The next morning, sunlight slipped through the curtains of the Uchiha estate, bringing a little warmth to the room.
Sasuke had already gotten up. He knew today was an important day: he was going to start elementary school at the Ninja Academy...
He turned to look at his older sister's room. Uchiha Ruri's door was shut tight; she seemed to still be asleep.
But it looked as though his sister hadn't taken his words to heart.
Sasuke tiptoed to Liuli's door, knocked gently, and called out softly, "Sis, are you awake? We should get going."
But there was no answer from inside the room. Only the steady sound of breathing proved that Liuli was still dreaming.
Sasuke sighed helplessly, guessing that Liuli was fast asleep.
But he knew today was important and they couldn't afford to be late. So he knocked harder and raised his voice. "Sis, get up! We're really going to be late!"
This time, there was finally a stir inside the room. Liuli opened her eyes blearily and saw Sasuke standing by the door. Only then did she realize she'd overslept.
"Oh no! I overslept!"
She rubbed her eyes and yawned, then said sheepishly, "Oh, Sasuke, why are you here so early? I haven't had enough sleep."
Looking at Liuli's lazy expression, Sasuke felt a little helpless. She's a few years older than me. Why is she still lazing in bed?
He said helplessly, "Liuli, did you forget we're going to school together today? Get up, or we really will be late."
With Sasuke urging her on, Liuli finally struggled out of bed.
"Fine, fine, I'm up. Stop nagging," Liuli muttered, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she tried to dispel the haze of waking up.
She yawned softly, and a lazy feeling filled the morning air.
Liuli had thought it was the weekend. The days when she could laze around in bed seemed as if they'd only been yesterday, and her body clock hadn't adjusted to the new routine yet.
"Sasuke, bring me some clothes. The Third Hokage came to see me last night. Diplomatic affairs are such a headache."
Liuli spoke lazily as she combed her smooth white hair.
"Liuli, you're older than me, but you seem even lazier. I've been up for two or three hours already," Sasuke said, at a loss for words.
Liuli rolled her eyes and muttered, "Tch, what do you know? It's called strategic rest. Diplomacy isn't physical work; it's mental work."
A faint fragrance filled Liuli's room. Sasuke didn't know what it was, but it smelled like Liuli.
He looked around for the clothes she wanted.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on a pink garment. It looked like a soft, comfortable dress, embroidered with delicate patterns.
Sasuke's heart stirred. He thought Liuli would look lovely in it.
He reached for the dress, but accidentally bumped into a pile of neatly stacked clothes. The pile shifted, and a small piece of underwear fell out.
Sasuke froze, his face turning bright red.
He hurriedly picked it up, flustered. He hadn't expected to see something like that in Liuli's room, much less to pick it up himself.
"Ahem, ahem. Liuli, I found your clothes." Sasuke tried to compose himself and make his voice sound natural.
Liuli took the clothes. Seeing Sasuke's flushed face, she immediately understood.
She couldn't help laughing and teased him, "Well, little Sasuke, why's your face so red? Did you see something you shouldn't have?"
Liuli's teasing made Sasuke even more embarrassed. He stammered, "N-no, nothing. I just suddenly got a little hot."
"Hot? Where?" Liuli asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. She came over and felt his forehead with the back of her hand. "Huh, your temperature's normal. You don't have a fever."
Sasuke wished he could dig a hole and hide in it. He lowered his head, not daring to meet Liuli's eyes, which seemed able to see right through him.
He stammered, "I-I mean, the room's a little stuffy. Maybe it needs airing out."
Seeing how flustered Sasuke was, Liuli couldn't help finding it funny.
She deliberately teased him. "Oh, so the room's stuffy. Want me to open the window and let in some fresh air?"
Liuli's teasing made Sasuke even more embarrassed. He stammered, "N-no, it's nothing. I just suddenly got a little hot."
A blush spread across his face. He silently berated himself for acting so awkwardly in front of Liuli.
Liuli watched Sasuke's embarrassed expression, a hint of mischief in her eyes. She walked over and said with mock seriousness, "Sasuke, did you see something you shouldn't have in my room, and that's why you're embarrassed?"
Sasuke's cheeks grew even hotter. He hurriedly waved his hands. "N-no, I didn't see anything."
His voice trembled a little as he silently prayed that Liuli would drop the subject.
Seeing how flustered Sasuke was, Liuli couldn't help laughing. She patted his shoulder gently and said, "All right, all right, I'm done teasing you. I know you didn't do it on purpose, so stop trying to explain."
Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Liuli gratefully. He was glad she hadn't pressed him any further. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known what to say.
"Liuli, hurry up and get ready. I'll wait outside." Sasuke changed the subject, hoping to leave the awkward room as soon as possible.
Liuli nodded and smiled. "All right, I'll get ready now. Just wait a moment."
Sasuke let out a sigh of relief and walked out of Liuli's room. He stood outside, still feeling a little uneasy.
"Kids really are kids. They're so adorable when they get flustered." Liuli murmured softly, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
Then she closed her eyes as if thinking about something, before calling softly, "System, draw."
As if in response, an invisible force stirred the air. Congratulations, host! You drew the Yin-Yang Androgyny Technique! You'll never have to worry about anyone discovering that you have the body of a big-dicked cutie again!
"Technique effect: Freely switch between male and female bodies. This technique is incredibly powerful and astounding. It allows the user to effortlessly cross the divide between genders, experience life and emotions as either gender, and feel the beauty of masculine and feminine traits intertwining. Whether it's a valiant male body or a graceful female form, the user can transform at will, as if wielding a wondrous kind of magic. Through these changes, the user can understand the diversity and wonder of life."
