Chapter 7: Talented, Hardworking, and Handsome!
Several months passed in a flash.
With the System backing him, Masahiro quickly mastered whatever Ninjutsu or combat techniques Hagoromo Jūzaburō taught him.
Soon, his reputation as a genius gradually spread, passed from his classmates to their parents, and then from those parents to their companions, spreading rapidly through word of mouth.
There were benefits.
Now, all the children in the Clan Academy respectfully called him "Boss," and when adults recognized him while he was out buying groceries, they would often give him discounts or extra vegetables.
But the drawbacks were also obvious.
For example, Little Genius Retsu, who initially sought Masahiro out to fight him twice every three days, hadn't actively challenged Masahiro to a Ninjutsu spar for one or two consecutive weeks now, and he had become increasingly silent.
Masahiro expressed great concern for his mental state.
Another example: Masahiro, who was currently trying to sneak out of the clan territory over the high wall, was caught red-handed by the guards because of his excessive fame.
There was nothing he could do; his fame was indeed a bit too great.
He wasn't the only child secretly climbing the wall, but the guards only remembered his face, resulting in his wall-climbing plans failing every single time over the past few months.
"Masahiro! Are you trying to sneak out again?!" The patrolling guard grabbed Masahiro by the back of his collar and pulled him down from the high wall.
"Don't say 'again'! I haven't succeeded even once!"
After being put down by the guard, Masahiro smoothed out his collar, which had nearly been stretched out of shape, and said arrogantly, "I'm leaving now. You definitely won't catch me next time."
The guard immediately stopped Masahiro: "Wait, you can't leave."
Seeing the guard's tall, strong physique, Masahiro shrank back slightly: "No way? Is climbing the wall a crime now?"
Speaking of which, one must mention the Hagoromo Defense Force.
Putting aside situations where they were attacked right up to their doorstep during wartime, normally only a few young Ninja acted as guards, patrolling near the only main gate connecting the clan territory to the outside world.
These patrolling Ninja were certainly not there to defend against external enemies, but rather to prevent children or civilians within the clan from leaving.
After all, the Sengoku period was chaotic everywhere. Defenseless civilians or children would encounter all sorts of dangers outside, and the clan was doing this to protect them.
But for Masahiro, this kind of protection was equivalent to restraining his growth speed!
Over the past few months, Masahiro had searched the entire Hagoromo Clan territory high and low every day, from dawn till dusk, acquiring every single stray Primogem he could find.
The rewards for this high-intensity map-grinding were obvious: he had already leveled up to 40, and his Experience Bar was full.
However, the materials required to break through from Level 40 to Level 41, besides the proof of strength whose acquisition method was unknown, also required 200 lily of the valley!
Masahiro had already harvested all the lily of the valley that could be found within the clan territory using various methods; to advance further, he had to leave the territory and search outside.
So it wasn't that Masahiro was being difficult; he was just too eager to improve!
Usually, when Masahiro was caught, the guards would just let him go, but for some reason, the guard stopped him today.
Masahiro's half-step retreat made the young guard Ninja realize his actions might have scared the child, so he softened his voice: "I stopped you not because of the wall-climbing, but because the Clan Head wishes to see you."
"Huh?"
Confused, Masahiro followed the guard Ninja to Hagoromo Ryunosuke's Residence.
After escorting Masahiro, the guard bowed to Ryunosuke and quietly withdrew, leaving Masahiro alone where he stood.
Just as Masahiro was about to ask why he had been summoned, the other party suddenly attacked.
"Whoosh—"
In the blink of an eye, Ryunosuke rushed in front of Masahiro.
Seeing Masahiro frozen in place, Ryunosuke unhesitatingly thrust the Kunai in his hand toward Masahiro's neck.
As a faint blue flash streaked past, only a few strands of severed hair were left in the air—in that moment of life and death, Masahiro's body instinctively leaned back, evading Ryunosuke's sneak attack.
