I hope you like the chapter

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"Do you know why you didn't win?" Naruto asked, his voice calm as he leaned back against the plush cushions of the living room sofa. Yugao sat opposite him, her posture slightly tense despite the comfortable setting. The lingering echo of their spar with Guy still resonated in her mind.

"Your adaptation training isn't finished yet," Naruto said, his crimson eyes fixed on her. "Don't feel too disheartened about losing to Guy. Even without accessing the eight gates, his power is upper-middle-class, and his durability is mid-high-class. When he opens all eight gates, his power jumps to mid-ultimate-class, and his durability reaches the Limit Ultimate-class. He would pose a challenge for me, even in my current state, when using the eighth gate. To enhance your adaptation, we'll engage in bandit and observation missions to better understand your capabilities. And for now, let's hold off on any ANBU missions until your body control is back to that level."ssions until your body control is back to that level."

Yugao absorbed his words, the casual setting contrasting sharply with the gravity of his explanation. The living room, with its dark, elegant furniture and subtle gothic touches, felt familiar and alien. It was her new home, a space shared with a being of immense power.

"Adaptation training?" she asked, her voice quiet. "What does that entail?"

Naruto gestured with a hand, his gaze sweeping across the room. "It's about more than just physical strength, Yugao. It's about understanding the nuances of combat, the subtle shifts in an opponent's stance, the rhythm of a fight. It's about adapting to any situation, any environment."

"We will need to talk to the Hokage," Naruto said, leaning forward, his crimson eyes locking with hers. "We will be venturing beyond the village, taking on missions that will challenge you. Bandit camps, hidden strongholds, remote villages. You will learn to move like a predator, to anticipate your enemies, and to control the full extent of your current vampiric abilities."

He paused, his gaze softening slightly. "But for now, relax a bit. You've earned it. Unless… are you hungry?" He gestured towards himself, a subtle invitation. "If you are, come drink from me. It will help with your recovery."

Yugao hesitated, her gaze flickering between Naruto and the comfortable cushions of the sofa. She felt a twinge of hunger, a primal urge that tugged at her senses. But she also felt a sense of unease, a lingering echo of the spar and the sheer power Naruto had displayed. She decided to ignore her hunger, to prove she could control her new instincts, and relaxed back into the sofa.

"Yugao," Naruto's voice cut through the silence, a low, commanding tone that sent a shiver down her spine. "Come drink before you put yourself at risk."

She found herself unable to resist, her body moving against her will. It was not a suggestion nor a request; it was a command. As a turned vampire, she could not disobey her lord. An invisible force pulled her, guiding her towards him. With a sense of detached observation, she rose from the sofa and approached Naruto, her movements fluid and almost robotic. She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw, and then, with a strange mixture of fear and fascination, she drank from her lord.

"Yugao," Naruto stated calmly while she drank, "a newly transformed vampire needs to pay attention to their hunger as it intensifies. Overlooking it could result in Blood-Madness, a distinctly unique insanity often seen in newly turned vampires." After a few minutes, Yugao had her fill, and they left for the hokage's office. Naruto and Yugao arrived at the Hokage's office for a talk. Naruto spent the next 2 hours telling Lord Third about their training with Guy and his plan with Yugao's training and leave of duty for the safety of others.

"Naruto," Hiruzen sighed, leaning back in his chair, his brow furrowed. "You know that you put me in an awkward spot. You want me to let the two of you go out to hunt bandits."

"You don't have a choice, Hokage-sama," Naruto replied, his voice firm, his crimson eyes unwavering. "She needs this in order to control her strength and not kill her teammates. You heard what Guy-sensei said about our spars. Her power is immense, but her control is… lacking."

Hiruzen ran a hand over his beard, the image of Kakashi's report flashing through his mind. The raw power Kakashi had described was both promising and terrifying. "Very well," the Third started, a hint of reluctance in his tone. "I see your point and will allow it. I happen to have a few bandit missions I can assign you." He slid two scrolls across the desk. Grabbing them with a curt nod, Naruto and Yugao took their leave.

