Amamiya Rei lowered his gaze, quietly observing the female shinobi before him.
A strange sensation coursed through his body like a sudden surge of electricity, spreading from his spine to the tips of his fingers, as though something dormant within him had been abruptly awakened. Inside his mind, it felt as if a new neural pathway had formed, an invisible connection extending outward and fastening itself directly onto the woman's consciousness.
Through this connection, her thoughts were no longer obscured.
They unfolded openly before him, naked and unguarded.
Not only that, but her vision itself overlapped with his, granting him access to the world as she perceived it. From this moment onward, the female shinobi had become entirely transparent to Amamiya Rei, stripped of all secrets, her existence laid bare beneath his awareness.
Amamiya Rei could control her with effortless ease.
The female shinobi knelt respectfully on one knee before him, her face bearing an expression of devotion so intense that it bordered on madness.
"Please grant me a name."
Rei could see it clearly.
Her mind was empty.
For reasons he could not fully articulate, Rei found this absence strangely fitting.
Perhaps forgetting was mercy.
"Your body was destroyed by flames, yet you were reborn from them."
"From this moment forward, your name shall be Asahi Mai."
Amamiya Rei raised his hand and lightly touched her forehead.
In that instant, a familiar electronic sound rang out within his mind.
[Ding!]
[Scanning in progress...]
[Scan complete.]
[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained Man-Eating demon x1.]
[Analyzing...]
[Analysis complete.]
[Man-Eating demon Asahi Mai ability awakened: Blood Demon Art, Blazing Phoenix.]
[Determining rank...]
[Rank confirmed.]
[Asahi Mai, Lower Rank Six.]
[Receiving "Man-Eating Demon Rearing Guide"...]
[Received successfully.]
[Click to open.]
Amamiya Rei stared at the blue light screen before him and tapped the word "Open."
A card resembling a postcard unfolded in front of his eyes.
Man-Eating Demon Rearing Guide:
First rule: Man-Eating demon feed on humans, and their strength increases through consuming human flesh.
Second rule: The rearer may allocate their own Sunlight Value to the Man-Eating Oni in order to prevent death by sunlight.
Third rule: The fastest way for a Man-Eating demon to grow stronger is by consuming the rearer's blood.
Fourth rule: Man-Eating demon do not possess the ability to transform humans into oni. This ability belongs exclusively to the rearer.
Fifth rule: The maximum strength of a Man-Eating demon directly tied to the rearer's own strength limit. Therefore, for the sake of your little pet, please work hard and eat meat.
...
Amamiya Rei clicked his tongue softly.
The system had not merely expanded its functions.
It had blatantly turned him into a caretaker.
Who, exactly, was the true Demon King here?
Why was he the one tasked with feeding and raising Man-Eating demon?
This hierarchy felt utterly reversed.
Rei lifted his eyes and glanced at Asahi Mai.
She gazed back at him with unwavering intensity, her eyes burning with obedience and reverence.
He then glanced at the cabinet beside him, filled with medical instruments.
Walking over, he retrieved a large roll of bandages and tossed it to her.
"Wrap yourself."
Asahi Mai did not ask why.
She obeyed without question.
Amamiya Rei leaned casually against the doorframe, watching as she wound the bandages around her body, layer by layer, until her figure was completely concealed, resembling a carefully bound mummy.
This would, at the very least, reduce suspicion.
Saving a dying patient could be attributed to luck combined with skill.
But restoring a body that had already surpassed the limits of recovery, returning it to perfect condition in an instant, would inevitably invite suspicion. That kind of miracle belonged to the realm of divine techniques.
Asahi Mai lay down on the bed exactly as Rei instructed, completely motionless.
Amamiya Rei then turned his attention to treating the other critically injured patients.
Each time he consumed a piece of flesh, he would cut away another portion and feed it to Asahi Mai, ensuring her continued stabilization and growth.
Notification sounds continued to ring incessantly in his mind, but Rei ignored them all.
When it was time to eat meat during the day, he ate properly.
All results were to be reviewed at night.
That was his rule.
Before he realized it, the entire day had passed.
When the sun finally set, Rei stepped out of the ward, leaving Asahi Mai settled inside.
The moment he closed the door, a shadow appeared beside him.
Abe Yōichi glanced at the tightly shut door behind Rei and spoke carefully, attempting to comfort him.
"That patient this morning truly had no hope of recovery, so don't push yourself too hard."
When Rei turned to look at him, Abe Yōichi's gaze trembled, and he quickly averted his eyes.
Amamiya Rei smiled faintly and replied, "Thank you for your concern. Her life was barely preserved, but I cannot guarantee what will happen afterward. She cannot leave the ward or move around for the time being."
As she spoke, a trace of worry appeared on her face, as though her thoughts were constantly occupied by the patient's condition.
Abe Yōichi opened his mouth in shock.
"She lived?"
Seeing the certainty in Rei's expression, Abe Yōichi was filled with astonishment.
"You... you're incredible."
Rei shook her head modestly.
"It's nothing."
Abe Yōichi looked at her and could not help but think of someone else.
"Do you... know Tsunade-sama?"
Rei nodded, a hint of nostalgia surfacing in her eyes.
"I do. Tsunade-sama is a truly wonderful person."
No wonder.
Abe Yōichi felt reassured.
Rei's medical ninjutsu must have been inherited directly from Tsunade-sama. In that case, there was nothing to be surprised about.
The other Medi-nin gradually emerged from their wards as well.
Seeing Rei and Abe Yōichi standing at the entrance, they approached and asked, "Rei, did you also treat the patients in the remaining two wards?"
Rei nodded.
"My treatment speed is fast, so I did it while I was at it."
The Medi-nin let out a long sigh.
"You do twice the workload we do every day. We really feel embarrassed."
"That's right."
Rei looked at them with an expression of pure sincerity and said, "It's fine. We're comrades, so helping each other is only natural."
The Medi-nin looked at her with complicated expressions.
This child was far too naive.
Far too easy to take advantage of.
"Amamiya Rei."
Hearing his name, Rei turned toward the voice.
"Shikaku-sama?"
The Medi-nin beside her also looked in that direction in surprise.
Why would Nara Shikaku be looking for him?
With questions swirling in his mind, Rei bid farewell to the Medi-nin and walked toward Shikaku.
"Shikaku-sama."
She stood before Nara Shikaku and greeted him politely.
Shikaku curved his lips slightly, his expression gentle.
"Come take a walk with me. There are some things I need to tell you."
Rei nodded and followed Shikaku toward the rear mountain of the camp.
The area was deserted, with only the sound of wind brushing through grass that reached up to their calves.
Nara Shikaku handed Rei a letter.
"This is from the Hokage-sama."
Rei's eyes widened in surprise as she accepted it.
Amamiya Rei skimmed through the contents at remarkable speed, and turmoil surged violently within his heart.
What exactly was Sarutobi Hiruzen planning?
Why would he assign Nara Shikaku to guide his training?
Shikaku's position was unique.
He was a shinobi who had assisted successive Hokage.
***
If you enjoyed the chapter, please leave a vote and share your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear what you think! 💕
Don't forget to check out my Telegram channel for more fresh updates and newly added novels.
https://t.me/starlitscript