Chapter 289: Is This a Teacher? Or a Demon?

[Ding! Detected that the host transported Yahiko, Nagato, and six other ninjas piggyback-style, causing varying degrees of psychological trauma—Nagato being the most affected. Special reward: +5 Strength.]

Kazuyama Gekkō chuckled at the message.

It wasn't easy to farm attributes these days, and now that he'd caught two fat sheep, he had to milk them for all they were worth.

Seeing him laugh, Konan was completely baffled.

This man had suddenly appeared—he might've hurt her teammates a bit, but he'd also helped them.

So what was so funny?

"What's wrong? Can't understand how my sensei acts?"

"I'm telling you, he's a total lunatic. Always giggling to himself. You'll get used to it."

Yugito pulled a handful of candy from her pouch, popped one in her mouth, and offered the rest to Konan.

"Here, candy from the Land of Birds. Tastes great. Want one?"

Konan hesitated, but still took one.

After all, they'd been fighting all day—she was exhausted and needed a boost.

As the candy melted in her mouth, Konan's expression finally softened a little.

"Sweet, right?"

"But I gotta say, that was a mistake."

"My sensei might be crazy, but his teachings are practical."

"Like, don't ever eat random food from someone else…"

Yugito's eyes suddenly gleamed as she stared at Konan, full of disappointment...

Konan's heart skipped a beat.

She looked at the little girl in disbelief.

"What do you mean…"

Her trembling voice made Kazuyama Gekkō frown and glare at Yugito, but she didn't care at all.

She calmly continued,

"As a ninja, never accept anything from anyone except your comrades."

"Even food. If I wanted to kill you, that one candy would've done the job."

"Blue-haired big sis."

Yugito deliberately lowered her voice, making it eerily heavy.

Konan couldn't take it.

Kazuyama was about to speak, but the familiar system prompt cut him off.

[Ding! Detected that the host's disciple has inherited the host's cunning and successfully frightened Konan, instilling fear. Special reward: +5 Ninjutsu Amplification.]

To his surprise, he hadn't earned any stats from Konan—but his disciple did.

Kazuyama looked at Yugito with eyes full of admiration.

That smug look made Yugito even more cocky as she launched into a lecture.

"Big sis, no offense, but look at me. I'm just a kid—not even a ninja yet—and I know all this."

"How can a full-fledged kunoichi like you not know?"

"Ever heard of situational awareness?"

"Hmph, it's a good thing Sensei knows you guys. Otherwise... hmph, you'd be dead already."

Yugito kept rambling.

Saying how her sensei told her people should be a little evil or they'd get taken advantage of.

A little shady or they'd die a miserable death.

A little greedy or they'd starve.

Konan was completely dumbfounded—and so were the eight others slung over Kazuyama Gekkō's shoulders.

Was this really a teacher?

He sounded more like a demon.

Other teachers taught their students how to grow stronger. How to become heroes.

His teachings were completely messed up!

Couldn't he be a bit more normal?

A bit more kind?

Soon, everyone's gaze locked onto Kazuyama Gekkō—even if they couldn't physically see him, their attention was clearly fixed on him.

The stares made him a little awkward, and he had to defend himself.

"Yugito! Don't spout the brutal truth like that!"

"I taught you those things so you could survive! Why'd you make it sound so sleazy?"

"I'm saying no matter what you want in life, you have to survive first. Only when you're alive can you chase your goals!"

"Don't twist my words!"

Even someone as thick-skinned as Kazuyama Gekkō felt the pressure of everyone's eyes on him.

Yugito, on the other hand, didn't see anything wrong with what she said.

After all, when Sensei wasn't around, her big sister Tagitsuhime had told her the same thing.

...

After a while, Konan led Kazuyama Gekkō and the others to a cliff.

She looked at the forest on the other side and said,

"Our camp's over there. But we'll need to jump across."

She glanced at Kazuyama and the comrades he was carrying on his shoulders.

Kazuyama caught the look and smirked.

"What? Think I can't make the jump?"

"Don't just say eight people—even if I had eight more, I could still carry them across."

Konan nodded and leapt first.

The gap was wide—over twenty meters—and the opposite cliff was even higher than where they stood.

Yugito's eyes went wide.

What did she just witness?

Mid-air, Konan's body released a flurry of paper sheets.

They wrapped around her, lightening her weight.

She soared across effortlessly.

"So pretty…"

"What kind of jutsu is that? I wanna learn it…"

Yugito, being a girl, was completely enchanted.

Konan's graceful display hooked her instantly.

"Paper-style isn't for you. You should just stick with claws and Fire Release."

Even Kazuyama was momentarily dazzled by her movement.

No doubt about it—those paper wings amplified Konan's charm.

Still, he couldn't help comparing her to Pakura.

And he was sure—Pakura was hotter.

Konan was still young. Compared to the mature Pakura, she was clearly lacking.

"Hmph! Why can't it be for me!"

"Whatever, you're annoying, Sensei!"

"Lend me some power again."

Looking at the steep cliff, Yugito knew she couldn't make it on her own.

She turned to her partner—Matatabi—for help.

Matatabi said nothing, silently channeling chakra to her.

Empowered by the Tailed Beast's chakra, Yugito bent her legs and launched herself skyward—straight toward the other side.

"This kid… she can already do this?"

"My training really paid off, huh?"

Kazuyama shamelessly praised himself, making the eight ninja on his shoulders collectively roll their eyes.

Then, Kazuyama crouched down, ready to jump.

But just as he was about to spring forward—something unexpected happened.