Chapter 29 (Patreon)

“Konoha-style swordsmanship!”

Under the moonlight, the purple-haired girl thrust forward again and again, her blade cutting sharply through the night air.

Yujiro raised the black blade in his hand and blocked every strike with calm precision.

“Your wrist is too stiff.”

“Right. That angle is better.”

“If that last slash had been horizontal, it would’ve carried more force.”

“Step in from here.”

Their figures crossed again and again beneath the pale moonlight.

Steel rang softly across the small training ground.

Half an hour later, Yugao Uzuki had completely exhausted herself.

Her legs gave out, and she fell sideways.

Seeing that, Yujiro walked over with a helpless sigh.

“Yujiro… you really are a monster…” Yugao muttered weakly.

During the entire half-hour of training, she had not managed to gain even the slightest advantage.

Instead, her clothes were covered in dust, and her arms were trembling from exhaustion.

Yujiro ignored her complaint.

“Can you still walk?” he asked.

“No…”

“Fine.”

Yujiro clicked his tongue lightly, then crouched down and carried her on his back.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived home.

By then, Yugao had recovered a little strength.

Kurenai had already fallen asleep.

With Yujiro around, she naturally believed nothing would happen to Yugao.

“Go wash up,” Yujiro said, looking at Yugao’s dust-covered appearance.

This girl really had to be pushed hard before she became obedient.

“Yes.”

Yugao nodded, then seemed to remember what had happened at the hot spring earlier. Her cheeks turned faintly red, and she quickly ran off.

Yujiro scratched his head and returned to his room.

Lying on the bed, he closed his eyes and quietly felt the changes in his body.

First of all, his physique had been greatly strengthened.

The improvement brought by reaching the second level was clearly visible.

“Open personal status.”

【Host: Yujiro】

【Attributes: Lightning, Wind】

【Chakra: 3000 — Jōnin Level】

【Limiter: Level 2 — Not Fully Opened】

【Progress to Level 3: 0.0%】

【The normal Level 2 state can be activated once progress reaches 50%.】

【Current Goal: Continue pushing physical and elemental limits without restriction.】

【New Goal: Practice ninjutsu, strengthen ninjutsu, and train the body to its limit.】

Yujiro looked at the final line and murmured softly.

“Ninjutsu…”

That was true.

This was the Naruto world.

Ninjutsu was one of the foundations of this world.

Yet until now, Yujiro had not properly mastered even a single ninjutsu.

It was not that he could not learn it.

He simply had not cared much about it.

Besides, Kurenai specialized in genjutsu.

Yujiro had little interest in illusion techniques.

Because he knew that once the Limiter was unlocked to a higher level, ordinary genjutsu would lose all meaning against him.

In the end, strength was still the foundation.

Yujiro slowly raised his right hand.

Then he clenched it tightly.

“My target is still the strongest.”

“So strong that nothing can restrain me.”

“So strong that I never need to hesitate.”

After engraving that goal deeper into himself, Yujiro closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Winter in Konoha had its own quiet beauty.

Snow covered the rooftops and streets, softening the entire village beneath a white veil.

Yujiro had already been standing in front of the door for nearly three hours.

Today was the New Year’s festival.

He had promised Kurenai and Yugao that he would go shopping with them.

That was why he had been waiting here for so long.

He had to admit it.

Girls really did take dressing up seriously.

At first, they said it would only take half an hour.

As a result, Yujiro waited for three full hours.

If he had not been able to sense their presence inside the house, he might have thought they had secretly run away.

“Done!”

At that moment, Kurenai’s voice came from behind him.

Yujiro turned around and paused slightly.

Today, Kurenai was dressed beautifully.

Her light red outfit matched her calm, mature charm, making her look especially eye-catching beneath the falling snow.

Yujiro clicked his tongue lightly.

“Kurenai-neesan, you look good today.”

“Oh?” Kurenai covered her mouth and laughed softly. “That’s rare. I didn’t think I’d hear a compliment from you.”

At that moment, Yugao, who had been following behind Kurenai, also walked out shyly.

Yujiro tilted his head and glanced at her.

Then he looked at Kurenai seriously.

“Kurenai-neesan, are you sure this outfit is suitable for Yugao?”

“What’s wrong with it?” Kurenai gave him a gentle look. “It’s New Year’s. Dressing up a little is normal.”

Yujiro nodded and said nothing more.

As expected of this world.

Everyone matured far too early.

“Let’s go,” Kurenai said with a smile.

She held Yujiro with one hand and Yugao with the other, then happily pulled them out.

The New Year’s festival was lively.

Food stalls, games, decorations, and small shops filled the streets.

Everything was bright and bustling.

This was Yujiro’s first time properly experiencing a festival in Konoha.

Before this, almost all of his time had been spent training.

However, now that he had entered the second level, simple training alone would not be enough to advance quickly.

He needed battle.

Real experience.

“Yujiro, what are you thinking about?”

Kurenai’s voice pulled him back from his thoughts.

She tugged him aside, then whispered,

“This is a good chance.”

“What chance?” Yujiro asked.

Kurenai looked at him as if he were hopeless.

“This is your first proper festival outing with Yugao.”

“Kurenai-neesan, you’re the one who dragged me here.”

“Nonsense. If I didn’t drag you out, would you have come?”

“No.”

“You…”

Kurenai almost choked from frustration.

“Yujiro, listen carefully. I like Yugao a lot. She’s a good girl, so you’d better treat her properly. Got it?”

Yujiro clicked his tongue lightly.

Why was she more anxious than him?

“Did you hear me?” Kurenai asked with a straight face.

“I heard you.”

There was no other choice.

If he did not compromise, there probably would not be any good food waiting for him tonight.

Only then did Kurenai smile in satisfaction.

“That’s more like it.”

She patted his shoulder and grinned.

“Go on, otouto. Your Kurenai-neesan is backing you up.”