Shūichi's gaze fell on the red-haired girl, silently observing her.
Her red hair was loose, and she looked fragile and pitiable. However, the old-fashioned glasses she wore greatly concealed her beauty.
Minato Namikaze introduced her, "This is Asuka."
Shisui smiled warmly, "Hello, I'm Uchiha Shisui!"
Shūichi was just about to speak when Asuka suddenly said, "Um... your companion is already dead. There's nothing I can do to heal him."
Her words left all three of them in an awkward silence.
Asuka, seeing their reactions, instinctively took a step back, fear welling up inside her.
After a brief pause, Minato spoke, "We're not asking you to heal anyone. We want to bring you back to Konoha."
"Konoha..." Asuka opened her mouth, then fell silent again.
The atmosphere beca tense once more, and Minato felt a little awkward.
He knew a bit about the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan. It happened right before the Second Shinobi World War, and several villages participated in the attack—Kirigakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and so smaller villages. The Land of Whirlpools was practically wiped out under the onslaught.
At the ti, Konoha was powerless to help.
When the war broke out, the remaining survivors of the Uzumaki Clan scattered across the lands.
For Konoha, the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan ant their extinction, and the outbreak of the Second Shinobi World War left no room to search for survivors.
...
"Asuka..."
Shūichi finally broke the silence, speaking bluntly, "We're not really asking for your permission. Taking you from Kusagakure wasn't Minato Sensei's decision, nor Konoha's. It's mine—Hoshita Shūichi's!"
Asuka stared at the much shorter Shūichi in shock. "You..."
"Is it because of my abilities?"
Shūichi didn't directly respond. Instead, he said, "Your abilities could have been a precious gift, but because you are so weak, they've beco a curse."
"If you stay in Kusagakure, you'll eventually exhaust your life through this form of treatnt."
"And it won't stop with you. If you marry and have children, your descendants will suffer the sa fate."
"Asuka, you don't want your daughter, or son, to live a life covered in bite marks, ending their days in misery, do you?"
Asuka was stunned, but fear rose from within her. Stumbling backward, she collapsed to the ground in a kneeling position.
Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Shisui exchanged glances, both feeling a bit strange about Shūichi's words. While everything he said was true, sothing about it felt a little off.
Shūichi continued, "Asuka, the truth is, you don't have any other options."
"Even if you refuse, I will still take you to Konoha by force. Leaving your abilities here in Kusagakure would be a complete waste."
Shūichi stepped forward, standing in front of Asuka. His voice was calm yet firm as he persuaded her, "However, if you co with to Konoha, I will teach you dical ninjutsu, so you won't need to use your ability in this way anymore."
"I'll also teach you how to protect yourself and the people you care about."
"And most importantly, when you beco one of us, I, Minato Sensei, Shisui, the Third Hokage, and many others will stand by you. We'll have your back, supporting and protecting you!"
With that, Shūichi extended his hand toward Asuka.
Asuka looked up at him, seeing the sincerity and determination in his eyes. "Th-thank you..." she whispered, reaching out her hand.
Shūichi grasped her cold, soft hand and pulled her to her feet.
However, Asuka stumbled, and in her panic, accidentally pulled Shūichi into her embrace.
"Ah... I'm sorry, Shūichi-kun!"
Asuka hurriedly apologized, quickly letting go of him.
Shūichi awkwardly sniffed, a little embarrassed.
Minato Namikaze imdiately broke the tension. "Now that we've co to an agreent, let's get so rest. We'll head back to Konoha first thing in the morning."
"Yes, Minato Sensei!" Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui responded in unison.
Minato then made the arrangents. "Shisui, you'll stay with . Shūichi, you stay with Asuka."
After setting up two rooms, Minato took Shisui and left.
Once they were gone, Shūichi felt more at ease.
Still, he thought to himself, I need thicker skin!
After a mont, Shūichi spoke to Asuka, "You can sleep in the bed. I'll stay by the door and keep watch."
With that, he sat cross-legged near the door.
Asuka opened her mouth as if to say sothing, but instead quietly nodded, turning toward the bed and lying down.
At first, she faced away from Shūichi, but before she realized it, she turned over, watching him through her glasses, observing his back.
anwhile, Shūichi's attention was focused on the ntal "tag tree" in his mind.
Tag: Pioneer
Condition to Obtain: Develop at least 5 A-rank or higher ninja techniques, including but not limited to ninjutsu, sealing techniques, genjutsu, or taijutsu. If soone assists, you must play a key, pioneering role in the process.
Effect: Once per year, you can activate a "Flash of Insight" for 10 minutes. During this ti, both comprehension and creativity are maximized.
Rasengan, Blue Fla Sky Blade, Blue Fla Waterfall Blade, Fiery Lotus Steps, Fire Release - Fiery Lotus of Buddha's Wrath.
Four A-rank techniques and one S-rank technique in total.
Shūichi had already partially mastered the A-rank sword technique, Blue Fla Waterfall Blade, before the mission. After repeated use in actual combat, the technique had finally beco fully developed.
"Activate!"
With a thought, Shūichi activated the [Pioneer] tag on the ntal tag tree. But instead of a blue glow, it lit up with a red one!
