REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 145: Ritsu-nii, You're Playing Favorites!
Gray clouds obscured the sunlight. The last withered leaves on the treetops fell in the cold wind.
On the training ground, two young women competed like dancing butterflies. They released chakra, using taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu to launch round after round of fierce attacks toward Hyuga Ritsu.
Ritsu was sparring with his cousin Hyuga Akiba and her close friend Uchiha Aika.
Azure lion heads wreathed both his palms as he wielded the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists. Swinging both palms, even under the pincer attack from Akiba and Aika, he remained at ease—leisurely and composed.
"Akiba, your chakra control is still insufficient. If you can't maintain stable chakra output, using Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists in battle won't block enemy weapons. Instead, you'll injure yourself. Don't deliberately pursue clear form yet. Instead, maintain stable chakra output as long as possible. Let your body adapt and memorize it."
"Aika, your Lightning Release technique is too shallow. Remember, Lightning Release chakra disperses easily. That's both its advantage and weakness. If you want your blade's lethality more concentrated, restrain the Lightning Release chakra's dispersion. Compress and condense the power on your blade edge. Try accelerating your chakra output. Don't fear injury—your body is far stronger than you believe."
He mercilessly pointed out the young women's shortcomings and told them how to correct them, giving them pressure, letting them continuously transform and evolve during this combat training.
Finally, when the sweat-drenched young women had consumed most of their chakra, Ritsu brushed past Akiba. His foot lightly hooked. His cousin fell to the ground with a thump. Then he swung his palm, knocking away Uchiha Aika's short blade. His right hand—having dispersed the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists—locked around the girl's slender, tender neck. Just slightly more pressure and he could directly snap her neck.
Looking at the Uchiha girl's pure, beautiful face, Ritsu released his hand and smiled slightly. "Alright, today's sparring ends here."
Uchiha Aika reached up to touch her neck, bent down to retrieve her short blade, then nodded silently in thanks to Ritsu.
Meanwhile, after climbing up, Akiba brushed dust from her body while huffily complaining, "Ritsu-nii, can't you be gentler? Making a girl fall face-first on the ground—aren't you worried about damaging my beautiful face so I can't marry in the future?"
Ritsu responded calmly and unhurriedly, "Only by suffering setbacks can one form deeper, longer-lasting memories. Otherwise, you won't learn your lesson."
Akiba protested unconvincingly, "Then why doesn't Aika have to suffer?"
Beside them, Uchiha Aika's eyes narrowed slightly. Sharp gazes like small knives fell on her good friend Akiba.
Ritsu still didn't panic. He extended his hand, pressing down on his cousin's head and vigorously rubbing it. As she struggled with all her might yet helplessly, he laughed. "Akiba, Aika's already a jonin. You're still just a special jonin. Instead of properly learning from your friend, you spend all day thinking about comparisons. You can't go on like this!"
"Who's thinking about comparisons? It's clearly Ritsu-nii playing favorites!"
Akiba exerted all her strength and finally broke free from Ritsu's suppression. She bounced over to Nohara Rin standing at the training ground's edge, hugging the girl's arm tightly. "Rin, you saw it too, right? Ritsu-nii is clearly playing favorites. He only knows how to bully me, but always shows mercy to Aika!"
Rin smiled with pursed lips. She didn't respond to Akiba's expectations by joining forces to accuse Ritsu of favoritism. Her lively gaze simply circled between Ritsu and Uchiha Aika.
Not receiving Rin's support made Akiba quite depressed. Pouting, she muttered about Ritsu-nii's favoritism. She was clearly the actual cousin, yet somehow Aika seemed more like the real younger sister.
However, Uchiha Aika quickly came to Akiba's side. Her hand moved lightning-fast, pinching Akiba's cheek. She smiled sweetly. "Akiba, that mouth of yours is a bit too chatty!"
"What! Isn't it true?"
The unconvinced Akiba tried reaching out to pinch Uchiha Aika's cheek, but the girl nimbly dodged. The two chased each other around Rin, making quite a lively scene.
