vstars Chapter 739 Sister
Chapter 739 Sister
Looking at the soft, almost sinking-in-to-the-bed blankets and the various exquisite household items in the room, Zhang Hai couldn't feel at ease. This wasn't a prison; it was several times more luxurious and comfortable than his old dormitory in the Anbu! A sense of unease crept into his heart, and he asked softly, "Tsunade-neechan...did you secretly bring me out without the Hokage's knowledge? This...does this count as a prison break?"
"You!!" Upon hearing Zhang Hai's words, Tsunade's eyebrows furrowed, and anger instantly ignited in her eyes. She abruptly raised her hand, as if to strike.
Seeing this, Zhang Hai immediately shut his mouth, raised his hands in surrender, and plastered a fawning smile on his face: "Oh! Sister Tsunade, I was just kidding! Just kidding! Please don't be angry, I was wrong! I was wrong! I'll stay in this prison and I won't run away! I'll listen to whatever you say, if you tell me to go east, I'll never go west!"
Tsunade withdrew her hand, glaring at him irritably. "You're smart to know what's good for you! Humph!" She pulled a stack of task sheets from her pocket and casually stuck them on the wall. "These are your tasks. One task per day, no slacking off! If you don't finish them, you'll be in big trouble!"
Zhang Hai stepped forward, looking at the densely packed task sheets pasted on the wall, his eyes filled with doubt. He randomly picked one up and glanced at it, discovering that the research content on it was actually a topic he had started researching more than half a year ago.
"These tasks... weren't they started being researched more than half a year ago? Why aren't they finished yet?" Zhang Hai asked, puzzled. Given his efficiency, these studies should have yielded results long ago.
Upon hearing Zhang Hai's words, Tsunade's face flashed with embarrassment. Instead of answering his question, she abruptly turned around and roared at him, "You're a prisoner! No questions allowed! Just complete the mission properly! Stop talking nonsense!" Her tone was tinged with anger and embarrassment, clearly indicating she didn't want Zhang Hai to know the "secrets" behind it all.
"I'm sorry." He apologized instinctively, his voice filled with sincere remorse and a hint of indescribable frustration. He knew he had overstepped his bounds and hurt her. He released her hand, his eyes filled with self-reproach. He prepared to turn and leave, giving her space to calm down and himself a chance to reflect. He had just taken a step when Tsunade's slightly hoarse yet firm voice came from behind: "Wait." Zhang Hai stopped. He turned around and saw the complex emotions in Tsunade's eyes—shame, anger, and a hint of reluctance and… a plea for her to stay. Tsunade took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm, saying, "Your injuries haven't fully healed, and it's getting dark outside. Rest here tonight. I'll stay with you." Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable gentleness. Zhang Hai was silent for a moment, lowering his eyes, his heart churning like the waves of the sea. He knew he shouldn't stay, but he couldn't resist the temptation. He finally looked up, meeting her complex gaze, and softly said, "Okay." He lay back down on the simple bed, while Tsunade sat silently on the other side of the room, maintaining a safe distance. The flickering candlelight stretched their shadows, but couldn't illuminate the inner turmoil and turmoil within them. The flickering candlelight lengthened the silence in the wooden house, the awkwardness almost audible in the air. Zhang Hai lay on the bed, his slapped cheek throbbing, the physical pain far less intense than the self-reproach and regret deep within him. He recalled everything that had just happened: Tsunade's anger, his own lust, and the crisp sound of the slap—it all felt like a bizarre dream. He smiled bitterly to himself; when had his self-control become so weak, so utterly lost at the most inopportune moment? A long silence fell between them. Tsunade sat on the other side of the room, her back to him, offering only her slender figure. The ambiguity that should have blossomed with passion now solidified into an invisible wall, separating the two. A strange scent filled the air—the smoke of burning wood, the dampness of earth after rain, and the awkwardness and repression that followed the fading of desire. Time ticked by, each second feeling long and agonizing. Zhang Hai closed his eyes, trying to calm the turmoil in his mind, but Tsunade's soft "No" and the resounding slap echoed repeatedly in his head. He felt as if he had been thrown into a hell of extremes, one side a burning desire, the other a chilling clarity. He didn't know how much time had passed before Tsunade finally moved. She slowly rose, without a sound, and with light steps, lay down in the empty space beside Zhang Hai, but her body remained a distance away, her back to him. Her breathing was soft, yet clearly audible. "Are you... feeling unwell?" Her voice trembled slightly, a soft whisper like a night-blooming jasmine blooming in the darkness, fragrant yet dangerous. Zhang Hai's heart skipped a beat; the fire he had just forcibly suppressed seemed to be reignited by that gentle question. He felt a deep sense of helplessness and a tormenting pain. Was this woman truly oblivious, or was she deliberately provoking him? He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm and even: "I'm fine."
However, Tsunade didn't seem satisfied with his answer. She paused for a moment, then added, "I can let you hug me." These words exploded in Zhang Hai's mind like a thunderbolt. Hug him? Did she really know what she was saying? He had just been slapped for trying to "take things further," and now she was offering to hug him? Zhang Hai felt like crying; this was utter torture. He felt an inexplicable anger surge to his head, yet it was accompanied by a deep sense of powerlessness. She was like a unaware kitten, teasing a hungry beast again and again. He lay stiffly, motionless. Tsunade sensed the tension in his body and assumed he was still angry with her, or disappointed in her. She sighed softly, and then a soft hand reached out. She grasped Zhang Hai's stiff hand and, without hesitation, placed it on her waist.
That soft, warm touch, even through the thin fabric, sent a jolt through Zhang Hai's body like an electric current. The suppleness of her waist, the warmth of her skin, and the faint scent of Tsunade completely shattered Zhang Hai's defenses. He could no longer endure it, nor did he need to. Tsunade's renewed initiative was the final straw that broke his composure.