[Progress: 5%]
[Progress: 6%]
...
Sarutobi Ryo was happy. He watched the progress bar slowly rise, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Twenty percent progress was a goal he could realistically expect to reach.
Ninety percent, however, seemed impossible. Even if he tormented Pakura endlessly, he doubted he could achieve that much progress anytime soon.
They were enemies, after all. Gaining her approval wouldn't be a simple task.
The system's hint was very clear: Obtain Swift Release first. Then, wait and see what happens next. Slowly , he had to earn Pakura's approval to finally unlock Scorch Release.
Snap.
Sarutobi Ryo playfully pinched Pakura's cheek. It felt smooth and soft.
Pakura made a muffled sound, "Mmph~!"
As he fed her more quickly, the progress bar also began to climb faster.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly.
For Pakura, it might have felt like forever.
"Mm!"
Sarutobi Ryo offered her a drink.
Pakura gulped down a large amount of it.
Sarutobi Ryo leaned in close, making sure she didn't spill a single drop.
Pakura's eyes widened in protest. She struggled weakly, but it was no use.
The feeding went on and on...
Finally, Sarutobi Ryo finished. "Hospitality... complete."
"Ugh... huff... huff..." Pakura gasped for air, her face blank and empty.
A bit of the drink stained the corners of her mouth. The candlelight gave her a strange and captivating charm.
A dark thought flashed through Sarutobi Ryo's mind.
A violent urge stirred within him.
But quickly, Sarutobi Ryo pushed down his dark side, regaining control.
"I'm very interested in your Swift Release," Sarutobi Ryo said, looking at Pakura and the system's progress display, which read [19%].
"Tonight, you can think carefully about whether you want to tell me the secrets of Swift Release training... Of course, you can refuse, but..."
Sarutobi Ryo looked Pakura up and down, his gaze full of obvious intent.
This invasive stare made her skin crawl.
"...you know what will happen."
With those words, Sarutobi Ryo turned and left the underground room.
The candlelight flickered, and Pakura's breathing gradually slowed.
A strange feeling of injustice welled up inside her.
She had faced many hardships since she was a child, but she had never experienced anything like this before.
This went beyond anything she understood.
Sarutobi Ryo's darkness was much greater than she had imagined.
Whoosh.
The candle went out, and darkness returned.
A faint sob echoed in the pitch-black room, going on and on...
----
The next morning.
The clanging sounds echoed once again.
Sarutobi Ryo was once again 'welcoming' his guest.
In the dark underground, the play was repeated.
This time, the anger and hatred in Pakura's eyes had grown stronger.
"Mmph!"
Pakura glared at Sarutobi Ryo with intense hatred as she ate.
Sarutobi Ryo looked down at the Sunagakure's mature woman with hatred on her face, feeling a sense of dark satisfaction.
Chh!
"Ugh!" Pakura's eyes suddenly widened.
The sound of swallowing continued, and after a long time... heavy breathing was heard again.
She was reacting to eating so much food at once.
"How was the Land of Fire... the Sarutobi Clan-style breakfast?"
Sarutobi Ryo stepped back and asked calmly.
"Hmph... hmph..." Pakura didn't speak, but her murderous look said everything.
"Have you thought about my offer from last night, Pakura?" Sarutobi Ryo asked.
"If you don't agree, I might have to let the Sunagakure ninja see their revered hero... in a truly heartbreaking state..."
Sarutobi Ryo's threat caused Pakura's expression to change.
At the same time, the progress bar visibly increased.
[Progress... 20%!]
[Quest Reward: Swift Release]
Seeing the prompt in front of him, Sarutobi Ryo knew that Pakura had given in.
"Very good."
Sarutobi Ryo dragged a chair over and sat down, starting a private conversation with Pakura.
Time passed slowly.
Sarutobi Ryo finally obtained the training method for Swift Release.
It was worth noting that Pakura had only recently gained Swift Release. So, her understanding of this Kekkei Genkai wasn't perfect.
This meant that if Sarutobi Ryo mastered it and continued to develop it, he might end up on a completely different path than Pakura, which was quite possible.
----
Once he had the training method he wanted, Sarutobi Ryo planned to release Pakura, as agreed.
"And my companion!" Pakura said fiercely after being untied.
She would never forget this humiliation.
And the fact that he was letting her go was the biggest mistake he would ever make!
To be kind to the cruel is to be cruel to the kind.
Pakura decided to train hard and become stronger after returning. When she was powerful enough, she would take revenge on Sarutobi Ryo!
"Your Anbu companion has already been sent back."
Sarutobi Ryo led Pakura to the bottom of a hill outside the manor, his hands behind his back.
The area was covered with thick forests and bushes, so it was unlikely to be discovered.
Guren was the one who took care of the task.
Sarutobi Ryo had given Guren a mission, allowing her to freely improve her skills.
As a genius who could use the Crystal Release Kekkei Genkai, giving Guren freedom and practical training was the best way to help her grow.
"You better be telling the truth!"
Pakura continued to threaten him.
If she found out he was lying after returning...
"..."
Sarutobi Ryo frowned. The next moment, he stepped forward and grabbed Pakura's arm.
"What are you doing?!" Pakura was suddenly startled, feeling goosebumps all over her body.
Last night and this morning's experiences were nightmares she couldn't shake off.
"Doing..."
Sarutobi Ryo suddenly leaned closer to Pakura's ear and whispered.
The next second, Pakura's vision spun, and Sarutobi Ryo had already dragged her down with a smack.
Before she could react, Sarutobi Ryo began his farewell gesture.
And this time...
He used the system's function.
The "Will of Fire Imprint" instantly appeared on Pakura's lower abdomen.
"Ugh... what... did you do... cough cough cough..."
Pakura, coughing and gagging, asked as she lay on the ground.
The burning sensation in her abdomen almost made her question her existence.
How long had it been since she had learned Scorch Release and felt this kind of burning sensation...
"It's nothing, just put a Cursed Seal on you as insurance..." Sarutobi Ryo said coldly, looking at the Sunagakure beauty on the ground.
Hearing the words "Cursed Seal," Pakura's expression changed drastically.
In the Ninja World, the most vicious technique was the Cursed Seal.
Even Konoha, with its most developed Sealing Technique, didn't have a good solution.
Her face was pale as she lay on the ground. By the time she could react, Sarutobi Ryo had already left.
"Damn... damn..."
Pakura got up from the ground and quickly left the scene.
A string of tears fell in the forest...
*
**
***
[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 114 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
Want to support my work and get early access to chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇
➡️ patreon.com/Boundless_Beacon
]