Mori no Genma, the Shiranui Clan's new leader, was sneaking into Haotian's room like a burglar.
He frowned, the senbon in his mouth trembling slightly with each breath. The moonlight fell across his face, making him look even more grim.
Haotian was fast asleep and hadn't noticed the "uninvited guest" at all.
"Hey, kid, wake up." Genma impatiently nudged Haotian's bed with his foot. It wasn't a hard kick, but it was enough to startle Haotian awake.
Haotian rubbed his bleary eyes. Seeing Genma in front of him with a senbon between his teeth and a sour look on his face, he teased, "Well, if it isn't Big Brother Genma. What's the matter? Miss me in the middle of the night?"
A vein twitched at Genma's temple. He yanked the senbon from his mouth and snapped, "Don't get familiar with me. Call me Clan Head! And I'm older than you, so call me big brother!"
Haotian shrugged without comment.
Genma took a deep breath, seemingly forcing down his anger, then pulled a scroll from inside his clothes and tossed it onto Haotian's bed.
"This is a ninjutsu scroll from the Shiranui Clan. It's full of common ninjutsu. Learn them as soon as you can, then... graduate already!"
Haotian picked up the scroll. It felt cool in his hands, and its material seemed unusual, smooth and fine to the touch.
He raised an eyebrow and asked with interest, "In such a hurry to get rid of me? I was hoping to spend a few more years at the academy."
Genma irritably raked a hand through his hair. "Quit playing dumb, kid! With your strength, staying at the academy is a waste of time! Graduating early and heading to the front lines is what you ought to be doing!" There was a hint of expectation in his voice, mixed with something else.
Genma hesitated, as though he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to say it. His lips moved, and in the end, he only gave Haotian a long look. "You..."
Genma's lips moved again, but he still couldn't get the words out.
He paced back and forth irritably, sneaking glances at Haotian every so often. His hesitant manner was just like a lovestruck boy's.
Watching Genma act so awkwardly, Haotian chuckled inwardly. The guy probably wanted to ask about his Kekkei Genkai, but was too embarrassed to bring it up.
"Big Brother Genma, is there something you want to ask me?" Haotian deliberately feigned confusion, putting on an innocent expression.
Genma stopped abruptly, his eyes darting about. "I... What would I ask you? I was just... checking on your progress!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Haotian raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile on his face. "The Clan Head really does care about me."
Genma felt uncomfortable under Haotian's half-smiling gaze. He cleared his throat and turned away. "You... stop talking nonsense!"
"Nonsense? Then why don't you tell me what you really want to ask?" Haotian pressed him, his tone playful.
Genma took a deep breath and finally worked up the courage to ask, "Your... your Kekkei Genkai. What is it?" He stared intently at Haotian.
Haotian's lips curved into a mysterious smile. "You want to know? Too bad. I'm not telling!"
"You!" Genma erupted with rage. He snatched the scroll off the bed and slammed it onto the floor. "Insolent brat! That's a secret art of the Shiranui Clan!"
He turned to leave, but Haotian's unhurried voice stopped him. "Big Brother Genma, did you know some Kekkei Genkai can be inherited...?"
Genma froze. He slowly turned around, a complicated glint in his eyes. "You... you mean..."
Haotian didn't answer directly. He only smiled meaningfully. "What do you think?"
Haotian wore a carefree grin, but a sly glint danced in his eyes.
"Big Brother Genma, don't tell me you think my Kekkei Genkai is some run-of-the-mill thing. Want to learn it? Beg me!"
Genma's face instantly turned a deep red. The veins at his temples bulged, and his teeth ground together.
A nameless rage surged from deep within him, blazing so fiercely that it threatened to consume him.
"You little brat! You're dead!"
He abruptly drew a senbon. It flashed coldly as he hurled it at Haotian's face, killing intent trailing behind it.
A sharp whistle split the air as the senbon flew like lightning, reaching Haotian in an instant.
A crisp metallic snap rang out. The senbon broke cleanly in two, its fractured ends smooth as mirrors.
"That's all you've got?" Haotian's lips curled into a mocking smile. He blurred forward and appeared in front of Genma in an instant.
He raised one foot and kicked Genma in the stomach without mercy.
Genma felt a burst of pain in his abdomen. He flew backward like a kite with its string cut and slammed into the ground with a muffled groan.
He clutched his stomach, his face pale, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Haotian dusted off his hands and looked innocently at Genma sprawled on the ground. "Oops, I might've hit a little too hard. But hey, you're the one who can't take a hit."
Genma struggled to his feet, battered and bruised, looking utterly miserable. He glared fiercely at Haotian.
Haotian walked over to Genma and looked down at him. "Sorry, Big Brother Genma. I used you as a punching bag."
At that, Genma abruptly looked up,
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