"Kechi-chan, just come back with us already!"
"There's no point running. You can't escape. Sure, Inoue-sama has some... weird, but he treats his people well!"
"Why make this harder on yourself?"
"..."
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting silver light over the forest barely ten miles from the Fire Country's capital. A chase was unfolding, desperate and intense.
Running at the front was a young woman in fitted combat gear, probably around eighteen. Her face was strikingly beautiful, with large eyes like clear lake water or brilliant stars.
Right now, though? Those eyes were filled with terror and rage.
Girl, my ass. I'm a guy, damn it.
If that stupid system had explained things properly, I never would've chosen the Assassin pathway.
This whole thing was a massive trap.
I'm a completely normal, straight guy, and after advancing to Sequence 7, I turned into a woman. Not just any woman, either. A gorgeous one. With an incredible figure.
If it weren't me but my girlfriend instead, that'd be amazing.
Damn it all.
"Forget it! I'm not going back! That disgusting noble makes me want to puke!" Kechi shouted while running at full speed, face flushed red from anger and exertion.
To the five ninja chasing behind, though, that flushed expression looked like the most radiant star in the night sky. Moonlight outlined her silhouette like some kind of celestial being, making their hearts pound as fantasies of catching her filled their minds.
"Boss, she really is stunning. No wonder Inoue-sama is so obsessed with her."
"Yeah, seriously. Wonder if she's still... you know. If not, maybe we could knock her out first and have a little fun..."
"Trying to join the dark side?"
"Hehehe..."
"..."
"Enough. She's Inoue-sama's property. Don't even think about it," the lead ninja said, hands clasped behind his back as he sucked back the drool threatening to spill from his mouth. He quickly shut down his companions' disgusting and dangerous ideas.
If you want women, wait till the mission's done. Tanzaku Town has plenty.
Not as tempting as Kechi, sure, but better than nothing.
"Hurry up! This girl can really move. Is she actually just a normal person?"
"Has to be. She doesn't have ninja talent, can't extract chakra at all. Probably runs fast because she exercises a lot."
"That's some serious training regimen if that's the case."
The ninja picked up speed, using standard ninja running technique as they closed the distance rapidly.
Under the pale moonlight, through the quiet forest, hunter and prey raced on. They covered five miles in no time.
By now, Kechi was gasping for breath, her pace noticeably slowing. After advancing to Sequence 7, her physical abilities had improved significantly, but she still couldn't match ninja enhanced by chakra who could clear a hundred meters in a second.
Maybe that's still lowballing it.
God, I should've picked Mystery Pryer. That one sounded way cooler.
Assassin? Only an idiot would choose that.
Realizing she couldn't outrun them, Kechi stopped, biting her lip as it trembled slightly.
Do I really have to do this? I really don't want to. If word gets out, how could I face anyone?
She wasn't afraid of fighting. To reach Sequence 7, she'd killed plenty of people. Her combat experience was solid. Plus, Witch abilities were no joke, with plenty of versatile powers.
But the fighting style playing out in her mind was... utterly humiliating.
"Hah... can't run anymore, huh? Told you so!" Roka let out a long breath and gestured to his companions.
The other four ninja quickly spread out, surrounding Kechi while keeping one hand on their tool pouches, eyes cold and sharp.
Gone was their earlier lecherous banter. Now they looked like seasoned killers.
"Come on, just come back with us. Inoue-sama won't mistreat you."
Roka walked slowly toward Kechi, voice soft and persuasive.
Kechi immediately put on an expression that made her want to gag. She pouted slightly, her large, watery eyes locked onto the ninja as she spoke in a pitiful voice.
"Big brother, please have mercy on me. Inoue Satou is a total pervert. If you take me back, I'll die!"
"Just pretend you didn't see me and let me go, okay?"
"Please~?"
That sickeningly sweet voice drifted past the ninjas' ears like a sugary breeze. It carried something indescribable that made them involuntarily feel fondness toward her, an urge to hold her close and protect her.
Roka's steps faltered, hesitation flickering in his eyes as his gaze softened when looking at Kechi.
"I..."
"Boss!"
The ninja behind Kechi noticed something was wrong and shouted sharply, jolting Roka back to awareness. His eyes cleared, and anger slowly crept across his face.
