Two months later.
Having begun to adjust to life at the Ninja Academy, Yuzuru was staring blankly out the window in boredom when a cute voice suddenly sounded beside him.
"Yuzuru, I noticed you didn't eat. I brought an extra lunch from home. If you don't mind, please accept it..."
Kageka Maple gave Yuzuru a cute, bashful smile. Her sharp little canine teeth and deep dimples were especially eye-catching, making her unforgettable at first glance.
"Thank you."
Yuzuru was briefly surprised before thanking her. He took the lunchbox from Kageka Maple, but did not open it to eat. Instead, he asked her with utmost seriousness, "Do you want to become stronger?"
Kageka Maple had never expected Yuzuru to suddenly ask her such a question.
Become stronger?
Wasn't that only natural?
Kageka Maple thought.
"If you want to become stronger, come find me at this place half an hour after school..."
Yuzuru paid no attention to Kageka Maple's reaction. As he spoke, he handed her a note with the detailed location written on it. She accepted it instinctively and was about to say something when a cold voice suddenly came from behind her. Startled, she immediately stood up and discreetly hid the note in her hand.
"Kageka Maple! Who told you to sit in my seat?"
Uchiha Akari fixed Kageka Maple with a pair of cold black eyes, making the latter instinctively vacate the seat.
Seeing how sensible Kageka Maple was, Uchiha Akari snorted in displeasure before sitting down. Then she lowered her voice and said to Yuzuru beside her, "I've been bullying your 'little girlfriend' like this. How can you still keep your temper?"
"Childish."
"Boring."
Yuzuru glanced at Uchiha Akari and merely gave those two flat remarks, instantly making her burn with rage. Bloodshot veins even filled her black eyes, making Yuzuru subconsciously think she was about to awaken her eyes.
"Damn it!"
"How dare you look down on me!"
"Take this!"
Uchiha Akari clenched her fist and swiftly punched straight at Yuzuru's face. Kageka Maple, standing nearby, grew anxious and worried. She had not expected Akari to suddenly attack Yuzuru.
But in the next instant, Yuzuru easily caught Akari's wrist with one hand, stopping her irrational action.
"If you want to embarrass yourself here, I don't mind letting you have a taste of defeat..."
Seeing the anger in Akari's eyes intensify, Yuzuru could only say this.
After feeling the force gripping her wrist and noticing their classmates gradually entering the classroom, she merely said haughtily, "Let go of me!"
Hearing that, Yuzuru immediately released her.
Having regained her freedom, Akari promptly pretended nothing had happened. However, she secretly said to Yuzuru, "At midnight, I'll be waiting for you in the Death Forest. You and me, one on one..."
"...All right."
Yuzuru fell silent for a moment before agreeing to Akari's challenge. After all, if he did not teach her a lesson, the days ahead would inevitably become troublesome.
Besides, teaching Akari a lesson would not take much time anyway.
Sitting beside Uchiha Akari, Kageka Maple watched as Yuzuru effortlessly stopped her and even made this proud Uchiha swallow her anger. As a result, she became even more concerned about what Yuzuru had just told her...
Become stronger... Could Yuzuru really help me do that?
Could an ordinary civilian ninja with talent like mine become a powerful ninja admired by others?
Kageka Maple thought to herself.
Kageka Maple's parents spent all year doing business away from home, so she lived alone. After school, she only tidied up briefly at home before heading directly to the address written on the note.
"The Hyuga Clan's outer training ground..."
The address Yuzuru had given Kageka Maple was a training ground on the outskirts of the Hyuga Clan compound. It was a place reserved for Hyuga clansmen to train, and outsiders were normally unable to enter.
Of course, with permission from Yuzuru, the son of a main family elder, Kageka Maple could naturally enter and leave this outer training ground freely.
Before long, Kageka Maple reached her destination. A Hyuga Clan Chunin stood guard at the entrance to the training ground.
"Hello, sir. I'm Kageka Maple..."
Kageka Maple approached the Hyuga Chunin and spoke cautiously.
"You're Kageka Maple, right? Lord Yuzuru is waiting for you at Training Ground Three. Go straight ahead and turn right at the third intersection."
The Hyuga Chunin spoke to Kageka Maple gently.
"Thank you, sir."
After sweetly thanking him, Kageka Maple headed into the training ground.
Before long, Kageka Maple arrived at the agreed-upon Training Ground Three, where Yuzuru stood with his back to her.
"Yuzuru..."
Kageka Maple called out to Yuzuru. He turned around with a strange smile on his face, and the next second, he instantly appeared before her, startling her.
"Yuzuru, was that... the Body Flicker Technique?!"
"It's only a very ordinary, common ninjutsu. If you're willing to become stronger, you can easily master techniques like this too..."
Yuzuru spoke, his voice seeming to carry an alluring, soul-stealing magic. A look of longing immediately appeared on Kageka Maple's face, but it was soon replaced by hesitation and conflict.
"Yuzuru, then what do you want me to give up?"
Although Kageka Maple was only a six-year-old girl, she knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Amid her hesitation, she asked Yuzuru bluntly.
If one wanted to obtain something, one had to pay the corresponding price...
"I want you..."
Yuzuru smiled, his gaze settling on Kageka Maple's shy and adorable face. His pure white eyes flashed brilliantly, making Kageka Maple afraid to meet his gaze. At the same time, under the moonlight, an enticing flush seemed to appear out of nowhere on her face.
Seeing Kageka Maple like this, Yuzuru immediately understood what she had misunderstood. However, he had no intention of explaining and simply continued speaking slowly.
"I want you... to become my subordinate, a subordinate loyal only to me!"
"..."
Kageka Maple froze after hearing this and immediately realized she had overthought things. Her little face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, and wisps of white steam seemed to rise from her head, perhaps from embarrassment.
"Um... haha..."
Kageka Maple felt awkward all over under Yuzuru's stare. At a loss, she stammered, "Yuzuru, you... you're j-joking, r-right?"
"I never joke."
Yuzuru shook his head. The Byakugan in his eye sockets immediately activated, grotesque veins emerging around the corners of his eyes as a sapphire-blue gleam flashed through their depths.
"You have no idea how great your potential is!"
Hearing Yuzuru's words, Kageka Maple immediately gathered her courage and met his gaze. Yet she was overwhelmed by the pressure of his Byakugan, her body going limp as she collapsed to the ground. She could only look up at Yuzuru from below.
At this moment, Yuzuru's strength and mystery completely filled Kageka Maple's heart...
Before you continue