Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

With the low-light of the burrow gradually faded, giving way to absolute darkness, a tired sigh escaped Yui's throat. This would have normally gone unnoticed by a heavy sleeper, but, due to the aroma trapped within the humid underground chamber, Nobu had only been able to rest his eyes for a few minutes at a time before stirring awake."What's up...?"Creating a tiny globule of pale-gold to light the interior of the burrow, Yui explained, "We haven't been attacked. Though there is still a chance I was wrong about us being pursued, we're in trouble if I guessed correctly. By now, I imagine there are more than a hundred traps surrounding us. These types of things aren't particularly effective against someone with a powerful Aura but they pose an extreme danger to those without the ability to protect themselves..."Seeing the concern visible in Yui's eyes as she looked toward him, Nobu couldn't resist the urge to roll his own before saying, "It's whatever. If I die, I die. I'm not going to let myself get taken hostage so don't give me any of that crap about putting your life on the line to protect me. If they try to use me against you, I don't want you to hesitate. Even if they did offer you the chance to trade your life for my own, how long do you think I'll survive in the middle of these woods by myself? Besides, if they're the type of asshats willing to take hostages and shit, they'll most likely gut me the moment they're finished with you. Instead of getting us both killed, focus on fucking them up. Understood?"Finding herself, once again, at a loss for words, Yui just stared into Nobu's eyes for the better part of a full minute before responding with a slow and solemn nod. She could understand the logic in his words, and, as he had described, it wasn't uncommon for bandits and thugs to dispose of their leverage the moment it was no longer of use."I understand. If it comes to that, I will not hesitate. I will cut them down without mercy. And then..."Having spent a fair amount of time with Nobu by now, Yui understood he probably wouldn't take kindly to her suggesting she would commit ritual suicide. Others would interpret this as a show of trust and solidarity in the face of adversity. As for Nobu, he would probably just call her an idiot and several other names before proceeding to do something drastic the moment he got caught..."And then...?"Expecting Yui to say some stupid shit about pride and honor, a deep furrow had already set upon Nobu's face. What he never expected was for her to confidently say, "I will force their dead bodies to lower their heads towards your grave before proceeding to take on your name as I travel around Nian as a vagrant warrior. I will make sure the name Nanamori Nobu goes down in history as one of the greatest warriors of all time. I will not allow you to be forgotten."Unable to find words to describe how he was feeling, Nobu stared at Yui as if she had gone batshit crazy. He knew she had the makings of a 'yandere' but he never imagined things would develop to the point she was promising to make corpses bow and shit. Nanamori Nobu wasn't his actual name either, so, even if she did keep her promise, she would be making the wrong person famous...Believing he was about to try and dissuade her against taking such a course of action, Yui adopted a serious expression as she asserted, "It is my choice how I spend my life. Weren't you the one who told me that? If you die here, I will make sure all of Nian knows your name before I follow you into the afterlife. If you don't like this then make sure you do everything in your power to preserve your life...it's that simple..."Blinking in surprise, Nobu found himself muttering, "Yui, you...." with a conflicted look on his face. Before he could speak any further, however, Yui just shook her head and said, "It's time to go. The longer we stay here, the more difficult it will be to escape. They'll never give me the chance to wait till sunrise. We should move while there is still a bit of light left."With Yui quickly moving to investigate the exits for any signs of foul play, Nobu's only options were to stay inside the foul-smelling burrow or crawl after the overzealous beauty. Luckily, at least for the aforementioned beauty, the interior of the burrow literally smelled like a rotting animal cadaver; so, even if he did want to be obstinate, Nobu knew he only had a single option available to him."This is what I get for sticking my dick in crazy..."Though his decision had very little to do with the fact he and Yui had fucked, Nobu needed some kind of excuse to propel himself forward. He didn't know if it was some kind of plot sense, but, the moment Yui mentioned the possibility of traps existing, his brain was abuzz with the sound of alarm bells. This wasn't literal, of course, but it was the best description he could up with to represent the level of anxiety he was feeling. After all, there would have to be something seriously fucked with his head if the notion of entering a trap-filled forward near sunset didn't affect him...Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any traps near the entrance of the burrow as Yui quickly waved for him to emerge. For a brief moment, this tricked him into thinking his anxiety was pointless, but, almost as soon as that thought crossed his mind, Yui exclaimed, "Fuck...!" before leaping away from the burrow's entrance.At nearly the exact same moment that Yui's voice reached his ears, unbridled panic spread through Nobu's body as an explosion erupted near the mouth of the burrow. Dirt and gravel began to rain down on him with the intensity of a shower, and, were it not for the fact he had still been near the base of the exit tunnel, he might have been buried alive for a second time.........Seeing the explosion ripple outward near the mouth of the burrow, Yui's pupils shrank to the size of pinholes as fear and anxiety, not for herself, swelled within her heart. Unfortunately, she didn't have the time to think about Nobu's safety, as, the moment she jumped away, her path was impeded by a series of razor-thin wires. Her aura managed to protect her, but, for a very brief moment, she was a sitting duck suspended in the air."Ha! I told you she was worthless! Eat this, you traitorous sow...!"Though she was marginally surprised by the fact she recognized the voice, it wasn't enough to distract Yui from what needed to be done. She instantly manipulated her aura to produce a series of sweeping blades to cut her free, but, rather than fall to the ground, she manifested a grappling crossbow with her left hand, firing it at a distant tree before pulling herself to safety.Thanks to her quick thinking, Yui managed to evade a shimmering silver cloud of aura that cut through the area she had been suspended with the force of a tempest. It also emitted a blinding light that could dazzle anyone looking directly at it, but, having experienced more than her fair share of battles against Silver Adepts, Yui knew better. Instead, she shot out a number of golden threads into the nearby trees before charging in the direction of the attack's origin, a young girl with black hair tied into a ponytail."Rynka..."Seeing Yui charging towards her in a very un-warrior-like fashion, Rynka's face immediately paled as she shouted, "Don't come this way, you damn hypocrite...!"Controlling the length of the golden threads, Yui managed to instantaneously change direction mid-flight, not because of Rynka, but because a silvery light had flashed in the periphery of her vision. Immediately thereafter, a series of silvery kunai flew whistled through the area she would have been if she continued her original trajectory.By retracting certain threads and producing countless others, Yui was able to glide through the dense trees like a phantom. As for Rynka, she ended up clicking her tongue before disappearing along a planned route. Had Yui continued toward her, several more wires would have been waiting. Unlike the previous set, however, these were attached to a series of explosives. This wouldn't have been enough to take her out, but, more often than not, battles between cultivators of the Metal Infusion Technique were more about reducing the enemy's aura than quickly ending the fight. In terms even Nobu would have been able to understand, Aura was essentially a person's HP(Health Points), and, so long as their opponent was unable to pierce their defenses, cultivators of the Metal Infusion Technique were, basically, immortal.Though she would have liked to give chase, Yui knew better than to follow after a kunoichi that had been given adequate time to prepare. Instead, she shifted her focus to the person who had thrown the kunai, her expression darkening as she stopped on the branch of a tree and muttered, "Yuriko..."Using wires of her own to recover the kunai she had previously thrown, Yuriko turned to meet Yui's gaze before raising her hand and casually greeting, "Yo. Haven't seen you in a few months. Enjoying life on the road?"Furrowing her brows, Yui extended her right hand to the side, asking, "Why are members of the Yoshitsune Clan attacking one of their own?" while slowly and deliberately molding her Aura into the shape of an inordinately long katana known as an odachi.Shaking her head, Yuriko crossed her arms, 'inadvertently' accenting her breasts as she answered, "You know I can't reveal the details of a mission in progress. If you want answers, live long enough to obtain them..."As those final words left her mouth, Yuriko stepped back, a glittering silver aura exploding at her previous location like a cloud of smoke. In the next instant, she appeared beneath the shimmering cloud, her feet clinging to the branch she had been standing on as if her soles were magnetic.Though she didn't expect Yui to