"We have an interesting first mission," Naruto said once they were outside the tower, unrolling one of the scrolls. "A massive camp with a high possibility of hostages. You will go in alone, Yugao. No ninja skills, just your vampire abilities. I will watch from the shadows. I want you to be unseen and clean after you're done. And you can only drink from seven of them dry. You are to fully drain at least three of them," Naruto told her, "drinking them dry and draining them are two different things that you and I can do, Yugao. When you drink from someone, you COULD drink ALL their blood, thus drinking them dry. When you DRAIN someone, you take their SOUL as well. For now, any soul you take will be put in a special seal until you can hold them like I can."

Yugao's brow furrowed further, the implications of Naruto's explanation settling heavily upon her. Draining someone of their soul… that was a level of finality she had never considered, even in her darkest ANBU missions. The act of killing was one thing, a necessary end to a threat. But taking someone's very essence? That felt… different. Profoundly so.

"My lord," she began, her voice barely a whisper, a mixture of apprehension and morbid curiosity swirling within her. "Why the distinction? Why the need to… drain their souls?"

Naruto stopped walking, turning to face her fully. The setting sun cast long, dramatic shadows across the street. His crimson eyes held a depth that spoke of ancient knowledge and power.

"The soul is the essence of a being, Yugao," he explained, his voice low and serious. "For a vampire, especially one of royal blood, the soul holds a certain… resonance. It becomes an anchor, a potential return from death itself. Think of it as an extra life, a defiance of fate reserved for Pure-Blood Royals and those they directly turn."

He paused, his crimson eyes locking onto hers once more, the intensity of his gaze unwavering. "Think of it as a reserve, Yugao. A hidden wellspring of life force. The more souls in your 'collection,' as it were, the more times you can cheat death. It is a privilege unique to our lineage and those we deem worthy to join our ranks."

A chill ran down Yugao's spine despite herself. The concept was both terrifying and fascinating. To hold the essence of another being, not just as fuel but as a safeguard against oblivion... it was a profound and unsettling power.

"And the difference between drinking them dry and draining them?" she asked, still trying to grasp the nuances.

"Drinking them dry is merely the physical act," Naruto clarified. "Taking all their blood. It weakens them, it kills them, but their soul moves on, offering no such benefit. Draining… draining is a deliberate and hungry act. Those of my blood class, and the ones we turn, possess an extra hunger – one for souls. It requires control, Yugao. Control over your hunger, over your senses, over your nascent soul-devouring abilities. These souls will be stored in a seal for now, a temporary measure until you can integrate them fully. Be careful who you drink from; you will gain their memories, even without draining them fully."

He looked at her intently. "I am asking you to drain three of them fully. This is not just about feeding; it is about taking the first step in understanding the true extent of your inheritance. It will grant you a sliver of that royal resilience, that ability to return from what would be final for others. It will be… uncomfortable, perhaps even disturbing. But it is necessary for your growth, for your survival, and for the potential future of our coven."

He started walking again, the mission scroll clutched in his hand. "Remember, I will be watching. If you falter, if you lose control, I will intervene. But I need you to try, Yugao. To confront this new aspect of yourself. This is part of becoming more than just a turned vampire; it is the first step towards wielding the true power of our lineage."

Yugao followed, her mind reeling. The mission had suddenly become far more significant. It wasn't just about eliminating a threat or controlling her hunger; it was about tapping into an ancient, almost mythical power – the power of extra lives, bought with the souls of the damned. And now, the unsettling prospect of absorbing the full weight of another's life simply by drinking their blood… the act carried a profound new gravity. The weight of her lord's command, and the unsettling potential and risks it unlocked, settled heavily in her heart.

"You aren't at the point of getting their full life from a small drink; you would need to dry them as you are now. However, as you drink more and leave more of your human mindset behind, that will change, and you will be able to control what memories you get, if any," informed Naruto as he seamlessly sank into the deeper shadows at the edge of the forest, disappearing from Yugao's sight as if he had never been there.

Yugao stood for a moment, absorbing this new piece of information. So, for now, she wouldn't be burdened with an entire lifetime with a mere sip. That was a small comfort. But the implication that this control would come at the cost of her "human mindset" was unsettling. What exactly would that entail? Would she become more detached, more… predatory?

