40: Chapter 40 Nine-Tailed Fox in TerrorTsunade stared in frustration at the pot of viscous, green-smoking liquid in front of her."Why is it so unstable?"
Sakura carefully handed over a damp towel: "Lady Tsunade, please wipe your face first.Perhaps we can try reducing the frequency of chakra output?"
Tsunade took the towel Sakura handed her and was pondering it when Naruto strode in from outside and saw Tsunade looking at a puddle of indescribable liquid with a bitter expression.
"What's going on here?" Naruto leaned closer to the pot of colorful food, dipped his finger in it, and smelled it.The smell made him frown, and he couldn't help but tease, "Grandma, are you planning to poison our enemies, or send the entire merchant guild to its doom?"
Tsunade, already feeling annoyed, immediately bristled upon hearing this, slamming her fist on the table beside her."You brat!Stop spouting nonsense!I'm working hard to overcome difficulties!For the sake of the Chamber of Commerce's future core competitiveness!"
Sakura watched Naruto and Tsunade interact familiarly, and felt a strange pang of sadness in her heart.
She lowered her head and pretended to sort out the medicinal herbs.
Naruto noticed Sakura's little action and his gaze lingered on her for a moment.
This frightened little rabbit seems to need some encouragement.
He walked over to Xiaoying and picked up a herb she was sorting: "You seem preoccupied?You can't concentrate?"
Sakura's fingers tightened unconsciously, crushing the blade of grass in her hand.Her voice was so faint it was almost inaudible, "No, I.I'll try my best!"
"Effort isn't just about words." Naruto took a step closer and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Come to my study tonight.I'll give you extra training."
Extra.extra practice?
Her mind went blank for a moment, then a flood of unspeakable images rushed into her head.
In the dimly lit study, Naruto sat in the main seat, commanding her with that look in his eyes: "Come here." His rough fingers lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, just like that time in the alley.
Would he.train her harshly, like he would with his enemies?Like.corporal punishment?Or.something even more extreme, something that would humiliate her beyond measure?
She could almost feel the burning pain, and beneath that pain, that damned, utterly repulsive pleasure.
"Hmm."
Sakura almost couldn't control herself and bit her lower lip hard to hold back a soft tremor.
"I.I."
She was rambling incoherently, not daring to look at Naruto, her cheeks flushed.
The Way of Heaven.
Naruto said no more, turned to Tsunade who was still sulking, and invited her, "Grandma, stop fiddling with your dangerous stuff.Come with me for a walk and see the new defensive crossbows installed at the dock."
Tsunade glanced at Naruto and Sakura with suspicion, especially at Sakura's almost ripe appearance, which made her feel very strange: "You brat, have you been secretly bullying my Sakura-chan again?"
Naruto remained unfazed: "How could that be?I was just concerned about Sakura's studies.Right, Sakura?"
Sakura shuddered again, lowered her head even further, and whispered, ".Yes."
Tsunade snorted, still feeling something was off, but didn't dwell on it, and was half-pulled, half-dragged out of the medical ward by Naruto.
Sakura was left standing there alone.After a long while, she leaned against the medicine cabinet, exhausted, panting heavily, her mind filled with terrifying fantasies about the extra training she would do that night.
Sakura was absent-minded all day.
She considered going to Lady Tsunade to confess several times, or simply finding an excuse to hide."No!I can't go!That's a demon!He'll humiliate me!"
"But.if I don't go.won't he get even angrier?And treat me in an even more terrible way?"
"But.but.that feeling."
Reason and instinct were locked in a fierce tug-of-war, and a secret desire deep in the heart sprouted like poisonous weeds.
Finally, as night fell, Sakura found herself taking a bath without realizing it, changing into a clean robe, and looking at herself in the mirror for a long time before slowly and deliberately making her way to Naruto's study.
Meanwhile, Naruto had finished his work and returned to his study.Gazing at the hazy night outside the window, his thoughts were churning.
The emergence of the Akatsuki organization made him feel a sense of urgency.
He needs a stronger, more unexpected force.
As consciousness sank into the system, the 20453 villain points shone brightly.
Seemingly due to a breakthrough in the total value of villains, a brand new skill that has never been seen before has appeared at the very bottom of the shop - [Spirit Hatred].
[Spirit Hatred] is a one-time awakening exchange, unlocked by absorbing all current villain values.
Description: It draws upon the hatred and chaos of the Nine-Tails' chakra, secretly attaching itself to inanimate weapons and granting them a temporary "pseudo-spirit," or strongly interfering with existing weapon spirits.
The weapon being targeted will be corrupted by a frenzied hatred, developing extreme aversion towards its current wielder, refusing to cooperate, and with a high probability turning against its master.