be blinded by such an obvious feint, that didn't stop Yuriko from throwing out a series of kunai with silver wires attached. This was, somewhat ironically, a technique she had copied from Yui. It allowed the user to both attack and reposition themselves at the same time, and, while it consumed a tremendous amount of Aura, you could mitigate the cost so long as you recovered the projectiles and retracted the wires.Understanding that Yuriko would be able to reposition herself if her kunai connected with a hard surface, Yui leaped towards the attack without fear or hesitation. The restriction of Yuriko's ability was that she couldn't manipulate her aura at will. She needed to create the kunai and wires ahead of time, and, even if she wanted to reabsorb them, it would take time. This was one of the distinct advantages a Golden Warrior had over a Silver Adept, and, while she undoubtedly pursued the path of a warrior, Yui's concern for Nobu allowed her to set aside her pride and make use of all her skills.By manipulating the lengths of several wires, Yui was able to add a spin to her charge, and, as a result, she managed to cut through the vast majority of Yuriko's silver threads. This caused the latter's amber-eyes to glisten in the waning darkness, a smile developing across her face as she muttered, "I was wondering why you chose such a cumbersome weapon..."Making use of one of the few genuine advantages she had against her opponent, Yuriko kicked away from her inverted perch with extreme speed. She was currently the fastest in her generation, as, the moment Yui ascended to the Realm of Golden Warrior, her speed had drastically decreased. In fights between cultivators, the ability to land and evade attacks was often more important than the volume of a person's aura, so, while Yui was undoubtedly more skilled, Yuriko was confident she could outmaneuver her.........While a climactic battle between kunoichi was occurring outside, Nobu was currently lamenting his entire existence. He had managed to avoid being buried alive, but, due to the tremendous volume of dirt and debris, his mask resembled an oil rag that had been thrown into a dust bin. This made it completely unusable, and, thanks to the adrenaline coursing through his veins, he was powerless to restrain the urge to breathe deeply.Though his instincts were screaming at him to return to the surface, Nobu's progress was inhibited by the convulsions of his body, the pitch-black interior of the burrow, and an overwhelming sense of panic that he could only attribute to his newly awakened claustrophobia. It prevented him from thinking clearly, and, were it not for the fact he was constantly on the verge of passing out, Nobu might have thought to use the stone tablet as a light source.........(A/N: Not gonna lie. The thought of being buried alive is pretty terrifying.)

Under normal circumstances, Yui would have dealt with this situation by breaking through her foes' encirclement and forcing them to pursue until she found an advantageous position or managed to give them the slip. With Nobu's fate unknown, however, she couldn't simply leave the area, so, even if she knew it was a mistake, she allowed herself to be led around by Yuriko while Rynka provided support from the shadows.Realizing that Yui had no intention of leaving the area, Yuriko continued to reposition around trees in an effort to bait the former into exhausting her Aura. She knew where all the traps were located. All she needed to do was lure Yui to their location."This is the penultimate weakness of a warrior. Concerning yourself with the safety of others makes you weak..."As those words left her mouth, Yurko rolled forward to evade the glistening golden blade that had cleanly bifurcated the tree she had been hiding behind. At the same time, she tossed a handful of marble-sized paper balls towards the periphery. These immediately erupted into a cloud of bright-red powder, a combination of ground-up chili peppers, skin irritants, and poison.Noticing the paper balls the moment she darted around the tree, Yui spun on her heels, a golden plate manifesting behind her as she backed through the cloud without a moment's hesitation. This was an incredibly foolish maneuver, but, fearing Nobu's time might be running out, Yui abandoned caution in favor of results.With the exception of the golden plate and the sword in her hand, Yui had completely deactivated her aura. She needed speed more than defense at the moment, so, even when Yuriko performed a backward flip, slinging a handful of kunai in the process, Yui charged through them with bloodshot eyes, shouting, "You're really starting to piss me off...!"Though she was more than a little surprised by Yui's 'suicide charge', Yuriko found herself at a loss for words when she heard the former's outburst. Yui was the type of person who kept her emotions bottled up, refusing to let others see her weakness. She wasn't