The thought sent a faint shiver down her spine. She was still grappling with her newfound nature, the enhanced senses, the insatiable hunger, the unsettling command of her lord. The idea of losing the core of who she was, the values and training that had defined her for so long, was a daunting prospect.

Taking a deep, albeit unnecessary, breath, Yugao focused on the task at hand. A bandit camp. Hostages, potentially. And her mission: infiltrate, eliminate, feed, and drain. The weight of it all pressed down on her, a stark contrast to the silent, watchful shadows where Naruto now lurked.

Control, she reminded herself. That was the key. Control over her strength, her hunger, and now, the potential influx of another's memories. She had faced countless dangerous missions as an ANBU, relied on her discipline and skill to survive. This was different, a test of her very being.

With a newfound resolve, Yugao moved towards the edge of the trees, her enhanced senses already picking up the faint sounds and smells of the bandit camp ahead. The scent of woodsmoke, unwashed bodies, and a metallic tang that made her newly awakened fangs ache. It was time to embrace the shadows herself, to become the unseen predator Naruto expected her to be. The line between ANBU and vampire was blurring, and she had no choice but to walk it. Without realizing it, her steps no longer made a sound, and she was moving at high-ANBU speed while walking slowly.

The forest floor seemed to yield beneath her feet, not with a rustle of leaves or a snap of twigs, but with a silent acceptance. Her ANBU training, honed over years of stealth and infiltration, now intertwined seamlessly with her vampiric enhancements. Without conscious effort, her steps became the whisper of a phantom, each footfall absorbed by the earth as if it were eager to conceal her presence.

She moved with a languid grace, appearing to stroll through the trees, yet her actual speed was that of a seasoned high-ANBU operative. The distance to the camp began to shrink with unnerving swiftness, the sounds and smells growing more distinct. Rough voices, the clatter of poorly maintained weapons, the stench of stale food mingling with the metallic lure of blood – it painted a vivid picture of the rabble that awaited her.

Yugao focused her senses, filtering the cacophony into individual threads of information. The layout of the camp began to form in her mind: a crude palisade, a central fire pit casting flickering shadows, makeshift tents clustered haphazardly. She could even discern the heartbeats of the individuals within, a rhythmic drumming that was both a guide and a potential source of her hunger.

The metallic tang in the air intensified as she drew closer. It was the unmistakable scent of old blood, likely from poorly treated wounds or recent squabbles. It was a primal call, a reminder of her new needs, but she held it at bay, focusing on Naruto's instructions. Unseen. Clean.

She reached the edge of the treeline, melting into the deepest shadows as naturally as if she were born of them. The bandit camp lay just beyond, oblivious to the silent predator that now observed them. They were crude, undisciplined, and ripe for the picking.

A surge of something akin to predatory anticipation coursed through her, a feeling both alien and instinctively familiar. The ANBU in her recognized the tactical advantage of surprise, the vulnerability of her targets. The vampire in her recognized… food. And something more, a potential source of the power that lay dormant within her, waiting to be awakened by the souls of the damned.

The line between her past and her present blurred further. She was no longer just a silent blade of the Leaf; she was a creature of the night, a hunter with abilities that dwarfed her previous limitations. The mission had begun with a whisper of wind, and before the nearest sentries could even register a shift in the shadows, they fell, their lives extinguished by a swift, silent caress of her enhanced speed and skill.

Yugao moved through the periphery of the camp like a phantom, her movements a seamless dance of lethal grace. One moment, a bandit stood watch; the next, a still form slumped to the ground, unnoticed in the dim firelight. She was a whisper of wind and a flicker of darkness, precisely as Naruto had instructed.

But amidst the steady, often drunken, rhythms of the bandit heartbeats, a new pattern emerged. A cluster of rapid, panicked thrums, a frantic chorus of fear. Forty, she estimated, their terror a palpable wave in the night air. Hostages. The realization anchored her, a stark reminder of her past purpose. These were not targets; they were victims in need of rescue. They were not food, but individuals trapped in a nightmare.

The knowledge shifted her focus. The predatory anticipation receded slightly, replaced by a familiar sense of duty. Eliminate the threat, protect the innocent. The core programming of the ANBU, though overlaid with her vampiric nature, still held strong.