"What the heck?" Liuli froze for a moment. "Yin-Yang Androgyny?"
Liuli carefully read the technique's description. She could switch freely between male and female.
She could already imagine herself changing gender at will and experiencing different lives. It was an indescribably wondrous feeling.
She immediately tried using the ability. Her body began to glow faintly, as if a mysterious power were flowing within her.
Then her body began to change in an astonishing way. Her petite frame gradually grew taller, and her features became more masculine.
Liuli looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a little incredulous.
She had now become a handsome man, her features radiating confidence and a hint of rebelliousness.
She reached out and touched her cheek. Its rough texture convinced her even more that she really had become someone else.
"It's been ages since I had a man's body," Liuli said with a sigh.
She tried walking a few steps, feeling the strength and agility of her new body.
Although she still felt a little unaccustomed to it, she believed she would gradually get used to this new self.
"This ability is pretty useful. From now on, I can disguise myself as a man and go cause trouble," Liuli said to herself.
A while later, Liuli came out of her room.
She wore a simple white dress, its hem swaying gently. Her white hair fell over her shoulders, shimmering silver-white against the dress's pure color and making her look even more fresh and refined.
By now, Liuli had completely blended into this world and become a true "her." In Konoha, a place filled with the presence of shinobi, she could only appear as a woman, but she had gradually grown used to the change.
After crossing into this world, she had gradually become accustomed to her female body. She could also switch to a male body whenever she wanted.
"Come on, let's go have breakfast together," Liuli said to Sasuke with a smile.
Her voice was gentle and sweet, like a morning breeze brushing against the heart, making anyone who heard it feel at ease.
Sasuke nodded. His gaze lingered on Liuli for a moment before he quietly followed behind her as they headed to the dining room.
As they walked, Sasuke tried to calm himself down. What had just happened was a little embarrassing, but he didn't want to think about it anymore.
"Sasuke, let me ask you honestly: do you want to go to the Ninja Academy?" Liuli asked suddenly.
Her voice held a note of concern and expectation.
Sasuke was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Liuli to ask him that.
He fell silent for a moment, then slowly replied, "To be honest, I don't really want to go to school in the village. But since you're teaching at Konoha, I still want to give it a try."
Sasuke's voice was subdued, as if weighed down by inner conflict and uncertainty.
Liuli listened quietly, her gaze gentle, as though she could see every subtle change in Sasuke's heart.
She gently ruffled Sasuke's hair and spoke in a warm, reassuring voice. "Don't worry. What's past is past. I'm here for you, so don't worry about anything else."
Poor kid. It was all Itachi's doing!
Sasuke looked up at Liuli, a complicated emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew he had always carried a heavy past. Those painful memories were like invisible shackles, binding his heart.
But with Liuli by his side, he felt understood and accepted. He could also see hope and courage.
"Liuli, I know you want me to have a better future, and I know the school in the village has better resources and a better environment," Sasuke said after taking a deep breath. "But I'm still a little scared and unsure. I'm afraid of facing unfamiliar surroundings and people, and I'm worried I won't be able to adjust to life there."
Liuli gently took Sasuke's hand, offering him her warmth and support. She understood that the conflict and uncertainty in his heart couldn't be resolved easily.
She needed to give him enough time and space to face these problems and work through them himself.
"Sasuke, you have to believe in yourself. You have the courage and intelligence to face the challenges ahead." Liuli poked Sasuke's forehead with her finger. "Besides, you're not alone. Whatever path you choose, believe in yourself!"
Listening to Liuli, Sasuke felt the uncertainty and unease in his heart gradually fade.
He knew that with Liuli by his side, he no longer had to worry about anything else.
He could boldly try a new life and take on new challenges, though he still had plenty of reservations.
"Thank you, Liuli," Sasuke said softly. "I'll do my best. I won't let you down."
"Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the first time, so let me help you try something new and be brave."
Liuli's voice was gentle yet firm, like a spring breeze brushing across a lake, carrying a comforting warmth.
Sasuke raised his head, meeting Liuli's gaze. Her eyes held encouragement and expectation, as if they were saying, "You can do it, Sasuke." He took a deep breath, feeling the trust and support coming from his older sister.
Deep down, Sasuke had always feared the unknown and resisted change.
He was used to living life his own way. He was afraid to try new things and worried he wouldn't be able to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings.
But Liuli's words were like a clear stream, washing away his doubts and unease.
"All right. I'll be brave and give it a try." Sasuke took a deep breath and looked at Liuli with determination.
His voice trembled slightly, but his words revealed a determination he had never felt before.
Liuli looked at Sasuke, admiration and relief shining in her eyes. She knew he had always been strong on the inside, even if he was quiet on the outside. He habitually hid his feelings and was reluctant to reveal his vulnerability.
But in that moment, he chose to face his fear bravely and try the things he had once been too afraid to attempt.
"Sasuke, you're really brave," Liuli said gently. Her voice was like a spring breeze brushing across a lake, bringing Sasuke warmth and strength. "I know this isn't easy for you, but remember, every attempt is an opportunity to grow."
Sasuke nodded, his heart filled with gratitude and trust. He knew Liuli was not only his older sister but also his guide in life—and the last person left in the clan.
"Liuli, thank you," Sasuke said softly, his voice filled with deep emotion. "I'll remember what you said and try new things. I'll make myself braver."
Liuli smiled and patted Sasuke on the shoulder. Her touch was gentle yet firm, as if telling him, "Let's go! Just charge ahead!"
Before you continue