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Chapter 282: Fusing the Power
Hinata was the first to approach, tears pooling in her pure white eyes.
They weren't tears of sorrow, but of joy, gratitude, and an indescribable, deep affection.
She gently wrapped her arms around Alex's waist, burying her face against his chest, her voice as soft as a sleep-murmur:
"Lord Alex… thank you."
Shion leaned in from the side. She wasn't as reserved as Hinata.
Standing on her tiptoes, she planted a light kiss on Alex's cheek, then took a half-step back, her face flushed, her eyes sparkling with a mix of playfulness and shyness:
"That's my thank you gift."
Ryuzetsu and Honoka exchanged a glance, and both smiled at the same time.
Taking position on either side of him, they gently linked their arms through his. Though they didn't make any further advances, the warm touch and the sincere gratitude in their eyes spoke louder than a thousand words.
Samui was the last to approach.
The former Cloud elite Jonin had shed all her usual coolness and restraint.
She walked slowly up to Alex, looked straight into his eyes, and then… bowed deeply.
"Lord Alex." Her voice trembled slightly. "I always thought the greatest achievement of my life would be becoming a Jonin. I never thought, never even dared to imagine, that one day I would be able to touch… this realm."
She straightened up, tears glistening in her eyes, yet smiling more radiantly than ever before.
"I don't know how to thank you. So…"
She took a step forward and gently embraced him. It was a heartfelt hug, brimming with gratitude and reverence.
"Thank you."
Feeling the warmth of the five girls in his arms, a wave of indescribable softness swelled in Alex's heart.
He gently patted Samui's back, stroked Hinata's hair, and finally looked around, bringing everyone into his sight.
"You don't have to thank me," his voice was gentle and sincere. "This is what you deserve. I merely… gave you an opportunity. The ones who seized it were you."
Konan sat a short distance away, resting her chin in her hand, watching the scene with a smile. Her gaze swept back and forth between Alex and the five girls, the curve of her lips growing wider.
Finally, she spoke up in a slow, teasing drawl:
"Well, Alex, it looks like that idea of yours is finally going to come true."
Alex stiffened slightly.
Konan continued to smile, her tone laced with mischief.
Her words acted like a signal.
Hinata, Shion, Samui, Ryuzetsu, and Honoka all knew that the power they had just acquired still needed Lord Alex's personal assistance to properly fuse.
Alex watched them helplessly, what else could he say?
There was nothing to say. He just needed to properly help them digest their Six Paths Level power.
As Konan watched, her expression began to lose its usual calm. The tips of her ears started to turn pink, growing redder by the second.
And standing not far away was Kaguya Otsutsuki.
She had completely shed the aloof mask of the Goddess of the Moon. Her Byakugan were wide open, staring fixedly at the "absurd" scene unfolding before her.
Her flawlessly beautiful face was currently filled with shock, confusion, and a trace of… sheer disbelief.
"This…" Her voice trembled slightly, laced with bewilderment.
She wanted to close her eyes.
She really did.
As an existence that had lived for thousands of years, as the princess of the Otsutsuki clan, as the exalted "Progenitor of Chakra," she had never seen anything so… so…
Kaguya struggled to find the words to describe the sight before her.
But her gaze was practically nailed to the spot. She couldn't look away.
Deep inside, something was stirring restlessly.
Her face grew hotter and redder. That expression, paired with her peerless visage, actually made her look somewhat unprecedentedly cute.
Konan caught this from the corner of her eye.
The corner of her mouth ticked up.
In the next second, she waved her hand lightly.
Kaguya suddenly felt her body go light. Before she knew it, she was floating off the ground, drifting straight toward Konan.
"You—!"
Before she could react, she had already landed in front of Konan.
Konan stood up, looking at her with a beaming smile. "What? You were watching so intently."
Kaguya's face was now flushed an impossibly deep crimson, but she forced herself to maintain her final shred of dignity.
"I… I was merely observing human… behavioral patterns!"
"Oh?" Konan's smile deepened. "And what did you observe?"
Kaguya opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Konan gently took her hand.
The touch made Kaguya tremble slightly.
"Why don't you join in?" Konan's voice suddenly became soft and gentle. "We're going to be spending countless lifetimes together. It's better to be honest with each other sooner rather than later."
Kaguya froze.
Looking into Konan's eyes, then looking at Alex not far away, and at the five girls who had just gained their new power.
She realized she actually… didn't want to refuse.
Konan didn't give her any more time to think. With a gentle tug, she led Kaguya toward Alex.
"Alex, here we come~"
Alex looked at Kaguya being pulled over by Konan, raised an eyebrow slightly, and then smiled.
"Welcome."
Kaguya lowered her head. That face, which hadn't shown a ripple of emotion in a millennium, was now so red it looked ready to bleed.
But she didn't pull her hand out of Konan's grasp.
After all, Hinata and the others had only just become Six Paths Level experts. Their control and application of the power was still unrefined, requiring meticulous guidance and explanation from a Kekkai Mora expert like Alex.
Because the power of the Six Paths Level was far too vast, far too intricate. It required a much deeper level of synchronization; the power needed to truly become one with their bodies and souls.
For an entire night.
The chakra fluctuations in the room barely ceased.
When the horizon began to glow with the pale light of dawn, everything finally returned to peace.
With Alex's help.
Hinata, Shion, Ryuzetsu, Honoka, and Samui had successfully calmed their powerful Six Paths Level chakra fluctuations.
The power had truly fused with them.
They had done it. They were all true Six Paths Level experts now.
At this moment, everyone wore tired but thoroughly satisfied smiles on their faces.
That majestic Six Paths Level power within them now belonged entirely to them. It was truly integrated into their bloodlines and etched into their souls.
Konan leaned against the wall, breathing out a soft sigh, a lazy smile playing on her lips.
Kaguya sat in the corner, her head bowed, lost in thought. She had been blushing the entire night, and the flush still hadn't completely faded.
Alex stood up, looking around, a faint smile curling his lips.
"You've worked hard," he said softly. "Go back and rest. Tomorrow… no, starting today, you are all true Six Paths Level experts."
The girls rose one after another, bowing slightly to him before returning to their respective rooms.
Hinata was the last to leave.
She walked to the door and looked back at Alex. In those pure white eyes, there was gratitude, gentleness, and an overwhelming, indescribable affection.
"Lord Alex… see you later."
Whispering those words, she turned and left.
The door gently closed. The room gradually returned to tranquility.
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