Aoki Sora was genuinely grateful in his heart for Yugao Uzuki's "timely arrival."
Thanks to her, he didn't even have to come up with an excuse to dismiss the Blazing Flame Fortress himself.
Still, that kind of "gratitude" clearly wasn't something he'd say out loud.
Gratitude, after all, was something to be expressed from the [heart], so it could be quietly buried inside.
What he did need to express outwardly… was a sense of intimidation.
Or well, let's be honest, pure flair. A bit of dramatic posturing. Cough, no, wait. Intimidation.
Hoo...
Across from him, the two Grass ninja took deep breaths of relief as the flaming fortress finally faded.
They were safe...
But even now, their hearts pounded with lingering fear.
If that purple-haired woman hadn't arrived to deescalate the situation, to stop the fight, would that [Sora-kun] have actually killed them?
That guy was terrifying!
His overwhelming strength felt like something out of another dimension.
Someone like that was far beyond what they could afford to offend!
Meanwhile, Yugao glanced toward Karin, who had pulled herself up to a seated position on the ground.
[So she's the one called "Yugao"...]
[And she must be the "Karin" who just confessed to Sora...]
Their eyes met.
That silent connection between women, an unspoken understanding passed in a split second,
This might be someone I end up falling for the same man with in the future.
One of them was already blooming with youth, the other still hadn't fully matured. She wasn't yet the future red-haired beauty from the recording.
In terms of aura, Karin now still lacked that certain wild, sultry charm.
"Sora, why did you have to make such a big scene all of a sudden..." Yugao turned to him with a hint of a scolding tone, but there was no real blame in her voice. "And this technique..."
She'd never seen him use anything like it before!
"Well, I wouldn't call it that big of a scene." Sora scratched his cheek, then glanced over at the Grass ninja with a lazy smile. "It was just genjutsu. Genjutsu, really."
He was telling the truth. After all, the [Zanpakutō: Ryūjin Jakka (Imitation)] was something he'd brought into reality through [Genjutsu Materialization]. So technically, everything that followed, from the sword to the fortress, could be classified as genjutsu.
Totally reasonable, right?
"Genjutsu?!"
The two Grass ninja blinked in surprise.
If it was genjutsu, then maybe it made sense. That kind of exaggerated visual could be the result of illusions.
But...
If it was just genjutsu, then how did that purple-haired kunoichi also see the "massive scene" unfold?!
There was no way this was just genjutsu...
It had to be false humility.
Or rather,
A blatant power flex.
An intimidation tactic.
Nearly roasted alive, the two Grass ninja finally found their brains starting to work again, courtesy of pure fear.
"All that was just some genjutsu tricks. I was just experimenting a little," Sora said casually. "Even if Yugao-sensei hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have really done anything."
Still speaking the truth! What a sincere guy!
But to others, that same line could sound... very different.
Still insisting it was genjutsu? Just testing? Wouldn't actually act?
Who was he trying to fool?!
"You rushed over so quickly because you sensed that girl might be getting ostracized by her own team?" Yugao asked.
"Pretty much," Sora replied. "She's not from Konoha, and if the image had already shown that she'd end up joining me later, then someone might try to get rid of her early on. In that case, she'd be dragged into trouble because of me and that video... unjustly so."
"I suddenly got this really strong hunch earlier, like someone near me was about to suffer because of me."
"And turns out, I was right. Maybe this is what they call the sixth sense, beyond the five senses genjutsu normally affects."
"I should look into this later."
Yes, let's research that. From now on, whenever something like "knowing the plot ahead of time" happens, he could just say it was due to his sixth sense.
After all, he specialized in genjutsu. Genjutsu affects the five senses. Awakening a sixth sense? Perfectly reasonable.
If others couldn't understand it, well, that just meant they hadn't unlocked their sixth sense yet.
"But now, "
He turned his gaze toward the two Grass ninja again, eyes full of contempt.
"The future is one thing, but to turn on your teammate so quickly, just based on a vague prediction? People like you..."
"Really make me want to reduce you to ashes."
"!!!"
The moment Sora said that, both Grass ninja involuntarily flinched, their bodies jerking in fear.
No no no! Don't burn us!
We won't do it again!!
"I-I swear I won't treat Karin like that again, please have mercy, Lord Sora!"
"Same here! I swear!!"
The two ninja scrambled to bow their heads and shout their apologies.
"Is that so..." Sora replied slowly.
"Well, no worries then. You're foreign ninja here for the joint Chūnin Exams. I can't exactly just burn you alive in Konoha." He gave them a "friendly" smile.
"Let's all do our best until the exams end!, I really hope to see you two in the final round, even if it's just as spectators."
"Especially that girl who almost got dragged into this mess, [Karin]."
"If you drop out early... I might come visit the Grass Village personally. After all, I owe her an apology for all this."
"...!!!"
Hearing that final remark, the two Grass ninja trembled once again.
It was clear what Sora really meant,
You better not lay a finger on Karin ever again. You better participate in the Chūnin Exams like model students, and make sure nothing happens to her.
Don't even think about quitting.
And don't even dream of harming her.
Or else, I might just show up at your front door.
As a candidate for the Sixth Hokage,
, backed by that level of power.
"Y-yes sir! Understood!"
"We'll give it our all in the Chūnin Exams!"
"We'll protect Karin too!"
The two Grass ninja shouted in panic.
"Good," Sora said with a satisfied smile. "Well then, I'll be heading off for training."
He gave a slight nod toward Karin, who was still sitting on the ground.
Then,
Whoosh!
He vanished in a blur of movement.
Right now, he wasn't even a Chūnin yet. When it came to Karin, this was all he could do for now.
He didn't have any official rank. The Third Hokage was still in charge. Even getting through this event without raising suspicion was already a blessing. There was no way the Hokage would grant him something as bold as "bringing Karin into Konoha" right now.
Karin's situation...
Would have to wait.
As for how long it would have to wait,
Well, they all understood.
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