Tsundere Kurotsuchi, the Tsuchikage's Granddaughter Clings to Me Every Day?

News of Uchiha Yoru subduing the explosive little demon with a single move spread through the Hidden Stone Village as if it had grown wings.

Every street and alley was buzzing with rumors that the young outsider serving as Supreme Elder was a monster even more terrifying than a tailed beast.

Where there was awe, there were naturally those who refused to accept it.

Outside the Hidden Stone Village's exclusive special-grade training ground, a petite, sneaky figure poked her head out.

She had neat short black hair, large eyes gleaming with mischief, and a fitted red training outfit.

Ōnoki the Tsuchikage's precious granddaughter, Kurotsuchi.

"Tch. Some Supreme Elder? My grandpa must be going senile and got duped."

Kurotsuchi curled her lips as she stared at the black-clad young man meditating in the center of the training ground.

"Even that idiot Deidara got fooled stupid. I want to see what you Leaf Village guy are really made of!"

Kurotsuchi crept into the edge of the grounds.

Her hands flew through seals, her movements as light as a wildcat's, afraid of making the slightest sound.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"

A faint cluster of earth-nature chakra silently traveled underground toward Yoru's feet.

This was the dirty trick she had practiced painstakingly for half a month.

As long as he moved even slightly, the hard ground beneath him would instantly turn into a swamp and trap him tight.

Hmph, keep pretending to be some master. Once you fall flat on your face, let's see how you can keep acting like the big shot of Hidden Stone!

Kurotsuchi hid behind a massive boulder, covering her mouth as she snickered. Her large eyes were full of the excitement of a successful prank.

Ten meters.

Five meters.

Three meters.

The chakra fluctuations had already reached Yoru's heels.

Yoru remained seated cross-legged on the bluestone slab, his eyes half-closed. Even his breathing rhythm had not changed.

Got him! Kurotsuchi cheered inwardly and suddenly poured chakra into the technique.

Just as the swamp was about to take shape—

Yoru suddenly raised his right hand and casually pointed one finger downward.

"Click."

His fingertip tapped the bluestone slab with an exceedingly faint, crisp sound.

With just that light touch—

The Earth Style chakra Kurotsuchi had painstakingly gathered burst like a punctured balloon, instantly scattering without a trace!

The ground, which had begun to soften, hardened again like iron.

"What?!"

Kurotsuchi's eyes widened as she cried out.

How is that possible? He didn't even form seals. He broke my Earth Style just by moving a finger?

"Your chakra output is unstable, and your perception of the earth veins is a complete mess."

Yoru's eyes remained closed as his lazy voice drifted through the empty training ground.

"Most fatal of all, you're treating Earth Style like Water Style. In pursuit of stealth, you've lost the inherent heaviness of the earth element."

He yawned and casually pointed toward the boulder at three o'clock.

"Is that how old man Ōnoki usually teaches his granddaughter?"

"Come out. Hiding behind a rock like a quail—aren't you embarrassed?"

Having been exposed on the spot, Kurotsuchi's little face instantly turned bright red.

She gritted her teeth and simply leaped out from behind the boulder, hands on her hips and cheeks puffed up in anger.

"Don't look down on me! I only held back because I was afraid of hurting you!"

Kurotsuchi stubbornly refused to admit defeat, her chin raised like a little rooster that had lost a fight.

"Besides, you're an Uchiha who plays around with the Sharingan. What do you know about Earth Style?"

Yoru slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the fiery little girl before him, he could not help but laugh.

"I don't know?"

Yoru stood and dusted off his pant legs.

"Little girl, watch closely."

He made no unnecessary movements. He merely gave the ground a light tap with his right foot.

"Boom—!"

A visible yellow ripple instantly spread outward from the tip of Yoru's foot.

The entire training ground seemed to come alive!

The ground beneath Kurotsuchi churned violently, transforming into a savage earth dragon that lifted her straight into the air!

"Ah!"

Kurotsuchi screamed in fright, her body tilting as she nearly fell.

But the earth dragon gently circled once before steadily lowering her back to the ground.

"To control earth isn't to make earth adapt to you. It's for you to feel the veins within the earth."

Yoru walked up to her and looked down at the stunned Kurotsuchi.

"You possess not only earth-nature chakra, but also the foundation for water-nature chakra."

He accurately exposed her talent at a glance.

"Stop copying your grandfather and playing with pure Earth Style. Try blending the two types of chakra at a three-to-seven ratio."

