"It's finally over." Tekka Uchiha inhaled deeply; the air outside felt different.
Their squad had gotten into a fight with the Hidden Stone ninjas right after entering, and the skirmish dragged on for several days.
After resolving that, the first thing they heard was the surviving ninjas discussing Kiyoshi's deeds.
They spoke of how Kiyoshi had snatched scrolls from many people, and similar tales.
"Yeah, we kept hearing talk of how savage Senior Kiyoshi was inside. Now that we're out and don't hear it, it feels strange. Senior Kiyoshi is very strong." Emi Uchiha nodded.
Kiyoshi had enrolled later than her, but she believed that strength should be respected above all else.
"Ahem, actually, my strength is quite comparable to Kiyoshi's." Tekka Uchiha pretended to be profound to his teammates.
"Don't pretend. I don't even want to call you out." Yakuan Uchiha shook his head.
Tekka Uchiha scratched his head awkwardly.
"Yo, isn't that Kiyoshi?" Tekka Uchiha's eyes lit up, spotting Kiyoshi exiting through the same passage.
Following Kiyoshi were a female ninja with curly hair and a seemingly rogue-ish young man.
"Didn't run into you inside." Kiyoshi looked at Tekka Uchiha, who walked over to talk.
"We ran into some trouble; otherwise, I would have wanted to meet up with you." Tekka Uchiha said naturally.
Grouping up was an unspoken rule.
It was usually done by people who were familiar with each other or belonged to the same clan.
Kiyoshi responded to Tekka Uchiha's small talk.
Suddenly, he glanced in a certain direction.
There stood a girl with moss-green hair.
After leaving this place, Natsu Hyūga should be able to convey the information to Ginka Hyūga effectively.
Kiyoshi could feel his Dōjutsu power stirring.
Ginka Hyūga was also an excellent source of experience for boosting Dōjutsu power.
Besides this, Kiyoshi also thought of Hazuki Uchiha and Kushina.
The matter with Hazuki Uchiha could wait, but he needed to check in on Kushina.
The Nine-Tails would grow increasingly restive during this period.
If he inserted himself into the situation, he might earn some goodwill.
Perhaps in the future, he could try to approach Kushina and explore what the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode looked like.
Thinking of the possibilities ahead, Kiyoshi felt optimistic about the future.
At least it wasn't the total gloom he felt when he first arrived in the Hidden Leaf.
"I should max out the [Genjutsu Genin] Trait." Kiyoshi mused.
Obtaining a Blue Trait before the war erupted would likely be very helpful.
During times of chaos, strength was the only thing that could protect him.
Only with sufficient strength could Kiyoshi do what he wanted to do.
"You better give me some good Taijutsu lessons when we get out." Kurenai, seeing Kiyoshi constantly distracted, waved her small hand in front of his face.
"I prepaid you your salary without question before; you wouldn't refuse this small request, would you?" Kurenai asked.
After this experience, Kurenai realized her own shortcomings.
Genjutsu was her strong suit, Ninjutsu skills were average, and as for Taijutsu, it was almost a drag on her performance.
A powerful mind needs a healthy body.
Kurenai planned to train more.
*Ahem*, she planned to train under the condition that it wouldn't change her figure.
"Of course, no problem." Kiyoshi looked at Kurenai before him.
Of course, having a nurturing project to modulate his mood during training wouldn't be bad either.
"Kurenai, don't you think my muscles are quite strong too?" Asuma asked, seeing the two ahead laughing and talking as they left.
He suddenly felt like the three-person squad was full, and he was the superfluous one.
He quickly rushed up and flexed his biceps for Kurenai.
Asuma considered himself to have decent physical talent and was certainly destined to become a robust figure in the future.
This commotion caught the attention of others.
When people realized it was Kiyoshi Uchiha, who had been rampaging inside, they quickly averted their gaze.
Pakura silently watched Kiyoshi Uchiha and Kurenai teasing each other.
The claw marks on her back, which had long since healed, seemed to throb subtly, as if the owner of those marks was once again extending a demonic hand toward her.
"Don't do anything unnecessary, Pakura." Maki frowned.
Why had Pakura seemed so distracted since she was defeated by Kiyoshi last time?
Could it be that these geniuses really couldn't handle any setback?
Thinking of this, Maki actually felt that it was good that Kiyoshi Uchiha gave Pakura a lesson.
Otherwise, if she encountered a bigger setback later, who knew what Pakura might become.
"I know." Pakura nodded.
Kiyoshi was stronger right now.
That was fine.
She would use double the effort and training to make Kiyoshi pay the price and wipe away this shame.
All the indignities of today would surely be repaid in the future.
"You run quite fast, don't you, Hidden Sand's genius?" Mei Terumī emphasized the word "genius."
Pakura turned back. It was Mei Terumī.
"My departure that day was unavoidable."
"Heh, was it." Mei Terumī gave Pakura a cold look and continued walking out.
If those allies hadn't been so unreliable that day, and Kiyoshi hadn't killed a few to intimidate the rest.
Otherwise, no matter how strong Kiyoshi Uchiha was, could he really have overthrown everything?
Every time she thought about being unable to avenge her comrade, Mei Terumī felt terrible.
Those who came here to participate in the Chunin Exams had been comrades for a long time.
Shōshi Kaguya said nothing. He did feel some sadness and grief over the death of his comrade, but not much.
In his heart, there was mostly a craving for battle.
The Kaguya clan named every move of the Shikotsumyaku after a "Dance."
A fight with Kiyoshi Uchiha would undoubtedly deepen his understanding of the "Dance" greatly.
***
Before going home, Kiyoshi bought a batch of training equipment.
Targets, wooden posts, and some explosive tags.
Before, he had reused rotten targets and wooden posts, focusing on frugality.
Now that he had money, he naturally had to treat himself better.
Kurenai had been following Kiyoshi since they left. Kiyoshi finally bought her a skewer of dango to send her home first, telling her to come back tomorrow.
"The [Medical Ninjutsu] Trait is about to be obtained." Kiyoshi glanced at the panel.
The Trait was already at 99%.
It had been delayed due to the Chunin Exams.
"I should go find Hazuki Uchiha." Kiyoshi thought about postponing it, but then changed his mind. Since he lacked Genjutsu scrolls.
Then he would just make a profit from Hazuki Uchiha.
Having decided on a solution, Kiyoshi continued practicing Medical Ninjutsu, planning to complete the Trait that very night.
***
The Hyūga Clan Compound.
As dusk deepened, the busy Branch Family members of the Hyūga clan began preparing dinner.
Natsu Hyūga did not return to her room; she went to find Ginka Hyūga.
"Madam Ginka, there is something I need to tell you."
"Ah, Natsu is back. What is it?" Ginka Hyūga remembered today was the end of the second stage of the Chunin Exams. From Natsu Hyūga's appearance, she had successfully passed.
"The words you spoke that day were overheard by Kiyoshi Uchiha."
"What!"
***
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