staircase. "We can talk a bit upstairs. No need to rush."

She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Sasuke, I… I don't know if this is a good idea. You're young, and I…" She stopped, shaking her head. "You're really not the kid I knew, huh?"

I chuckled, climbing the first step. "I told you to stop with the 'kid' thing. Come on, just a moment. Promise, I don't bite." Not yet.

She sighed but followed, her steps light on the wooden stairs. We reached her room, a small space with a sliding door. She opened it, revealing a simple room: a futon, an oil lamp, a window overlooking the city lights. She entered, leaving the door open, a silent sign I was welcome.

I sat on a cushion near the low table, letting her choose her spot. She sat on the edge of the futon, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze avoiding mine. The atmosphere was heavy, charged with a tension neither of us wanted to name. *Taming level: 50%*.