Chapter 28 (Patreon)

The moment the signal was given, Yujiro and Might Guy moved at the same time.

This was a pure taijutsu match.

No ninjutsu.

No weapons.

Only fists, feet, timing, and instinct.

Bang!

Yujiro’s fist slammed into Guy’s guarded arm.

Guy felt the impact travel through his bones.

That strength…

It was not inferior to his own at all.

Strong.

Really strong!

Excitement flashed in Guy’s eyes.

Yujiro, on the other hand, was using this match to adjust to his body.

He could have activated the second level of the Limiter directly and crushed the pace in one breath.

But if he did that, there would be no point.

What he needed now was adaptation.

His muscles, nerves, breathing, and reaction speed all had to settle into the new state naturally.

The two of them kept increasing the force behind their blows.

Their figures went from clear, to blurred, and finally turned into two shadows constantly colliding across the training ground.

Kurenai Yuhi and Yugao Uzuki could no longer follow their movements.

Only Kakashi, after lifting his forehead protector and revealing his three-tomoe Sharingan, could barely keep up.

Half an hour later, Yujiro suddenly realized something.

Guy’s fierce attacks no longer felt heavy.

The pressure had faded.

Even the smallest sense of oppression was gone.

He had adapted.

His body had fully adjusted to the improvement brought by the second level of the Limiter.

Yujiro clenched his right fist.

Then he stepped forward and struck.

Bang!

A simple punch collided head-on with Guy’s fist.

For a moment, Guy felt as if he had punched a steel plate.

His entire arm went numb from the shock.

But in the next instant, he still tried to counterattack.

Before he could move, a hand lightly touched his chest.

“If this were a real fight, you’d be down,” Yujiro said with a faint smile. “You lost, Guy. Hot springs it is.”

After saying that, he turned and walked toward Yugao.

Guy stood frozen in place.

“So… Yujiro is really that strong…”

If that finger had been a kunai…

Or Yujiro’s black blade…

Then the match would already have ended in death.

A second later, Guy’s eyes burned even brighter.

“Amazing!” he shouted, clenching his fists. “So this is youth!”

Twenty minutes later, everyone arrived at Konoha Hot Springs.

There was no mixed bathing, of course.

The men’s bath was on one side, the women’s bath on the other, divided by a wooden wall.

Yujiro, Kakashi, and Might Guy entered the men’s side.

Kurenai and Yugao went to the women’s side.

A hot spring was, after all, a place meant for relaxation.

After soaking comfortably, Yujiro changed back into his clothes and left the dressing room, intending to meet up with Kurenai and the others.

But the moment he stepped out, he saw Kurenai standing there with a suspicious little smile.

Yes.

A suspicious smile.

In her hands was a purple kimono.

Kurenai tiptoed over and handed it to Yujiro.

“Yujiro-kun,” she whispered, glancing around as if she were planning some secret mission. “This is your chance. Don’t waste it.”

Yujiro immediately understood what she was trying to do.

“Kurenai-neesan… this isn’t a good idea.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Kurenai patted his shoulder with a grin. “Yugao is already my approved future candidate. Do your best, otouto.”

After saying that, she slipped away before Yujiro could answer.

Yujiro looked down at the purple kimono in his hand and fell into thought.

It was not that he rejected those kinds of feelings.

But this was an unstable era.

Strength was everything.

Besides…

Yujiro lowered his gaze and looked at himself.

He was only five years old right now.

Some things were better left to time.

At that moment, the wooden door to his right slid open.

“Kurenai-san, did you bring my clothes?”

Yugao’s voice came from inside.

Then their eyes met.

Standing in front of Yugao was Yujiro, dressed in his black martial arts uniform, holding her clothes in his hand.

Yujiro took a quiet breath.

At times like this, the one who acted embarrassed lost first.

So he stepped forward calmly and said,

“Don’t make a scene. Your clothes.”

Yugao’s mind went blank for a moment.

Then she nodded stiffly and took the kimono from his hand.

Yujiro gave a casual smile, picked up his black blade from the nearby locker, and walked away as if nothing had happened.

Only after he left did Yugao finally react.

She stared at the clothes in her hands, and her cheeks quickly turned red.

A little later, Yujiro arrived at the courtyard outside the hot spring pavilion.

There was a note on the table.

Yujiro picked it up and read it.

Yujiro-kun, good luck. I already sent Kakashi and Guy home first.

Yujiro was speechless.

Kurenai had even gone home ahead of them.

There was no way he could leave Yugao here alone.

Ten minutes later, Yugao quietly walked out.

“Let’s go home,” Yujiro said, standing up with a faint smile.

“Where’s Kurenai-san?” Yugao asked, looking around.

“She went home first.”

“Oh…”

Yugao nodded and walked over to Yujiro’s side.

For some reason, standing beside the shy Yugao made Yujiro feel like he had done something wrong.

“Let’s go.”

After saying that, he started walking outside.

Yugao quietly followed after him.

By now, the sky had already darkened, and the moon was slowly rising.

Yujiro took a quieter path.

Without realizing it, the two of them arrived at the place where they had first met.

A small training ground.

“Yujiro.”

Yugao’s voice reached him from behind.

“What is it?” Yujiro stopped.

“I want…” Yugao clenched her teeth softly, gathering her courage. “I want you to train me.”

Yujiro paused.

Then he took a slow breath.

“Fine.”

Just that one word made something soft stir inside Yugao’s chest.

He did not refuse her.

Yugao drew her sword and took her stance.

Yujiro also slowly unsheathed his black blade.

However, this time, he restrained all of his pressure.

Otherwise, it would end up like last time.

He would scare her to tears before the training even began.

“Come,” Yujiro said with a smile. “Use everything you have.”

“Yes!”

Yugao nodded firmly and rushed toward him with her sword in hand.

She knew she was weak.

That was why she had to work harder than anyone.

If she wanted to catch up to Yujiro, even a little…

Then she could not afford to stop.

Training began.