Marry Tayuya!

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"Tayuya, raise your head and take a look," Takuya said.

Tayuya glanced at herself in the mirror and was taken aback. The girl reflected back at her, now dressed in fine clothes, looked graceful and elegant—almost unrecognizable.

"There are still a few pieces left. Let's replace them all," Takuya suggested softly.

Perhaps due to Takuya's gentle encouragement, Tayuya didn't hesitate as much as she had earlier. One by one, she tried on the remaining clothes he had chosen, and unknowingly, a smile began to form on her lips.

"Hokage-sama, this is the last one," Tayuya said reluctantly, still admiring her reflection. Despite the harsh training that had shaped her as a ninja, she couldn't deny the small joy this experience brought her.

"Waiter, pack everything," Takuya commanded confidently before turning back to her. "These are yours now. You can discard your old clothes."

"Hokage-sama, no… this is too much," Tayuya said in disbelief. Never had she imagined Takuya would actually buy everything for her.

"Tayuya, do you know why Orochimaru gave you to me?" Takuya asked suddenly, shifting the tone of the conversation.

"Orochimaru-sama... he wants me to marry you," Tayuya whispered.

"That's correct. But from now on, you are no longer just a tool. You are my wife. I want you to live as a person, not a weapon," Takuya said solemnly.

Tayuya froze at his words. No one had ever spoken to her like this before. The man standing before her was not what she had expected. In her mind, someone as powerful as Takuya should have been even more ruthless than Orochimaru. But today, his actions had shattered that image.

"Not a tool... but a real person..." Tayuya murmured, tears welling up in her eyes. For the first time, she felt a sense of belonging—an unfamiliar yet comforting feeling.

"Don't cry. Your old life is behind you now," Takuya said gently, wiping her tears away.

"Yes," Tayuya nodded seriously, her heart pounding. She couldn't meet his gaze directly.

For the rest of the day, Takuya took Tayuya through the town, buying her everything she would need—clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and jewelry. He even took her to have her hair and makeup done. When Tayuya saw herself in the mirror, with her makeup perfectly done for the first time, she was amazed at how different she looked.

Noticing her surprise, Takuya smiled. Despite everything, her beauty was undeniable.

By evening, they returned to Takuya's home. The grandeur of the mansion left Tayuya speechless, but what surprised her more was discovering she had her own room.

"Hokage-sama, is this really my room?" Tayuya asked in disbelief.

"Of course," Takuya replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Tayuya exclaimed excitedly.

"Heh… if you like it, then that's all that matters. Tell me about your past," Takuya said with curiosity.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Tayuya responded, her voice softer now as she began to recall her past.

"I was born in the Sound Village, to an ordinary family. My mother was kind and taught me to play the flute, but my father... he was a gambler. He often came home drunk, either bragging about his winnings or demanding money from us. When we didn't have any, he would beat us."

"One day, he beat my mother to death. After that, he disappeared. I was still young, left starving and alone. Sometimes, to distract myself from the hunger, I would play the flute my mother had taught me. When I felt like I was going to die, my father suddenly returned with food. I thought he had changed, but after I ate, I realized... he had sold me."

"That night, I ran away with as much food as I could carry. I survived for ten days before my supplies ran out. Desperate, I returned home, only to find my father's corpse. He had been killed by debt collectors."

"Seeing his body, I felt nothing but relief. The man who had killed my mother and tormented me was finally gone. But I didn't know what to do, so I just sat in a corner, waiting for death."

"That's when Orochimaru-sama found me. He took me in, fed me, and trained me in ninjutsu. I became one of his many 'subjects,'" Tayuya said, her voice trembling but determined to continue.

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Tayuya's voice softened as she delved deeper into her painful memories, clearly still haunted by the trauma she had endured. Seeing her tremble, Takuya gently pulled her into his arms.

"Tayuya, those days are over. You'll never have to go through that again," he said softly.

"Yes," Tayuya whispered, her body trembling as she held onto him.

"Lord Hokage, I haven't finished my story yet," she added playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm listening," Takuya encouraged her, smiling warmly.

Feeling reassured by his kindness, Tayuya continued, "After becoming one of Orochimaru-sama's subjects, my life was filled with brutal training. I watched others die, never knowing when it would be my turn. Eventually, I survived Orochimaru-sama's selection process and became one of his subordinates. Then… he gave me to you."

Tayuya finished her story and stepped back from Takuya, suddenly feeling shy.

"Lord Hokage, I'm sorry for being so forward," she said with a sheepish smile.

Takuya knew that someone who had suffered as much as she had would learn to hide their pain well. Gently, he patted her head. "Tayuya, the past is behind you. I'll make sure no one ever hurts you again. I'll even hold a grand wedding for you—everyone will know that you are my wife."

"Lord Hokage… If all the suffering I endured was just so I could meet you, I would go through it all again," Tayuya said softly.

Takuya felt a surge of tenderness for her. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.

Over the next month, Takuya stayed by Tayuya's side, showing her a world beyond her painful past. Slowly but surely, she transformed from a hardened weapon into a vibrant, lively young woman.

Eventually, the two were married, with the entire ninja world bearing witness to their union. At the ceremony, Tayuya cried tears of joy, overwhelmed by the beauty and warmth that surrounded her.

Later that night, in their wedding chamber, Tayuya smiled brightly as Takuya entered. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms.

"Husband... can I call you that?" she asked shyly.

"Of course," Takuya replied with a smile.

"Then let's not waste any time. I want to be yours completely," Tayuya said, eager yet nervous.

Takuya chuckled softly, touched by her enthusiasm. He said nothing more as the room fell into a peaceful silence.

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