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There is no profound love without root or reason.
It's just that some people still remember, while others have long forgotten.
Uchiha Megumi closed her eyes, lying quietly in the meditation room, feeling Sawara Kiri's breath, but her mind couldn't help but recall the day she first imprinted the name 'Sawara Kiri' in her heart.
Like most Uchiha, she was born into a traditional Uchiha Ninja family.
Although her mother didn't have the talent to become a Ninja, her father was a very famous and excellent Jonin within the clan at that time, known throughout the clan for his profound Fire Release mastery and Taijutsu skills, a strong individual whose name was known even outside the Village.
However, unlike her mother's gentle and easygoing nature, her father had always been a very stern character, with extremely strict demands for her, his only child.
From the age of three, Uchiha Megumi began comprehensive and rigorous Ninja training under her father's guidance.
Fortunately, like her father, she was born with excellent talent for Fire Release Ninjutsu and also had good bone structure, on which her father placed considerable hopes.
At that time, the young child naturally didn't understand any profound principles, but it was only after she also started going to the battlefield that she could comprehend what such a selfless cultivation and guidance meant for a Ninja, and what a strong foundation it provided for Ninja who had to fight and kill other nation's Ninja on the battlefield.
Megumi only remembered that the training was very hard, and only after each day's training ended could she eat the sweet pastries her father bought back as a reward.
Looking back now, the specific hardships are mostly forgotten, only that the pastries were delicious at that time, a luxury item difficult to buy in the Village.
Her father loved his daughter very much.
This profound and silent love continued until she attended the Ninja Academy.
As is often the fate of all Ninja families, her father sacrificed himself on the battlefield during a difficult mission.
All his remaining comrades brought back for him was a Ninja emblem.
She took leave from Ninja Academy classes that day, but not for long, returning to school the day after.
Because the Second Shinobi World War hadn't started yet, and perhaps because most children at that age were carefree, despite her unusual silence, no one seemed to notice the confused and helpless emotions hidden deep within her heart at that time.
For a seven-year-old child, it was very difficult for her to suddenly accept that a living person who had always quietly accompanied her, watched her climb and jump on trees and water surfaces, and continuously learn various Fire Release techniques, would never appear before her again after that day.
Someone facing death for the first time has no real sense of the concept of death.
She was just at a loss.
But, in that crowd, while the children who usually surrounded her because of the Uchiha name and her own reputation as a 'genius' didn't notice, a young boy suddenly appeared before her with the setting sun behind him, looked at her, still sitting alone on the swing after school, and extended a hand.
From the boy's palm, a candy appeared, which, judging by its poor paper packaging, was not worth much, but had been well preserved by him.
"When you're sad, you should eat sour candy."
The boy, who had almost never spoken to her normally, sat down familiarly beside her swing, a annoying smile on his face, and turned to look at her:
"Once you endure the initial very, very sour part, you'll be able to taste a little bit of the sweetness that overflows afterward."
"Isn't it amazing?"
Uchiha Megumi remembered that at that time, she just looked at him with a silent gaze, as if looking at potatoes and cucumbers, without any concept.
But his words were like a lifeline to her then, flooding into her mind regardless of how strong her own will was.
On the contrary, the child in front of her seemed to have long been accustomed to her reaction, completely unconcerned as he continued on his own:
"The more unbearable the pain, the more you must smile."
"Only those who bear the past are qualified to move forward."
"Hey! Sounds impressive, right?"
These were all words children couldn't understand, like adults comforting their companions who had lost loved ones, pretending to be mature idiots.
But Uchiha Megumi found herself surprisingly fond of listening, wanting him to continue speaking, her eyes sparkling with a faint light.
The little girl pouted, her voice choked, yet she stubbornly said:
"What do you know?"
"I know a lot."
He stood up, like a tower against the sunset: "Many things in this world are destined."
