Chapter - 9 Nami Sensei
Nami-sensei was surrounded by four chunin and two jonin, all of whom were exhausted and injured from the ongoing battle. Seizing the opportunity, I unleashed a barrage of E-rank jutsu, draining half of my chakra in the process. While the jutsu didn't kill them outright, it left them injured and vulnerable.
I spotted one of the jonin staggering, his leg pierced by a shuriken I had thrown. Blood poured from the wound, weakening him further until he collapsed. The other jonin, who was engaged with Nami-sensei, was overwhelmed by her parasitic insects, draining his chakra until he fell to the ground, defenseless. Nami-sensei, despite her injuries, swiftly finished him off.
Without wasting any time, I rushed to Nami-sensei's side and lifted her into a princess carry. Her breathing was labored, and blood still seeped from her wounds. The remaining chunin were no longer a threat; Nami-sensei's insects would either distract or finish them off. My priority now was to get us to safety.
I ran until I found a small cave, hidden and secluded, where we could recover. Gently, I set her down on the ground.
"Sensei," I called out, trying to get her attention.
She looked at me, her mask, once pristine, now cracked and stained with blood. She was still bleeding heavily, and I knew that if I didn't stop it soon, she wouldn't survive.
"Your mask… it's broken," I said softly, more to myself than to her. The mask intrigued me, but her life was more important. I had to focus.
Placing her carefully on the ground, I activated my X-ray eyes to assess the extent of her injuries. The sight took me by surprise—her figure was slender yet toned, with a warrior's physique. My focus wavered for a moment, blood rushing to my face, and I quickly pressed a hand over my nose to stop the inevitable nosebleed.
"Ruki-kun," she called out to me, her voice weak but laced with concern. "Are you alright?"
I looked at her, startled by the softness in her voice. Her hand rested lightly on my shoulder as she knelt beside me, her worry evident in her eyes.
"I'm fine, Sensei," I lied, wiping away the blood from my nose. "It's just a minor injury."
Her favorability towards me increased, something I noticed from the system's notification. I was starting to realize that her perception of me had changed—perhaps she saw me as more than just her student now.
"Sensei, you need to rest," I told her, my tone firm. Her condition was critical, and we both needed time to recover.
I quickly opened the system shop, searching for a recovery pill. Unfortunately, they were too expensive, so I exchanged 10 points for a small medical kit and a bottle of water. My internal injuries were healing fast, thanks to my wooden body constitution, but my external wounds still needed tending.
I approached Nami-sensei with the water bottle in hand. "Sensei, drink this," I said, offering it to her.
She looked at me, her eyes filled with pain and exhaustion. "I… I can't move," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
It hit me then—she was paralyzed.
"Sensei," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. She was leaning against the wall, her body limp and vulnerable. I had to do something, and fast.
Gently, I picked her up and positioned her in my lap. She looked up at me, startled by the sudden closeness.
"Ruki, what are you doing?" she asked, confusion and a hint of fear in her eyes.
"Sensei, you're injured, and I need to treat your wounds," I replied, trying to sound as professional as possible. A small smile tugged at my lips as I added, "I'll need to see your body to do that, so I guess I'll have to take responsibility, right?"
Her eyes widened slightly, but I continued before she could protest. "Sensei, do you remember what you said back in the village? You told me I could ask for anything… that you'd do whatever I wanted."
I paused, letting my words sink in. Her gaze softened as she listened, and I could feel her trust in me growing.
"My request is simple," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I want you to be mine, Sensei."
The words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the mix of emotions she was struggling with. But as I held her there, I knew that I was no longer just her student—our bond had deepened, and with it, the possibilities of what we could become.