"The kind of tool you wanted, I've already made it."
"Got it."
"How does it feel to lead the Genin on missions?"
"Nothing particularly special."
"When carrying out missions, it's best to be cautious. Just like this time, the client lied about the mission's level."
"Got it, I'm not one to act impulsively."
It was a very ordinary exchange, and Ruri answered with her usual expression.
Hakushi was a bit absent-minded while eating. Eventually, he couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked Ruri, "Ruri, is there really nothing you want to ask me? Like the matter of Ayane coming here this morning..."
"Why ask about that? You're being too sensitive. A friend visiting you, isn't that a normal thing?"
If that's truly what she thought, Hakushi would feel relieved.
"Alright, I'm full."
Ruri left that sentence and walked out the door before Hakushi could speak again.
By this time, it was already late, and the sky outside was dark. That place wasn't where the bedroom was, but seemed more like the training ground.
Finishing his meal in a rush, Hakushi didn't bother tidying up because he was more concerned about Ruri's current state than such chores.
When he got to the training ground and found Ruri, she was indeed practicing Taijutsu against a wooden post.
Ruri's strength was immense. The wooden posts here were even sturdier than the usual training posts, but every punch she delivered left a shocking crack in the wood.
Is she starting to vent here?
The calm demeanor from earlier was just a façade she put on to suppress herself, wasn't it?
After all, someone as proud as her would never show her vulnerable side to anyone.
Hakushi sighed inwardly.
"Ruri, I..."
In such times, he should face it head-on.
He couldn't avoid these issues with a vague attitude.
In response, Ruri suddenly launched a fierce punch at him.
The intense killing intent that came with it made Hakushi's hairs stand on end.
He knew he wouldn't be a match for Ruri in combat, but the powerful aura emanating from her was even more overwhelming than he had imagined.
To respond to Ruri, Hakushi had to draw upon Natural Energy.
Although his defense was flawless, for someone like Ruri, who excelled at breaking through from the front lines, there was no need for trickery to exploit a weakness—she simply steamrolled through directly.
Like a raging storm, her relentless attacks continued, and in just half a minute, Hakushi was already gasping for breath.
Ruri, dressed in a pitch-black tight outfit, her dark hair fluttering in the wind, descended from mid-air, her gloved fist making the ground shake with a bang.
The explosive sound filled his ears and lasted a long time before fading.
Hakushi glanced at the massive crater Ruri's punch had left in the ground, cold sweat forming on his face.
Was she trying to kill me?
If he got hit directly by such a punch, no matter how tough his body was, it wouldn't withstand it.
"What are you looking at? How dare you get distracted while fighting me?"
A cold voice came from behind.
Oh no!
Hakushi turned around, crossed his arms in front of him to block the incoming punch from Ruri.
Boom!
His body flew out, crashing hard against the wall surrounding the training ground, leaving a dent in it. Hakushi sat on the ground, out of breath and exhausted.
Ruri stepped in front of Hakushi, nonchalantly brushed aside her black hair by her ear, and put one hand on her hip, her expression showing evident dissatisfaction.
"You've become weak. A year ago, you weren't this frail. At this level, you can't satiate my battle fervor."
"I can't help it. Over the past year, I've focused my energy on research, and I've barely trained. Without engaging in combat with anyone, my strength and speed have inevitably dulled."
Hakushi seemed to take it in stride, no longer chasing Ruri's shadow as he did before.
Ruri glanced at his face, sighed, and reached out to pull him up.
Hakushi reached out too. Back during their time at Ninja School, it was the same scenario.
As the defeated, he was always pulled up from the ground by Ruri in this manner, chasing her shadow.
But this time, he wouldn't let that shadow drift away from him again.
Their palms came together, and just as Ruri exerted force to pull Hakushi up, unexpectedly, Hakushi used greater strength, causing her to stumble forward slightly.
Taken by surprise, Ruri had a momentary awkward expression.
"What are you doing—"
Ruri's voice got stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
Because her lips were sealed, subduing all the remaining words in her stomach.
Realizing what this moment was, Ruri struggled against Hakushi's embrace with all her might.
Yet her resistance only made Hakushi tighten his hold.
Gradually, Ruri felt she forgot everything, and experienced what a first kiss was like.
Sweet and somewhat shy.
Their actions went from clumsy to practiced.
Her body grew increasingly warm, as if all the troubles and grievances from the day were completely released and satisfied the moment she was kissed.
Ruri's black tight ninja outfit was thin, especially highlighting her slender figure. Her whole body exuded a kind of wondrous beauty.