Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Analyzing the Transformation Technique

"**Young Master, didn't you want stewed soup?**"

The girl stood by the stove, turning back to look at him with a bewildered expression.

Hyuga Wuye stared at the fish swimming around in the pot, utterly speechless. "**You're cooking it in warm water?**"

"**Th-Then how should I do it?**" the girl stammered.

Hyuga Wuye's face remained expressionless. "**Kill the fish, scale it, gut it, then put it in the pot. You don't know this?**"

The girl lowered her head, too ashamed to speak.

"**Go wipe the floors.**"

Hyuga Wuye didn't press her further. He rolled up his sleeves and waved her off.

"**Yes.**"

She stepped aside, but as she reached the kitchen doorway, she instinctively glanced back.

The boy stood at the stove, scooping out the fish. With a swift smack of the knife's back, he scaled and gutted it in one fluid motion. The girl's eyes sparkled with admiration.

"**So amazing…**" she couldn't help but murmur.

Hyuga Wuye turned his head, still expressionless. "**Aren't you going to wipe the floors?**"

"**Oh, oh! Right away!**"

She clacked off in her geta sandals.

Hyuga Wuye watched her retreating figure with a small smile, then turned back to rinse rice in a wooden basket and start cooking.

By the time he finished and returned to the living room, he didn't find the classic scene of a kimono-clad girl scrubbing the floor on her knees.

What a shame…

"**How did you turn the living room into a puddle?**" he asked, leaning against the doorframe with a headache brewing.

The girl stood guiltily in the center of the wet mess. "**I-I spilled the bucket…**"

Hyuga Wuye sighed, hands on his hips. He fetched a dry rag, knelt on the floor, and began wiping it down bit by bit.

When it got too wet, he wrung it out over the bucket and kept going.

Seeing this, the girl hurriedly mimicked him, wringing out her own rag and kneeling to help.

"**Ah!**"

But with her awkward posture and the slippery floor, she lost her balance and crashed toward Hyuga Wuye.

Focused on wiping, he hadn't anticipated it. Their heads collided with a thud.

"**Oof…**"

A loud bang left his head buzzing.

Sure enough, all that nonsense about falling into a perfect kiss was just bookish lies—whoever believed it was a fool!

"**Sorry, sorry…**"

The girl, ignoring her own reddened forehead, apologized profusely.

"**Don't make things worse,**" Hyuga Wuye said, rubbing his forehead and pointing to the kitchen. "**Go turn off the stove, serve the rice, and bring the fish soup to the table.**"

"**Yes!**"

Relieved he wasn't angry, she scrambled up and dashed into the kitchen.

"**Be careful—don't burn yourself,**" Hyuga Wuye suddenly called out.

"**Yes.**"

Her voice echoed back faintly.

He shook his head and resumed wiping the floor.

Fortunately, she managed serving the rice and setting the table without incident. By the time she arranged the bowls and chopsticks, he'd dried the floor.

"**Add another set of chopsticks and serve some rice,**" Hyuga Wuye said, glancing at the low table.

Seeing her dart back to the kitchen with a red forehead, he thought for a moment, then retrieved ice from the freezer and wrapped it in a towel from the bathroom.

"**Come here.**"

Back in the dining room, he sat down and beckoned to her.

"**Is there something else to get, Young Master?**"

She approached, puzzled.

Hyuga Wuye pressed the cold towel to her forehead. "**Hold this and ice it for a bit.**"

"**Ah, yes, thank you, Young Master!**"

Her cheeks flushed as she held the towel in place.

Hyuga Wuye pulled his hand back, lifted the lid off the clay pot, and let the rich aroma of fish soup waft out.

The girl instinctively sniffed the air.

He ladled the soup into two bowls. "**Alright, put it down and eat.**"

"**Huh? There's some for me too?**" she asked, surprised.

