This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 185 Hong also likes you

After obtaining the Immortal Armor, Ryuji also studied it and had a very clear understanding of its principles.

Overall, it is ninjutsu technology that is very much in line with the style of this world.

Using the Grell Stone in the breastplate as the energy core, and engraving array patterns on the armor that react to the human body and stimulate the chakra state within the body, the armor amplifies the wearer's chakra.

The wearer can also achieve immortality by absorbing the natural energy within the Grell Stone.

The array patterns on the armor automatically adjust the proportions of spiritual energy, physical energy, and natural energy to achieve the effect of Immortal Mode.

but.

Even with the armor's assistance, mastering Sage Mode remains extremely difficult. Without the corresponding talent, one still cannot control the proportions of the three energies, leading to physical mutations and even loss of reason, transforming into a true beast.

In short, the armor itself is merely an auxiliary tool for using Sage Mode.

The Grell Stone on the breastplate contains natural energy, which allows the wearer to enter Sage Mode. Even without the Grell Stone, if the wearer can absorb natural energy from nature, the same effect will still be achieved.

"The array pattern doesn't significantly increase chakra; the main factor is the Sage Mode's function," Ryuji pondered for a moment.

Chakra has the effect of amplifying the human body; the stronger the chakra, the greater the amplification.

Eight Gates, Sage Mode, Tailed Beast Mode, Lightning Release: Armor Mode… these techniques in the ninja world that amplify physical abilities may differ in their methods, but they all share the same fundamental principle: increasing the strength of chakra.

This applies to both changing the nature of chakra and increasing its quantity.

The array patterns on the Sage Armor have limited chakra amplification, so the amplification of physical functions won't be too strong. But if it's Sage Transformation... even wearing the Sage Armor requires a certain amount of talent and time to practice and master, unless you're a genius.

But if someone is a genius, wouldn't it be better to just cultivate the Immortal Mode?

What use is this armor to me?

If you're not a genius, mastering Sage Mode is extremely difficult and time-consuming.

According to the information obtained from Ania, these knights were all gifted individuals selected from childhood, and they trained diligently every day in order to unleash the power of the Celestial Armor.

Apart from the exceptionally talented Anya, everyone else took a very long time to master it.

Since no one taught Ryuuji how to cultivate Immortal Mode, he naturally didn't know how talented he was in Immortal Arts.

But he didn't consider himself a top genius.

If he has to spend a lot of time mastering the Sage Transformation Armor... then why not just directly cultivate Sage Mode?

"It seems that improvements are needed in many areas!"

With Ayria, a perfect Sage Mode candidate, conducting research through the observation device, developing methods to improve armor performance, enhance talent, and even create Sage Mode training methods are only a matter of time.

Now that Sunagakure Village has developed on a regular basis and is not threatened by external threats, he has ample time to conduct research.

Oh, and the people of Wanlijiang also need to undergo transformation surgery.

But with Hong around, we can just let her go.

Based on Wanlijiang's constitution, Hong independently developed a constitution immune to poison, rendering even the ever-changing alluring poisons completely ineffective.

but.

Despite having made a research plan, Ryuji was unable to immediately immerse himself in the research.

That noon, the castle returned to Sunagakure.

The members of the mission all returned to the village and were entrusted with important tasks by the Third Kazekage, becoming pioneers in medical and educational reforms.

Whether Sunagakure can prosper in the long run depends on these people.

As the leader of this delegation and a member of the roundtable, Ryuji naturally couldn't be absent; he was responsible for arranging the mission report and even matters related to reform.

After all, this was the plan he proposed.

……

By the time the meeting ended, it was already afternoon.

Ryuji, looking slightly tired, pushed open the conference room door and saw the girl with her hair dyed dark green.

"Yakura?"

Staring at the girl in front of him, Long Er paused for a moment, then realized what he meant and asked, "Looking for me?"

"Could you stay with me?"

Ye Cang nodded slightly, and as she replied, she took his right hand.

Well, how can I refuse?

"Where to?"

"Let's do it on the roof!"

"what?"

"Is there a problem?"

"without."

"Let's go to the rooftop then!"

With that, Yecang took Ryuji's hand and led him to the roof of the Kazekage Building.

……

The rooftop of the Fengying Building offers an extremely wide view; standing on the edge, you can take in the entire village.

Long Er sat on the railing on the rooftop.

Ye Cang sat beside him, nestled in his arms, quietly watching the sunset.

After watching for a while, Long Er hesitated and asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

On a winter afternoon, there is neither sunset nor afterglow; only a dimly lit orb of light slowly descends on the somber horizon.