the type of person to lash out at her opponent in the middle of a battle, and, even if she sustained heavy injuries, she wouldn't so much as flinch.Blocking Yui's heavy blow with a luminous silver sickle known as a kamaitachi, the color in Yuriko's face drained away as she forced a smile and said, "This isn't like you, Yui...you're not this reckless..."Ignoring Yuriko's remark, Yui's pressed forward, her golden aura igniting like a flame that quickly produced a number of spear-like protrusions. Several of these impacted near Yurko's vital points, but, thanks to her silver aura, she was only sent stumbling backward by the momentum contained within the blows.Regretting her earlier musings, Yuriko attempted to take advantage of the distance Yui's attack had sent her by darting to the side. Before she could even get three steps, however, Yui appeared right in front of her, aura nowhere to be seen and an expression similar to an enraged Asura."If I make it through this, I'm tanning that Rynka's hide until it's purple..."With Yui performing a cyclone-like sweep with a golden naginata, Yuriko attempted to leap over it only to discover a familiar silver kunai aimed at the center of her forehead. This caused the pupils of her hawk-like eyes to contract, not because she was fearful of receiving the attack, but because the kunai was one of her own.As that thought crossed her mind, Yuriko was forced to involuntarily blink when the kunai impacted her aura. At that exact moment, a force comparable to a Lightning Boar's charge slammed into the left side of her body, just below her armpit. Her aura managed to hold out, but, due to the weight behind the blow, her left shoulder ended up getting dislocated before her body was sent crashing through a nearby tree.Seeing Yuriko get sent flying, Rynka, who had spent the last couple of minutes looking for a chance to attack, immediately paled. She felt as though a bucket of icy-cold water had been poured across her body, as, despite being hidden, Yui's obsidian-blue eyes snapped towards her the moment she had sent Yuriko flying.Though one of the punishments for abandoning a mission was death, Rynka's instincts told her that she would surely die if she tried to fight against Yui. Unfortunately, the moment she turned around, a figure clad in pale-gold descended to block her path.Forcing a smile, Rynka looked up with the intention of trying to ingratiate herself to the monstrous woman standing in front of her. This effort promptly hindered by Yui's vice-like grip closing around her face, forcing her to remain silent as the demonic woman asked, "Use your fingers. Tell me, how many people did you bring?"Had Yui merely blocked her path, Rynka wouldn't have put up much of a struggle. Being lifted by her face, however, caused her fight or flight instinct to kick in. Thus, without even processing the words that had just left Yui's mouth, Rynka began punching, kicking, and throwing every tool she had in her possession. This ended up being a surprisingly effective strategy, as, among the many items she had thrown, several explosives had been mixed in.With a massive explosion forcibly separating them, Yui smashed into a nearby tree while Rynka was sent tumbling head over heel through a series of shrubs. Their respective auras had protected them from any serious injuries, but, due to the unexpected nature of the attack, even Yui was left cradling her head, ears ringing as a wave of disorientation forced her to lean against the tree for support. As for Rynka, she managed to climb to her feet, but, the moment she tried to walk forward, she ended up moving in a diagonal line before crashing into a tree of her own.........After slipping in and out of consciousness more than a dozen times, Nobu finally reached what he believed to be an exit. He couldn't actually see the end, but, feeling a cold breeze flow from further ahead, he managed to wiggle his way through a tunnel that was only accessible due to his severely malnourished figure."If I get out of this...I'm never going underground again..."Since these words were intended for himself, Nobu's body instantaneously froze when he heard a delicate voice reply, "That's probably for the best. The only time people should stay underground is when they're dead. Now, come on out. If you surrender obediently, I promise I won't harm you..."Hearing the voice coming from an unseen source beyond the bend a few meters up the tunnel, the expression on Nobu's face darkened as he contemplated wiggling back the way he came. His newly acquired phobia was rapidly nearing debilitating levels, but, far more than being buried alive, Nobu feared being used to harm the people he cared about. Yui wasn't quite at that level, but, as the only person he had really spent time with since his reincarnation, she was the closest approximation to a person he genuinely cared about...Just as Nobu was forming the resolve to move backward, a