Harvesting Uzuki Yugao Again

"Anyway, no matter what, you need to train properly."

Mito Uzumaki reminded him.

So...

Could he stop focusing on bullying girls?

Jueming said, "After class, I'll go find Rin Nohara again to 'discuss the way through martial arts.'"

Mito Uzumaki: "..."

"Half a year from now..."

Jueming silently considered this matter.

If he could take the Graduation Exam "half a year from now"...

Then he needed to prepare even more diligently.

"First, I'll set a small goal: within half a year, I'll beat up everyone in this class who can fight. Then I'll take the Graduation Exam."

As long as he proved that he had the strength to defeat all the genius students...

He could graduate directly and become an official Ninja.

After class.

Jueming found Rin Nohara and wanted to "discuss the way through martial arts" again.

But Rin Nohara said she had something to do.

Jueming said, "It's fine. I can wait."

So Rin Nohara hurried away...

Not long after...

She returned.

Before she had gone far, Senju Jueming popped out from around a corner.

"Jueming?" Rin Nohara jumped in fright.

"Come on, Rin Nohara. Discuss the way through martial arts with me."

Jueming assumed his stance and struck out with his palm, hitting Rin Nohara on the shoulder.

Smack! Bang! Thud!

[Kidney Development +1]

[Kidney Development +1]

After morning classes ended.

"Rin Nohara, please wait."

Jueming called out to her.

"With life's precious years before us, won't you come 'discuss the way through martial arts' with me?"

"Wait."

Kakashi Hatake raised a hand.

"It's already time to get out and eat."

"..."

Jueming said nothing.

He glanced at Kakashi's speechless expression, then at Obito Uchiha's simpering look.

He decided to spare Rin Nohara for now and harvest someone else.

"See you this afternoon."

Jueming nodded and left.

"What is that guy doing?" Kakashi shook his head, unable to figure it out.

"Senju Jueming..."

Obito Uchiha muttered the name, his expression growing increasingly displeased.

"Whew..."

Rin Nohara let out a long breath.

Well, Jueming was very handsome, no less so than Kakashi.

But how should she put it? He seemed a little too passionate about Nindo.

"The Rin Nohara trio has already grown suspicious. You can't keep harvesting the same patch of grass..."

As Jueming walked down the road, he quickly came up with an idea.

There was Taijutsu class that afternoon.

He would find a way to harvest a second target during Taijutsu class.

Time passed.

That afternoon, at the Ninja Academy.

The students arrived at the training ground.

"Starting from this lesson, we'll begin Taijutsu class training."

Funano Daikoku stood in the center, with the students gathered on either side.

Thud.

Jueming lay down on the ground, working to grow stronger anytime, anywhere.

"As for Taijutsu class..."

Funano Daikoku introduced the details of Taijutsu class.

Aside from training on their own, the main content of Taijutsu class was sparring between students.

First, they formed the Seal of Opposition.

Then the two would exchange Taijutsu.

Afterward, they formed the Seal of Reconciliation to signify that they had made up.

That was the ritual among One of Our Own.

If the other person was an enemy, there was no need for it.

"Who wants to go first?" Funano Daikoku looked around, hoping to find a student willing to step up.

Whispers rose from the crowd.

The students looked at one another, each with different thoughts.

"Teacher, I'll do it."

Just as Funano Daikoku was preparing to call on someone himself, Jueming spoke up.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the figure lying on the ground.

"Not bad. You've got courage. This is how my Senju Clan should be."

Mito Uzumaki nodded, pleased by Jueming's brave display.

But in the next moment, Jueming's words stunned her.

"However, Teacher, I want to choose my own opponent."

"Hm?"

Funano Daikoku paused, thinking to himself.

The Great Elder of the Senju Clan had said that Senju Jueming had mental problems, so I should avoid provoking him as much as possible.

"Who do you want to choose, Jueming?"

"Her."

Jueming raised a hand and pointed at a girl with long purple hair.

Uzuki Yugao.

Though still young, she looked delicate and exquisite.

Her fair skin was like snow, surpassing that of most other girls.

Combined with her long purple hair and the bare skin of her arms and calves, she possessed a... refined beauty.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Beside Uzuki Yugao stood a boy who kept coughing.

With heavy dark circles beneath his eyes and that coughing fit, he looked like a sickly invalid.

He was Uzuki Yugao's childhood sweetheart.

His name was rather imposing: Hayate Gekko.

Anyone who did not know better might have thought he was the protagonist upon hearing that name.

"But..."

"Yugao, I'm fine... cough, cough, cough..." Hayate Gekko indicated that she did not need to keep looking after him. He was all right.

"Oh. Then be careful, Hayate."

Uzuki Yugao slowly walked over and entered the center of the field.

"Then."

Uzuki Yugao formed the Seal of Opposition.

Jueming sprang up from the ground and formed the same seal.

Seeing Jueming voluntarily choose a girl as his opponent, Mito Uzumaki felt that her earlier guess had been right.

Sure enough, Senju Akira left him with psychological trauma, so he specifically seeks out girls to bully.

But did he think bullying girls would heal his heart?

As Mito Uzumaki pondered this, Jueming and Uzuki Yugao's battle had already begun.

"I'm coming, Uzuki! Be careful!"

Jueming very gentlemanly declared that he was about to attack. As for how she felt about it... that was up to her.

Jueming struck out with his palm rather than his fist.

After all, Uzuki Yugao was a useful tool, just like Rin Nohara—a crop that could strengthen his kidneys.

It would be bad if he damaged her.

He needed to think long-term. Harvesting more and pursuing sustainable development was the proper path.

After all, even once she grew up, he could still make use of her. Perhaps she could even continue the bloodline of the Senju Clan for him.

Under normal circumstances, a palm strike was less lethal than a punch.

—Unless it was the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist.

Standing among the crowd... Natsu Hyuga, who came from the Hyuga Clan, watched Jueming's palm technique and inwardly shook her head.

When it comes to palm techniques, our Hyuga Clan is still the best.

Natsu Hyuga thought.

Our Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Palms are the strongest.

In her eyes, Jueming's palm technique was all show and no substance.

He was just wildly swinging his arms around.

He might as well have used his fists, which would have had more power.

The others thought much the same as Natsu Hyuga.

But they did not understand at all.

Jueming simply wanted to strengthen his kidneys and gain points.

"Be careful, my palm technique is very powerful!"

After several probing exchanges.

Jueming discovered that Uzuki Yugao was no match for him.

To let her hold out a little longer and give him a little more enhancement.

Jueming kindly shouted a warning.

He struck with his palm again, hitting Uzuki Yugao on the shoulder and knocking her back just as he had done to Rin Nohara.

Uzuki Yugao steadied herself.

Jueming is such a gentleman. He doesn't hit girls in the face—he's clearly being considerate of me.

The atmosphere immediately became warm and affectionate.

[Kidney Development +1]