"Damn it. Almost fell for your trick. Looks like you're not as simple as Inoue-sama said."
"Kechi-chan, since you won't cooperate, don't blame us for getting rough."
"Attack!"
Roka shouted and charged at Kechi empty-handed. No ninja tools, no jutsu preparation, just rushing forward with bare fists.
Kechi sighed deeply. "Haah, why does it have to be this way? I really didn't want to fight." As she spoke, a wand appeared in her hand from nowhere.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Hehehehe..."
"Don't you like me?"
"What's so great about following that pig?"
In an instant, silvery bell-like laughter echoed from deep within the forest, yet somehow it seemed to explode right beside the ninjas' ears. That laughter danced like playful spirits, slipping into their minds with threads of enchantment.
Cold moonlight and seductive laughter intertwined, making the air around the ninja feel scorching hot, blood surging uncontrollably.
Roka, mere inches from Kechi, was affected most severely. A violent rush of blood surged through him like a wild horse, and his eyes grew hazy from the sudden influence.
"Not good!"
Sensing something wrong, Roka bit his tongue hard, using pain to regain some clarity.
"Witch! Don't hold back! Just keep her alive!"
With a furious roar, Roka channeled his chakra and accelerated toward Kechi instead of slowing down.
The other ninja, hearing the command, pulled shuriken from their pouches and hurled them at Kechi, carefully avoiding vital spots.
"You brothers are so cruel. Am I not beautiful?" Kechi said coquettishly, running her slender fingers across her cheek without dodging the incoming shuriken.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Sharp iron tips glinted in the moonlight, striking Kechi's body directly. In moments, shuriken peppered her abdomen and limbs.
"Ow, that hurts!"
Roka's brow furrowed deeply, disbelief written across his face.
Did I get it wrong? Is she really just an ordinary person?
In that brief moment of distraction, a hand as delicate as white jade silently emerged from behind him, gently wrapping around his neck. Strands of hair brushed past his ear, tickling, accompanied by an intoxicating fragrance.
"Dear brother, look what they did to me. How could they be so cruel?"
Feeling warm breath against his ear, Roka's hand, which had been rising, paused slightly.
At Kechi's original position, the shuriken-riddled body shattered like a reflection of the moon on water, leaving only a broken mirror on the ground that reflected Roka's somewhat dazed expression.
"Mmm, why won't you answer me? Don't you love me anymore?"
"So you're a bad guy too!"
"Hmph, I won't talk to you anymore!"
Listening to those playfully indignant words, Roka felt an inexplicable panic rise in his chest, as if afraid she really would ignore him. He quickly raised his hand to comfort her.
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'm here!"
"I'll deal with them for you, okay?"
When his calloused hand grasped that snow-white, jade-like small hand on his shoulder, an inexplicable sense of satisfaction spread across Roka's face.
Meanwhile, seeing their boss get charmed yet again, his subordinates rushed toward him, shouting desperately.
"Boss, you've been caught in her technique!"
"Get away! That witch is behind you!"
"Boss, when you're having fun, don't forget about me! I helped too!"
"..."
Far from waking Roka, these shouts only made him even more furious, especially after that last comment. Intense jealousy he couldn't suppress welled up inside him.
She's mine and mine alone. No one else can touch her. They can't even look.
That emotion peaked when Kechi spoke again in that coy voice.
"That brother sounds so commanding. I really like that!"
The rage in Roka's heart exploded completely. He glared viciously at his companions and rapidly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"
Instantly, a massive fireball formed, carrying scorching heat as it hurtled toward his subordinates.
"Shit, dodge!" one ninja yelled, body flashing aside as he warned his teammates.
But facing the sudden fireball, someone inevitably couldn't avoid it in time.
BOOM!
With a massive explosion, flames burst across one ninja's body. Scattered fire ignited the surrounding trees.
The ninja's body was torn apart in the blink of an eye, reduced to charred chunks of flesh scattered across the ground.
"Gorou!"
One ninja stared at the scorched earth, pain flashing in his eyes.
That was his little brother. In an instant, they were separated by death itself.
The hatred in his gaze turned toward Roka, but most of it was directed at Kechi behind him.
"Witch, die!"