piercing pain radiated from his ankle as the same voice from before calmly explained, "I have already spread my familiars through the entire burrow. If you refuse to come out, they will continue biting your legs until you either come forward or pass out from blood loss..."With his jaw trembling from anxiety and pain, Nobu's eyes became progressively more bloodshot as he forced the chattering to stop by tightly clenching his teeth. He felt like he was being made to experience all of the most deeply ingrained fears humans had developed since their ancestors were still living in caves. Not only was he trapped in an extremely claustrophobic tunnel, but, someplace he couldn't see, unknown creatures were nipping at his feet, heels, and legs as if he were a fucking buffet."God fucking damnit! I'm sick and tired of this bullshit! If you want me, come and get me you little shit! You think I'm going to make things easy for you!? Go fuck yourself...!"Though the confines of the tunnel didn't allow him to move around much, Nobu still managed to kick at whatever was biting him. Even the collapsing of the tunnel didn't deter him, as, much like he had told Yui, he would rather die than become something like a hostage. At least this way he could give that damned Goddess a piece of his mind before being sent off to god knows where.........Hearing the sounds of a struggle from within the tunnel, the owner of the voice, a young girl with shoulder-length pink hair tied up into a short ponytail, fringe-bangs framing a face with amethyst eyes, muttered, "I'm not sure if I should call him brave or suicidal..."Shaking her head, the youthful-looking girl slipped her hand into the slit of her kimono before reaching deep into her cleavage and producing a series of paper talismans that vaguely resembled human. Then, after placing these between her index and middle fingers, she whispered, "Try not to hurt him too much..." before throwing the talismans into the tunnel.After an inordinate number of expletives and enough thrashing to cause the entrance of the tunnel to emit a cloud of dust, several child-sized paper figures resembling macaques emerged from the burrow with an extremely tall yet gaunt man in tow. The average height of females in Nian was only around 148cm when fully grown, and, while their men were markedly taller, most averaged between 160-165cm. Nobu, not that she knew his name, was just over 177cm, so, while he wasn't particularly tall back on Earth, he was practically a giant in Nian."I don't think I've ever seen a man this big...is he a foreigner? He has Nianese features though..."Since Nobu had been strangled unconscious by a paper snake coiled around his neck, the woman, Yoshitsune Shizune, could only speculate who he was and where he came from. Their mission only required them to hinder Yui and prevent the latter from returning before the official deadline of her mission. This would be impossible under normal circumstances, but, thanks to the strange man she was escorting, they weren't helplessly outmatched.Poking Nobu's cheek with her finger, a smile developed across the pink-haired girl's face as she softly mused, "I've never seen a man from this close before...I wonder if his height is the only thing big about him..."Though she really shouldn't be taking her time like this, Shizune's eyes crawled over Nobu's body before lingering on the hemp cord holding his trousers in place. She found it a little strange that he wasn't wearing a traditional kimono or hitatare with hakama-style trousers. Instead, he was wearing a type of linen pants common among farmers, a two-layered tunic, and a pair of leather boots that appeared to be imported from overseas. He dressed nothing like a typical Nianese, yet, even with a veritable bird's nest of hair, his facial features could easily pass for a member of the Noble Clans..."Hmmm...?"As that thought crossed her mind, Shizune noticed that Nobu actually shared several key features with the current Lord of the Oda Clan. Everything from the shape of his brow, the thickness of his nose, and the angle of his jaw were a perfect match for a younger version of Owari's Lord.Were it not for the fact that Lord Senken wasn't famous for loving a single woman, Shizune could have been convinced that the man lying before her was the Lord's illegitimate child. The similarities were frightening, so much so that Shizune actually began to feel as though she was committing a grave mistake by not bowing her head.Fortunately, like every other member of the Yoshitsune Clan, Shizune had committed the names and faces of the Oda Clan to memory. The man before her didn't match any of these people, so, after a brief moment of hesitation, a mischievous smile developed across her face as she lifted the hem of Nobu's trousers and softly exclaimed, "Oh my...you might be a dirty commoner, but you're quite the little Lord where it counts..."......(A/N: Oh my...)