She adjusted her approach, her movements becoming even more deliberate, prioritizing stealth and the swift neutralization of threats that stood between her and the hostages. The need to feed and drain was still a directive, but it now shared space with the ingrained imperative to save those in danger. The predator and the protector were now walking the same shadowed path.

She caught sight of a burly bandit, a cruel smirk twisting his lips as he moved towards a crudely constructed pen where the frantic heartbeats pulsed. Yugao moved with a speed that defied human perception, a blur of darkness intercepting him before he could reach his intended victims. She pulled him silently into the oppressive embrace of a nearby shadowed thicket.

The act was swift, brutal. Her fangs extended, piercing his throat with clinical precision. As his lifeblood flowed, a strange sensation washed over her, a dizzying influx of images and emotions that were not her own. It was more than just a fleeting impression; it was a visceral flood of the bandit's last moments, his petty cruelties, his fleeting thoughts of greed and lust.

Then came the pull, a subtle but undeniable drawing sensation as the soul left the lifeless vessel and was drawn into the unseen seal Naruto had described. With it came another, more intense wave of memories – fragmented glimpses of his past, his motivations, the squalid details of his existence. The sheer volume of foreign sensations overwhelmed her, causing her to clutch her head, a low groan escaping her lips. Her focus wavered, the layout of the camp momentarily blurring as she wrestled with the intrusive echoes of a life she had just ended. The process was far more jarring than she had anticipated, a chaotic intrusion into her consciousness.

The onslaught of foreign sensations threatened to disorient her, the bandit's crude thoughts and fleeting emotions a jarring intrusion into the sharp clarity of her enhanced senses. It was like a discordant note in a symphony, a sudden burst of static in a silent night. Yugao clenched her teeth, fighting to compartmentalize the unwanted influx, to push it to the periphery of her awareness.

Naruto's warning echoed in her mind: "Be careful who you drink from; you will gain their memories." He hadn't mentioned the intensity, the sheer visceral nature of the experience, especially when the soul was drawn as well. It was a brutal side effect, a tax on her actions.

Despite the momentary disorientation, the ingrained discipline of the ANBU resurfaced. She forced herself to breathe, to center her focus back on the mission. The hostages. Their frantic heartbeats were a constant reminder of her primary objective. The bandit was dealt with, his soul contained. Now, she needed to ensure no others reached the captives.

Pushing the lingering echoes of the bandit's life into a sealed corner of her mind, Yugao moved back towards the edge of the shadows, her senses now acutely attuned to any movement within the camp. The alarm hadn't been raised yet, the fall of the brutes she had already killed, unnoticed in the general lawlessness. But she knew time was a luxury she couldn't afford.

She spotted another bandit heading towards the hostage pen, a leering grin on his face. This time, she focused, remembering Naruto's instruction to drain three fully. She moved with swift, silent purpose, intercepting him. The kill was efficient, and as she deliberately drew forth his soul, the influx of memories was, if not pleasant, at least somewhat less chaotic than the first. Perhaps a sliver of control was already forming.

Two souls claimed. One more to drain fully. Five more to drink from. The weight of the mission pressed on her, the unsettling duality of rescue and soul-taking a constant undercurrent to her actions. She was now aware of her finer body control and truly felt the difference between human and vampire.

The shift in her physical being was undeniable. The subtle grace, the effortless speed, the heightened senses that painted the night in vivid detail – it was a stark contrast to the limitations she had known as a human ANBU. Her movements were fluid, almost liquid, as if she were a part of the shadows themselves. The strength that coursed through her veins was a potent force, barely leashed, capable of tearing through steel with ease.

This newfound physical mastery brought a detached clarity to her actions. The taking of the two souls, while mentally jarring, had also triggered a deeper understanding of her vampiric nature. The hunger for blood was no longer a distracting urge but a manageable need. The potential for soul-devouring was no longer an abstract concept but a tangible ability, albeit one she was still learning to navigate.

She continued her silent sweep of the camp, her senses pinpointing the remaining threats. Each bandit was a distinct heartbeat, a unique scent. She moved with a calculated efficiency, dispatching those who posed an immediate risk with swift, silent strikes, careful for now to only drink their blood, the echoes of the two drained souls still a vivid reminder of the mental cost.

