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It only took a few seconds for the crow to feel initially offended, then admire Might Guy's innocent heart.
Yuichi Yuuki was speechless.
After exchanging a few words with Guy, the crow turned to Yuichi and then noticed Kurenai Yuhi behind him. Recognizing the connection with her, the crow suddenly understood the situation.
"So, you're the new contractor of our Fire Crow Clan?" the crow asked, looking at Kurenai.
"Yes, yes," Kurenai replied, stepping out from behind Yuichi. She walked up to the crow and squatted down. "My name is Kurenai Yuhi. Please guide me in the future," she said, extending her hand.
The crow pecked her hand gently, causing Yuichi to break out in a cold sweat. He knew how sharp that beak was—it could probably puncture metal kunai with ease. Thankfully, the crow restrained itself, and Kurenai's hand was unharmed.
After the gentle peck, the crow flapped its wings and perched on her shoulder. "You will be the second contractor of our Fire Crow Clan. If you ever need assistance, you can reach out to us."
"If any members misbehave, let me know," the crow added, puffing up with pride. "I'll be sure to teach them a lesson!"
Kurenai nodded, smiling.
"You can call me Crow, just like Yuichi does," the crow said.
"Of course!" Kurenai replied joyfully.
The crow then shared insights about the Fire Crow Clan, explaining their unique focus on physical cultivation and bloodline evolution. It demonstrated their fighting techniques and abilities, letting Kurenai try to connect with the clan's spirits.
Before leaving, the crow glanced at Yuichi and Kurenai, thinking, It's nice to have more people to summon us. Another ally to fight alongside.
Once the crow left, Kurenai looked at the wooden stakes, now burnt to ashes, and took a deep breath. The crow's brief demonstration had turned the stakes to ash in moments. She realized that if a human were caught in those flames, they would be reduced to nothing in seconds.
Kurenai understood she currently lacked the chakra needed to summon such a powerful crow and could only manage to call smaller fire crows. Though impressive, they were no match for the main crow.
However, she believed that with more chakra, she could one day summon it.
The strength of the Fire Crow Clan was linked to their natural energy. The greater their energy, the more chakra was required to summon them. Those focused on cultivating their bloodlines also required more chakra, depending on their size.
After the demonstration, Yuichi and Kurenai left the training grounds, while Might Guy stayed behind. He was determined to push his youth to the limit and let his sweat soak into the earth. This is the true spirit of youth!
Guy's training methods were intense and often led to hidden injuries, but he'd developed techniques to pass on to the next generation. These exercises exchanged future vitality for present strength. After years of perfecting taijutsu, Guy's version of the Eight Gates was nearly flawless, allowing him to rival entire squads of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Unlike most, Yuichi didn't fear these hidden injuries. His Uzumaki blood granted him rapid healing, allowing him to recover fully after a single night's rest. This powerful heritage made him nearly unstoppable.
Walking home with Kurenai, Yuichi recalled Uzumaki Kushina's advice to practice chakra control. The art of sealing, he realized, was incredibly potent—after all, it could even seal the ancestor of chakra itself.
If a sealing jutsu could truly bind something as powerful as that, perhaps it could be used in many ways...
Realizing his thoughts were wandering, he felt his face flush. Glancing over at Kurenai, he quickly dismissed the idea. But the thought lingered.
Learning this sealing technique, mastering it, maybe even innovating on it—it could be incredibly valuable, he thought, even if only a select few would understand its true potential.
Seeing his flushed face, Kurenai tilted her head curiously. "Yuichi, are you okay? Your face is so red!"
"Are you still feeling the effects of the backlash from earlier?" she asked, looking worried as she grabbed his hand to pull him along. "Let's go find Dad!"
Yuichi let her lead him, smiling at her concern. An ordinary life like this doesn't sound so bad, he thought.
A life working the land, from sunrise to sunset, facing the ocean and enjoying the seasons—this was his true dream.
For those who fail, a small piece of land to cultivate offers solace. For those who succeed, that same land becomes a peaceful retirement.
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[Achievement: Ordinary Life]
["I just want to farm peacefully, but if someone disrupts my peace, my ninjutsu won't disappoint. If you don't let me farm, I'll plant you in the ground."]
[Reward: Kurenai Yuhi (Kimono)]
[Kurenai Yuhi (Kimono) Skills:]
[Three Colors: Creates a large area of red leaves, obscuring vision within a ten-meter radius, allowing the user to teleport directly in front of the target.]
[Genjutsu: Kasumi: Creates an illusion of the user that attacks the target and explodes on contact or when struck.]
[Genjutsu: Bind: Traps the enemy in an illusion, binding them to a tree of red leaves, and inflicting a powerful mental attack that lasts for one hour. Could potentially rival Itachi's Tsukuyomi in intensity.]
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