Chapter 16

Naruto lay in his small, dimly lit apartment, his gaze fixed on the seal etched onto his hand. He wondered if it was wise to release her now or to wait until he had amassed more power and authority. There was an undeniable temptation to unlock her presence—something his system had granted him with purpose.

"I shouldn't waste the opportunity the system gave me," Naruto muttered to himself, cold light flickering in his eyes. With a steady breath, he pressed his fingers to the seal and unbound it, feeling a pulse of chakra. A girl appeared in front of him

After a few swift hand signs, a diamond-shaped mark materialized on her forehead. This seal would keep her obedient, ensure her submission, and render her invisible to everyone except him.

The girl emerged, dazed and wide-eyed, taking in her surroundings until her gaze settled on him. Her brows knitted into a frown as confusion gave way to wariness.

"Who are you?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Quiet." Naruto's voice was sharp. Without hesitation, he transformed into the appearance he had taken when they first met. Her reaction was instant. Her body began to tremble, and her face paled before she quickly lowered her head, bowing so deeply her forehead nearly touched the floor.

"I-I'm ashamed for speaking to you so insolently, Master. P-please forgive me," she stammered, her voice quivering as her head remained pressed to the wooden floor.

Naruto observed her silently for a moment before exhaling, his expression impassive. "Be mindful of how you address me. My orders are absolute, and if you wish to remain useful, you will obey without question. Fail to follow, and I'll have no further need for you. Do you understand?"

She trembled at his words, barely daring to breathe. "Y-yes, Master," she whispered.

Naruto nodded slightly, satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "From now on, you will be my disciple. Go clean yourself up and change into these clothes." He handed her an oversized shirt and other garments he'd pulled from his closet.

The girl's hands shook as she accepted them. She glanced toward the bathroom, and Naruto pointed her in that direction. "Go."

After several minutes, she returned, her small frame swallowed by the oversized T-shirt that reached her knees. Her face was flushed as she shifted awkwardly, rubbing her legs together, visibly embarrassed.

"M-master…" she murmured.

Naruto looked at her, a subtle chakra swirling at his fingertips. "What is it?" he asked, his tone stern.

Her voice wavered, and she averted her gaze. "You… you didn't give me p-panties with it."

Naruto regarded her with mild indifference. "I don't have any to give you, and you don't need them. As you may have noticed, there's a diamond-shaped tattoo on your forehead. It's a seal I created that renders you invisible to everyone else. Your voice, too, cannot be heard by anyone except me."

A mixture of confusion and awe flickered across her face. "S-so cool," she said, her voice carrying a hint of innocent admiration. Despite her hardships, there was still a childlike fascination in her eyes.

"Come here, girl," Naruto commanded, motioning her closer. She complied, moving toward him without hesitation, her obedience as instinctive as it was complete.

"Sit." Naruto gestured, and she obeyed, folding her legs beneath her. "I'm going to test your talent. Do not disappoint me. I'll channel my chakra into you, and you need to gather it in the center of your stomach. Do you understand?"

She nodded, looking up at him with wide eyes.

Naruto began, carefully breaking off a controlled portion of his chakra, diminishing it to the level of a chunin's before pressing it into her. He guided it through her chakra network, watching her expression shift from pain to concentration, then finally to a serene calm as she successfully contained the chakra at her core.

A faint smile blossomed on her face, an almost blissful expression.

"Congratulations," Naruto said, standing up. "You did well."

The girl looked up at him, a hint of pride brightening her gaze.

"Continue expanding that chakra pool in your belly over the next few days until it grows. Now, I have business to attend to," he instructed. His voice grew cold, carrying a warning. "No matter what happens, do not leave this apartment. If I find you disobeying me, you'll be eliminated. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, Master," she replied, bowing her head once more.

Without another word, Naruto turned and left the apartment, the door clicking shut behind him. The girl remained seated, her expression serious as she focused on the task he'd given her, determined not to disappoint.