"Alright, this is the third time. Your body has already adapted to the Sage Curse Seal. After taking this Soldier Pill to recover your stamina and Chakra, try using the Sage Mode."
After Uchiha Yoichi finished speaking, he handed a few Soldier Pills to Nohara Rin. These Soldier Pills were specially made by Uzumaki Minami, using precious medicinal materials.
Although the taste was average, their effect on restoring Chakra and stamina was excellent.
"Thank you, Lord Yoichi."
Nohara Rin forced a smile to express her gratitude. She was exhausted now, but her thanks to Uchiha Yoichi were genuine.
These past few days had felt like a dream to her. Being cared for so well by Uchiha Yoichi and Uzumaki Minami, she not only learned a lot of Medical Ninjutsu but also had someone like Uchiha Yoichi willing to help her enhance her strength.
This made Nohara Rin feel like she was their disciple.
Moreover, Nohara Rin had encountered Kakashi and told him about the treatment she received. Kakashi, upon hearing this, comforted Nohara Rin and told her not to overthink; Uchiha Yoichi was just a person who seemed cold on the outside but was warm inside.
When he visited Uchiha Yoichi's place, there were hardly any mundane formalities. Whatever you wanted to eat, you could just say it—Uchiha Yoichi didn't care about such trivial matters.
However, due to recent missions, Kakashi hadn't visited for a long time.
Additionally, influenced by the will contained in the Sage Art Chakra, Nohara Rin felt an increasing closeness to Uchiha Yoichi.
After consuming the Soldier Pill and resting for a while, Nohara Rin managed to restore her Chakra and stamina. She then stood up, nodded at Uchiha Yoichi, and made a Double-Handed Seal to activate the Sage Curse Seal on the back of her neck.
Once the Sage Curse Seal was activated, the surrounding Natural Energy instantly flowed through the Tamoe of the seal into Nohara Rin's body, combining with her Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy to form Sage Art Chakra.
Simultaneously, purple markings appeared on Nohara Rin's body, eventually forming a mysterious Sage face pattern on her face.
Uchiha Yoichi asked, "How does it feel?"
"It feels...like I've become several times stronger."
Nohara Rin looked at her hands in disbelief, then moved rapidly, suddenly appearing next to a tree. With her delicate fist infused with Sage Art Chakra, she punched down hard.
Boom!
The tree, so thick two people would need to embrace it, was broken by Nohara Rin's punch.
Subsequently, Nohara Rin looked at her fist, which only had some red marks and didn't hurt at all, and her speed earlier was thrice faster than before.
"Lord Yoichi, I feel like I've gotten much stronger!"
Excitedly, Nohara Rin approached Uchiha Yoichi to share her joy.
"Getting stronger is good, but pay attention to your Chakra and stamina. I've told you and Yuhi Kurenai the same thing before: the Sage Curse Seal consumes a lot of stamina, you can only use it for up to five minutes."
Uchiha Yoichi went on, "But your strength has certainly improved a lot, at least stronger than the one secretly watching in the forest, as long as she doesn't use her special power."
Hearing this, Nohara Rin knew who Uchiha Yoichi was talking about. After entering Sage Mode, her perception ability had significantly increased, so she could naturally notice the girl hidden in the forest.
Yugito, upon hearing Uchiha Yoichi's words, stomped her foot in anger and then turned to leave.
So she had already been discovered. That damn pervert, being so excessive, and she even arrived earlier than that pattern-faced girl. Why wasn't she being guided in her training?
Every day, she had to explore on her own and couldn't even accept missions... Yugito felt extremely wronged, having initially thought that by joining Konoha, she would be treated like family, but they treated outsiders better than her 'family.'
"Let's stop here for now. From now on, it's up to you to train by yourself."
Uchiha Yoichi said to Nohara Rin, "The rest, learn from Minami."
"Yes, Lord Yoichi."
Nohara Rin responded, but upon hearing that she wouldn't be guided by Uchiha Yoichi anymore, she felt a bit lost. She didn't understand why she felt this way, but Nohara Rin thought Lord Yoichi was excellent for taking time to help her train even with such a high position in the village.
"Um, Lord Yoichi... why are you helping me enhance my strength?"
Nohara Rin asked somewhat shyly. If she had asked this question beforehand, it might have sounded like questioning his motives, but now she was simply curious.
"Do you want to know?"
Uchiha Yoichi asked, and seeing Nohara Rin nod, he casually said, "Your determination is strong, and you'll surely become an outstanding ninja in the future, plus you're quite cute."
"C-Cute and all~"
Nohara Rin, upon hearing the last reason, immediately lowered her head. If someone else said it, she might not get angry, but she wouldn't answer.
But somehow, hearing it from Lord Yoichi made her feel a bit happy inside, as if she had been acknowledged by him.
"Train hard and strive to catch up with Minami."
After speaking, Uchiha Yoichi used the Instant Body Jutsu to leave the forest.
Leaving Nohara Rin alone, she thought to herself: 'I will, become the strongest Medical Ninja in the village!'