After failing to rendezvous with any patrol groups, Yui began guiding Nobu along animal trails until they found a large burrow. Everything from rabbits, shrews, minks, and foxes could evolve into Aura Beasts if they consumed a large quantify of medicinal herbs, so, if you knew where and how to look, it was surprisingly easy to find burrows large enough for human occupants.Though it had resulted in a number of tragic events, it was hard to come across a group of children who hadn't converted at least one burrow into something like a secret hideout. Others became the dens of homeless vagabonds attempting to survive on the bounty of the land or elude capture by the Provincial Army. Thus, while it wasn't an ideal solution, seeking shelter in a burrow that already had numerous exits was a viable alternative to setting camp when traversing the wilderness.Unfortunately, despite thinking it was pretty cool to have a secret bunker underground, the interior was so pungent that Nobu literally had to be dragged back inside after attempting to escape to the comparably fragrant forest air. This put him in a particularly foul mood, but, after Yui spontaneously asked if he would feel better if she gave him a blowjob, he bounced back pretty quickly.Though he would probably vomit if he went down on a woman in his current condition, Nobu was surprised by Yui's ability to basically ignore his odor. He knew he had to smell bad after spending a total of sixteen days in a carriage without so much as rinsing his face, but, as if it didn't hinder her in the slightest, Yui managed to stupefy him with her intensity as technique. If she hadn't told him her dream was to become a warrior, he could have easily been convinced that her purpose in life was to suck dick...Seeing the raven-haired beauty swallow his seed without even a hint of hesitation or disgust on her face, Nobu was able to ignore the burrow's odor long enough to remark, "Don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to insult you when I ask this. I'm just genuinely curious how a virgin like you managed to get so good at...well...you know..."After swallowing several more times, Yui produced a waterskin to clear her throat before explaining in a disturbingly blasé tone, "Since we're already nearing our destination, I suppose there's no harm in making you aware of a few things. My true name is Yoshitsune Yui, a daughter of the Yoshitsune Clan that has served the Oda for more than six-thousand-years. Due to a curse inflicted upon us by the Goddess Inari, we're a Clan comprised almost entirely of females and hermaphroditic males. As a result, we have had to adopt a unique set of skills to help us survive in a world that is traditionally unforgiving to females..."Though she wouldn't have been affected by this statement in the past, Yui was surprised to find her thoughts wandering to the times Nobu had expressed outrage regarding the state and traditions of Nian. Despite this, she managed to appear calm and unflustered on the surface, adding, "My family specializes in the rearing and training of female assassins known as kunoichi. We are taught how to seduce men, satisfy their sexual urges, gather information, and, once everything is said and done, it is our duty to kill the enemies of the Oda Clan. Though there are other reasons, it was my desire to avoid this fate that led to me pursuing the path of a warrior. Unfortunately, while my selfishness has always been supported by my Grandmother, the only way I could pursue the path of a warrior was to simultaneously master the skills expected of a kunoichi..."Without noticing it, Yui's voice became gradually lower as she neared the end of her explanation. Her gaze had also wandered away from Nobu, her obsidian-blue eyes reflecting a melancholy that managed to go unnoticed thanks to the low-light of the burrow. Even without this, however, Nobu was able to tell she was upset. He just didn't know what to say, as, prior to coming to this world, he had never had to deal with this kind of situation.In the end, the only thing Nobu could think of was trying to cheer her up, his expression and tone awkward as he said, "That...really sucks. Now I know why you're so eager to complete this mission. You'll become an official warrior once this is over with, right?"Seeing Yui turn towards him and nod, a wry smile spread across Nobu's face as he said, "Then it's pretty much settled. We just need to hurry back and you'll finally