Wait for Me

"Xiaoying..."

Yugao kept repeating that name in his heart.

Xiaoying hid outside the door, lightly biting her red lips. Three days ago, Xiaoying had gone for a walk by the river.

She had happened to see Yugao use a single move to kill so many ninja.

That was why Xiaoying had saved Yugao. She wanted to take Yugao as her master.

But Xiaoying did not know how to bring it up.

Three days later, the sun shone brightly.

Yugao leaned against a tree, watching birds soar through the sky. Xiaoying had noticed that Yugao was always quiet and reserved, with a proud and aloof personality.

Xiaoying lightly pinched the corner of her skirt. As though she had finally made up her mind, she said to Yugao, "Yugao, can you teach me ninjutsu? I want you to be my teacher!"

Upon hearing the words "teacher."

Yugao instinctively rejected them. He said, "Don't become a ninja. Not a single ninja is any good!"

Grinding her teeth, Xiaoying asked, "Are you going to teach me or not?"

Yugao said, "No!"

Xiaoying sighed and said as though conceding, "All right, then. You're a ninja, while I'm just a commoner. How could I ask you to do something you don't like?

All these days, you've slept in my bed while I slept on the floor.

All these days, you've eaten and drunk for free.

All these days..."

Yugao's scalp went numb as he listened to Xiaoying. He hurriedly said, "Stop, stop, stop!

I'll teach you ninjutsu, all right? But I'll only teach you ninjutsu. You are not my disciple!"

Xiaoying happily agreed.

Seeing how happy Xiaoying was, Yugao could not help but let the corners of his mouth rise slightly.

For some reason, Yugao could never bring himself to be even the slightest bit guarded around Xiaoying.

The Six-Tails said to Yugao, "Yugao, you've fallen for her. Once you have feelings, you have a weakness."

Yugao thought, So what if I have a weakness? I was never invincible to begin with.

From that day onward, Yugao began teaching Xiaoying ninjutsu.

Xiaoying's chakra nature was Water, so Yugao taught her only Water Release.

It had to be said that Xiaoying was exceptionally talented at ninjutsu.

Once Yugao taught her a technique, Xiaoying could learn it.

As they spent day and night together, the feelings between Yugao and Xiaoying underwent a special change.

But Xiaoying was a girl.

And Yugao was rather reserved about such matters, so neither of them ever broke through that final barrier.

Yugao greatly enjoyed this life, peaceful and stable.

Yet Yugao knew that wanting to live like this forever.

Was nothing but wishful thinking. His identity as a jinchuriki was like a ticking time bomb.

Yugao had never dared tell Xiaoying his true identity.

Moreover, Kirigakure's hunter-nin squad and ANBU would not let him go.

For all these reasons, Yugao had kept suppressing his feelings.

One day, a month later.

A group of ninja suddenly burst into the quiet, peaceful home!

These ninja wore no forehead protectors, and their methods were highly unusual and strange.

They immediately attacked Xiaoying. Yugao used his Bubble Technique to save her.

Xiaoying's old servant, Dunbei, shouted at Xiaoying and Yugao, "Young master! Take the young lady and leave! I'll hold them off!

Yugao fell silent for a moment, then prepared to leave with Xiaoying.

Xiaoying begged desperately, "Yugao, please save Dunbei. He's already so old. I can't bear to see him like this..."

Yugao did not want to reveal his strength.

Because the four ninja below used very unusual methods. If he did not use the Tailed Beast's power, it would be difficult for him to kill them.

Yugao did not want Xiaoying to learn that he was a jinchuriki.

But seeing Xiaoying's grief.

Yugao still softened.

Yugao gently touched Xiaoying's face and said to her, "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

Then Yugao leaped directly out of the bubble and landed in front of the old servant Dunbei.

Yugao said to Dunbei, "Please stand aside and watch. Leave the rest to me!"

Yugao took out his bubble blower and continuously blew out dazzling bubbles, dangerous yet beautiful!

But upon seeing Yugao, the four ninja took a step back. Then, a large number of ninja appeared behind them!

Yugao looked over and saw Kirigakure's hunter-nin squad.

They still had not let him go!

The hunter-nin squad rapidly formed hand seals. "Water Release: Acid Rain Technique!"

At once, a dense rain began to fall from the sky. Afraid that Xiaoying would be hurt, Yugao waved his hand, and Xiaoying floated away.

Out of the range of the acid rain.

The acid rain prevented Yugao from blowing bubbles. Kirigakure's ninja knew Yugao's intelligence.

At that moment, the four ninja removed their masks. When the old servant Dunbei saw this, his eyes widened.

He stared at them in disbelief, because they were actually ninja from the Tsuchigumo clan!

Dunbei asked incredulously, "Why?"

A Tsuchigumo clan ninja said, "Old man, cut the nonsense. Tell me where Fury of Heaven is!"

Fury of Heaven was the Tsuchigumo clan's inherited secret technique!

Ever since the previous Tsuchigumo clan leader, En no Gyoja, had disappeared, this forbidden technique had vanished as well.

The Tsuchigumo believed it was hidden on Xiaoying, En no Gyoja's disciple!

That was why they had joined forces with Kirigakure's hunter-nin squad.

The Tsuchigumo clan wanted Xiaoying.

Kirigakure wanted the Six-Tails!

The acid rain rendered Yugao's bubbles useless.

Facing the ninjutsu surging toward him, Yugao glanced at Xiaoying, whose eyes were filled with worry.

Yugao smiled faintly.

Fine. Let her hate me if she must. At least I have to make sure she remains completely unharmed...

Blackish-purple chakra emerged from Yugao's body, flowing like liquid as it covered him.

Yugao transformed into a humanoid beast.

His scarlet eyes filled with killing intent. In his Six-Tails partial transformation state, Yugao possessed terrifying combat power.

In ten minutes, Yugao killed every ninja. Blood splattered everywhere, and severed limbs and mangled corpses littered the ground.

Yugao looked at Xiaoying inside the distant bubble and waved his hand. The bubble descended and burst.

Seeing Yugao covered in blood, Xiaoying's heart ached terribly. She took a step toward him.

But Yugao took a step back.

Xiaoying grabbed Yugao's hand and fiercely embraced him. The ice in Yugao's heart gradually melted away.

"You... aren't afraid of me?"

Tears welled up in Xiaoying's eyes. "You're the one I love. Why would I be afraid of you?"

The ice in Yugao's heart melted completely.

He embraced Xiaoying as well. The blood on Yugao's body stained Xiaoying's dress, but she did not care.

After a moment, Yugao said to Xiaoying, "Ying, I can't keep running away. I'm going to face Kirigakure's ANBU. Once I explain things to them, I'll come back for you!"

Yugao bent down and kissed Xiaoying on the lips. Xiaoying nodded.

"Mm."

Xiaoying was not a ninja. She did not understand how valuable a Tailed Beast was to a village.

Nor did she know that a jinchuriki would die if their Tailed Beast was extracted.

Xiaoying only wanted to be with Yugao without any worries.

Yugao said to Xiaoying, "Stay here and wait for me.

Wait for me to come back..."

"Mm..."

Under the moonlight, Xiaoying, covered in blood, watched Yugao walk farther and farther away. Suddenly, she felt a powerful sense of unease in her heart!

"Yugao!"

Yugao turned back. "What is it?"

Xiaoying softly said, "You have to come back!"

"Mm."

High in a nearby tree, a green aloe-like head was well hidden amid the canopy. Within that aloe-like head were black-and-white faces, Yin and Yang.

"Hehehehe, the Six-Tails jinchuriki's weakness is acidic rainwater."