"Like a white dress meeting a white shirt, erectile tissue meeting wasabi, salmon meeting a sphincter, once they meet, it's like a golden wind and jade dew, dry wood and fierce fire…"
"Oh, is that how it's said?"
"Pfft."
She suddenly burst out laughing, as if seeing an idiot: "Do you even know what a sphincter is? How can a fish get in?"
"You never know." The little boy looked as if to say, 'You're too young,' "Wind essential oil, happy water, nuns and fish… There are many imaginative people in this world."
"For example, I can make a sad you laugh."
Uchiha Megumi remembered clearly that her smile instantly faded, as if there was a sense of betrayal towards sadness, betraying her father's death and the heavy, vanished, irrecoverable love.
But Sawara Kiri still looked at her quietly as usual:
"Hey."
"If you wear a little dress, would you want to spin around?"
"Annoying guy." Megumi remembered herself spitting out a very terrible tone then.
Who would say such a thing to a sad person?
Sawara Kiri was completely unconcerned, only turning his back to her, slightly tiptoeing, as if he could imagine such a scene, and sighed:
"But."
"Your deceased family must also really want to see it, right?"
Little Miss Megumi suddenly paused, as if recalling her father's always stern and formidable face.
Would he?
Her mood suddenly became complicated.
Sawara Kiri, however, seemed to have completely forgotten her presence, apparently lost in thought, and continued on his own:
"It will definitely look beautiful."
The girl, who had never been praised like this by anyone else, always felt shy about such direct kindness, but then suddenly seemed to get angry — perhaps both — making it difficult to discern the young girl's feelings at once.
However, even if she tried hard to keep a straight face, her face still glowed with a sunset-like blush.
At that time, even Megumi herself didn't know what emotion she was feeling when she suddenly asked:
"What Ninja wears a skirt?"
"Are you suggesting I should only wear it for you to see?"
The little person's answer was unprecedentedly decisive:
"Of course, you can."
Her questions became sharper, like a barrage: "Then will you always watch me? Watch me for a lifetime?"
"I think I will."
A smile appeared on his face that, even now as Megumi reminisces, warms the deepest part of her heart:
"Because Megumi-chan is very cute."
Uchiha Megumi couldn't clearly remember what happened after she went home, as she was alone.
Only his smile and her sadness became the etched memory of that moment.
Only the young boy who stood before her at that time left such a clear impression on her that, even now, nearly ten years later, every word he spoke, every action, every change in his expression, feels as if it is happening right before her.
However, after that, their relationship did not accelerate as imagined.
Even after saying such things, Sawara Kiri seemed to only consider her a normal friend, occasionally chatting with her, neither too close nor too distant.
She was just one of the many children he had comforted in his life.
Neither special nor unique.
Sawara Kiri's prematurely mature inner world made him unaware of the impact this experience would have on a certain girl.
But he suddenly became the most special and unique person in Megumi's heart.
In the time that followed, only Uchiha Megumi herself, like a fool, silently and subtly followed a little behind him, observing his entire school life.
The more she observed, the stronger the emotion in her heart became.
When it came to graduation assignments, she even actively requested to join his team, replacing a female classmate whose name she had forgotten.
However, Kiri didn't like her that much.
Although she was beautiful, had long legs, a slender figure, and well-developed breasts, making her the most eye-catching person among everyone at her vibrant age.
But he was still the same as before, sometimes even a little disdainful.
To this day, Uchiha Megumi clearly knows this; a girl who becomes humble in front of the person she likes always has delicate and sensitive feelings.
Before, understanding this, she had always endured and probed with great effort, like a cunning hunter, feigning a cool and elegant demeanor, cautiously moving millimeter by millimeter to approach his hand carelessly resting nearby, searching for an opportunity to touch him.
But the time was simply too long.
Until his figure filled every part of her eyes, his photos adorned every corner of her room, and his voice occupied every bit of space in her heart.
Like re-chewing memories, her emotions gradually became distorted.
