Hsss…
Evan very quickly realized something:
Kushina's kunai-throwing technique in daily life?
Really not that great.
Clumsy as hell, in fact.
For a kunoichi, how do you not even know how to hold a kunai properly…
Half an hour later—
The "kunai" in her hand finally "left her grip" properly.
But she had zero mental preparation for it.
She was tense, shaking, eyes squeezed shut.
"You bastard! Why didn't you move it away?!" she yelped, panicked and flustered.
Evan let out a long breath, face calm and unreadable.
He took a cloth and slowly wiped the "stains" off the kunai.
"Thanks, Kushina-senpai," he said mildly.
Kushina: "…"
A moment ago she was "big sister."
Now that he's done, it's back to "Kushina-senpai"?
"You bastard—if there's a next time, I'm having Minato kill you!"
Evan's lips curled in a smirk.
There's no such thing as 'only once'—
only zero times or countless times.
From the moment she reached out her hand, there was no going back.
"By the way, Kushina-senpai, what's Minato busy with?"
Evan asked as he handed her a towel.
Kushina wiped her face, wrinkling her nose at the smell.
It made her queasy.
"What else? That old Third is insisting on reconstructing the Scroll of Seals. Minato's been too busy to even sleep at home."
"Oh?"
Evan's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"In that case, I should go help."
After all, the Third Hokage had already said it:
Evan's swordsmanship was an S-rank forbidden art of Konoha.
As a "devoted" Leaf shinobi with a burning Will of Fire—
how could he not take the initiative?
He'd decided.
He was going to personally submit his "sword style manual."
He nudged Kushina aside in disgust.
"You didn't wipe it all off. There's still some on your neck."
"…"
"BASTARD!"
Kushina gritted her teeth viciously.
Yet deep inside, there was a strange… fuzzy feeling.
She even wondered if her water had just broken and she was about to go into labor…
But as she watched Evan casually walk out—
Panic struck.
She definitely couldn't let Anko see her like this.
Silently cursing Evan as a beast, she hurried to tug her clothes straight and tidy her hair.
Out in the courtyard.
"Anko, I've got something at the Hokage Building. I'll come back and talk with you later."
Evan called to the girl waiting with a resentful face.
Anko puffed her cheeks. "Oh… got it."
Evan stretched out a hand and flicked her on the forehead.
"Forgive me, Anko."
Then he leaned in close to her ear and whispered:
"Stay here tonight. I'll teach you swordsmanship."
"Eh?"
Anko immediately caught the tone in his voice.
Her cheeks flared red.
Is his 'sword training'… the same kind I'm thinking about?
She dropped her gaze, eyes darting.
Biting her lip, she gave a very soft, almost inaudible:
"…Mm."
Evan smiled at the shy expression and turned to leave, heading toward the Hokage Building.
Behind him, Kushina and Anko's conversation floated faintly over.
"Kushina-senpai, why's your face so red?"
"Too hot."
"Senpai, is it my imagination… or is your skin glowing more than usual? What mask are you using?"
"I—I'm not using anything…"
Back in the Cave
After a full night's sleep, Pakura slowly opened her eyes, mind hazy.
She'd had a dream.
A vivid one.
She dreamt of Evan entangled with her… and yet, the voice moaning in the dream—
had been Jun's.
What a weird dream…
But when she felt the chilly dampness beneath her, her cheeks burned.
Just from dreaming of that man… and I end up like this?
Don't tell me he actually did something to me while I was asleep?!
She sat up cautiously, instinctively glancing around for him.
No one.
"He really couldn't wait for me to wake up before leaving?"
she muttered, a bit resentful.
"Teacher, you're awake!"
Jun's gentle voice came from the cave entrance.
She limped in on shaky legs and practically threw herself into Pakura's arms, full of pent-up grievance.
"Jun, it's alright now."
Pakura patted her back to comfort her.
Then frowned.
"Jun, did you hurt your leg? Why are you walking like that?"
Jun's neck flushed a deep red.
Her body flinched as if remembering something.
"I'm fine, teacher."
She forced a smile, pushing all the soreness and humiliation down her throat.
Pakura changed the subject.
"Where is he?"
Jun's gaze flickered.
"After bringing us here… he left."
"I see."
There was a faint hint of disappointment in Pakura's voice.
Of course he left without a word…
"Is it just me…" Pakura said, squinting at her disciple, "or did you get… prettier overnight?"
"Eh?!"
Jun panicked.
Teacher won't see through it… right?
She absolutely could not let Pakura find out.
That man was too terrifying.
Pakura was not his match.
Pakura just shook her head with a small laugh.
I must just not have seen her in a while. She's grown up, that's all.
"Alright. Pack up—we're heading home."
She adjusted her chest-wrap absently.
It felt a little too tight, oddly compressed out of shape.
Strange… did someone untie my clothes while I slept and then put them back on?
After a while, Pakura led the way out of the cave at full speed.
Jun followed, steps still a little unsteady.
Target: Sunagakure.
This time, Pakura would reclaim everything that was rightfully hers.
Hokage Building – Morning After
Evan crossed the streets and arrived at the square before the Hokage Building.
