...fuck that's a little hot

Maru was being tempted.

On the one hand, there was almost no way he'd survive a place so dangerous it was perilous to Kunoichi.

On the other, making Kunoichi go through trials of fire like the Forest of **** is literally what made them into the sexy killing machines he loved so much.

And he wanted to watch them go through it so baaaaaaad.

But no, he'd be too tempted to intervene and make sure the ones he already had an eye on survived above others, when honestly he should let this take its course. If they died, they weren't strong enough to be worth his time anyway.

Plus he really did have confidence in the pieces of ass he had chosen so far. Unless they got really unlucky (or ran into each other) they should all make it through fine.

...did he just jinx it?

As Yugito (back in the clothes he'd originally seen her in, plus her collar) continued to bob up and down his length, he looked around a tad nervously. There was Satsuki picking up their team's scroll, Naruko a ways away chatterboxing away at the unimportant pink one, Fuu looking determined (and pointedly away from him), Hinata talking softly to her teammates, Gaia's eyes piercingly staring right at him from where she was standing...

...yeah he should do something about that shouldn't he? After all Maru still didn't know who "mother" was, but Gaia seemed to be determined to take him to whoever she was. Best to nip that crazy in the bud. Hmm how to do it.

Maru rubbed his chin quietly for a few moments as she continued to stare unflinchingly at him.

"...well if she's gonna make it that easy," as Yugito came up to see what he had muttered, he shoved himself as far down her throat as he could manage and decided on the final wording of what he wanted to say: "It's normal that the longer Gaia stares at me, the more affection and devotion she'll gain towards me."

Maru waited a few seconds to let the command sink in (he still wondered how this power worked sometimes. She obviously hadn't heard him from so far away, and yet the command would still work on her, which implied they were manipulating reality, and ha - OH MY GOD BRAIN SHUT UP), before very deliberately meeting Gaia's eyes and giving her his most charming smile.

Immediately, she jerked back as if hit, and her face cycled through a bevy of emotions faster than he could actually pick any single one out, before settling on a sort of uncomprehending shock. Which was...not what he expected to be honest. He'd pegged her as more of an ice queen type, someone who was stone-cold and emotionally frigid and would require extensive thawing to get to the emotion underneath (and yes he was perfectly aware of the irony of that statement).

Gaia's lips began to pull themselves slowly upwards into the awkward kind of smile that came from somebody who'd never really learned how to do such a thing, but before she could complete it she whirled back around to face her teammates and ignored him.

As Yugito's throat spasmed around him, he eventually decided that it could have been worse. All in all, she'd reacted well to his suggestion, even if unexpectedly.

As Maru pulled out of Yugito's mouth and sprayed his kitten's favorite cream all over her face and tits (to her squealing enjoyment), he kept considering Gaia's reaction.

It wasn't until he saw the glances she was taking at him as she was led away to the gate she'd be entering the Forest of **** through that all the pieces finally clicked together.

She'd never had affection for anybody before.

Which...I mean Maru knew Jinchuuriki were ostracized, but that was ridiculous! It was just...but...how....

How Dare They?!

Gaia was a Jinchuuriki, one of the most powerful and capable he'd ever seen, AND apparently a prodigy if she was that powerful so young!

And that's how they treated her?!?!

It took Maru several long breaths to calm down. He abruptly grabbed Yugito and pulled her to his chest, where she let out a surprised squeak.

"I want you to know that I will never abandon you. I will love and cherish you until the end of our days, and I will ensure you always feel happy and content while you're with me. I swear this and more, my wonder kitten, so don't you ever worry or think nobody loves you."

Maru kept her clasped against his chest as she stared up at him for a few moments, mouth flapping open and close, before eventually just deciding to bury her face in his chest and...shiver in happiness. He wouldn't mention the wet spot if she didn't.

Maru hadn't known until that moment that his idle thoughts of giving these girls a better life with him and their fellow demon containers would be so true. Even Yugito, from a place known for treating their Jinchuuriki with kindness, had responded so viscerally to his heartfelt reassurance.

Maru reaffirmed right then, with his beloved pussycat against his chest, that he'd find the Jinchuuriki and make them as happy as a person could possibly be.

He'd also fuck them insensate, but that was just because he was a pervert. He was sure they wouldn't mind.