Parting with Fu (Part 1)

Just like that, Fu spent about a month teaching Ye Wuji. Every morning, she would head out to find him. Over the past month, tormenting Ye Wuji had become a habit of hers.

Just as Fu reached the door, a group of people approached from outside. It was the Takikage, along with several people dressed as Anbu. The Takikage looked Fu up and down, then asked, "Are you still going to teach that brat?"

"What's wrong? Is something happening today?" Fu felt a little puzzled. She hadn't seen the Takikage come looking for her all this time, so why had she come today?

"You don't need to go. Your father has sent people for you. Get ready, then set off for Sunagakure with your father's subordinates," the Takikage said.

"So soon?" Fu froze and asked.

"Soon? You've been so busy teaching that brat that you didn't even realize a month had passed. It's been a long time. If not for the war, you should have arrived there ages ago. Don't worry, the people who came this time are all directly under your father's command. Nothing will happen. And don't worry about that brat either. I'll keep an eye on him and make sure he stays safe. Go get ready, and don't keep your father's men waiting too long. The war is still going on where your father is, even if it's close to ending. If anything changes, it could be a problem if his men aren't by his side. So you have to leave today," the Takikage insisted.

"I see. Then let me take care of something, and I'll go with them." Fu took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"What do you still want to do at a time like this? Are you really that worried about that brat? I'll look after him for you. You have things to do and can't keep teaching him. I imagine you knew from the start that you wouldn't be able to teach him for long. I'll take good care of him, too. What's the point of going to see him? You'll only make yourself sad." The Takikage was also a little curious about what her daughter was planning.

"I have to go see him. Besides, I'm practically his teacher. How can I leave without telling him? And besides..." Fu smiled. "He still doesn't know what I really look like. That won't do."

The Takikage didn't understand at first, but then she caught on. "You want that brat to see your—? No, you can't." Her tone turned firm. Looking at her daughter's determined gaze, the Takikage knew Fu had made up her mind.

But the Takikage didn't want her daughter to suffer another blow. If something like that happened again, it would hurt Fu all over again. So she said, "Even if you want to do this, aren't you afraid of scaring him? He's still just a child. If it leaves a mark on his heart, that brat might never recover. You said it yourself—you're practically his teacher. Is that how you treat your student?" The Takikage decided to try another way to talk her daughter out of it.

Fu smiled, the kind of smile that came from having accepted everything. "If something like that really happens, then, Mother, I've never asked you for anything in my life. This time, I'm asking you to seal his memories and make him forget everything about me. Will you do that, Mother?"

"Why put yourself through this? He's just a brat. What does he know? There's no need for this." By now, the Takikage didn't know what else to say.

"Because he's a brat. I've been so happy this past month. It's strange, really. I don't even know why. And only a brat can see what someone is truly thinking. Adults can pretend, even when they can't stand you. I want to see if spending this month together can overcome that fear in people's hearts.

"And I don't know how long I'll be gone. I might as well put an end to my hopes."

After she finished speaking, Fu turned and left. "I'm going to pack. Once I've seen him, I'll leave the village. Let them wait outside. It won't take long."

By then, Ye Wuji had already arrived at the place where he usually practiced ninjutsu. He really liked the Water Release: Water Blade technique. It was practically half an Ice Release technique, and it let him create weapons out of thin air. With enough skill, he could create several Kunai or other concealed weapons at once, or even forge a long ice sword. Thinking of the powerful shinobi in the later parts of Naruto, many of them had incredible Taijutsu. Even Madara, who relied on his eyes, was extremely skilled at it. When Madara was summoned through Impure World Reincarnation during the Fourth Shinobi World War, he had charged at the Allied Shinobi Forces all by himself.

Ye Wuji practiced the Water Clone Technique for a while, then the Water Blade technique. After waiting for quite a while, he realized Fu still hadn't shown up.

"Strange. Why is Fu so late today? She's so strong, and she's only sixteen. She should be at least a prodigy at this level. She ought to be as skilled as Kakashi and Itachi were at their age. Kakashi became a jonin at twelve, and Itachi was even more impressive—he became an Anbu captain at thirteen.

"But it's not unusual for people to be talented in the Naruto World. Mifune of the Land of Iron fought Hanzo when he was young, didn't he? He seems to have lost badly, but he was still impressive."

"I have to work hard at my training." Ye Wuji silently encouraged himself. He was about to practice Hand Seals when a figure suddenly appeared in front of him. It was Fu. She was dressed as usual, but had a scroll on her back almost as tall as she was.