Masahiro used the momentum to brace his hands on the ground, powerfully engaging his core, and kicked toward Ryunosuke's solar plexus with both legs, like a flood dragon emerging from the sea.
Although he was small, that kick was infused with Chakra; if it landed, even a Jonin would be injured.
Masahiro's excellent counterattack in the face of a sneak attack caused a flash of admiration in Ryunosuke's eyes.
He lightly jumped backward, avoiding Masahiro's attack, and kept his hands busy: "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Bang—
Masahiro, struck by the fireball, instantly transformed into a log, and simultaneously, a pair of small hands suddenly shot out from under Ryunosuke's feet:
"Earth Release: Headhunter Technique!"
Ryunosuke's entire body was instantly dragged into the earth by Masahiro, leaving only his head above ground.
Strike while the iron is hot!
Masahiro did not show mercy just because the enemy was restrained; he only pursued victory! Quickly pulling a Kunai from his Ninja Tool Pouch, Masahiro was about to kill Ryunosuke on the spot without hesitation.
Suddenly, a strong, powerful hand pressed down on Masahiro's shoulder, and the immense force made Masahiro drop to one knee.
But there was no panic on his face; he simply retracted the Kunai he had been about to thrust out, then swung it backhandedly in a crescent arc, aiming the Kunai behind him.
"Heh heh, you are truly excellent."
The Kunai, thrown with all of Masahiro's strength, was effortlessly knocked away. To Masahiro's astonishment, the Ryunosuke with only a head above ground dissolved into a puddle of water, and his true body stepped out from behind Masahiro.
Ryunosuke looked at the stunned Masahiro and said with a smile, "You must be Masahiro. Don't be scared. I called you here because I wanted to ask if you would be willing to be my Disciple."
During this period, under his instruction, Hagoromo Jūzaburō taught many high-difficulty Ninjutsu at the Clan Academy.
He hadn't expected Masahiro to learn every single one without fail.
And he learned them the very day they were taught!
This level of talent was even more terrifying than Ryunosuke had previously imagined.
The reason he waited until now to summon Masahiro was that he also wanted to observe Masahiro's conduct.
He had no children. If Masahiro became his Disciple, he would likely inherit his position as Clan Head in the future, making conduct exceptionally important alongside strength.
Fortunately, after several months of observation, Ryunosuke had gained a relatively detailed understanding of Masahiro.
Although his behavior was sometimes strange—such as frequently wandering around in empty places, or constantly trying to climb the wall to sneak out of the clan territory—
Overall, he was still an optimistic and cheerful child.
However, upon actually meeting Masahiro today, Ryunosuke suddenly felt the urge to test him, which led to the preceding tentative fight.
The result also satisfied him; this child's combat talent was also very strong!
Seeing Masahiro silent, Ryunosuke thought he was angry because of the earlier actions, and tentatively asked, "Are you unwilling?"
Seeming worried that Masahiro might refuse, Ryunosuke quickly added, "Among all the Elders, aside from the Great Elder, I am the strongest, you know! You saw that just now, didn't you?"
What Ryunosuke didn't realize was that Masahiro's silence wasn't due to unwillingness—he was overjoyed!
Although I, Masahiro, started as an orphan, I lack nothing in terms of Cheats and talent! Now that I've just shown a little bit of my edge, the Clan Head wants to take me as a Disciple. Truly, gold shines wherever it goes!
I truly possess the Bearing of a Great Emperor!
Masahiro was internally ecstatic, but kept a poker face: "Of course I'm willing! Should I call you Teacher from now on?"
Seeing Masahiro agree to become his Disciple, a look of delight flashed in Ryunosuke's eyes:
"The title 'Teacher' is too formal. I have been without children my whole life. If you are willing, you can call me Grandpa from now on."
Talented, hardworking, and handsome!
Ryunosuke genuinely adored this boy.
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