"Water enveloping earth becomes lime. Earth enveloping water becomes lava."

Yoru reached out and tapped her forehead, as though looking at a foolish student.

"This is the path you should truly take. Understand?"

Kurotsuchi covered her forehead, utterly dumbfounded.

She stared blankly into Yoru's deep eyes, as though lightning had struck through her mind.

Lava Release!

This was the bloodline limit she had been stuck at for so long, one that even her grandfather had been unable to guide her through properly!

The man before her had not only seen through her constitution at a glance, but had even casually stated the perfect ratio for chakra fusion!

What level of insight did that take?

This was a complete dimensionality reduction strike!

"Y-you... how did you know...?"

Kurotsuchi stammered, all her former arrogance having long since vanished into the clouds.

"You don't get called Supreme Elder for nothing."

Yoru waved a hand and turned toward the rest bench at the edge of the training ground.

"Enough. Stop getting in my way. Go back and train before you embarrass your Hidden Stone Village outside."

If anyone had dared talk to her like that before, Kurotsuchi would have rushed them without hesitation.

But now, as she looked at Yoru's broad back, she felt not the slightest bit of resentment. Instead, an indescribable admiration welled up inside her.

He was so strong!

Not only was his strength absurdly overwhelming, but even his teaching was so precise and insightful!

He was a hundred times cooler than her old fossil of a grandfather, who only knew how to lecture about lofty principles all day!

"Um... Lord Yoru!"

Kurotsuchi bit her lip and suddenly hurried after him.

Over the next few days, the Hidden Stone Village's Anbu discovered something extremely strange.

Their hot-tempered Lady Kurotsuchi, who had never accepted anyone's authority, had completely changed.

Every day before dawn, Kurotsuchi would report to Yoru's training ground on time.

She no longer wore that loose training outfit, instead changing into a slightly form-fitting short outfit that made her look youthful and energetic.

"Lord Yoru, your tea is ready. The temperature is just right!"

"Lord Yoru, training must have tired you out today. Shall I massage your shoulders?"

Like a diligent little bee, Kurotsuchi buzzed around Yoru, serving tea and water with boundless enthusiasm.

There was not the slightest trace of the tsundere defiance she had shown when they first met on her pretty face.

She was completely a little fangirl who had been utterly won over!

In the evening, the glow of the setting sun spilled across the training ground.

Yoru finished his routine chakra conditioning and sat in his chair, letting out a long breath.

"Lord Yoru, wipe your sweat."

Blushing, Kurotsuchi handed him a warm towel carrying a faint fragrance.

She did not quite dare meet Yoru's eyes. Her gaze darted away while her hands twisted together nervously in front of her.

"Um... I've already begun to grasp the chakra fusion technique you taught me a few days ago."

Kurotsuchi's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, carrying a hint of eager desire for praise.

"When do you think I'll be able to master Lava Release?"

Yoru accepted the towel and wiped the sweat from his face.

Looking at the short-haired girl before him, her gaze sticky with affection and her face full of admiration, Yoru could not help but complain inwardly.

That old fox Ōnoki really knows how to use a politician's tricks.

First money and housing, and now he'd even sent his own granddaughter to use a honey trap?

Still, to be fair, this girl does have decent talent. She's obedient and well-behaved too, so teaching her is easy enough.

"Don't rush Lava Release. Your foundation isn't solid yet. Forcing the fusion will only damage your chakra pathways."

Yoru tossed the towel back into the basin, stood, and stretched his limbs.

"For now, focus on training your earth-vein perception. Stop thinking about flashy techniques all day."

"Oh... I understand."

Kurotsuchi nodded with some disappointment, but quickly raised a smile again.

"Then I'll bring you the specialty buns from the western part of the village tomorrow morning! What filling would you like?"

Seeing her eager expression, Yoru sighed helplessly.

That old man's sugar-coated bullet had some real killing power after all.

Someone with weaker resolve would probably have long been lost in those soft, sweet calls of "Lord Yoru."

"Forget the buns. Don't come looking for me tomorrow morning."

Yoru waved a hand, his gaze turning toward the depths of the village, in the direction of the underground research department.

A trace of heart-palpitating fervor flashed through his black eyes.

"I have something important to do tomorrow."

Yoru looked at Kurotsuchi, a mysterious curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Orochimaru's laboratory table is ready."

"I need to pick up a delivery—one god-tier delivery that will let me completely break through this body's limits!"