"I know my ability is lacking," Miko said, voice firm. "But I'm already eighteen. I want to join the chūnin training division. Shigeo-sama, if I can last one minute against you, please allow me to enter the chūnin ranks!"
At that age, joining the academy alongside genin was certainly awkward.
But that was Nanmo's rule—no matter one's age or height, if their skill wasn't up to standard, they had to study humbly like everyone else.
"Ridiculous. You think this is a game? Someone, take her away!" Jinshi snapped.
There were always people unhappy with their placements. If everyone tried to appeal directly to Shigeo-sama, the place would descend into chaos.
"Or is it that the great Shigeo-sama is afraid?" Miko called loudly, eyes defiant.
"Or that you don't believe in me? I came all the way from the Land of Rivers to become part of Nanmo! But if you're the one keeping me from growing stronger, then I have only three words—I refuse!"
Her voice rang out, and she raised her chest proudly, as though to prove her courage.
Shigeo rubbed his nose, glancing at her.
He hadn't memorized everyone's faces at the Anbu base earlier, but he remembered her name—Miko.
"Didn't you just arrive today? Do you even know which way the academy gate faces?"
"I don't," she said boldly, "because I'm here to prove myself!"
And with that, she charged forward.
To a normal observer, her actions might seem understandable.
She had nearly been rejected that morning, was older than most recruits, and now placed among genin—her desperation to prove herself was natural.
But to Shigeo, it was different.
Back in the cave, when he'd scanned everyone's chakra with his Sharingan, he had noticed something—
Miko was suppressing her chakra intentionally, reducing it to the level of a genin.
He himself had used similar methods before, though his involved more advanced sealing arts that completely masked his chakra signature.
Anyone who hides something that carefully must have secrets they cannot reveal.
That was why he'd nearly expelled her—but her insistence made him curious. He had kept her under observation, instructing the Anbu to keep watch.
He had expected her to wait longer before revealing her hand.
Yet here she was—already impatient.
She sprinted forward with a strange, almost sensual grace. The male trainees couldn't help but whistle, earning a fierce glare from Jinshi that shut them up.
Miko's dainty fist shot toward Shigeo's face.
He sidestepped easily and raised a leg, intending to strike her chest—but reconsidered at the last moment and shifted the kick toward her shoulder instead.
She ducked low and whipped a kunai upward—aimed directly at his lower body.
The crowd burst out laughing.
"Don't back down, Shigeo-sama!" someone jeered.
Shigeo's gaze went cold.
Miko smirked, lips curling with teasing confidence. "Careful now, Shigeo-sama~!"
"It's been ten seconds already," Jinshi muttered, face tight. "Careful—she's trying to distract you with her charm!"
A genin lasting ten seconds against Shigeo was unheard of. And she had declared that lasting a full minute would mean she'd earned a spot in chūnin training.
Even though Shigeo hadn't agreed, if she managed to drag this out, it would be troublesome.
Before she could move again, Shigeo flicked a finger—
"Doton: Dorōheki (Earth Release: Earth Wall)!"
The ground rose and engulfed her completely, sealing her in an earthen cocoon.
"Hyūga Shigeo! Let me go! I said let me go!" she shouted, struggling furiously inside.
Shigeo frowned slightly and turned to leave.
But then her voice rang sharp and shrill behind him:
"Shigeo-sama! I love you! I want to be with you forever!"
The crowd erupted—some gasped, some clapped, others shook their heads.
Shigeo's brows furrowed even deeper. He gave Jinshi a look.
"Make sure the Anbu keep an eye on her."
He left the training field without another word.
By the next day, the story had spread everywhere.
From the training grounds to the city streets, everyone was whispering about "the woman who confessed to the Shadow."
That afternoon, Wuqianling—the princess of Nanmo—arrived at the village herself.
At home, she was washing clothes while Shigeo sat inside, eyes closed, focusing inward.
He was observing the energy system within his body—
The nine tailed beasts had fully matured, and the Jūbi no Ishiki (Ten-Tails' Consciousness) was beginning to form.
That consciousness had emerged naturally from the nine bijū's willingness to combine.
Most of the time, they remained separate in their respective inner realms.
Only when a powerful directive from Shigeo appeared would their awareness merge temporarily.
Each time they combined, immense power surged through him—pure, overwhelming, and amoral.
It was neither good nor evil, simply absolute strength.
That was precisely why Shigeo had not yet allowed the full fusion.
The Ten-Tails—ancient or future—was a being of danger.
If he couldn't tame it completely, he dared not unite them.
"Hey," Wuqianling said suddenly, breaking the silence. "That new girl—Miko—do you like her?"
No response.
She set down the clothes and turned, irritation flaring.
"Do you like her or not?"
Shigeo opened one eye. "Who?"
"Miko!"
He tilted his head thoughtfully. "She's pretty enough."
"Hyūga Shigeo!" Wuqianling shouted, storming toward him.
She leapt up and wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging from him like an angry cat before biting into his neck—hard.
Shigeo caught her waist with one hand, wincing. "Are you part cat now? Stop biting!"
"I'll bite you! I'll keep biting you!" she snapped, gripping tighter as she looked for another spot.
He sighed, holding her still, and lowered his head—biting her back on the lips.
The room spun.
Wuqianling froze, eyes wide, lips stinging. "Wh-what are you doing?"
That wasn't a kiss.
It was retaliation.
"I hate you, Hyūga Shigeo!" she cried, shoving off him and running out the door.
On the village streets, she fumed, her face red with anger and confusion.
Did he like her or not?
If he did, why did he act so indifferent?
She had made her feelings so obvious—why didn't he respond?
He bit her back—but wasn't that supposed to be a kiss?
Was he truly that dense… or just pretending?
(End of Chapter)
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