Fujiwara Chima's Request

Team 99 didn't discuss anything further. Yamashiro Aoba announced that all three of them had passed the real ninja test.

From now on, they were officially Genin of Konoha and could accept missions from the Mission Office.

They agreed to meet at the Mission Office in the Hokage Building at nine the next morning, and then Yamashiro Aoba dismissed them.

Yamashiro Aoba and Sai both left quickly, showing little curiosity about what had just happened. Sometimes asking too many questions wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Yu really liked how things had turned out. He didn't want to waste his breath. Besides, if they asked how he'd gained all this strength, all he could say was that he'd gotten it through years of hard work and diligent training.

It was probably just ninety-nine percent sweat and one percent talent.

What surprised Yu, though, was that Fujiwara Chima, who had always kept up her aloof persona, didn't leave right away.

Yu smiled at Fujiwara Chima and waved goodbye, then headed home.

He wasn't particularly fond of aloof people. He disliked the way they kept others at arm's length; it made him feel like they were difficult to get along with. After all, what he feared most was trouble.

So he didn't feel anything special for Fujiwara Chima. Aside from admiring how beautiful she was, he had no improper thoughts about her. Girls like Fujiwara Chima weren't his type.

But after he'd walked a little way, he noticed Fujiwara Chima following him.

At first, Yu thought they were going the same way. But after he turned down a side street, Fujiwara Chima was still following him.

"Chima, is something the matter?"

Yu turned around and asked Fujiwara Chima. She must have something to say if she was following him. Since she couldn't bring herself to speak, he'd make it easier for her to start.

He didn't want someone following him around the whole time. It made him feel strange.

Fujiwara Chima lowered her head, her face slightly flushed. When Yu asked her what was wrong, she stammered for a long time without saying anything.

"Are you trying to challenge me?" Yu suddenly thought of the possibility. In anime and novels, those supposedly aloof types always liked challenging opponents who seemed more impressive than they were.

He was obviously much more impressive than Fujiwara Chima, so there was a good chance that was it.

"No, Yu." Fujiwara Chima suddenly denied it. Yamashiro Aoba

Then Fujiwara Chima raised her head, fixed her beautiful eyes on Yu, and said, "Yu, you're really strong."

"Uh... I have to agree with you there, Chima. I am a little strong."

What kind of man would be afraid to admit something like that? Besides, it was the truth. Yu wasn't one to downplay himself.

Though the "play it safe" approach was all the rage these days, if you played it safe in every situation, you weren't being cautious anymore—you were just a coward.

"I want to ask you to teach me how to become stronger." Fujiwara Chima bowed to Yu at a ninety-degree angle and made her request.

"What?"

Yu found Fujiwara Chima's words absurd. He truly hadn't expected anything like this. The aloof Fujiwara Chima wanted him to teach her how to gain strength?

"Uh, Chima, I don't have any power I can pass on to you. If you want to become stronger, you should work harder and hone your skills!

Goodbye."

Yu flatly refused Fujiwara Chima's request without the slightest hesitation.

First, the power he had wasn't suitable for anyone but him to cultivate. Second, he and Fujiwara Chima weren't close. He had no obligation to help someone he barely knew improve her strength, and he didn't want to, either.

They would be teammates in Team 99 from now on, but perhaps it would be better to talk about this after they'd grown closer.

Yu didn't have a good impression of "friends" who asked him for favors when they barely knew each other. In fact, he even felt a little disgusted.

It was like those classmates from his previous life who hadn't said a word to him throughout middle and high school, and whose faces he'd long forgotten. They'd suddenly add him on WeChat, then send him a message a few days later: "You there?"

After chatting for a few lines, they'd say, "Could you lend me some money?"

When Yu saw a message like that, it felt as disgusting as swallowing a cockroach. He cared a lot about the bonds between classmates, but he couldn't stand people who treated those bonds like an ATM.

This situation was much the same. Fujiwara Chima had no relationship with him at all, yet she was asking him to teach her how to get stronger. Even if he could, he wouldn't just hand it over to her.

Fujiwara Chima seemed not to have expected Yu to refuse so bluntly. She opened her mouth, but couldn't think of any reason to make him stay.

"Yu Uchiha, if you teach me how to become stronger, I'll do anything." Fujiwara Chima hurried after Yu, then spread her arms and blocked his way.

Yu looked Fujiwara Chima up and down, then let his smile fade.

"There's nothing you have that I need right now. So keep training hard on your own, and maybe one day you'll get the strength you're after.

"And remember, there are no shortcuts to instant success in this world, and nothing comes for free. So keep at it, Chima!"

Yu refused Fujiwara Chima again, then walked past her and continued on his way.

Fujiwara Chima bit her lip, tears clouding her eyes. This was the first time she'd ever pleaded with anyone like this. She'd already offered everything she had, but he hadn't been interested in the slightest.

Fujiwara Chima knew that if she wanted revenge, she had to become stronger than her enemy. That was why she had chosen to join Konoha. Konoha was recognized throughout the Shinobi World as the strongest ninja village, and she thought she might find the power she wanted there.

But things hadn't gone as smoothly as she'd hoped. She had successfully joined Konoha, but hadn't received any special treatment. At first, someone from Konoha had come to test her strength, but nothing had come of it. They hadn't even put her through ninja training. She'd only learned a little basic knowledge before they told her to take Konoha's graduation exam. In the end, she'd been assigned to Team 99.

Especially after learning that her team leader was only a Special Jonin, Fujiwara Chima knew that Konoha wouldn't give her special attention. That meant it would be even harder for her to improve her strength. That was why she'd acted so coldly.

But after seeing the power Yu had displayed just now, she understood what true strength looked like. A boy about her age possessed the very power she dreamed of.

So she'd decided on the spot to ask Yu to teach her how to grow stronger. He was the only hope she could see.

But he had rejected her—and without a moment's hesitation.

"I won't give up." Fujiwara Chima wiped the tears from her eyes and said firmly.

She knew gaining strength wouldn't be easy, and she was ready to sacrifice everything.