By now, Uchiha Megumi finally realized.
She actually couldn't hold back.
'No matter what, I want to be with him.'
This had almost become an obsession, deeply etched into the very soul of the young girl.
Sawara Kiri, it had to be him.
Almost the instant the Sealing Technique was completed, a corresponding prompt popped up on the panel in front of Sawara Kiri.
"Uchiha Megumi's Mid-Level Emotional Entanglement (Completed)"
"Emotion Points +3"
"Bond Level Increased ↑"
"Uchiha Megumi Bond Level: Four → Five"
"First Completion of Mid-Level Emotional Entanglement"
"Can choose one random [Talent] or [Special Item]
Seeing the extremely obvious prompt appear on that section of the panel, Sawara Kiri felt a chill run through him.
This was over.
The bond level could actually increase?!
The previous Level Four wasn't the highest; what kind of bond had this become?
Sawara Kiri still didn't know that a casual remark he made in the Ninja Academy years ago, just to maintain his gentle persona, had inadvertently bound him for life.
He had long forgotten that trivial matter.
It was only natural to show concern for a classmate whose parents had died.
If he knew the real reason, he would probably want to go back and tear his own mouth off.
The only thing to be thankful for was that Miss Megumi didn't seem to have made any overly drastic reactions for the time being.
Just as Sawara Kiri was thinking this, he saw Miss Megumi, who was slowly getting up from the sealing platform, suddenly grab his sleeve, looking somewhat puzzled:
"Where are you going?"
Sawara Kiri was also stunned: "I... I'm going to wash my hands?"
"There's no 'after' that?"
Miss Megumi's tone grew increasingly puzzled, she looked down at her body as the sealing incantations gradually faded, then looked at his pants.
Didn't move?
How could this be.
However, just as Sawara Kiri was thinking about how to get away, Yuki, who had been eavesdropping outside the door for a long time, suddenly burst in and shouted:
"What 'after' do you want?!"
The small figure spread her wings like a protective hen, rushing to stand between Sawara Kiri and her, staring directly at her:
"Our Kiri is a proper man, don't think he's some casual person!"
"You, you, you, quickly put your clothes on!"
"..."
Uchiha Megumi looked at the young girl in front of her, then at the awkwardly smiling Sawara Kiri, and seemed to sigh helplessly, saying nothing, and simply began to put her clothes back on.
It seemed impossible to continue her pursuit today.
She would have to find other opportunities when this annoying little thing wasn't around.
After all, Kiri has a gentle nature and values his family very much.
There's really nothing she can do about him.
"Oh, right."
As if suddenly remembering something, Sawara Kiri changed the subject: "Megumi, do you want to try the new Ninjutsu in the courtyard?"
"This Sealing Technique is also my first time completing it on someone else, it wouldn't be good if something went wrong."
Miss Megumi's eyes immediately lit up:
"Am I Kiri's first time?"
Yuki's voice suddenly rose: "It's just the first time for the Sealing Technique! That's all!"
The final syllable was bitten off heavily.
Damn it!
This bad woman who likes to make suggestive remarks.
Very angry.
Uchiha Megumi, however, didn't care, and simply followed Sawara Kiri to the courtyard outside.
She drew the blade in her hand, pointing it directly at the empty space in front of her.
Her crimson Sharingan activated inadvertently, manipulating the Chakra flow within her body with extremely fine control, slowly surging into her body as described at the very beginning.
"Buzz—"
Deep in her mind, a subtle light seemed to ignite, forming a sphere that spread outwards.
It was untouchable and intangible.
No matter how she moved, it always remained about an inch from her body.
The young girl drew her blade and tentatively scraped it across the surface of her arm, faintly burning with a subtle fire.
However, the blade that ignited the flame, the moment it stopped an inch from her body, immediately could not advance further.
As if separated by an invisible membrane.
So amazing.
Is this Kiri's Ninjutsu?
