42.Practice

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And for Shiji Yuko, the incredible power exhibited by Shinobi was something she longed for!

If in the past she admired the power of samurais, as she gradually mastered their swordsmanship, she realized that the power of samurais was no longer enough to satisfy her needs!

Samurais couldn't stand against an army with their individual strength, but Shinobi could!

She wanted to seize her own destiny!

Therefore, she wanted to come into contact with the mystical power of ninjutsu.

She spoke softly again.

"I know that as Shinobi of Konohagakure, you naturally have to abide by the village's rules and not disclose ninjutsu, but giving me some guidance should be possible."

Shiji Yuko's gaze lightly glanced at the masked Sosuke, continuing her words.

"Although it may sound vulgar, I want to tell the three of you that my father will probably pay the village five hundred thousand ryo as the reward for this mission."

"And over these years, I have also saved some wealth. If you can take on this additional task of training me to the level of a ninja, you will receive another five hundred thousand ryo as well as my friendship."

Shiji Yuko spoke softly, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips and a slightly confident tone.

It was confidence in her own talent and confidence in the price she had offered.

five hundred thousand ryo was not a small amount. If it were in the black market, it would be enough to buy the lives of many Chunin, and even Jounin!

And her request was very simple, just a few brats to guide her. Even Konohagakure would probably agree to such a deal.

Will you agree, Sosuke?

Her gaze lightly swept over Sosuke, and this five hundred thousand was specifically offered for him.

In her perception, Sosuke's strength should not be as simple as it appeared on the surface, and the reason she offered such a high price was simply because she believed in her own intuition.

Although they were Shinobi, it was quite obvious that Kaga and Dou were also slightly taken aback when they heard the sum of five hundred thousand ryo.

Just teaching ninjutsu alone, and moreover to the daughter of the daimyo of The Land of Fire, the princess.

Presumably, the village would also agree!

But they still looked at Sosuke, after all, Sosuke was the captain of this mission.

Regarding this, Sosuke naturally didn't mind and smiled as he accepted.

"Since it's Miss Yuko's request, I believe the village will not blame us for imparting ninjutsu. We will take on this mission."

After Sosuke finished speaking, everyone was very satisfied.

They could complete the mission and earn some extra money. Who wouldn't like that?

Shiji Yuko also smiled faintly, but her gaze was fixed on Sosuke's mask.

Sensing her gaze, Sosuke gently turned his head to look at her.

The two exchanged a brief gaze, each harboring their own intentions, an unspoken understanding.

...

In a spacious forest.

A tall rock formation with a waterfall cascading down from above, splashing white water droplets.

Many guards were stationed here.

Shiji Yuko, dressed in training clothes, faced the turbulent waterfall without fear. She stood in front of the waterfall, enduring the splashing water, holding a wooden sword in her hand, fully focused on swinging it.

Her movements were extremely slow, but carried a hint of the natural rhythm.

"Ha!"

Suddenly, she shouted loudly, and the wooden sword in her hand, which had been moving at a turtle-like pace, instantly transformed into a dazzling white light!

In an instant!

Her wooden sword swung countless times.

As she slowly retracted the sword to her waist, she let out a gentle breath from her chest.

A large carp with its fins and tail cut off stared at her with frightened eyes as it fell to the shore.

On the riverside, Sosuke quietly leaned against the shade of a tree, refining his chakra. Upon seeing this scene, he smiled faintly.

If it weren't for the Root's affairs, it would be nice to simply enjoy this leisurely moment. However, the thought of the weighty mission made Sosuke's smile turn slightly cold.

"Hey! Aizen, how was my performance with that strike? Did it reach the level you mentioned?" Sosuke slowly approached the riverside. Shiji Yuko, soaked in water, looked at Sosuke happily and said, "Hmm, the taste of this fish should be better than the previous days. I'll leave it to you to handle."

Sosuke didn't directly answer her question. After glancing at the gasping carp with its mouth wide open, he smiled and replied in such a manner. Hearing Sosuke's response, Shiji Yuko showed a delighted expression and happily began preparing to grill the fish herself.

Under Sosuke's guidance over the past few days, she felt like she had entered an entirely new world. She still remembered when she heard Sosuke's intention to teach her the way of the sword. At first, she was dissatisfied, thinking that she had already mastered the art of samurai swordsmanship better than most samurais. She even looked down upon Sosuke's words. However, he simply replied with a few words, "There is no end to the path of swordsmanship. Even a child can swing a sword roughly, but have you ever truly unleashed your own strike?"

When Sosuke took a step forward and casually swung his sword with a calm expression, all of her viewpoints were overturned. She couldn't even see how many strikes he had made in that instant! The towering tree before her, after a moment of stillness, seemed to have its blocks accurately removed, just like a perfect jigsaw puzzle. The jagged branches intertwined and sank deep into the trunk, yet it still tenaciously survived. The scars on the trunk were almost invisible, as every gap was perfectly filled. It was like a perfect piece of art crafted by the most demanding artisan.

At that moment, Shiji Yuko not only felt deeply shocked but also filled with embarrassment. It turned out that the swordsmanship she had been proud of was probably nothing more than child's play in Sosuke's eyes. Since then, Shiji Yuko held deep reverence for Sosuke, the masked individual who seemed young. She believed that her five hundred thousand ryo was definitely worth it! Could this guy really just be a Genin from Konohagakure? Shiji Yuko couldn't bring herself to believe it!

No matter what, Shiji Yuko did not believe that a typical Genin from Konohagakure could possess such a level of skill!

On the bonfire, the flames slowly roasted the plump carp, emitting the unique aroma of grilled fish. Sosuke gently divided the fish, giving half to Shiji Yuko. As the princess of The Land of Fire, Shiji Yuko had never served anyone before, let alone grilling fish! It was something she requested after seeing Sosuke grill fish a few days ago. Shiji Yuko was clever, so naturally, she quickly learned such things. Since then, Sosuke never personally grilled the fish. It was always Shiji Yuko who prepared it with her own hands. With practice, the taste of the grilled fish became better and better.

During these few days, Shiji Yuko learned Kenjutsu from Sosuke, Taijutsu from Kaga, and Ninjutsu from Dou. Through observing each other during this time, they began to understand each other to some extent. Dou excelled in Fire Release Ninjutsu, while Kaga was proficient in close combat Taijutsu, with unique attacking techniques that impressed Sosuke. As for Sosuke himself, he remained shrouded in mystery, and both Dou and Kaga held a hint of respect for him.

Of course, during these days, Shiji Yuko spent the most time with Sosuke. After all, she had not yet accumulated enough chakra to practice on her own, and deep down in her heart, she firmly believed that Sosuke's strength was being concealed. As a princess, she naturally had her own thoughts, so she stuck to Sosuke's side every day, like a little tail that couldn't be shaken off.

But Sosuke didn't mind all this. Days passed one by one.