Even if Ye Cang is usually clueless about romance, she would never bring him to see such a completely uninteresting sight.

Ye Cang paused for a moment, then shook his head in denial, "No, no."

Sensing the girl's panic in his arms, Ryuji seemed to realize something and sighed, "...Is it about Karura?"

Upon hearing this, the girl fell silent.

So that's the problem!

Ryuji sighed inwardly and said, "You don't need to worry about it at all. There's nothing between me and Karura."

"I know."

Ye Cang whispered, wrapping his arms around Long Er's waist even tighter.

"But I'm still very worried."

"You're so outstanding, it's only natural that many girls like you. Carol won't be the first, nor will she be the last. I'm worried that in the end you'll be snatched away by other women."

"fool!"

Ryuji gently stroked the girl's hair and chuckled, "You should at least have a little more confidence in yourself!"

"I would like to, but I have neither excellent makeup skills nor know how to please men. All I know is fighting and killing, which men hate. Compared to those gentle and beautiful girls, I really can't be confident."

"fool!"

Ryuji pressed his face against the girl's head and said affectionately, "Even if you portray yourself as terrible, that's exactly what I love about you!"

"real?"

"real."

Feeling the slightly trembling body in his arms and hearing the faint sobs coming from within, Ryuji hugged her even tighter.

The man's chest gave the girl a great sense of security, and gradually her body stopped trembling.

Long Er breathed a deep sigh of relief and couldn't help but sigh.

No matter how well Yekura performs in missions or how decisive she is when killing, she is still a girl under sixteen years old, extremely sensitive and vulnerable in her emotions, and extremely insecure.

"Then what happened to Wanlijiang?"

Upon suddenly hearing the question from his arms, the man froze.

That's right. No matter how well Yekura performs in missions or how decisive she is when killing, she is still a woman. She is extremely sensitive and vigilant in matters of the heart. When she is in a state of extreme insecurity, she will do everything she can to eliminate any threat that could damage her feelings.

"Um, this..."

Long Er hesitated and couldn't explain himself clearly.

Ye Cang raised his head, stared intently at Ryuji, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Okay, I'm not teasing you anymore."

"Huh?"

Seeing the man's bewildered expression, Ye Cang looked at him with a hint of resentment, "Are you surprised that I didn't pursue the matter?"

Long Er nodded.

"Actually, I realized from the moment Kurenai appeared that I could never have all of you." Yekura sighed, "Kurenai is too outstanding. She is beautiful and generous, gentle and considerate, and an expert in housework. Even her ninja skills are at the pinnacle of the ninja world. I don't know how I can compete with her."

"Hong..." Ryuji was somewhat speechless. "Hong is indeed a perfect woman, but I don't have any romantic feelings for her!"

"It just means you don't have it, but that doesn't mean Hong doesn't."

"ah!?"

Yekura questioned, "Have you ever seen a maid treat her master so kindly?"

Things are different now than in the past. Maids have long since changed from slaves to servants in an employment relationship with their masters, whose job is simply to handle household chores.

Although the maids still call their employers "master," it's just a professional requirement; they don't truly acknowledge the other party as their master, nor do they consider the master's needs in everything.

Furthermore, if they are dissatisfied with their pay or working environment, the maids may resign at any time.

But red is different.

Even when the owner is not around, it never slacks off, does everything conscientiously, and always considers the owner's needs, proactively helping to make up for the owner's oversights in other matters.

After hearing the girl's explanation, Ryuji couldn't help but laugh. "Kurenai is like this because she's an artificial human I created. You're overthinking it."

"Is that so?" Ye Cang sneered, then countered, "Then why is black different?"

Upon hearing this, Long Er's eyes widened.

Loyalty and affection are two completely different emotions, and they also manifest in completely different ways.

Loyalty to someone means carrying out all their orders without hesitation, even if it means going to your death.

When you like someone, you don't need them to ask you to; you'll proactively do everything for them.

Although their behavior may vary depending on their level of loyalty and affection, it is still easily recognizable in its form.

Even if Ryuji hadn't specifically studied the differences between the two, he could still sense the difference in how Black and Red treated him.

Black will simply wait for its orders and faithfully carry them out. Red, on the other hand, will proactively consider its needs and help it resolve all its troubles.

At first, he thought it was just his personality.

But upon closer examination, something seems amiss.

Personality may cause differences in attitude, but there will never be such a big difference in behavior.

Could it be that Hong really likes me?

"As a woman myself, how could I not sense it?" Ye Cang said irritably, "Perhaps you haven't thought about it that way, and Hong hasn't said anything either, but she genuinely likes you. If she were to compete with me for you, I have absolutely no idea how I could win."

(End of this chapter)