The duration and intensity of the effect are positively correlated with the amount of hatred energy injected.
[Warning: The exchange will forcibly extract the Nine-Tails' chakra from the host's body as energy for the skill, which may cause a severe backlash from the Nine-Tails' consciousness.]
(System note: Your weapon is awesome?Sorry, it might want to chop you up the next second!What's it like to have a traitorous weapon?)
This skill.is so insidious!Naruto's eyes lit up.
Although it requires clearing all villain values and forcibly extracting the Nine-Tails' chakra carries risks, the tactical value it brings is immeasurable!
Especially when the enemy is completely unaware, it's a deadly weapon!
"Exchange!" Naruto's heart burned with excitement.
Villain points are meant to be spent; saving them up won't produce offspring!
[Ding!20453 Villain Points consumed, successfully exchanged for the Awakening Skill [Spirit Hatred]!Current Villain Points: 0!]
Almost the instant the exchange was successful, a strange phenomenon occurred!
NarutoSuddenly, I felt the shackles in my body disappear, and a certain core was forcibly pried open!
A crimson chakra, far more violent and pure than the one he had previously unleashed due to injury, filled with endless hatred and destructive desire, was brutally drawn out by an invisible force and converged towards the newly awakened skill rune in his dantian!
"roar--!"
The Nine-Tails roared in disbelief and fury, its sound exploding deep within Naruto's soul!
Inside the sealed space, the giant fox demon, which had been lying lazily, suddenly stood up, its scarlet pupils shrinking to pinpoints, filled with confusion and rage!
"What's going on?Kid!What did you do to me?"
"This wasn't your transfer!"
"What kind of evil magic is this?"
The Nine-Tails' voice trembled more than ever before.
It felt its power being forcibly drained in a way it couldn't understand.The feeling was like its limbs being filled with countless invisible tubes, filled with humiliation and uncertainty!
It tried to resist, but the draining force originated from the system's rules, which transcended the common sense of this world.
Its enormous chakra was still being continuously drawn away and merged into that newly formed mark that made even it feel a chill.
"You bastard!Stop right now!You damned brat!What underhanded tricks did you use on me?"
The nine-tailed fox frantically attacked the seal, but the cage remained sturdy, leaving it only able to roar helplessly.
Naruto felt the miraculous skill seeds within his body gradually filling up, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
He was not afraid of the Nine-Tails' rage and sent a provocative rebuke into the sealed space.
"Shut up, you beast.Your power is useless if you just shout.What can you do besides get angry?You should feel honored that this power is at my disposal."
These words enraged Kurama even more, its roar nearly shattering Naruto's mental world: "Honor?I'll tear you to pieces!"
Outside, Naruto's body swayed slightly, his face pale, and he immediately severed his connection with Kurama.
The skill exchange was complete, and he could feel a malevolent "seed" planted within him, ready to be activated at any moment.
Just then, faint, hesitant footsteps came from outside the study.
Naruto regained his composure, a playful smile playing on his lips.
He walked behind his desk and sat down, calmly watching the doorway.
A few seconds later, the study door was gently pushed open a crack, and Sakura's blushing face peeked in.
"Go in," Naruto said calmly.
Sakura trembled like a startled rabbit, lowered her head and shuffled in, her hands nervously clasped in front of her, not daring to look up at him.
Naruto didn't speak immediately, but instead carefully examined her.
This silent scrutiny was more unbearable for Sakura than any words.
Just as Sakura was about to be driven mad by her own pounding heart, Naruto finally spoke, his tone surprisingly calm.He pointed to a map of the sea spread out on the table:
"There's a small pirate stronghold here.Tomorrow, you'll go with Zoka's squad to wipe it out, and you'll be responsible for battlefield medical support.This is your first combat mission, so don't let me down."
Sakura suddenly looked up, her face full of astonishment: ".Pirates.In actual combat?"
Not the kind she imagined?
Naruto looked up at her, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Otherwise what?What did you expect?Or.are you hoping for something else?"
Sakura's face instantly flushed crimson, then turned bright red.Shame, indignation, embarrassment, and a sense of loss she herself couldn't quite define welled up inside her; she wished she could dig a hole and disappear immediately!
"I.I didn't think it was anything!I understand!I will complete the mission!"
She practically shouted it out before turning around and rushing out of the study as if she were running away.
Watching Sakura's retreating figure, Naruto gently tapped the table.
Real-world experience is the best whetstone.
Only by showing her true bloodshed and powerlessness will she cling tightly to him, this lone tree, and strive to become stronger.
His consciousness once again swept over that new skill.
Deep within the seal, the Nine-Tailed Fox's roar still echoed, but it now carried a hint of helplessness.
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