UTBW: Ch. 35

Gion hadn't expected the Fleet Admiral to be so decisive, directly giving up on Tokikake. But on second thought, she actually agreed very much with his decision. If she were the Fleet Admiral, she'd do the same.

"What should I do?" she took a deep breath and asked seriously.

"Tomorrow, he needs to board a ship to the Elite Training Camp," Sengoku shared his thoughts. "I hope you can escort him there."

"Understood!" Gion nodded.

This task wasn't difficult. Plus, she was curious to exchange swordsmanship insights with this young great swordsman.

"Then I'll leave it to you," Sengoku let out a sigh of relief.

"Don't worry, I won't let you down, Fleet Admiral," Gion bowed as she spoke.

---

The next day, Junichi headed to the dock and boarded the warship bound for the training camp. At first, he didn't know it was Gion who would be accompanying him. Although Observation Haki could sense presences, strong individuals knew how to suppress their aura and avoid detection.

It wasn't until he stepped onto the deck, he saw her and realized that it was this future Momousagi who would be taking him to the camp.

"It'll take seven days to reach the training camp from here." Gion walked up beside him, smiling as she asked, "Did you sleep well last night? Getting used to the atmosphere around here?"

"Not bad," Junichi replied nonchalantly.

He glanced at her casually, his gaze appreciative. No wonder she was such a popular character in the original work, her figure and beautiful face were definitely eye-catching.

Too bad… it wasn't a convenient time to make a move. He didn't have time for real love and romance.

There was only Itachi.

"Oh?" Gion naturally noticed his gaze and her expression turned playful. So yesterday's proper behavior was all an act. Now his real nature was showing.

"No need to be shy. If you want to look, just look openly. I don't mind," she said calmly.

"Forget it." Junichi didn't even turn his head. "What's the point in just looking? I'm a meat-eater."

"Meat-eater?" Gion raised an eyebrow, chuckling behind her hand. "Didn't expect that."

"Then let me show you." With that, Junichi turned to her, the desire in his eyes completely unhidden.

Her long, straight legs, fair skin, and rosy lips... He looked her over inch by inch.

"You…" Gion's face flushed red, and she quickly put her hands in front of her.

Junichi's gaze made her uneasy. It was an intense, raw look, as if he was going to strip her bare and devour her. Wherever his eyes landed, her body felt like it had been scorched.

"That's it?" Junichi retracted his gaze, turned back calmly, and continued staring out at the sea.

Gion's face darkened, he was looking down on her?! How infuriating!

She was secretly flustered. She was seven years older, yet a single look from him had shaken her.

How useless.

This was her ship! Her turf! She had to take back control!

"Heh, if you were a little older, I might actually be interested," she said lightly, arms falling to her sides, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.

"Then just pretend I am." Junichi shrugged, clearly not interested in arguing.

"Tch." Gion was slightly annoyed, but she remembered the Sengoku's orders, and her own desire to discuss swordsmanship. So she held back her emotions.

"I heard you tamed Oni-me. Can I take a look?" She exhaled slowly, her voice returning to calm. Among swordsmen, socializing meant showing one's sword.

"No problem." Junichi glanced at her, nodded, and drew Oni-me.

Then, Gion shifted the conversation to swordsmanship. As a Great Swordsman, Junichi easily answered the questions she still had at the Swordsman-level.

"So that's how it is!"

The more she listened, the more delighted she became, her eyes sparkling with surprise. "So becoming a Swordsman is a physical breakthrough, while becoming a Great Swordsman is a mental one? That's the most accurate way I've ever heard it described! Then how do you achieve a mental breakthrough?" she asked eagerly.

But at that moment, Junichi went silent.

"?" Gion looked at him in confusion. "Why aren't you talking anymore?"

"The rest is premium content," Junichi said, looking her up and down.

His gaze made Gion feel baffled, and she chuckled. "Premium? How much are we talking? I can fork out tens of millions of berries if that's what it takes."

"It's not about money," Junichi shook his head. "I already told you, I'm a meat-eater."

With that, his gaze became brazen. His eyes wandered over her curves, especially lingering shamelessly on her full chest, unable to look away.

"You—!?" Gion turned bright red, quickly covering herself with her arms.

That look of his felt like it was licking her skin inch by inch. It gave her goosebumps.

"Getting flustered from just a few looks? So you're totally inexperienced, huh? And here you were pretending to be all calm earlier."

Back in the Naruto world, Junichi had already lost his innocence. Ninjas had it rough. And in that world, people married young. So by the age of thirteen, he already lost his virginity.

"I…" Gion's face burned. Her narrow eyes were filled with shame and anger. She wanted to argue back but didn't know what to say.

"I am a meat-eater," Junichi said as he walked off without looking back, entering his cabin to rest.

Huff! Huff! Huff!

Gion stood on the deck, furious and embarrassed, her chest heaving with emotion.

"Meat this, meat that, why don't you just eat shit?" she muttered under her breath.

But then she paused, a little hesitant.

That knowledge… it was insight into the realm of a Great Swordsman—layered, precise, and straight to the core.

She had never heard such a clear, deep explanation. She had a strong hunch. If she could hear the rest, it would absolutely help her reach the level of a Great Swordswoman faster!

"How do I get him to keep talking?"

Her expression shifted as she wrestled internally. "Do I really have to let him take advantage of me? It feels kinda scary…"

She paced back and forth in hesitation.

In the end, the scales in her heart tipped toward wanting.

The Fleet Admiral did tell me to build a good relationship with him… so if it's just some playful flirting, it should be fine, right? She began justifying to herself.

Besides, would he really dare do anything?

This is my ship, after all!

At that thought, Gion nodded firmly.

Right, this was her turf. How could she be scared by some kid?

"Calm down, Gion!" She patted her cheeks, psyching herself up. "I'll go find him tonight, give him a little benefit. I dare him not to spill more info!"

"For the Great Swordswoman realm, using a bit of charm is totally worth it. It's not like I'll really let him get away with anything!"

With her mind made up, she returned to the cabin and patiently waited for nightfall.

---

As night fell, Gion had finished bathing and even sprayed on some perfume she rarely used.

Aside from not wearing full makeup, her appearance was easily a level above her usual.

"Quick and clean," she said to herself.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction, and quietly left her room.