——————————————
After leaving Nohara Rin's side, Uchiha Yoichi directly used the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to arrive at Yugito's side, just as Yugito was taking off her shoes to enter the house, conveniently bringing Uchiha Yoichi back as well.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I still have something to discuss with you."
"Hmph!"
Yugito huffed coldly, like a little cat feeling aggrieved; if anyone touched her now, they'd likely get bitten immediately.
However, Uchiha Yoichi opened his mouth and said, "After a tiring morning, it's just right that you're back. How about giving me a massage, to make good on the missed sessions from before?"
"You..."
Yugito was too angry to speak; having spent the whole morning teaching outsiders, and now being asked to help with a massage, it was truly too much to bear.
"Don't want to? Can't fulfill a promise? Still thinking about paying rent?"
Uchiha Yoichi's series of questions made Yugito clench her small fists tightly, but considering her own situation, Yugito ultimately twisted her pretty little face and stomped into the room.
After a while, just as Uchiha Yoichi thought Yugito wouldn't come out due to anger, she emerged.
Yugito had just washed her feet, carefully lathering with soap multiple times, and then put on white knee-high socks before coming out.
She definitely didn't want to come out with sweaty feet and be despised by that big pervert, so she washed thrice with soap, making herself fragrant before emerging.
Upon reaching the living room, Yugito saw Uchiha Yoichi already lying down, and though angry in her heart, she sat on the sofa backrest, then skillfully began massaging with her soft feet.
After some time, Yugito felt her legs growing numb from fatigue; Uchiha Yoichi's back was very firm, requiring her to use great effort on every step.
"The one in charge of the village now is the Fourth Hokage; tomorrow, I'll ask about task assignments for you. I have considerable friction with the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, so asking him would be futile."
Uchiha Yoichi suddenly spoke, and Yugito was taken aback upon hearing, then realized he was talking to her, explaining about task assignments.
Before Yugito could respond, Uchiha Yoichi continued, "You have a sole Fire Attribute; the Uchiha Race's Fire Release Ninjutsu, you can train all of them, and you can train in collaboration with Matatabi. Anyway, you can choose any of the Uchiha Race's Ninjutsu to train...
If you're willing to swallow your pride and ask me, having a Shadow Clone guide your practice, wouldn't be a burden on me."
"I am not interested..."
Yugito felt touched but stubbornly responded.
Nonetheless, Yugito understood the reason for the previous neglect, lifting the misunderstanding in her heart, leaving the young girl slightly moved and happy, though unlikely to show it.
She could only use her soft, white-socked feet to step down hard, continuing the massage earnestly.
Uchiha Yoichi suddenly asked, "Have you discussed borrowing chakra with Matatabi, Yugito?"
"I have, but Matatabi wants to personally discuss with you."
"Alright, then I'll talk with it."
Upon hearing Uchiha Yoichi's words, the next moment Yugito saw a pair of Sharingan, then suddenly found herself in her body's Sealing Space, with Uchiha Yoichi beside her.
Before them was the Two-Tailed Matatabi, though now detained within the Iron Armor Seal. Although it had agreed to lend Yugito power, the seal on her remained unbroken.
"Matatabi, how would you like to talk?"
Two-Tailed Matatabi remained silent for a moment, then spoke, "I hope you can release the seal on Yugito; this Iron Armor Seal feels very uncomfortable."
Uchiha Yoichi furrowed his brows upon hearing this, "Release the seal? Didn't you agree to assist Yugito anyway? She hasn't used the seal to oppress you; why ask for its release?"
"Since I've promised, I will definitely keep my word, but this is a shackle holding me back from fully connecting with Yugito!"
Two-Tailed Matatabi continued, "Now with Yugito lacking the key to the Iron Armor Seal, she can never truly control my power."
"Really? You wouldn't be plotting to trick me into releasing the seal and then taking over Yugito's body, would you?"
Uchiha Yoichi's concerned words made Yugito quite pleased internally, though her little face showed no changes, instead, she opened her mouth to speak on behalf of Matatabi, "I trust the Two-Tails; it won't harm me. It's just that we can't train together under such circumstances...."
The Two-Tails also spoke, "Help us remove the seal, and I'll lend you chakra in the future, as long as you don't demand excessively...."
"Well, alright, I agree."
Seeing Yugito and Matatabi both wanting the seal released, Uchiha Yoichi decided not to act like the villain, but still cautioned, "But make sure not to go fully into Tailed Beast Transformation in the village, or I won't be able to protect you."
"I understand, I'm not a fool."
Yugito rolled her eyes at Uchiha Yoichi, and then the two retreated from the Sealing Space within her.
Uchiha Yoichi now requires Tailed Beast chakra for Godzilla's continued evolution, and since Yugito is fully part of Konoha, returning to Hidden Cloud Ninja is impossible, while the Two-Tails knows his power, making defection highly unlikely.
Releasing the Iron Armor Seal doesn't pose any issues.