Early the next morning.
Xuandou slowly woke.
Looking at Kurenai in his arms, he quickly recalled everything that had happened last night.
He swore he had never intended to take advantage of her vulnerability!
He, Uchiha Xuantou, was an honorable man.
Even to complete the system's mission, his original plan had been to wait until they returned to the village before courting Kurenai there.
Who could have imagined that the two of them would actually... during the mission?
Just then, a system notification sounded in his mind:
[Ding! Congratulations to the host on achieving the objective!] [Assessing the mission target's aptitude...] [Assessment complete. Overall rating: S-rank!] [Distributing mission rewards... Many Children, Many Blessings module activated!]
Immediately afterward, Xuandou felt a module called [Many Children, Many Blessings] appear in the system in his mind.
The module's description also flooded into his mind:
1. As the host of the Clan System, expanding the clan is your foremost priority. Please lead by example, actively seek outstanding targets, and perpetuate and improve the clan's bloodline.
2. The target's aptitude will affect reward quality. The system will provide an objective rating and award a luxury 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, Xuandou could barely suppress his smile.
"I'm not a lustful man. System, you're... you're really making things difficult for me..."
"There's no helping it. For the revival of the Uchiha Clan, I'll just have to put myself through a little more hardship."
With a slight shift of thought, he opened the newly activated [Many Children, Many Blessings] interface.
[Available to claim: S-Rank Clan Treasure Chest x1]
Without hesitation, Xuandou chose to claim it.
[Ding! S-Rank Clan Treasure Chest successfully claimed. Open it?]
"Open it!"
[Treasure chest opened. Distributing rewards.] [Reward one: Yin Release Chakra Essence Mastery]
Immediately afterward, a cool sensation swiftly spread throughout Xuandou's body.
He sensed that a strand of entirely new chakra-dark, lively, and elusive-had quietly been extracted within him.
Looking at the first reward, Xuandou was ecstatic.
Chakra was, in essence, a form of life and spiritual energy.
All shinobi were born with an affinity for one or more of its natures, which determined how easily they could learn the corresponding ninjutsu.
Of course, shinobi could also learn to extract chakra of other natures through later training.
But that required prolonged, focused, intensive training.
They had to understand and simulate the forms of chakra of other natures to master their nature transformations.
Xuandou's innate chakra natures were fire and lightning.
Now, with the system's reward delivered, he had finally mastered Yin Release completely and extracted a third type of chakra within his body: yin.
He read through the newly acquired knowledge of Yin Release Chakra in his mind.
Xuandou 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 supporting genjutsu, certain secret techniques, soul power, and techniques that created physical forms.
The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan contained Yin Release Chakra.
However, that chakra existed only in the eyes, passed down through the bloodline, and was not directly mastered by members of the Uchiha Clan.
Xuandou could not help remarking:
"Just what I'd expect from an S-rank reward..."
[Reward two: S-Rank Ninjutsu Creation Card Description: This card allows you 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 natures.]
Immediately afterward, a card with a pale golden sheen materialized in Xuandou's hand.
Creating ninjutsu, especially high-level ninjutsu, required a profound understanding of Chakra Nature Transformation and shape transformation.
Naturally, Xuandou did not currently possess that ability.
But with this S-Rank Ninjutsu Creation Card, he could directly create a ninjutsu best suited to himself!
Xuandou 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, Xuandou ultimately chose genjutsu.
[Generating genjutsu...] [Detected that the host possesses the Sharingan and Yin Release Chakra. Combining traits...] [Ding! Generation complete!] [Technique name: Yin Release: Heart's Divergent Gate] [Type: S-rank genjutsu] [Effect: Uses specific hand seals in conjunction with the Sharingan as a medium, employing Yin Release Chakra to open a doorway into the target's mental world. The caster can weave complex illusions beyond the doorway to probe or disrupt the target's deep consciousness.]
It worked!
In an instant, everything about "Yin Release: Heart's Divergent Gate" was transmitted into Xuandou's mind, including the hand seal sequence, the precise flow of chakra through the chakra pathways, the method of focusing ocular power, and the essentials of constructing and maintaining illusions.
"An S-rank genjutsu..."
Excitement surged within Xuandou.
Although a ninjutsu's rank did not entirely equate to its power in actual combat, an S-rank technique undoubtedly had an extremely high potential ceiling.
This would become a crucial trump card for him.
Just then, a soft sound came from beside him.
"Mmm..."
Kurenai Yuhi's eyelashes fluttered, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she opened her eyes and saw Xuandou, she remembered that she was completely naked.
She hurriedly scrambled to pick up the clothes scattered on the ground and put them on.
Remembering their wild actions last night, she could not help blushing with embarrassment.
Especially since she had been the one to initiate it last night!
She recalled how she had kept taking the initiative to demand more from Xuandou last night, stopping only once the drug wore off.
She hardly knew how to face Xuandou.
Fortunately, Xuandou spoke up then, breaking the awkwardness.
"I've already written the mission report. The intelligence that Sunagakure plans to attack Konoha in two months is critical. We must return to the village and submit it as soon as possible."
"...Mm."
Kurenai lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
Xuandou then cleaned up the mess on the ground, leaving the cave with Kurenai only after confirming that no traces remained.
On the road back to Konoha, the two, who had gradually grown familiar with each other, instead became somewhat awkward because of last night's wildness.
Their gazes occasionally met, then quickly darted away, as though something invisible stood between them.
Xuandou could sense that Kurenai was deliberately avoiding conversation.
She seemed not to have adjusted to the sudden change in their relationship.
But he knew there were things he could not keep putting off saying.
On the afternoon of the third day, Konoha's gates and surrounding walls came into view.
Just before they entered the village, Xuandou stopped.
He turned and faced Kurenai directly:
"Although what happened last night was an accident, I'm certainly not someone who shirks responsibility. I'll take responsibility for you."
"So, could we try seeing each other?"
"...Huh?"
Kurenai froze completely, her eyes widening slightly, seemingly not having expected Xuandou to suddenly say something like this now.
Meeting Xuandou's earnest gaze, she opened and closed her lips a few times, her cheeks flushed, but for a moment she could not find the words.
"I... um..."
Seeing her flustered expression, Xuandou softened his tone further:
"You don't have to answer 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 thought it through, you can come find me at the Uchiha Clan Compound."
He pointed toward the village gates:
"I'll submit the mission report to Lord Hokage."
With that, he lingered no longer, turning and walking briskly away.
Kurenai Yuhi stood where she was, watching Xuandou's tall, straight figure merge into the crowd at the village entrance, and did not move for a long time.
Her heart thumped in her chest.
A faint trace of anticipation, so slight that even she did not notice it, quietly emerged in her heart.
She thought, Captain Xuandou is strong and handsome, and he's a very dependable man...
Maybe trying to date him wouldn't be so bad...