Tsunade remained silent for a few seconds—just as she had many times before—without waiting for Li Fan's threat.
Instead, she slowly extended her pink tongue and carefully licked him clean.
As she did, a thought crossed her mind:
I've already gone this far. If I refuse now and he takes what's most precious to me, all this suffering would've been for nothing.
Wouldn't that be the greatest loss of all?
Li Fan watched her lick him with kitten-like hesitance.
He resisted the urge to push further—to make her take him deeper.
The ninja world isn't as open as my past life, he reminded himself.
For a woman here, doing this much is already an act of immense courage.
No need to rush. Obedience training should be gradual. You can't force progress.
And Tsunade had made progress tonight.
She'd obeyed without needing threats.
Just a few more nights of training… heh.
Eventually, Tsunade finished cleaning him.
She spat to the side, then staggered a few meters away—only for Li Fan's voice to cut through the silence:
"Judging by that, I assume you're not trying to vomit up what you just swallowed?"
Tsunade's face stiffened—he'd guessed exactly what she'd been thinking.
But she feigned indifference, turning silently to sit on the ground.
Her bare upper body didn't seem to bother her anymore.
At this point, aside from guarding that final line, she'd already done everything else.
Being seen naked hardly mattered now.
And so, Tsunade kept mentally repeating:
This is just a dream. None of this is real.
It was the same desperate self-hypnosis used by those facing unbearable circumstances—a way to avoid total psychological collapse.
Though Tsunade was far stronger than most, even she wasn't immune to such thoughts in this twisted dreamscape.
"I've done everything you asked," she said, forcing calm into her voice.
But the flicker of fear in her expression betrayed her.
She'd met too many oath-breakers in the shinobi world.
Could she really trust this man to keep his word?
"Don't worry," Li Fan said smoothly. "I keep my promises. You held up your end—so will I."
Relief washed over Tsunade's face, fleeting but unmistakable.
At least this devil has some honor, she thought bitterly. More than most ninjas.
"Then you'll leave now… subconscious?"
Li Fan hid a smirk.
She still believes it's just a dream.
Given her nature, she'd likely already ordered intel on him.
It wouldn't be long before she learned the truth.
I wonder what face she'll make then?
Knowing Tsunade, she wouldn't storm the Sand Village in a rage—but just in case, he'd need countermeasures.
"Of course," he said. "I'll vanish soon."
Before she could relax, his next words froze her blood:
"Oh, and—would you mind becoming my stepmother?"
Tsunade's mind blanked.
Last night, the first thing I called him was 'adopted son.'
Was that dream really a premonition?
But it came too late!
"You… what?"
Li Fan tilted his head, eyes drifting pointedly to her heaving chest.
"If you refuse, I could always let you experience being my sister before I go."
"…I agree."
"Hm? Didn't catch that."
"I agree!" Tsunade snapped. "From today, you're my—Senju Tsunade's—adopted son!"
Her pride shattered all over again.
A virgin… adopting a grown man.
Even if he were just a figment of her subconscious, the absurdity was unbearable.
Yet another thought surfaced:
If Dan had lived… our child would've been this age by now.
Li Fan stroked his chin, satisfied.
"Then take good care of me from now on, stepmother."
A pause. "And what do you call me?"
Tsunade turned away, gritting out:
"…Adopted son."
"So stiff. Doesn't sound like a doting mother at all."
Through clenched teeth:
"…Baby."
It wasn't the term he'd hoped for, but Li Fan let it slide.
One step at a time.
Soon enough, she'll be begging to nurse me herself.
"Be good to me, stepmother," he murmured—then glanced down as his legs began fading.
Time to wake up.
With a final wave, Li Fan dissolved into the air.
Tsunade stared at the empty space where he'd been, then collapsed onto her back, limbs splayed.
"That devil!" she hissed.
"Even if I agreed, so what? He's just my subconscious! Who knows if he'll even return?"
A shaky breath.
"I did shameful things… but I protected what mattered most. That's all that counts!"
For ten minutes, she lay there, stewing in fury, humiliation—and something else she refused to name.
Finally, she sat up… and glanced guiltily between her legs.
Even knowing this was a dream—that no one else could see—her shinobi instincts had her scanning the area.
Then, moving stiffly, she trudged to the bed, slid under the covers… and began touching herself.
Beneath the quilt, her left hand drifted downward, fingers brushing the smooth, bare folds between her thighs.
As she rubbed slow circles, tears welled in her eyes.
"You bastard… making me do this… in my own dream…"
"Nn… ah…"
In the solitude of her dream, Tsunade's muffled whimpers filled the air.