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The bright midday sun shone through the windows into the office, adding a touch of warmth to the room, while the air outside was bone-chillingly cold.
The snow on the ground began to melt, adding an extra layer of cold to the weather.
Inside the office, Yūhi Kurenai, who had returned to work in the afternoon, was now holding a stack of documents.
"Lord Yoru, here are the documents," she said.
Uchiha Yoru looked at Yūhi Kurenai and smiled gently, nodding. "Put the documents here," he said.
Uchiha Yoru appeared as usual, showing no signs of anything unusual, while Yūhi Kurenai, whether intentionally or unintentionally, clearly seemed awkward and disoriented.
"Weren't you resting at home today?"
It was a simple question, but it made Yūhi Kurenai react as if she had been startled, her response clearly over-the-top and nervous.
"Lord Yoru, I'm fine now and can work normally," she said, trying to sound strong and composed, but the panic in her eyes was impossible to hide. She then seemed to remember something, took out a stack of money from her pocket, and placed it on the table.
"Lord Yoru, here's the money back."
She was still so innocent, even in such a situation, she was still thinking about not taking more than she should. Seeing the panic in the girl's eyes, Uchiha Yoru smiled, feeling satisfied with the power he wielded, even though she was a spy.
"Yūhi, handle the work, and then come with me to the training ground later," he said, gently taking her trembling hand and placing the money back in her pocket. "Yūhi, being a ninja requires a lot of resources, and you deserve this."
Yūhi Kurenai's face turned red as the money slipped back into her pocket, and her hand was held by him. She stammered, "Lord Yoru, I'll go down now."
Watching her flustered figure leave, Uchiha Yoru's smile deepened. He believed that even if she had been acting, her emotional loyalty would make her a valuable asset, and he was confident he could use this to his advantage against the Third Hokage.
After leaving the office building, Yūhi Kurenai nervously patted her chest, her heartbeat clearly audible. Although everything was part of the Anbu's plan, she had genuinely felt nervous, acting naturally.
This was why the Anbu had assigned her this mission to get close to the target. A spy doesn't need to be the best actor; sometimes, using the right conditions can be more effective.
For this well-planned mission, she had truly felt the pressure of debt over the past month. The money in her pocket now made her both nervous and a bit warm.
"Yūhi?"
A soft voice made Yūhi Kurenai's hair stand on end. She turned around in panic to find Gekkou Hayate, who looked apologetic.
Seeing him, Yūhi Kurenai wiped the sweat from her brow and forced a smile. "Hayate, is there something wrong?"
The sunlight reflecting off the snow made Yūhi Kurenai look particularly beautiful. She had always exuded a sense of strength and grace, but today, there was an added touch of fragility, making her seem in need of protection.
Gekkou Hayate was momentarily taken aback by her appearance, then he scratched his head and smiled. "Yūhi, this is my monthly pay. It's not much, but I hope it can help you a little."
He then added, looking a bit embarrassed, "Yūhi, you know, I spend most of my money on training, so I don't have much savings. This isn't much, but please don't mind it."
Looking at the honest Gekkou Hayate and the money in his hand, Yūhi Kurenai, who had grown up overnight, smiled, but a faint sense of loss lingered in her heart.
Gekkou Hayate's money was not insignificant, but compared to the pocket money Uchiha Yoru had given her, there was a stark contrast.
A month's hard-earned pay was nothing compared to a casual gift.
Uchiha Yoru's care and concern were evident, making Gekkou Hayate's actions outside the Police Force building seem naive and impulsive in comparison.
"Hayate, thank you, but my problem is already solved."
Solved?
Gekkou Hayate scratched his head awkwardly, unsure of what to say. "Yūhi, how did you solve it?"
As soon as he said this, he wanted to slap himself. But the words were out, and he could only smile awkwardly.
Yūhi Kurenai's experience had transformed her from a girl into a young woman overnight. She realized that her lack of power was the reason she couldn't control her fate. If she were a Jounin, the Anbu would never have sacrificed her so easily.
Thinking of this, Yūhi Kurenai smiled. "Captain Yoru helped me solve it. The condition is that I follow Lord Yoru for ten years."
Yūhi Kurenai knew she couldn't hide her situation, but to avoid gossip, Uchiha Yoru had arranged everything. She was well aware of this.
The concept of following was similar to the vassal system of the samurai era, where powerful families would take in smaller clans or powerful samurais as vassals, forming a kind of employment relationship. These vassals had to be loyal, and if they betrayed their loyalty, the family had the right to decide their fate, and their reputation would be ruined, leading to their being hunted down.
Although it was now the ninja era, this tradition still existed among powerful families. They would cultivate talented civilian ninjas as their subordinates, providing resources in exchange for loyalty.
"Yūhi, I'm sorry I couldn't help you."
Gekkou Hayate scratched his head, feeling awkward. He had no idea what she had been through.
Yūhi Kurenai, having experienced so much in one night, had no desire to explain. As a spy, she didn't want to involve others, and she forced a smile. "Thank you, Hayate. You're a good person, but I'm a bit tired today. I'll go now."
She didn't want to interact with anyone else. She was exhausted, and Gekkou Hayate, though a skilled ninja, was naive in these matters and offered, "Yūhi, do you want me to walk you home?"
