Chapter 94

After breakfast, Baitashi opened his mouth and asked:

"Why do you have time to come here?"

He knew that Ayane didn't have much free time in the Hyuga clan. When the Shomatsu squad was still around, there was plenty of free time, but since the squad was disbanded for so long, the number of times she came out during this period could be counted on one hand.

The last time she came out was probably for Shomatsu's funeral.

After that, their interactions were limited to secret intelligence exchanges.

"Today I took a day off, it's no problem."

Ayane smiled.

"Is it okay for you to slack off like this?"

"This is no problem. Our future clan leader is a very reasonable person. Unlike the elders with strong control desires, he is very open-minded."

Ayane rarely gave such positive evaluations of the Hyuga clan members.

Hyuga Hizashi, Baitashi had heard of this person before.

The only designated successor of the Hyuga clan, with outstanding ninja talent and handsome features, he became a well-known jounin in the village before the age of twenty.

Although his true strength is still unknown, as the successor of the Hyuga clan, his strength among jounins is undoubtedly exceptional.

An ordinary person cannot become the leader of a prestigious ninja clan.

In most cases, ninjas speak with their strength.

Even within the Hyuga clan, someone with the identity of a clan leader successor and excellent ninja talent would be more recognized as a leader.

Just like the position of Hokage, a certain level of strength is a must.

On the basis of strength, one can then talk about political capital and voting.

If the strength is not up to par, one would be eliminated in the first round.

"Besides, Ryuri isn't at home, right? I was worried that Baitashi-kun might be lonely at home, so I came over to chat and keep you company. If Baitashi-kun finds me annoying, I can leave now. As long as it's Baitashi-kun's command, I will obey, please use my body as you wish."

She looked like a diligent and honest person, showing no signs of resistance, and her eyes were so gentle that they could make a man's bones turn to jelly.

But Baitashi believed that in her heart, there must be another face.

"Don't worry, I won't find you annoying. Just don't disturb my work."

"Okay."

Ayane nodded obediently.

"Whatever Baitashi-kun commands, I will unconditionally offer my body and soul," she expressed this underlying meaning to Baitashi.

Recalling it, Baitashi indeed felt a moment of desire and impulse just now.

Compared to the straightforward and honest Ryuri, Ayane was a genuine predator.

"By the way, I didn't expect you to create a second clone. The way it appeared was quite peculiar."

At that moment, Ayane remembered that when she first arrived, she was easily detected by the shadow girl, who suddenly emerged silently from the shadows in the wall.

If she didn't have strong perception, it would have been hard to realize she was being watched.

"Are you talking about the Shadow Dancer? I endowed her with the Yin Release."

Like the Earth General, the shadow girl also has the name "Shadow Dancer," or rather, a title or code name.

Strictly speaking, they don't belong to the category of normal beings.

The Earth General, with its near-immortality, is one thing, but the Shadow Dancer's abilities are even harder to guard against.

Baitashi created her to protect his own safety.

Deciding to abandon the path of cultivation to enhance himself meant he wouldn't focus on direct combat in the future.

Considering the unexpected attacks he might encounter, the Shadow Dancer was born as an assassin and guardian to protect him.

She can control shadows and hide herself within them, usually staying in the shadow of Baitashi's body.

When enemies approach, she will use shadows for defense or to attack them.

Therefore, her speed and the use of Yin Release are at a very high level.

If she integrates senjutsu in the future, her speed and power will further increase.

"Yin Release? Like the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique?"

Recalling the Shadow Dancer's peculiar appearance, this explanation made sense.

"Something like that, but there are differences."

The Nara clan's shadow techniques are not very offensive, focusing on strong control to create attack opportunities for allies.

The Shadow Dancer's shadow techniques, on the other hand, focus on both defense and offense, making it a dual-purpose shadow ninjutsu.

After all, this clone was specifically created to protect his life, unlike the Earth General, which is a communication tool.

When he created the Earth General, his techniques were not yet mature.

Therefore, compared to the Shadow Dancer, the Earth General's life form is more peculiar.

As his creation techniques improve, future clones will naturally become stronger.

At that time, he will further enhance and improve the existing two clones.

"Such a dangerous ability, I already feel pity for those enemies."

Ayane, thinking about it, knew how terrifying this malicious combat method would be for flesh-and-blood ninjas.

Baitashi-kun is still as devious as ever.

But if he used this deviousness to dominate her body, it would be better.

After all, she was the first to gain Baitashi-kun's trust, and the Sharingan woman really makes her want to drown her in the sea.

While calmly sipping her cool tea, she appeared serene and beautiful like a traditional Japanese woman.

But in her heart, there was a strong sense of frustration.

This frustration was only second to the frustration of being unable to resist the fate of the Caged Bird Seal.

Because the Sharingan woman's strength surpasses her, which is an undeniable fact.

"This is my combat style. They are my clones, so they are part of my strength. Unlike you, I don't have a convenient bloodline limit, so I have to enhance my strength in other ways."

Baitashi, unaware of Ayane's thoughts, believed that the above words were the result of his deep consideration.