This was the first red tag he had unlocked, a tier even higher than the Master tags! The ability "Flash of Insight" that ca with it was truly remarkable—maximum comprehension and creativity, both fully boosted.
"However, it only activates once a year, so I must use it wisely."
After unlocking the tag, Shūichi started planning, "First, I need to build a solid foundation. Even with maxed-out comprehension and creativity, without a base, it's like building castles in the air."
"Next, I should prepare the groundwork for techniques, so that I can use this ability at a critical mont."
"For example, I shouldn't waste this year's chance on developing the high-temperature ray technique."
"This year... it would be best to use it on mastering the S-rank sword technique and unlocking the [Swordsmanship Master] tag."
"Next year... if there's ti, I'll focus on Wind Release."
"And then, dical ninjutsu..."
That night, Shūichi thought about many things.
anwhile, on the bed, Asuka also had a lot on her mind as she watched Shūichi's back. She felt a mixture of confusion, hope, anticipation, and fear of the unknown.
Unconsciously, she drifted into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, it was already daylight.
"Get up and wash up. We're about to set off."
A gentle voice echoed in her ears, and Asuka blinked in surprise.
It was the first ti she had slept so soundly since her mother passed away.
Quickly, she got up, her face flushing as she hurried to wash up.
After breakfast, with a polite but indifferent farewell from the Kusagakure ninjas, Shūichi and the other three left the village.
They traveled swiftly, and only after entering the Land of Fire did they stop to rest.
As usual, Shūichi caught a couple of small animals, then brought Asuka to a small river to prepare them.
When she saw him laying out various dical tools, Asuka was stunned.
"This..."
Asuka opened her mouth to speak, but Shūichi reassured her, "Don't worry, they've all been sterilized."
"And as a dical ninja, you need to be proficient in using these tools."
"Although there's a technique like the Chakra Scalpel, these are still essential until you master it, even if they aren't usually used on the battlefield."
Asuka nodded, "I understand."
She then squatted beside him, assisting as Shūichi expertly prepared the animals. After that, he went to the river and caught two fish.
Fish soup and grilled at—the taste was as good as ever.
But for Shūichi and the other two, things were no longer the sa.
There were still four people, but everything had changed.
Unlike before, when they would chat and joke during als, this one was eaten in silence.
After resting for half an hour, the team continued their journey.
Around 3 PM, they arrived at Konoha Village after going through registration. Together, they headed to the Hokage's office.
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was smoking his pipe as he listened to Minato Namikaze's report. When Minato finished, Hiruzen sighed, "Sanyō was a good kid. He's a hero of Konoha. The village will arrange his funeral."
"Let's hold it the day after tomorrow."
Minato nodded, "Yes."
He then added, "Shisui has already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan."
Through the rising smoke, Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "At his age... he surpasses even Kagami!"
"Shisui is indeed outstanding," Minato agreed. "Moreover, his character hasn't changed despite this."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, "He's a child with a strong will."
Minato then brought up Asuka.
Hiruzen listened quietly and, after a mont of thought, said, "Let her stay with Shūichi for now. Once we're sure there are no issues, Kushina can et her."
Minato agreed, "Understood."
Hiruzen then asked, "How is Shūichi doing?"
Knowing what he ant, Minato replied, "Though affected, he hasn't let it get him down."
"However, Shūichi has expressed a desire to continue his dical ninjutsu studies at Konoha Hospital."
Hiruzen nodded, contemplating, "In that case, let him study at the hospital, and have him teach Asuka as well."
"When the ti is right, we'll arrange for him to train with Root and then join the Anbu."
"Shisui will be placed in a Chūnin squad."
With that, the Minato team was officially disbanded!
...
Both Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui had anticipated the disbandnt.
It wasn't really a big deal, but Sanyō's death made it all the more painful.
Minato patted Shūichi and Shisui on the shoulder, "Go ho and rest. Attend Sanyō's funeral the day after tomorrow."
"Yes, Minato Sensei!" Shūichi and Shisui responded, and the three of them went their separate ways.
After bringing Asuka ho, Shūichi began to busy himself.
The two-bedroom apartnt was a bit cramped for three people. Shūichi had been sleeping in the study most of the ti, while the master bedroom belonged to Nonō Yakushi.
Now, with Asuka here, the study was cleared out for her, and Shūichi moved back to the master bedroom, setting up a tatami mat.
"Looks like I'll need to buy a house and move..."
After tidying up for over an hour, Nonō Yakushi returned ho. She was surprised to see Asuka cleaning.
"Director!"
Seeing Nonō return, Shūichi was in high spirits and quickly introduced her, "This is Asuka, forrly from the Land of Whirlpools. She'll be learning dical ninjutsu from from now on!"
Nonō noticed Asuka's red hair and imdiately understood. She smiled and said, "Hello, I'm Nonō Yakushi. You can just call Nonō."
Asuka quickly nodded, "Yes, Nonō-senpai!"
"Don't be nervous."
Nonō took Asuka's hand and smiled, "Since Shūichi brought you here, consider this your ho."
"Co on, let's go buy groceries together."
"Do you have any favorite dishes?"
As she spoke, she was already out the door, leaving Shūichi scratching his head with a wry smile.
(End of Chapter)
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