But Yūhi Kurenai simply waved and left, leaving Gekkou Hayate standing there, scratching his head and smiling as he put the money back in his pocket.
"Perfect, I can go eat some barbecue tonight."
He encouraged himself to stay calm, focusing on completing his Anbu mission and gathering information. There would be plenty of time later.
Gekkou Hayate and Yūhi Kurenai were both part of the Anbu, but they didn't know each other. Only members of the same team met in their true forms, and Yūhi Kurenai had been sent on a spy mission shortly after being recruited by the Anbu, so neither knew they were from the same organization.
Gekkou Hayate's abilities were well-suited for intelligence gathering, and they both kept their identities secret to avoid implicating others if they were exposed. In the world of ninjas, there were many ways to extract information, such as Genjutsu and Mind Invasion Techniques.
At a training ground on the outskirts of the Uchiha clan's territory, the air was crisp as the snow melted, and two figures appeared.
Yūhi Kurenai had suppressed her emotions, feigning shyness and complexity. When she arrived at the training ground, Uchiha Yoru showed no sign of awkwardness.
"Yūhi Kurenai... Blood type A, birthday November 3rd, interests include flower viewing, current rank Chunin, skilled in Sword Technique."
Uchiha Yoru's gentle smile as he recited her information made Yūhi Kurenai inwardly wary. She was relieved that the Anbu had hidden her background well, preventing any leaks.
"Lord Yoru."
Yūhi Kurenai looked tense, her face pale, as if worried about her identity being exposed. But when she looked up, she saw Uchiha Yoru's gentle smile and two fingers holding a piece of paper.
"Yūhi, this is a Chakra attribute test paper."
Uchiha Yoru handed her the paper with a gentle smile, clearly expecting her to use it. Yūhi Kurenai hesitated for a moment before taking it, her fingers trembling.
"Thank you."
The Chakra test paper was expensive, and as a civilian ninja, she knew the burden it represented. It wasn't that they couldn't afford it, but what was the point of knowing your Chakra attribute if you couldn't learn the corresponding Ninjutsu?
For civilian ninjas, elemental Ninjutsu was extremely valuable. They would only buy the expensive test paper when they had the opportunity to learn it, checking their Chakra attribute before starting their training.
Before having the chance to learn elemental Ninjutsu, civilian ninjas wouldn't waste money on it, preferring to buy more Explosive Tags instead.
"Input your Chakra into the paper and see your Chakra attribute."
Uchiha Yoru spoke softly, and as Yūhi Kurenai's pale, slender fingers held the paper, it split in half the moment she channeled her Chakra.
Uchiha Yoru's smile widened. "Congratulations, Yūhi. Although it's a single attribute, the Wind attribute is extremely rare and has high offensive power."
As a civilian genius, Yūhi Kurenai knew the basics. Seeing her Chakra attribute, she smiled genuinely.
Uchiha Yoru, looking at her, thought she was acting naturally. She was a recent graduate, so her current demeanor was authentic. He was determined to make the Anbu lose this elite, and he would gain a valuable asset.
"Yūhi, when I examined you this morning, I noticed some old training injuries on your body, and your hands are very beautiful."
His tone changed, and he took her hand, causing her to panic. Just as she was wondering what to do, he placed something heavy in her palm.
"Your hands are beautiful and well-suited for Sword Technique, and your physique has good explosive power."
Uchiha Yoru handed her a standard Uchiha Clan Ninja Blade, smiling. He wasn't exaggerating; she was indeed well-suited for Sword Technique. He knew from the original story that she would become a special Jounin in the Anbu, known as the Flower of the Anbu, due to her mastery of Sword Technique.
In her battles, she almost always used Sword Technique, likely due to her civilian background, but her talent for it was undeniable.
Yūhi Kurenai, expecting him to tease her, was relieved when he handed her the Ninja Blade. As a Chunin skilled in Sword Technique, she recognized the quality of the blade. It was clearly of the highest standard.
"Lord Yoru, this is too valuable."
Uchiha Yoru smiled and waved. "If you like it, keep it. Don't worry, I've removed the Uchiha Clan Emblem, so no one will recognize it."
"From today, finish your work in the morning and don't neglect your training in the afternoon. I will personally teach you Sword Technique every day."
For a civilian ninja like Yūhi Kurenai, this was unprecedented. The valuable Ninja Blade and the promise of Sword Technique training left her flustered. "Lord Yoru, won't it cause trouble if I learn the Uchiha Clan's Sword Technique?"
Uchiha Yoru smiled at her nervousness. She was indeed innocent, and he doubted the Anbu could be as generous as he was.
"Don't worry, I have the authority to teach you some Ninjutsu. From today, I will train you in the true essence of Sword Technique every afternoon unless there are special circumstances."
For Yūhi Kurenai, who valued Ninjutsu highly, the Anbu would never give her such valuable techniques so easily.
To win her heart, money was too cliché. The most precious thing was high-level Ninjutsu, which money couldn't buy, along with the training secrets of a powerful clan.
If you are inexperienced, I will show you the world's wonders. He would overwhelm her with Ninjutsu, making her dizzy with excitement.
Thank you to 'Xianyu Hualong' and '认真且怂一个人也挺好' for their generous donations. Thank you to all the readers for your support.
(End of Chapter)