It Seems a Little Broken

Kaoru Hyuga found it difficult to contain her joy. Even though he had suddenly tapped her head, acting unreasonably and making her feel a bit wronged, she still clasped her hands together in front of her, trembling with excitement, and said fervently:

"Please let me do the research for you! Even if my dull brain can't pioneer new paths from scratch like you can, as long as you need it, I will do my utmost in any field you require."

Yuzuru Hyuga simply shook his head and gently tapped her forehead again with his knuckles.

"Don't be so self-deprecating. When it comes to intellect, I don't think you're any less than me."

Yuzuru Hyuga finished speaking, but Kaoru Hyuga immediately denied it, "No, on this point alone, I must refute you. In my eyes, your excellence is beyond doubt, and it's something I can never reach."

"Please stop pretending to admire me by constantly showering me with praise. Honestly, I don't know how to react."

Yuzuru Hyuga saw the strange emotions flowing in her white eyes and shook his head exasperatedly, withdrawing his hand.

Only then did Kaoru Hyuga show a hint of regret, saying pitifully, "Then?"

"It's better to be direct. It looks more natural," Yuzuru Hyuga sighed.

Kaoru Hyuga no longer concealed her feelings and, covering her mouth with a smile, chuckled softly, "Sorry, next time, I will express my admiration and worship for you more straightforwardly."

"Stop using honorifics. Didn't we talk about this before?" Yuzuru Hyuga corrected her.

"Young Master Yuzuru, I understand." She smiled as she looked at Yuzuru Hyuga, then fell silent for a moment before suddenly whispering, "You've lost weight."

She still hadn't changed her address.

"Me? How long have I been gone? How could I have lost weight? Besides, the amount I train at home every day is much more than when I go out on missions," Yuzuru Hyuga said exasperatedly.

But Kaoru Hyuga insisted, "I secretly watched you for a long time the day before you left, Young Master. You've clearly lost a bit of weight. Soldier Pills really can't fully supplement the nutrients ninjas need."

"I've decided."

She said seriously, "My research will start with Soldier Pills."

"Whatever you want," Yuzuru Hyuga didn't want to restrict her. In fact, no matter what research she did, she would accumulate a lot of corresponding knowledge in the process. Once she had a certain foundation of learning, doing anything else would be convenient and fast.

Looking at the hopeful eyes and serious expression of the girl before him, all Yuzuru Hyuga could do was say gently, "No matter what you do, pay attention to your health. If one day you can no longer bear my expectations for you due to your health... I will be very disappointed."

At this moment, he deliberately changed some of his words and phrases to avoid causing any misunderstanding about his attitude towards her, but obviously, Kaoru Hyuga only heard his concern.

Smiling happily, her white eyes seemed to be tinged with crimson, "Ah, I will, Young Master Yuzuru."

Until Young Master Yuzuru's wedding ceremony, no, until the wedding ceremony of Young Master Yuzuru's descendants, I don't want to miss any important moment in Young Master Yuzuru's life. Of course, it would be even better if the heroine of Young Master Yuzuru's wedding ceremony were me.

What are you thinking about?

Yuzuru Hyuga looked at Kaoru Hyuga, who, lost in thought, cupped her blushing cheeks and lowered her head.

Even if it's not me, it doesn't matter. As long as I can attend Young Master Yuzuru's wedding banquet that day, it will be a beautiful thing. Ah, if only the bride couldn't bear it...

"Please, I'm eighteen. For ninjas, you should at least wait until after my twelfth birthday to think about strange things," Yuzuru Hyuga decisively interrupted her thoughts.

Although he didn't know what she was thinking, he had a feeling it wasn't anything good.

Although the Ninja World had advanced technology, with people living in buildings, having electricity, and even mysterious things like movies appearing, it was still a feudal society.

Yuzuru Hyuga didn't think he had to wait until he was eighteen to consider relationships. At least in the Ninja World, at this age, both men and women understood the basics, and their emotions couldn't be arrogantly dismissed as childish.

Marriage wasn't urgent; it should at least be after eighteen.

"Twelve years old!?" Kaoru Hyuga suddenly became excited, "As long as it's after Young Master Yuzuru turns twelve, I can..."

Yuzuru Hyuga reached out and placed his hand over her mouth, only to find that the temperature of her face was rapidly becoming hot to the touch. He quickly withdrew his hand as if shocked.

"Stop!"

He put his hand to his forehead, "Calm down."

Is this... an indirect kiss?

Kaoru Hyuga just stared blankly at his hand, the hand that had just gently touched her lips, now resting on Yuzuru Hyuga's forehead.

"...Excuse me, I'll have my father send you the study materials. For anything needed for experiments, just ask my father." Yuzuru Hyuga could practically see what she was thinking from her eyes.

"Here, take this too. It's some knowledge points I've personally compiled," he took out a Summoning Scroll.

Sealed within were stacks of manuscripts he had personally written. They were unbound and numerous. If he hadn't prioritized accumulating and categorizing theoretical knowledge to build a system earlier, he wouldn't have had enough time.

He had stayed up all night yesterday, piecing together the materials in his room, rewriting and revising, and integrating most of his theoretical knowledge up to that point.

Once someone mastered this knowledge, it wouldn't make them instantly powerful, but at least in the field of low-level Ninjutsu, especially in the Ninjutsu that Yuzuru Hyuga had already mastered to level ten, there would be no more obscurity.

After all, mastering any Ninjutsu to level ten meant perfect comprehension of it.

Perfect mastery wasn't just about casting; it meant thoroughly understanding the underlying principles.

Although time was short, the knowledge had already formed a system in his mind. As a supplement to basic knowledge, he had written it down clearly and understandably all night, with a clear train of thought.

Kaoru Hyuga fumbled to take the things he gave her.

Shaking his head helplessly, Yuzuru Hyuga smiled slightly and turned to leave.

Kaoru Hyuga reined in her uncontrollable excitement and bowed ninety degrees to his retreating back, "Young Master Yuzuru, please take care of yourself. I will be at home, awaiting your triumphant return."

"Yes, I hope when I return next time, you'll be a little more reserved," Yuzuru Hyuga's teasing voice made the blush on her cheeks linger.

Watching him leave and walk away, Kaoru Hyuga took a long time to reluctantly retract her gaze. She dreamily reached out and touched her lips, then, as if realizing something belatedly, she carefully extended her tender tongue and gently licked her lips, not missing a single spot as she circled them, before regretfully pursing her lips.

Young Master Yuzuru's scent disappeared too quickly.

"I must become someone Young Master Yuzuru needs."

Without any hesitation, she stopped her long-held training, left the training ground without a second glance, and returned home to rummage through her belongings. She sought out every book that might be related to knowledge, and even asked Sakura Hyuga, who was still in charge of the Branch Family's logistics, for help. Clutching a tall stack of books, she retreated to her room.

She began studying with intense focus and a smile on her face.

Her blissful and satisfied expression didn't resemble someone learning dry and tedious theoretical knowledge from scratch. Instead, it was more like she was reading a romance novel that a young girl would enjoy.

At this moment, Yuzuru Hyuga wasn't dwelling too much on her issue. Seeds sown needed at least to sprout branches before one could judge how the sprout would grow and its growth rate.

Even if this seed seemed a bit rotten.

Compared to these uncertain futures, he was more focused on the matters at hand.

For instance—the mission the Anbu needed to carry out next.