With each non-lethal feeding, she gained fleeting impressions – a glimpse of a drunken card game, a crude joke, a moment of homesickness. These fragmented memories were less overwhelming than the full soul-drain, yet they still added a layer of unwanted noise to her thoughts. She focused on maintaining her control, on keeping the ANBU discipline at the forefront, using the information gleaned to anticipate patrol patterns and the locations of other bandits.

She snuck up on the last bandit, his hulking form silhouetted against the dying embers of the central fire. His heavy, uneven heartbeat pulsed with a violent energy. With swift, silent precision, Yugao sank her fangs into his throat. This time, knowing what to expect, she braced herself for the onslaught.

The influx of emotions and memories was a brutal assault: raw rage, petty grievances, a flicker of fear as he realized his life was ending. It was a chaotic storm within her mind, amplified by the deliberate drawing of his soul. She clenched her jaw, focusing on the task, on the subtle pull as his very essence was drawn into the unseen seal. It was a draining process for her as well, the mental effort required to contain the torrent of foreign sensations leaving her slightly lightheaded.

When it was done, the cacophony of the bandit heartbeats was silenced, leaving only the rapid, fearful thrum of forty other hearts nearby. The hostages. A wave of relief washed over her, momentarily eclipsing the lingering echoes of the drained souls.

Then, a presence. An overwhelming aura, a familiar yet potent energy signature blooming behind her. Her ANBU training, honed to a razor's edge, took over without conscious thought. Her body coiled, her hand flashed to the katana sheathed at her hip, and she swung in a swift, deadly arc at the source of the aura.

The blade met an unexpected resistance, a solid pressure against its edge. Her eyes widened as she saw Naruto, his crimson gaze calm, his index finger casually stopping her strike mere inches from his chest.

"Well, that is not nice, Yugao," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I was just coming to say good job and tell you to take the girls to a nearby village for help. Find a dark spot to rest; I will take the remaining missions myself to finish my restoration." He released her blade, his eyes flicking towards the direction of the hostages. She nodded and moved to help them when she looked back, her lord was gone as if he had never been there.

Yugao lowered her katana, the lingering adrenaline slowly receding. Naruto's sudden appearance and equally swift departure were a stark reminder of his enhanced speed and abilities. One moment he was there, a reassuring, if slightly chiding, presence; the next, the shadows behind her were empty, as if he had dissolved into the night itself.

She turned her attention to the crude wooden pen where the forty heartbeats hammered against the silence. They were young, mostly women and children, their eyes wide with terror even in the dim light of the dying fire. Their clothes were tattered, their faces streaked with dirt and tears. The air around them was thick with the stench of fear and despair.

The protector instinct, buried but never extinguished, surged to the forefront. These weren't sources of blood or potential souls; they were innocents who had suffered. Her ANBU training, the years spent safeguarding the innocent, clicked back into place.

Moving with a gentleness that belied her recent actions, Yugao approached the pen. She used her enhanced strength to easily break the flimsy wooden bars, the snapping sound startling the huddled figures. Their initial fear intensified at her approach, her crimson eyes and the lingering scent of blood likely painting her as another tormentor.

"It's alright," she said, her voice low and soothing, a tone she hadn't used in years. "You're safe now. I'm here to help you."

Her words, though simple, seemed to carry a weight of truth. Slowly, cautiously, the hostages began to stir. A young girl, no older than five, peeked out from behind her mother's torn skirt, her eyes wide and questioning.

Yugao offered a small, reassuring smile, a gesture that felt foreign on her newly sharpened features. "There's a village not far from here. I'll take you there."

She began to guide them out of the ruined camp, her enhanced senses alert for any lingering threats. The forty heartbeats, no longer frantic but still fragile, were her guide. As they moved through the darkness, Yugao couldn't shake the image of Naruto vanishing into the shadows. His words about finishing his restoration echoed in her mind. Her journey was just beginning, a path paved with blood, souls, and the unexpected responsibility of protecting the innocent. The line between the monster and the protector was not just blurring; it was becoming a single, complex reality.