Although he was unwilling to admit the strength gap brought by bloodline, sometimes he had to bow to reality.

Most people cannot overcome the suppression brought by bloodline, which is why Baitashi often struggled in battles with Ryuri in the past.

It wasn't obvious when they were young, but after opening the Sharingan, the gap became increasingly larger, until it was unbridgeable.

Ninjas who can ignore the suppression brought by bloodline, Baitashi believed he couldn't do that.

So he needed other things to make up for his shortcomings.

Understanding his flaws and finding ways to compensate for them.

A person's growth lies in self-awareness, being realistic, neither arrogant nor overly self-deprecating.

Anxiety and jealousy, covetousness and greed are unnecessary.

He just needed to be ordinary.

"Strange... It's so hot in the morning, isn't it?"

Ayane adjusted her collar, clearly dissatisfied with the hot weather today.

Although the environment here is quiet, the weather in Konoha in July is indeed unbearable.

"It's almost August."

"Every year at this time is tough... Uh, Baitashi-kun, is there a bath here?"

"Do you want to take a bath?"

"Yes, do you want to join me?"

This sentence came naturally from Ayane, with an innocent and harmless smile on her face.

She was completely unaware of the implications of her words.

The room suddenly became so quiet it was hard to breathe.

"So... Do you want to take a bath together? After all, it's so hot, isn't it?"

Breaking the silence, Ayane smiled and invited him again.

◎

Calm down.

I'm a doctor.

A researcher.

Be rational, don't let irrational desires control you.

But thinking about it, the desire for the opposite sex's body is a natural and reasonable pursuit.

In the open hot spring, Baitashi leaned against the partition, and before he knew it, he was already soaking in the hot spring.

"The water temperature here is just right. Honestly, I envy you, being able to soak in such a good hot spring every day."

From the other side of the partition, Ayane's envious voice came.

"..."

Baitashi closed his eyes and ignored her comment.

There was a slight sound from the partition, caused by Ayane leaning against it.

"Really comfortable, the feeling of my body soaking in the hot water..."

Ayane's comfortable moan came.

"Baitashi-kun, how about you?"

"Fine."

Baitashi answered vaguely.

His mind began to fantasize about something floating on the water.

Anyway, calm down first.

"Baitashi-kun."

"What?"

"Do you and Ryuri soak in the same pool?"

Ayane seemed curious about this.

"What are you thinking? If I did that, I would have been burned to death by her Fire Release long ago."

Hearing Baitashi's helpless tone, Ayane laughed and said, "That's true. In this aspect, Ryuri might really be very shy. But if it's me, I don't mind such things..."

Baitashi naturally understood the hidden invitation in her words.

Although he knew Ayane wasn't completely naked on the other side, his self-control at this moment was not as confident as usual.

The atmosphere became silent.

For an hour, the two of them leaned against the same partition without any communication.

"I'm done, don't stay too long, it's not good for your body."

Baitashi stood up from the pool and called out to Ayane on the other side.

"Understood, Baitashi-kun, go do your own things. I'm already very satisfied to have your company for so long."

"..."

Baitashi got out of the pool, put on his clothes, and went to the rest room. Seeing that Ayane was still in the women's bath, he guessed she wanted to soak a bit longer.

Baitashi didn't mind, opened the door of the rest room, and prepared to return to the laboratory to work.

"Coming to soak in the morning is quite rare."

Hearing this familiar voice, Baitashi's body stiffened.

Ryuri, holding a change of clothes, appeared at the door, with a bit of sweat on her face, clearly just returning and wanting to soak to relieve her fatigue.

"Ryuri, weren't you on a long-term mission? And why are you back at this time?"

Baitashi raised his voice.

Thinking about it, Ryuri's face showed annoyance:

"Don't mention it, the client lied about the mission level. It was supposed to be a C-rank mission, but it turned out to be an A-rank mission unsuitable for newbies. I beat him up halfway through and left him to fend for himself, then brought the three rookie genin back."

"Is that so!"

"Why are you speaking so loudly?"

Ryuri frowned, hearing Baitashi's voice a bit louder than usual.

She always disliked people speaking loudly to her, finding it noisy.

"Ah, cough, my throat has been a bit sore these past two days, I'm afraid my voice might be too low for you to hear."

Baitashi moved aside, and Ryuri walked in, heading towards the women's bath.

"Wait!"

"What else? You're acting strange today."

Ryuri turned to look at Baitashi.

"Uh... Nothing, just that I missed you after a few days. How about we go out for breakfast?"

"I already ate on the way back."

At this, Ryuri's eyes narrowed, looking at the women's bath and then at Baitashi, who was trying to act calm, thinking.

"Since you've already had breakfast, I'll leave first, I won't disturb your bath."

Baitashi, feeling uncomfortable under Ryuri's gaze, wanted to leave quickly.

"Don't go yet, I'll be done soon. Wait here, I have something to discuss with you."

Without waiting for Baitashi to refuse, she walked into the women's bath.

Seeing Ryuri enter the women's bath so decisively, Baitashi knew she had noticed something.

This is really over now!