Hyuga Wuye glanced at her. "**I'm not about to mistreat child labor.**"

"**Oh.**"

Half-understanding, she knelt at the table and cautiously sipped the soup with a spoon.

"**Wait.**"

Hyuga Wuye suddenly grabbed her wrist, sighing. "**Blow on it first—don't you care about burning yourself?**"

Her face reddened again.

Normally, she wasn't this clumsy, but around Wuye, she couldn't stay calm.

Watching her puff her cheeks to cool the soup and sip it daintily, Hyuga Wuye couldn't help but sneak a few extra glances.

He'd never seen her so ladylike—it was a novelty.

The fish wasn't too big or small, and the soup was just enough. They finished it quickly between them.

"**Young Master, let me clean up.**"

Seeing him gather the dishes, she stood to help.

"**No need,**" Hyuga Wuye said without looking up. "**Go back home.**"

"**Home?**"

She froze. "**As your maid, aren't I supposed to live with you?**"

"**Go back already,**" Hyuga Wuye said, lifting his head with a smile. "**…Kushina.**"

"**Uh…**"

She stiffened as if struck by lightning, dumbfounded.

"**W-What Kushina?**"

She tried to play it off.

Hyuga Wuye set down the dishes, smiling at her. "**Kushina, whenever you mess up, you always touch your earlobe. When you blush, the spot under your ear turns half red. And there's more…**"

"**The Transformation Technique is hard to see through, but I know you too well,**" he said with certainty. "**You're Kushina—stop pretending.**"

**"Poof!"**

A puff of white smoke rose, and the girl's disguise vanished. Kushina appeared, head bowed.

*«Detected Uzumaki Kushina performing the Transformation Technique. Analysis available.»*

Hyuga Wuye's expression shifted.

Her long red hair still blazed like fire cascading down her back, mirroring the fierce passion in her heart—a passion that wouldn't back down even after his rejection.

"**Wuye, I know there's a reason you broke up with me,**" Kushina said, lifting her head with burning eyes. "**But I don't want to be controlled. I just want to be with you.**"

Hyuga Wuye looked away, avoiding her scorching gaze. "**I already told you the reason. I'm just that kind of person—I enjoy ambiguity, not responsibility.**"

"**That's not true!**"

She suddenly grabbed his wrist, gripping it tightly. "**It's the Third, isn't it?! He's the one keeping us apart!**"

His hand ached from her grip, but he didn't pull away.

"**In theory, I've awakened the single-tomoe Sharingan. I could get back with Kushina, right?**" he thought.

*«Sharingan, the eye reflecting the heart, awakened by unattainable love. Reconciling now will cause the pupil power to vanish.»*

*«Must wait for the next tomoe to appear for this one to stabilize.»*

Of course—there were no shortcuts. And wasn't love all about that bittersweet torment? The angst, the pain, tormenting a sweet girl—it was thrilling just to think about…

Thrilling enough to nearly cry.

Hyuga Wuye exhaled slowly, gently prying her hand off. "**Kushina, I didn't lie to you.**"

*But no matter the process, the ending will be good—I promise.*

He didn't say it aloud, only swearing it silently in his heart… to bring a happy ending to the girl who truly liked him!

Kushina's hands fell limply, her gaze dropping to her feet. "**Can… can I make one last request?**"

Hyuga Wuye took a deep breath and, without even hearing it, said, "**Yes.**"

"**The day after tomorrow is a rest day. Could you…**" Kushina clenched her fists, "**spend the day with me? Like a real couple?**"

Hyuga Wuye stood, seeing the hollow, lost look in her eyes. His heart twinged, and he blurted out, "**No matter how long…**"

Kushina's head snapped up.

He paused abruptly. "**I'll do it.**"

Before her tears could fall, Kushina bolted out the door, leaving only a frail whisper behind: "**Thank you…**"

Hyuga Wuye stood at the entrance, watching her figure vanish into the night.

He didn't move for a long time.

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