Ritsu walked over then, looking at Rin being pulled back and forth like a shield by her two friends. He asked with a smile, "Rin, do you want to practice a bit?"
Rin shook her head. "Sorry, Ritsu-senpai. I'll pass. Kushina-sensei told me to avoid combat situations as much as possible now to avoid stimulating the Three-Tails inside me."
"Actually, there's no need to worry too much. The seal inside you is very solid. Even if you lost control and went berserk, I could help suppress it. But if you're unwilling, then forget it. Whenever you're interested, you can come find me together with Akiba and Aika."
Since returning from the Hidden Mist Village expedition, Ritsu had stayed in the clan compound playing "homebody." Besides handling clan affairs that weren't particularly burdensome, he'd devoted most of his remaining time to training. Sparring with the young women like this was pleasant leisure time.
After all, no normal man would dislike spending time with youthful, beautiful young women.
Watching the playful young women, Ritsu's mood was exceptionally good. The corners of his lips involuntarily curved upward, sketching a pleasant smile.
Such beautiful times truly warmed one's heart. Even this harsh winter's bitter, icy wind felt like spring breezes on the face.
However, at this moment, a figure rapidly approached along the path toward the training ground. In just a few leaps, he arrived before Ritsu.
The visitor had white hair and wore a mask—it was Hatake Kakashi. He spoke aloud, "Hyuga Clan Head, Hokage-sama has urgent business and requests you come to the Hokage building."
"Hokage-sama requests me? What happened?"
"Something seems to have occurred at the Yu no Kuni front. I don't know the specific situation."
"The Yu no Kuni front? Did the Cloud ninja attack?"
Ritsu contemplated for a few seconds, then stopped meaningless speculation. Whatever specifically happened, he'd naturally learn upon meeting the Fourth.
He looked toward the three young women. "Akiba, I need to go to the Hokage building. Take good care of your friends."
"Don't worry, Ritsu-nii! I guarantee I'll look after Aika properly."
Akiba loudly pledged while still desperately trying to catch Uchiha Aika hiding behind Rin. The young women became a tangled mass. Their laughter was light and cheerful—melodious and pleasant, like spring wind chimes hanging from eaves and swaying.
Rin, pulled back and forth by her two friends, greeted Kakashi with difficulty.
Kakashi didn't speak. He simply looked at Rin's face showing a smile from the heart. The corners of his mouth hidden beneath his mask slightly curved upward, though instantly smoothed flat again.
He looked deeply at Rin once, then followed Ritsu, quickly heading together toward the Hokage building.
Before long, Ritsu arrived before the Hokage building. Under Kakashi's guidance, he went upstairs and came to the Hokage office door. Kakashi stepped forward, lightly knocking on the half-closed office door. Pushing it open, he said, "Hokage-sama, I've brought Hyuga Clan Head."
Minato, sitting behind the office desk, looked at Kakashi and said gently, "Thank you for your trouble, Kakashi. You may rest."
Kakashi replied "Yes," withdrew outside, and incidentally pulled the door half-closed again.
Ritsu walked in. His gaze swept around the office once. He spoke directly. "Hokage-sama, Sensei, and everyone—what's happened this time?"
Quite a few people were already in the office.
Hokage Advisor Hiruko, Advisor Elders Akimichi Tofu and Inuzuka Gaku, plus Jonin Commander Nara Shikaku—the village's upper echelon gathered together. They sat on the reception area sofas, their expressions all quite solemn.
While speaking, he walked over and sat in the empty seat beside Hiruko.
However, Minato as Fourth Hokage didn't speak. Hiruko extended his hand, picked up an evidence bag from the coffee table, and brought it before Ritsu. "Ritsu, look at this."
"This is wood... Hmm? This is a Wood Release creation!"
Ritsu had only focused on people earlier and hadn't noticed this thing placed in the evidence bag on the coffee table. Now with Hiruko handing it before his eyes, looking closely, it was unmistakably a piece of wood—wood manufactured using Wood Release bloodline limit.
"It truly is a Wood Release creation?"
"I'm very certain."
Ritsu nodded, then asked somewhat puzzled, "Where did this thing come from?"
