"Ryuzetsu?"
Muku asked again.
Standing outside, he naturally couldn't see what was happening inside.
"I-I'm fine..."
Ryuzetsu's voice came from inside.
"I just... accidentally bumped into the corner of the table..."
After saying that, Ryuzetsu fell silent.
Her voice sounded terribly pained.
"Oh, Ryuzetsu... Are you all right?"
Muku asked.
In fact, Muku had been troubled by something for a long time.
He and Ryuzetsu had been good friends since childhood.
The two of them were also rare companions who could truly talk to each other.
It had happened two years ago...
On the grassland.
Muku and Ryuzetsu, along with blooming Ghost Lanterns, swayed in the wind.
A large tree stood atop a mound, its branches covered in dense green leaves.
"Fire Release... Hozuki Lantern!"
Ryuzetsu formed hand seals.
She had asked Muku to accompany her while she practiced Ninjutsu.
Then... a whole patch of blooming Ghost Lanterns danced into the air, blazing with flames.
Ah, this still isn't working.
Ryuzetsu stared at the flames.
At this level, the Ninjutsu would be scattered by the wind in no time.
And in fact... that was exactly what happened.
The burning Ghost Lanterns were extinguished by the wind blowing in from the sea.
"Tch!"
Ryuzetsu kicked a burned-out Ghost Lantern, then gloomily walked beneath the tree and sat down. "Damn it, I failed again..."
"Being too impatient won't get you anywhere." Muku said this as he quietly formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Hozuki Lantern!"
The Ghost Lanterns immediately danced into the air, each one erupting with fierce flames.
"That's it." Ryuzetsu nodded.
No matter when it was or how difficult the Ninjutsu, Muku could learn it with ease.
This... was what people called a genius.
"It's nice being a genius. You don't even need to practice—you can learn things right away..."
"A