[Time Skip: Hokage's Office]

The Hokage's office held a different atmosphere this time. The air was still thick with the familiar scents, but there was a palpable tension, a silent acknowledgment of the unusual circumstances surrounding this report. Hiruzen sat behind his desk, his gaze fixed on Naruto and Yugao, who stood before him. Kakashi was present as well, leaning against a wall, his single visible eye observing the pair intently.

Naruto spoke first, his voice calm and measured. "All assigned bandit camps have been dealt with, Hokage-sama. The threats have been neutralized."

Hiruzen nodded slowly, his gaze shifting to Yugao. She stood beside Naruto, her posture composed, though a subtle weariness lingered in her crimson eyes. The scent of blood, though faint, was still detectable.

"And Yugao?" Hiruzen asked, his tone carefully neutral. "How did she fare?"

Naruto's gaze flickered to Yugao before returning to the Hokage. "She performed as required. Her control is improving."

Yugao met the Hokage's gaze directly. "The missions were… educational, Lord Hokage. I am adapting to my new abilities." Her voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something unsaid.

Kakashi pushed himself off the wall. "Educational in what way, Yugao?"

Yugao hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. "In understanding the… necessities of my new existence. In controlling my hunger and… other aspects."

The unspoken words hung heavy in the air. Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "The draining, Naruto? The souls?"

Naruto's expression remained impassive. "Three souls were taken, as instructed. They are contained."

A long silence stretched in the room. Hiruzen steepled his fingers, his brow furrowed. "This… this is a dangerous path, Naruto. This power… it could corrupt."

"I am aware of the risks, Hokage-sama," Naruto replied, his voice firm. "I will ensure she remains under control. Her loyalty is to me and to the safety of those I deem worthy."

Yugao remained silent, her gaze steady. The weight of the souls she had taken, the fragmented memories she now carried, was a heavy burden, but one she understood was part of her new reality.

Hiruzen sighed, the lines on his face deepening. "Very well. I will accept this report for now. But I will be watching both of you closely. This… arrangement… is unprecedented. Do not give me reason to regret this."

Naruto offered a curt nod. "Understood, Hokage-sama."

He turned, and with Yugao following closely,Back in the Hokage's office, after the initial report, Naruto paused before turning to leave. "Hokage-sama," he said, his voice gaining a serious edge.

Hiruzen, who was already reaching for his pipe, looked up, his gaze sharp. "Yes, Naruto?"

"The details of Yugao's… transformation… and the specifics of our abilities," Naruto continued, his crimson eyes meeting the Third's directly, "these need to remain off the official record. Classified. Known only to those who absolutely need to know."

Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "And why is that, Naruto?"

"The world outside this village is ignorant and fearful of what they don't understand," Naruto explained, his tone firm. "Vampires are creatures of myth, often associated with darkness and uncontrollable bloodlust. If the nature of Yugao's change, and by extension, my heritage, becomes public knowledge, it will invite unwanted attention, fear, and potentially aggression towards her, and by extension, the village."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Furthermore, the specifics of our… soul-related abilities… that knowledge in the wrong hands could be catastrophic. It is a power that should remain secret, a hidden card."

Kakashi, who had remained silent until now, nodded slowly in agreement. "He has a point, Hokage-sama. The less people know, the safer it is for everyone involved."

Hiruzen stroked his beard, considering Naruto's words carefully. He understood the volatile nature of the shinobi world and the fear that the unknown could breed. The revelation of a vampire within their ranks, especially one with such unusual abilities, could indeed cause panic and attract dangerous attention.

"Very well, Naruto," Hiruzen said finally, his voice carrying the weight of his decision. "I understand your reasoning. The details of Yugao's condition and your… unique heritage… will be kept off the official records. Only a select few will be privy to this information. However," he added, his gaze stern, "this secrecy comes with a responsibility. You are both under my watch, and any actions that threaten the village will be dealt with swiftly and decisively."

Naruto inclined his head. "Understood, Hokage-sama. We have no intention of causing harm to the village. Our priority is to adapt and protect."

With a final, assessing look from the Hokage, Naruto and Yugao turned and left the office, the agreement of secrecy adding another layer to their already complex situation. Their true nature would remain a hidden truth, a secret they would have to guard carefully in a world that would likely fear what they were.

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