Early the next morning.
Gentō slowly woke, first noticing the soft warmth in his arms and the long hair draped over his arm.
Looking at Kurenai's graceful figure nestled against him, everything that had happened last night seemed to flash before his eyes again:
Hot breaths, interlaced fingers, hurried panting, and Kurenai's red eyes, hazy with desire...
He swore he had never intended to take advantage of her!
He, Uchiha Gentō, was an honorable man.
Even with the system's mission to complete, his original plan had been to court Kurenai in the village after they returned.
Who could have imagined that they would end up dual cultivating during the mission itself!
As his thoughts swirled, a system notification sounded in his mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing dual cultivation with a female ninja. Mission complete!] [Assessing the dual cultivation partner's aptitude...] [Assessment complete. Dual cultivation partner: Kurenai Yuhi. Overall rating: S-Rank!] [Distributing mission rewards... Many Children, Many Blessings module activated!]
Immediately afterward, Gentō sensed that a module called [Many Children, Many Blessings] had been added to the system in his mind.
Its description flooded into his mind as well:
1. As the host of the Family System, expanding your clan is your highest priority. The system will automatically assess suitable women. Please actively engage in dual cultivation with talented female ninja to continue and improve the clan's bloodline. 2. Your dual cultivation partner's aptitude will affect the quality of your rewards. The system will provide an objective rating and award a deluxe treasure chest of the corresponding rank. 3. Successfully conceiving offspring will grant additional generous rewards.
Reading the description of the [Many Children, Many Blessings] module, Gentō could barely suppress his grin.
"I'm not some lustful man. System, you're... you're really putting me through the wringer..."
"There's no helping it. For the Uchiha Clan's revival, I'll just have to suffer a little more."
With a thought, he opened the newly activated [Many Children, Many Blessings] interface.
[Dual cultivation partner No. 1: Kurenai Yuhi] [Aptitude rating: S] [Available to claim: S-Rank family treasure chest x1]
Without hesitation, Gentō chose to claim it.
[Ding! S-Rank family treasure chest successfully claimed. Open it?]
"Open it."
[Treasure chest opened. Distributing rewards.] [Reward one: Mastery of the essence of yin release chakra]
A cool sensation immediately swept through Gentō's entire body.
He sensed a strand of new energy quietly emerging within him, dark, lively, and elusive.
Seeing the first reward, Gentō was overjoyed.
Chakra was, fundamentally, a form of vital and spiritual energy.
All ninja were born with one or more elemental affinities, which determined how easily they could learn the corresponding ninjutsu.
Of course, ninja could also acquire mastery over chakra of other natures through training.
But that required prolonged, focused, intensive practice, understanding and imitating the forms of other chakra natures to master their nature transformations.
Gentō's innate chakra affinities were fire and lightning.
Now, with the system's reward, a third chakra nature had emerged within him: yin.
He read through the newly acquired knowledge of yin release chakra in his mind.
Gentō immediately understood: yin release chakra was power involving the mind, imagination, and soul.
Yin release chakra could not be used directly to attack, but it was the foundation of genjutsu, certain secret techniques, soul-related powers, and techniques that created physical forms.
The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan contained yin release chakra.
However, that chakra existed only within the eyes. It was inherited through their bloodline rather than directly mastered by members of the Uchiha Clan.
Gentō could not help marveling:
"Just what you'd expect from an S-Rank reward..."
[Reward two: S-Rank ninjutsu creation card Description: Use this card to specify a direction for ninjutsu creation. The system will generate the most suitable S-Rank ninjutsu based on the host's current abilities, bloodline traits, and chakra affinities.]
A card shimmering with pale gold light materialized in Gentō's hand.
Creating ninjutsu, especially high-level ninjutsu, required a profound understanding of chakra nature transformation and shape transformation.
Naturally, Gentō did not possess that ability yet.
But with this S-Rank ninjutsu creation card, he could directly create a technique perfectly suited to him!
