Malphegor
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YTS: Ch. 04
🕑 Added 2025-03-28 15:30:35 +0000 UTCKei gave Kushina an exasperated look.
And what was with that ridiculous nickname—Pig girl?
He was a grown man, male, straight, not some Sejuani riding a giant boar. How did that nickname even get attached to him?
"Aww~ but you were so cute when you were little! Anyone would've mistaken you for a girl~"
Kushina chuckled, recalling the amusing memory.
Kei rolled his eyes. "You were probably the only one who thought that."
Back when Kushina transferred into the Academy, as her classmate, he was one of the few who didn't mock her for her fiery red hair.
But right after their very first class ended, she had run up to him, flustered, and asked where the girls' restroom was—if he could go with her.
Clearly, his delicate features as a child had caused a serious misunderstanding.
Seeing the eight-year-old girl standing there, full of embarrassment and uncertainty, Kei, who already had the mind of an adult, couldn't bear to make things even more awkward for her. So, he simply got up and led the way.
Thinking back on it now, their first encounter was pure fated disaster.
"Hehe~ what brings you to the jonin standby station?"
Kushina clasped her hands behind her back, her bright face showing a hint of anticipation.
Kei cleared his throat. "Ahem... I've been reassigned to the standard combat division as a squad leader."
He pulled out a scroll from the pouch at his waist, containing his official reassignment orders.
Seeing Suzaku, the duty officer at the station today, glance over, he casually tossed the scroll over.
"Eh? That's great! We'll get to see each other more often!"
"Yeah, but we can catch up later. My poor squad members have been waiting all morning."
"Leaving already after just meeting? Hmph~ Fine, I'll let you off this time, but make sure to report in early tomorrow~"
"Report in? Uh... yeah, yeah, see you tomorrow!"
Kei glanced at the now-ruined standby station.
Noticing how Kushina suddenly froze, counting on her fingers as she calculated the damages she'd have to pay for, he quickly waved at Chōza and Dōtō before vanishing in a flicker of movement.
---
Guy and Genma practiced tirelessly, sweat dripping down their faces as they focused on basic taijutsu and precision kunai throwing.
Kurenai sat atop a wooden training post used for target practice, idly swinging her legs.
She listened to her new teammates' spirited training shouts while, not far off in the Third Training Ground, the sounds of ninjutsu explosions from combat drills echoed in the distance.
With a deep sigh, she let out a breath of frustration.
Her first year after graduation had already been unlucky—one of her teammates had quit being a ninja, forcing her into a dull logistics job.
Now, finally reassigned, she was happy to see her new teammates were all familiar faces—strong, reliable, and unlikely to quit.
But just when things were looking up, their squad leader was late for their very first meeting.
Sure, the orders had stated to gather at the Fourth Training Ground in the morning, but they hadn't specified a time.
Still, it was noon already!
Why was her ninja career cursed with so much bad luck?
As she sat lost in thought, a faint, almost orchid-like fragrance drifted through the air with the autumn breeze, brushing past her nose.
Before she could even identify what kind of flower it was, a sudden disturbance rippled through the training ground.
The once-flat earth beneath them began to rise and bulge.
Guy and Genma immediately sensed the anomaly and leaped back without hesitation.
Before Kurenai could even jump down from the training post, the ground suddenly burst open. A massive python, its head alone spanning three meters in diameter, slithered out at terrifying speed.
Faced with a monstrous serpent, an overwhelming sense of danger swept through her entire body.
Every cell in her being trembled, every nerve screamed in alarm, yet she was paralyzed, unable to move, fearing that even the slightest action would draw the beast's attention.
But fate was not on her side. The python's massive head lifted slightly, its cold, unblinking eyes locking onto her. In the next moment, it lunged forward, ready to strike.
The sheer terror of imminent death nearly drowned out all rational thought.
Move! Move! Move now! She screamed internally, and in that instant, the numbness in her limbs broke.
Strength surged through her body as she tried to escape, but the python's speed was far greater than hers.
The rancid stench of its maw filled her nostrils, the very scent of death itself.
"HAH!!"
A sharp battle cry split the air, and in a blur of green, a figure shot in from the side.
A powerful kick struck the serpent's head, forcing it to veer off course by two feet, just enough for Kurenai to barely avoid its fangs as it lunged past her.
Boom!
The missed strike sent up a cloud of dust as the python crashed into the ground, letting out a furious hiss.
Its tail whipped violently, showing no sign of injury despite the powerful attack.
Genma, knowing full well that they were no match for this beast, grabbed Kurenai, who had barely dodged death, and sprinted away at full speed. As he ran, he hurled a string of smoke bombs behind them, shouting back over his shoulder.
"Run!"
Guy, having landed his strike, wasted no time and immediately followed suit, retreating alongside them.
Perhaps because she had just brushed past death, Kurenai's mind had never been clearer. The moment Genma's words fell, she quickly added,
"Head toward the Third Training Ground! There are jonin there! Who has a red signal flare? Quick!"
"Got it!" Guy reached for his ninja pouch, fingers brushing against the signal flare, but before he could even pull it out, the entire scene shattered like a broken mirror.
Their momentum carried them forward, sending them tumbling far ahead.
Barely managing to steady themselves, they found themselves staring in disbelief.
The giant python was gone. The ground was untouched, as if no destruction had ever occurred. The training field was completely intact.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound of slow, deliberate applause came from the side.
Emerging from the shade of a tree, dressed in a black combat uniform with a jonin vest over it, Kei stepped forward.
"Patience, courage, excellent teamwork, and sound judgment in a crisis. Congratulations, you've passed the test. I'm Yamanaka Kei, your new squad leader. I look forward to working with you."
"Ah! Youth never disappoints those who strive for it! I'm Might Guy, please take care of us, Sensei!" Despite having been thoroughly shaken by the hyper-realistic genjutsu, Guy still gave a bright thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming.
"I'm Shiranui Genma. Please guide us well." Genma forced himself upright from the ground, bowing properly in greeting.
"Yūhi Kurenai. Please take care of us, Sensei." Her pale face slowly regained some color as she bowed, though internally, she was fuming.
Starting a test without warning? That was way too cruel!
She really thought she was about to die back there!
But... what an incredibly powerful genjutsu!
![チュンザ [CHWNZA] from fanbox](https://patrefans.com/kistorage/59167.jpg)