be able to live your life the way you want. Don't worry. So long as they don't try to string me up and turn me into a blood bag, I'll tell them you did a good job. I'm pretty good at bullshitting when I need to."Surprised by Nobu's attempts to 'console' her, Yui found herself at a complete loss for words. She knew he wasn't a bad person but this was a level of 'benevolence' she hadn't expected. If she were to say these same words to another person, most women would express pity or envy while the vast majority of men would outright disdain or fear her. After all, with the exception of other cultivators, kunoichis were the leading cause of death for young and inexperienced Nobles. Each of the major Noble Clans had a branch that specialized in the rearing of Kunoichis, but, despite the role they had played throughout the entire history of Nian, they were despised by Nobles and commoners alike...Though she didn't tear up, Yui's impression of Nobu had increased by leaps and bounds in a matter of seconds. He was unlike anyone she had ever met, and, rather than resent her for being a vile and despicable woman without any morals, he was more upset by the fact she had been forced against her will to become something she, like most sensible people, detested. In this regard, he was much stronger than her, as, despite understanding they didn't actually have a choice, Yui had grown to resent her 'sisters' for following the path that had been decided for them by fate and circumstance...As that thought crossed her mind, a seedling of guilt had begun to sprout within Yui's heart. On the outside, however, she actually managed a sincere smile before bowing her head and saying, "You're a good man, Nanamori Nobu. Thank you..."Unaccustomed to receiving gratitude, especially with his dick out, Nobu's skin began to crawl as he quickly pulled up his trousers and said, "Yeah...don't mention it..." in an awkward tone. A part of him even began to regret the fact he had let her suck his dick, but, having encountered a few prostitutes in equally shitty circumstances, he managed to get over it pretty quickly. His own life hadn't exactly been filled with fortune and favor, so, while he could empathize with her plight, Nobu had learned a long time ago that it was a waste of time to worry about things he couldn't change.Amused by Nobu's surprisingly cute reaction, a marginally more prominent smile developed across Yui's face. She was even tempted to dedicate her sword to him once she officially became a warrior, but, until she understood what her Grandmother wanted with him, she couldn't make any promises. A warrior's vow wasn't to be taken for granted, and, while there were examples of capable warriors serving multiple Lords throughout the course of their inordinately long lives, most ended up serving the same Lord until death. Many even committed suicide after failing to protect their Lords against assassination, one of the many reasons kunoichi were universally hated.For the first time in her life, Yui was tempted to tease someone, but, almost as soon as the urge had manifested, she quickly suppressed it. Nobu didn't exactly have a track record for reacting calmly in situations where he had been slighted, so, rather than risk ruining the moment, she whispered, "I'm going to get some sleep. You should try and do the same. If we continue at our current pace, there is a chance we'll reach Owari-Shuto by tomorrow evening. You've greatly exceeded my expectations since we separated from the caravan. I'm genuinely impressed by the resolve you have shown..."Snorting in response to Yui's complimentary words, Nobu proceeded to recline against the burrow wall before muttering, "Whatever..." in a dismissive tone. This very nearly caused Yui to issue a light chuckle. Instead, she settled on moving next to him, unabashedly leaning against his shoulder with an amused yet contented smile on her face.........Though a more inexperienced kunoichi might attack the moment her quarry had cornered itself, the amber-eyed woman, Yoshitsune Yuriko, loosely translating to 'lily' and 'perfect at birth', honored her namesake by never underestimating her opponents. She had also sparred against Yui, quite literally, hundreds of times without securing a single victory. Thus, while her sisters had come to resent the former heiress quite a bit, Yuriko deeply respected Yui's strength.Despite the fact they were born a mere three months apart, Yui had already