The next morning, Yugao Uzuki once again found herself walking into the same secluded forest where she had trained with Ryosuke the day before. She knew his routine by now—this was the exact time he showed up every day for his morning training. Perhaps he'd been late before due to an unusual circumstance, but today, she had arrived earlier to be sure.
Her purpose wasn't just about training anymore.
She had a mission—one that came directly from the Hokage himself. She had to uncover the mystery behind Ryosuke's abnormal strength. No ordinary Uchiha should be able to accomplish what he did. Not alone. Not without help. Something was different about him, and until she uncovered that secret, she had no intention of giving up.
This time, however, she was on high alert.
Yugao had already picked up on Ryosuke's... interest in her. The way his gaze lingered. The way his energy shifted when she stood too close. It was subtle, but unmistakable. A dangerous glint in his eye. A little too eager. A little too curious.
"Stupid man," she muttered under her breath. "You can see it in his eyes."
She was determined not to let him get too close again. Close meant vulnerable, and vulnerability wasn't something ANBU operatives like her could afford—especially not with someone as unpredictable as Ryosuke Uchiha.
Ryosuke, meanwhile, was surprised—but undeniably pleased—to see her again.
Still clad in a crisp white training outfit, Yugao looked effortlessly elegant. For a second, he just stood there, savoring the moment. She came back. That meant something, didn't it?
"Well, look who decided to show up again," he said, grinning. "Could it be you missed me? Or are you here to train again?"
Even as he spoke, he unconsciously drifted closer, drawn to her scent, her presence.
Yugao took an instinctive step back.
"Of course I'm here to train," she said quickly. "Let's just get started."
She needed to keep the situation professional. Get him sweaty, get herself sweaty—maybe then he wouldn't be tempted to "pull anything."
Ryosuke noticed her defensiveness and frowned slightly.
"You said you liked me yesterday," he remarked. "But you act like I'm some kind of monster."
Yugao forced a smile. "You're imagining things. I just want to get a head start on training today, that's all."
Yes, I am afraid, she thought silently. But not because of your charm.
Ryosuke gave a knowing shrug. "If you say so."
Then, with a sudden burst of speed—too fast for even a seasoned ANBU to fully react to—he appeared right in front of her. Before she could process the movement, his arms were around her waist in a firm but not aggressive embrace.
"If we're really a couple now," he said playfully, "shouldn't we start the morning like lovers do?"
Yugao froze. Too fast. She couldn't dodge. She had underestimated the gap in their strength—and proximity had once again worked against her.
For a few heartbeats, she was caught in the overwhelming aura that radiated off him. It wasn't just chakra—there was something more primal, more oppressive. A confidence that came from knowing he was in full control. She could feel the strength in his arms, in his breath. Her senses dulled slightly as his presence overwhelmed her.
By the time he let go—nearly half an hour later—it felt like an eternity had passed. Ryosuke was clearly satisfied, smiling like a cat that had just toyed with its prey.
"Well," he said, stretching, "we've had our morning greeting. Let's begin training."
He didn't bother to explain the routine again. She already knew it: running, squats, push-ups, sit-ups—simple, brutal, repetitive.
Yugao stood frozen for a moment, red-faced and breathless. That bastard… He keeps catching me off guard.
Despite her careful planning, she had underestimated how little distance actually existed between them when Ryosuke decided to close the gap. All her mental strategies to maintain space had failed miserably. She'd thought through a dozen contingencies to keep him from getting too close—and none of them worked.
Her mouth tingled, her upper body was slightly numb, and her pride had taken a severe hit.
I let him get the upper hand again... That brute. He's like a beast—relentless and unpredictable. I feel dirty just from being near him.
But she couldn't lose sight of the mission.
Even if she'd been... compromised, she had to maintain focus. This man's power had to come from somewhere. If she couldn't extract his secret through observation, she might never be able to leave the mission. And staying near Ryosuke any longer was becoming riskier by the day.
No more mistakes. I'll shadow his every move.
With renewed determination, she caught up and began running alongside him, studying his movements as he ran.
Maybe there's a secret to the way he moves…
But the entire morning passed in routine.
Three full circuits of his training regimen, each more grueling than the last, yet nothing out of the ordinary. Yugao was exhausted, drenched in sweat, and her muscles burned from overuse.
Nothing… It's just basic shinobi training.
Push-ups. Sit-ups. Running. Squats. No chakra enhancement, no strange breathing technique, no special footwork. Just high volume, high repetition.
She recalled stories of taijutsu specialists like Might Guy dragging stone slabs while running or training in gravity-enhanced environments.
Compared to that, Ryosuke's regimen was practically spartan.
Could it be…? Did he figure out I'm here as a spy? Is he hiding his true methods?
The thought chilled her.
She was an ANBU, yes—but infiltration wasn't her specialty. She wasn't a born liar. She didn't enjoy manipulation. Could Ryosuke have already seen through her?
The possibility made her uneasy.
"Ryosuke," she said aloud, pretending to sound casual but with a note of accusation, "You're telling me this basic training is what made you so strong?"
Ryosuke gave her a half-smile.
"Of course. I just train every day—consistency over time builds results. My body adapts, strengthens. That's all there is to it."
He wasn't lying—technically. With each training session, his internal system awarded him stat boosts. It was true that the foundation of his strength came from relentless effort. But behind that effort was a cheat system that turned every workout into measurable growth.
Add that to his control over the Eight Gates, and the Mangekyō Sharingan, and Ryosuke was a growing monster.
Still, he made no mention of those abilities.
Yugao narrowed her eyes. He's hiding something.
"I've been training right next to you. I'm exhausted, sore, and I don't feel any stronger," she snapped. "If this is your big secret, it's useless!"
Ryosuke shrugged. "I'm not lying. What you see is what you get."
It was hard to argue with him. Yugao had conducted her own surveillance—he was in this grove every single day, performing the exact same routine. No evidence of other jutsu training. No secret scrolls. Just raw repetition.
But her instincts told her this wasn't the full story.
Two days wasn't enough time to earn his full trust. She knew that. But if she couldn't learn his secret through observation… would she have to get closer?
No. Not that far. That's my last line.
The thought filled her with dread.
Ryosuke was wrapping up. He'd earned his daily boost, and with other business awaiting him in the afternoon, he planned to return home.
But of course, he couldn't resist teasing her one last time.
"You know," he said with a smirk, "you're welcome to come by my place. Clean up. Relax."
Yugao immediately tensed.
Not again.
Going back with him would be like walking straight into the lion's den. If he truly decided to act on his impulses, she wouldn't be able to stop him. The gap in strength was too wide.
"I'm fine. I'll go home and clean up," she said quickly, trying to sound firm.
Ryosuke slowly leaned in, voice dropping into a darker, playful tone.
"Are you sure? You don't want to... go all the way with me? That last step couples do?"
Her face turned bright red. This shameless—!
In a flash, she stepped back.
"I-I have to go!" she shouted, and disappeared in a blur, retreating down the trail like her life depended on it.
Ryosuke watched her vanish, amused.
"She's still spying on me," he muttered. "But I don't mind. Teasing her is good for morale."
He had no illusions. Yugao was sent by the Third Hokage, no doubt about it. Hiruzen wanted answers, and what better way than to send a beautiful kunoichi to get close?
Well played, old man.
But if she was going to act the part of a lover, Ryosuke had no problem playing along.
He stretched his arms and walked off toward home.
He had more important things to prepare for—by evening, representatives from the Five Great Clans would be arriving.
And that meant his rise was only beginning.
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