His heart actually already had vague premonitions. After all, he was quite certain this thing wasn't created by him using Wood Release. If it were Hiruko-sensei's doing, there'd be no reason to create such a solemn situation either.
Which meant this thing's origin might be very special.
The next second, Minato spoke. "Hyuga Clan Head, this was transmitted back from the Yu no Kuni front. This morning, one segment of our defensive line in Yu no Kuni suffered a Cloud ninja assault. The patrol squad was routed and fled. But at a certain location, the patrol squad's captain disappeared. The invading Cloud ninja also lost their traces. Experts from the Hyuga, Yamanaka, and Inuzuka clans investigated the combat scene and found this piece of wood."
Ritsu raised an eyebrow and said directly, "Hokage-sama, you mean someone used Wood Release to battle there?"
"Otherwise, there's no way to explain why such a thing would appear on scene. It can't possibly be Hiruko-senpai's or Hyuga Clan Head's doing, right? You're both in the village and haven't left. Since Hyuga Clan Head and Hiruko-senpai now both confirm this wood is a Wood Release creation, it indicates a third person who mastered Wood Release bloodline limit indeed appeared on the northern Yu no Kuni front battlefield."
Minato paused, caught his breath, and continued, "The intelligence Hyuga Clan Head told me last time—I now believe eighty percent. The shinobi world indeed likely has an organization lurking in darkness with unclear true purposes. Moreover, they've mastered Wood Release bloodline limit."
After he spoke these words, Hiruko who'd personally absorbed a White Zetsu said nothing. The two Advisor Elders Akimichi Tofu and Inuzuka Gaku, plus Jonin Commander Nara Shikaku, also voiced no questions. Apparently, Minato had already coordinated with them beforehand, sharing Ritsu's previous "speculation."
Then, his gaze burning bright, he looked toward Ritsu. "I'm preparing to personally visit the front. If Hyuga Clan Head has no other pressing matters, I hope you can accompany me. Go to the scene and see if there are more discoveries. After all, according to Hiruko-senpai, your Wood Release bloodline limit mastery far exceeds his."
Minato's attitude was quite humble and courteous. He didn't use Hokage authority to directly issue commands but rather extended an invitation to Ritsu.
Ritsu couldn't guess exactly what the Yu no Kuni front situation was, so his heart held some curiosity. After contemplating a few seconds, he nodded. "I have no problems. I can accompany Hokage-sama anytime."
Going to the scene to look was a very good choice. Perhaps he truly could discern something.
Minato immediately showed a smile. He turned his gaze toward Hiruko and others. "Hiruko-senpai, both Elders, and Shikaku—Hyuga Clan Head and I will try to go and return quickly. Though it shouldn't delay too much time, if some unexpected situation arises, I'll have to trouble you to watch over the village."
"Hokage-sama, you and Ritsu can go without worry! We'll watch the village situation well." Hiruko answered seriously. The two Advisor Elders also nodded repeatedly.
Minato nodded, then stared at Nara Shikaku—this fellow with a good brain—and instructed, "Shikaku, if troubles arise you can't handle, besides contacting me, also remember to promptly notify Kushina."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Nara Shikaku responded aloud.
After arranging all this, Minato stood up. Clearly, he was preparing to depart immediately. Watching the Fourth's decisive action without any procrastination, Ritsu likewise lifted himself from the sofa and walked to Minato's side.
Ritsu felt his shoulder being grasped. Before his eyes could even blink, the scenery before him was already completely different. They appeared in a mountain fortress's tower. Their vision happened to face outward—they could see the vast mountains and rivers outside, plus a mountain fortress hanging Cloud ninja banners.
In less than an eyeblink, they'd arrived at Yu no Kuni's border—the foremost front line confronting the Cloud ninja.
At this time, Jiraiya's voice came from behind. He greeted them, "Minato, Hyuga brat—you're here!"
"Sensei."
Minato turned around.
Meanwhile, Ritsu activated his Byakugan. Even without turning around, he could see Jiraiya in full battle gear, clearly prepared for combat.
Minato directly asked, "Sensei, this outfit of yours—did the Cloud ninja attack?"
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