Not only that.
The flame ignited by Uchiha Megumi's blade grew more intense, eventually forming a deep and heavy crimson, transforming into a Crimson Blade.
While simultaneously maintaining her Sharingan, Crimson Blade Technique, and spatial defense, her figure suddenly shot forward.
She swung a blade with a roar.
Almost at the same moment, the flame ignited on the surface of the Crimson Blade and the spatial membrane around her body expanded simultaneously.
The blazing flames immediately spurted forward in an expanded and fragmented manner, pushed passively by the space.
Forming a spreading circle of fireworks.
Sawara Kiri watched her apply it so quickly and freely, a smile on his face:
"This way, no one will be able to hurt you."
Uchiha Megumi stood in place, and upon hearing this, she suddenly turned her head, staring intently at him.
Those crimson, rapidly spinning three tomoe made Sawara Kiri, who had just been smiling, feel a subtle emotion well up in his heart.
Miss Megumi suddenly spoke, her tone gentle:
"Does this Sealing Technique have a name?"
Sawara Kiri was a little confused: "This Ninjutsu is called Limitless, isn't it?"
"No."
Miss Megumi's voice was decisive: "This is a special gift Kiri gave me."
"So, let's call it 'Sawara Kiri's Absolute Defense'."
Sawara Kiri's face immediately darkened.
Your naming talent deserves to sit at the kids' table with Namikaze Minato.
However, Uchiha Megumi herself was very happy with it, so Sawara Kiri naturally let her be.
Let her call it whatever she wants.
Once the comprehensive experiment of the Ninjutsu was completed and it was basically confirmed that there were no problems, Sawara Kiri quickly sent her away on the pretext that the Yin Seal required Chakra storage for continuous use.
After Miss Megumi's problem was resolved, it was naturally time for his own strength to improve.
"It really has been a long wait."
Sawara Kiri muttered, then turned to look at his panel.
"Consumed Emotion Points: 4"
"Limitless · Third Stage → Fourth Stage"
"Information Localization, Completed"
"Domain Expansion · Infinite Void (S): Creates a special Chakra domain in the form of Yin and Yang Release, with a specific external manifestation as a pitch-black sphere. Within this domain, a mental shock of infinite information is forcibly injected into the brain, causing the opponent to be in a state of 'information continuously pouring in'—neither living nor dying."
"Note: The domain range is linked to Chakra consumption, and the basic consumption is extremely large. Please use with caution, Host."
"Cannot be Upgraded"
"First Complete Ability Developed"
He looked at the information on the panel in front of him, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
It had been almost a year since he got this panel, and it was truly not easy to finally upgrade one S-rank ability to max level now.
However, cost and reward are always equal.
Due to the special nature of "Infinite Void," Sawara Kiri did not intend to experiment at home.
When he had time later, he would go to the Death Forest to try it out on his animal friends; the main concern was only the consumption issue.
In addition, there was also the randomly drawable [Talent] or [Special Item].
Sawara Kiri hesitated between the two for a long time.
If he had to say, talents like "Beast of Vigor," while indeed capable of improving his current strength, were not the only type of talent. If an intelligence-based bonus appeared, it would be basically useless for his current brute-force panel.
But special items sounded very unreliable.
Even everyday items like universal capsules were not that important to him right now.
"Let's try it."
Finally, Sawara Kiri gritted his teeth: "I've been unlucky so many times, what if this time I get something good?"
"Choose Talent!"
The moment the choice was made, a new prompt popped up on the panel.
"Obtained Talent"
"Mind's Eye (Fake) (A)"
"Information Localization, Completed"
"Details: Has corrective resistance to visual interference. Sixth sense, also known as premonition, is a danger prediction based on innate talent."
"This ability is from "FGO""
"Consumed Emotion Points to Upgrade"
Seeing that line of text appear on the panel, Sawara Kiri's eyes suddenly flashed.
Eh?
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