Gentō did not hesitate.
"Use the S-Rank ninjutsu creation card immediately!"
[Ding! S-Rank ninjutsu creation card successfully used!] [Please select a direction for ninjutsu creation:] [One: Ninjutsu] [Two: Taijutsu] [Three: Genjutsu]
After a little thought, Gentō ultimately chose genjutsu.
[Generating genjutsu...] [Detected that the host possesses the Sharingan and yin release chakra. Integrating their traits...] [Ding! Generation complete!] [Technique name: Yin Release: Heart Divergence] [Type: S-Rank genjutsu] [Effect: Using specific hand seals in conjunction with the Sharingan as a medium, employ yin release chakra to open a gateway into the target's mental world. The caster can weave complex illusions beyond the gateway to probe or disrupt the target's deeper consciousness.]
It worked!
In an instant, everything about Yin Release: Heart Divergence was transmitted into Gentō's mind, including the sequence of hand seals, the precise flow of chakra through his pathways, how to focus his dojutsu power, and the essentials of constructing and maintaining the illusion.
"An S-Rank genjutsu..."
Excitement surged through Gentō.
Although a ninjutsu's rank did not completely correspond to its combat power, any S-Rank technique undoubtedly had immense potential.
This would become a crucial trump card for him.
Just then, a soft sound came from beside him.
"Mmm~"
Kurenai Yuhi's eyelashes fluttered before she slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she opened her eyes and saw Gentō, she remembered that she was completely naked.
She hurriedly gathered the clothes scattered across the ground and put them on.
Remembering their wild behavior the night before, she could not help blushing.
Especially since she had been the one to initiate it!
She recalled how she had kept taking the initiative and demanding more from Gentō, only stopping once the drug wore off.
She hardly knew how to face him.
Fortunately, Gentō spoke first, breaking the awkward silence.
"I've finished writing the mission report. The intelligence that Sunagakure plans to attack Konoha in two months is crucial. We need to return to the village and submit it as soon as possible."
"...Mm."
Kurenai lowered her head, her voice barely audible.
Gentō then cleaned up the mess on the ground. Only after making sure they had left no traces did he leave the cave with Kurenai.
On the way back to Konoha, the two of them, who had gradually grown comfortable with each other, instead became somewhat awkward after the previous night's frenzy.
Their eyes occasionally met, only to dart away again, as though something invisible stood between them.
Gentō could tell that Kurenai was deliberately avoiding conversation.
She seemed not to have adjusted to the sudden change in their relationship yet.
But he knew there were things he could not keep putting off.
On the afternoon of the third day, Konoha's gates and surrounding walls came into view.
Just before entering the village, Gentō stopped.
He turned around to face Kurenai:
"What happened last night may have been an accident, but I'm not someone who shirks responsibility. I'll take responsibility for you."
"So, could we try dating?"
"...Huh?"
Kurenai froze completely, her eyes widening slightly. She clearly had not expected Gentō to suddenly say something like that now.
Meeting Gentō's earnest gaze, she opened and closed her lips a few times, her cheeks scarlet, but could not find the words.
"I... um..."
Seeing her flustered expression, Gentō softened his tone further:
"You don't have to answer right now. I know this is sudden, and you need time to think."
"This mission took a lot out of you. Go home and get some proper rest first. Once you've made up your mind, you can come find me in the Uchiha Clan compound."
He pointed toward the village gates:
"I'll submit the mission report to Lord Hokage myself."
With that, he lingered no longer, turning and striding away.
Kurenai Yuhi remained where she stood, watching Gentō's tall, straight-backed figure merge into the crowd at the village entrance. For a long time, she did not move.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
A faint trace of anticipation quietly stirred within her, so subtle that even she did not notice it.
Captain Gentō is strong and handsome. He's such a dependable man...
Maybe trying to date him wouldn't be so bad...
Before you continue