Oto Uchiha shrank back, her resistance gradually weakening.
Her breathing grew slightly hurried, though, and she felt shy and restless, with a faint sense of anticipation.
Perhaps their relationship would take another step forward.
"What exactly are you getting your hopes up for?"
Seeming to notice Oto Uchiha's unusual reaction, Zou Hyuga pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed softly. "You're too young. You're not my type. How many times have I told you?"
"Using the Transformation Technique isn't out of the question..." Oto Uchiha's voice grew fainter.
"Right, there's the Transformation Technique..."
Seeing Oto's bashful expression, Zou Hyuga took his time and watched her quietly. He kept feeling the urge to flick her forehead. Perhaps it was a Uchiha Clan tradition.
Setting aside his tangled thoughts, Zou Hyuga had not forgotten the real business at hand.
He had not come to the Valley of the End for a date. He had another purpose.
Clearing his throat, Zou Hyuga held Oto's soft little hand firmly and pointed toward the lake ahead. Its surface was calm, with lake fish occasionally rising to blow bubbles.
The Valley of the End had been formed by battle, but the traces of that old clash had long since vanished.
Zou Hyuga had not come to honor his predecessors, but to examine the Earth Vein Node beneath the area.
After devouring Moryo chakra, he could also sense the ley lines where natural energy gathered. It was precisely through those ley lines and people's hearts that Moryo could never be killed completely, only sealed.
The Valley of the End was one such node near the village, and the natural energy here was more significant than elsewhere.
Recovering from her bashfulness, Oto sensed the abundant natural energy around them with Zou Hyuga's help.
She had entered Sage