"Sorry, Tetsu."
Hyuga Natsu's dark green short hair was messy from the recent battle, strands partially covering her face. Her sharp chin swayed slightly as she shook her head.
"I understand."
Though curious about the reason, she reasoned that it probably involved Hyuga Ginka and was a serious matter. It made sense that Natsu would keep it secret.
"Kiyoshi, what exactly happened?"
While the three of them whispered, Yuuhi ran toward Kiyoshi.
Her small ninja boots barely covered the front of her feet, pristine toes exposed, swaying as she moved. Beneath her short skirt, her pale, smooth calves were visible.
"Can you tell me?"
Yuuhi asked, curiosity in her voice.
Kiyoshi brushed it off in a few words:
"Just some minor verbal matters, nothing important."
He picked up the scrolls on the ground.
These scrolls could also be traded with other ninjas for money.
Asuma Sarutobi watched Kiyoshi collect the scrolls without questioning him about Natsu. He guessed the cause—some disrespectful words from the Hyuga toward the Uchiha.
After all, the Uchiha's reputation in the village was far from perfect.
At home, Asuma often heard his older brother criticize the Konoha Police. Since the ANBU and the police both ensured village security, overlapping authority often led to conflicts.
But to think someone would say such things outside in public?
"Natsu, both Hyuga and Uchiha are comrades in the village. Harmony is paramount. Apologize sincerely and turn the page."
Asuma spoke thoughtfully.
He wasn't naive. On the day he was assigned to a squad, his mother, Sarutobi Biwako, told him about Sarutobi Hiyori's new Uchiha policy, emphasizing the need to ease tensions between the village and the Uchiha.
And Kiyoshi was on his team.
By both logic and principle, he should support Kiyoshi. Otherwise, his mother might deem him incompetent.
His bond with Biwako was far stronger than with Hiyori.
"I understand, Asuma-san," Natsu nodded.
To her, this felt almost like pressure. Were Konoha's leaders… favoring the Uchiha?
Natsu didn't understand the complex political relations. Her main concern was what Kiyoshi wanted as recompense, and whether Hyuga Ginka might vent her anger afterward.
Though Ginka's actions caused this situation, as a minor branch member, Natsu had no way to protect herself.
As the saying goes, "Serving a lord is like walking with a tiger."
For Natsu, being near Hyuga Ginka felt exactly like that.
...
"Uchiha Kiyoshi, interesting."
Jiraiya nodded, watching Kiyoshi drive off his opponents.
At such a young age, he had mastered "chakra flow" and defeated three Yumin ninjas alone. Even accounting for the Hyuga team's prior engagement, his strength was undeniable.
"Helping comrades voluntarily shows excellent character,"
Minato Namikaze said with a smile.
He remembered Kushina. When she first entered the ninja academy, her red hair led to isolation and bullying.
Once, older ninjas tried to harm her, and Minato wanted to intervene. But Kushina single-handedly defeated them and scolded him, saying she didn't need help because he was an outsider.
Later, when Yumin captured Kushina, Minato traced and rescued her. Under the moonlight, they forged a bond.
Minato never forgot that night. A faint smile appeared on his lips at the memory.
"The third round will be exciting."
Minato believed that a ninja like Kiyoshi wouldn't stop at the second round.
...
Yozuki Kei exhaled, tending to his wounds. Druke and Tuff did the same, their bodies wrapped in bandages.
"Does Kiyoshi really intend to return to the Land of Lightning?" Druke asked.
He still felt the sting from Kiyoshi's strike—the blade's heat alone could sear flesh without drawing blood.
"Who knows?"
Tuff's pale face flushed with anger.
Damn, what a tough task. If not for village orders, he wouldn't care about someone like Kiyoshi.
As they spoke, a sudden voice interrupted:
"What bad luck, running into Yumin."
Kozuki Reigetsu. He had little regard for such marauder-like villages.
They stole kekkei genkai, jutsu, secret techniques, people—almost everything.
Hence, Yumin ninjas displayed varied fighting styles.
Kei and his team immediately drew their swords, alert.
"Don't say that, Reigetsu."
Tomei Mei stepped forward, her heels softly brushing the ground.
"Encountered strong enemies?"
"Encountered Konoha ninjas."
Seeing no hostility, she casually added, "I guess, Uchiha Kiyoshi?"
"Better not provoke him," Kei said coldly.
Kiyoshi was Yumin's chosen kekkei genkai holder; he could never be handed over to Kirigakure.
"Heh, is that so?"
Tomei Mei covered her mouth with a hand, a playful smile appearing. But beneath the surface, she grew cautious.
Once could be a coincidence, twice could not.
Yokura was a rare talent of Sunagakure, and her teammate Maki as well. Yumin was no ordinary village; despite its reputation as marauders, it had not been eradicated.
Attracting numerous enemies, it remained strong enough to survive.
Tomei Mei reconsidered Kiyoshi's true strength. Currently, stealing Byakugan was far more cost-effective than stealing Sharingan.
"Shall we join forces?"
"No need."
Kei refused outright.
Joke? They'd just been defeated by Kiyoshi. Approaching now would only be humiliating. Better to finish this round and consider diplomacy in the third.
They had just given all their scrolls to Kiyoshi and needed to recover more.
"Let's go."
Kei, as squad leader, led the team. The others followed.
Tomei Mei watched them leave, not pursuing immediately.
Instead, her respect—and caution—for Kiyoshi grew.
Even without fighting him, she could imagine his difficulty. He had forced Yumin to retreat entirely.
After pondering, she considered forming alliances with smaller villages like Kononinja and Iwagakure.
"Let's find Yokura."
(End of Chapter)