"Fu, you're late today. You have to buy me dinner. How can a shinobi fail to be punctual?" Ye Wuji walked over and spoke in a self-important tone.

"Brat, what are you talking about? I came today because there's something I need to tell you," Fu said, unusually serious.

"What is it?"

"I have a mission. I'm leaving. It's a long-term mission, so I may not see you for a long time. I'm leaving today. I had to pack some things, which is why I'm late. Got it, brat?" Fu said.

"Mm." Ye Wuji nodded.

"You little brat, you don't seem surprised at all." Fu was rather taken aback by his reaction.

"That's normal. I was wondering if you'd gotten into trouble, Fu. You've spent the whole month practicing with me instead of doing anything else. I thought you'd been punished and weren't allowed to take missions. I heard that shinobi earn money through missions. You've been spending all this time with me instead of earning anything, and I've been worried about you."

"You little brat. So you've been thinking about money all this time? You can earn money once you grow up." Fu found his way of thinking strange.

"That won't work. I'm living and eating at Uncle Ukyo's house, but he and I aren't related. I can't stay at his place forever without doing anything. Even Rei is learning how to cook, and Yuta is Uncle Ukyo's student, so it's different for him. I haven't seen Uncle Ukyo lately, which is why I haven't brought it up. Even if you hadn't told me today, I would've talked to you about it when Uncle Ukyo came back. I might not have as much time to train in the future.

"And even if Uncle Ukyo doesn't mind me living with him, I heard he's only staying here for two years. After that, he'll leave. I don't plan to go with him, so I'll have to earn my own money. I want to see if there's anything I can learn while I still have the chance."

After hearing Ye Wuji's words, Fu fell silent. She hadn't considered that. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

"Um, by the way, Fu, how long will this long-term mission take?" Ye Wuji sensed the change in the mood and quickly asked.

"I don't know. I have to go to another country. It could take several years," Fu said.

Hearing that it would take so long, Ye Wuji froze for a moment, then continued, "That mission must pay really well, then. If I see you again, you'll have to buy me dinner."

Hearing Ye Wuji's childish words, Fu couldn't help smiling. "All right. Whatever you want to eat, I'll treat you." As she spoke, Fu patted Ye Wuji on the head again.

"Hmph. By the time we meet again, you might not be able to pat me on the head anymore," Ye Wuji said, sounding a little annoyed.

"That's true. You'll definitely be taller by then. But, brat, weren't you happy when you heard I was leaving? You didn't react at all," Fu said, pretending to be a little upset.

"I'm happy when I'm with you, Fu. But it's normal for you to leave. It's not like we'll never see each other again. And as for a reaction, I don't have anything." Ye Wuji answered plainly.

This time, Fu was truly speechless. She stared intently at Ye Wuji, making him feel a little uneasy. He quickly said, "Fu, if there's something you want, you can take it. I don't mind."

"I just realized something," Fu said, looking at Ye Wuji.

"What is it?" Ye Wuji asked.

"You little brat. You're definitely never going to be popular with girls." Fu spoke as if she were making a prophecy.

"Huh?" Ye Wuji was stunned.

"Here." Fu tossed him a bundle. "This is a present from me. Keep it safe."

Ye Wuji caught it and was about to see what was inside when Fu added, "You little brat, you're definitely never going to be popular with girls."

Ye Wuji looked at Fu, bewildered.

"Since I'm your big sister, I'll teach you. In this kind of situation, you should tell me to take care of myself or something, instead of looking at the present I gave you. Got it? Next time something like this happens, that's what you should do. Understand?" Fu spoke like an expert.

"Oh, I get it." Ye Wuji slung the bundle over his back and stopped looking at it.

"Good. Then let me ask you something. Who do you think is prettier, me or your big sister Rei?" Fu asked.

As Fu asked the question, the Takikage was watching from a concealed spot nearby. One of the Anbu beside her asked curiously, "What does Lady Fu mean by that?"

The Takikage smiled but didn't answer.

After hearing Ye Wuji's question, he smiled to himself. As expected, all women like asking this question. Good thing I'm not a child.

Ye Wuji quickly replied, "Of course you're prettier, Fu. You're much prettier than Rei, and Rei has a terrible temper. All she does is bully me."

"Good. Since you know I'm pretty, do you want to see what I really look like?" Fu asked with a smile, though there was no laughter in her eyes. She kept watching Ye Wuji.

"My real face?" Ye Wuji was startled. Could Fu not be showing her real face? Was it a Transformation Technique?

"Sure!" Ye Wuji replied with a smile, while thinking, Is it an even prettier face, or something completely different?