reached Rank 3 Golden Warrior at the ripe age of eighteen. Yuriko, considered by many to be a genius, had only managed to achieve Rank 9 Silver Adept in that same amount of time. On paper, this implied that Yui was, at the very least, three times stronger than her. Her only advantage was that Golden Warriors, at least in the earlier stages, were actually weaker than high-ranking Silver Adepts. They struggled to adapt to the weight and malleability of their aura, so, as long as they played their cards right, it wasn't too difficult for a skilled Silver Adept to take out a low-ranking Golden Warrior.Unfortunately, Yui wasn't just any Golden Warrior. She was a monster who had managed to secure her status before the age of twenty. Even talented individuals only achieved Golden Warrior around the age of twenty. Most were actually between the ages of 22-24, so, while 'logic' dictated they had the advantage in speed, offensive, and defensive capability; personal experience had taught Yuriko that Yui was a monster that defied common sense.With this in mind, Yuriko turned towards the youthful duo patiently awaiting her orders, declaring, "We'll rest for the next four hours. The two of you will focus on recovering your reserves while I set traps in the surrounding area. There is a high possibility she is trying to bait us into attacking so we will focus on recuperating until the sun begins to set upon the horizon. If we fail to accomplish our mission before tomorrow morning, we'll have no choice but to retreat. Golden Warriors are stronger during the day."Though it was common knowledge that Gold and Silver were more or less reactive depending on the cycles of the sun and moon, Shizune and Rynka weren't exactly the brightest among the current generation of Yoshitsune kunoichi. Their cultivation base wasn't terrible, Silver 4 and 5 respectively, but, like many of the girls riding the bandwagon of hate aimed at Yui, they were excuse-prone and lazy. This was a cause for concern among the older generation as it would jeopardize the survival of the Yoshitsune Clan if their kunoichi suddenly became inept, incompetent, and petty...Demonstrating why there was cause for concern, Rynka adopted a defiant expression as she asked, "Why don't we just burn them out? Yui might be able to escape on her own but there's no way she can protect a normal civilian while fending off three kunoichi. Why are you so afraid of that useless wench? Her cultivation base might be decent but she would be nothing without the support of the Matriarch."Since the 'older generation was prevented from sparring with the younger members of the Clan, primarily to prevent bullying and a breakdown of the existing hierarchy, most of the girls beneath the age of sixteen had never fought against Yui. This had allowed them to gossip without fear of retribution, as, due to her dual training, Yui simply didn't have the time to worry about what others had to say.Suppressing a tired sigh, Yuriko adopted a threatening glower as she asked, "Are you refusing to obey your superior's order, Trainee Rynka? I don't believe I asked you for your opinion so why are you speaking?"Paling under the pressure releasing by her senior, Rynka hastily lowered her head, saying, "I meant no offense..." in an apologetic and slightly reverent tone. This was the mission to determine whether or not she and Shizune would be officially recognized as kunoichi. Yurko wasn't merely their senior, she was the proctor evaluating their worth. All it took was a single disparaging report from the ink-haired beauty and her official duty would become seducing some no-name merchant. After that, it would be nigh-impossible to obtain any high-priority missions, so, while she resented every fiber of Yui's existence, Rynka understood it would be ill-advised to allow her personal feelings to interfere with her mission.Though she wasn't particularly fond of the brash trainee, Yuriko still nodded her head in approval of Rynka's response. One of the most essential qualities of a kunoichi was the ability to quickly assume a servile posture. They needed to be able to convincingly dupe their target into believing they were in a powerless position. This was paramount to lowering the guard of powerful cultivators, so, while Rynka was lacking in other departments, Yuriko couldn't help but admit she had mastered the art of groveling.........(A/N: I'm starting to like this Yuriko chick...)

Chapter 29: Trigger