The rubble had already been cleared to a degree, but the blood-stained ground and half-collapsed tower still screamed what had happened.
"Evan-sama…"
"Evan-sama is here!"
The shinobi working around the perimeter all stopped and bowed with fervent respect as soon as they saw him.
"No wonder he's Evan-sama. Last night he wiped out all the enemies by himself."
"Who would've thought he'd be this strong at such a young age. I was a fool to ever doubt him."
"I still don't like how brutal his methods are… but I can't deny it—he saved Konoha last night."
"I really want to learn swordsmanship under Evan-sama…"
"Konoha's undisputed Number One Swordsman!"
"Who do you think is stronger, Evan-sama or the Hokage?"
Evan smiled, nodding calmly to the gathered shinobi.
Being worshipped like this…
wasn't a bad feeling.
Last night, I bared my heart and soul.
Today, they bare theirs.
He suppressed his amusement and headed upstairs.
No need to knock this time—there was no doorframe to knock on.
The side of the office facing the square had taken the brunt of last night's devastation.
Half the wall was missing.
Evan gave the "door god" Kakashi a brief nod and walked straight in.
Kakashi watched his back with a complicated expression.
This classmate of his…
had already left him far behind.
With one intervention, Evan had crushed Suna's surprise assault.
Kakashi honestly had no idea just how strong he was now.
I'm still too weak…
Inside, a few temporary tables and chairs had been set up.
Hiruzen, Minato, Danzō, Shikaku, Hiashi, Fugaku and others were all present—
as well as several faces Evan didn't know, but who were clearly either clan heads or high-level advisors.
"Evan is here!"
"Evan-kun!"
"Last night was truly thanks to you, Evan-kun…"
Smiles spread across every face as they greeted him enthusiastically.
Evan waved cheerfully. "Everyone's here, I see."
His gaze paused slightly on Minato's warm smile—
I wonder if you've ever seen the other side of Kushina…
Probably not, he decided.
Judging by Kushina's utterly clueless "technique" earlier.
Inwardly, Evan muttered:
Minato, my friend…
I've tested it for you.
Kushina's grip is… no joke.
He buried the wicked thought and turned his attention to the Third.
"Lord Third, when will Konoha mobilize the troops?"
Hiruzen's expression stiffened at Evan's opening.
To him, Evan was becoming an unstable variable.
Driven by "vengeance for his comrades,"
he was clearly and firmly in the pro-war faction.
Hiruzen admired his so-called Will of Fire—
but Konoha simply could not endure another great war.
Especially after last night, Evan's prestige had risen again from the ashes.
If he called for war, many would follow.
That was precisely why Hiruzen had rejected Minato's suggestion to invite Evan to this meeting.
He hadn't expected the man to just walk in on his own anyway.
"Lord Third," Evan said, voice ringing solemnly, "when will Konoha dispatch its army to avenge Elders Koharu and Homura, and all the shinobi who died last night?"
"I, Evan, am willing to be the first to step onto the battlefield!"
He stood tall, voice firm, expression righteous and sincere.
The gathered shinobi looked at him and sighed inwardly, then collectively turned to Hiruzen.
"...Sigh."
Hiruzen let out a long breath, full of helplessness.
Still too young. He has no idea what war really is.
Minato spoke gently.
"Evan-kun, we just discussed this. Konoha will not prepare for war—for now."
Seeing Evan's expression fall into grief, he added kindly:
"We've already sent a letter to Sunagakure, demanding they take responsibility and hand over Pakura."
"At the same time, ANBU are already pursuing her. There should be results soon."
Results, my ass.
Evan complained silently.
Your ANBU and ROOT have already been converted into my EXP.
He cast a subtle glance at Hiruzen.
Cowardly old man.
He even thought—
If I'd just massacred the entire Sarutobi clan last night, could you still bear it?
"I see…"
Evan sighed, putting on a sorrowful face.
"But when I think of Elder Koharu's tragic death, I just…"
His voice broke, and he started "choking up."
Oscar owes me a golden statue.
The room fell quiet.
Hiruzen's face grew even more lined and sorrowful.
Evan added softly:
"Maybe when I die someday… Konoha will endure it the same way."
Hiruzen flinched.
His face twitched absurdly.
This brat has no filter at all…
Every clan head and elder present felt their expression shift.
Yeah… if we die, or our clans are attacked…
Will Konoha still just… endure?
The heads of the Utatane and Mitokado clans in particular wore bitter expressions.
Their most respected elders were dead—
and their village couldn't even decide on revenge.
At that moment, they looked at Evan with deep resonance.
And at Hiruzen with buried resentment and frustration.
Mockery flashed in Evan's eyes.
You don't want war? Fine.
I'll just slowly rot your prestige from the inside.
"Enough," Hiruzen cut in heavily. "Now is not the time to grieve. We are here to discuss reconstructing the Scroll of Seals."
He had to change the subject.
If he let Evan keep talking, everything would end up his fault.
He was doing this for Konoha.
These youngsters didn't understand what war did to a village.
"The Scroll of Seals was left by the First Hokage," Hiruzen said firmly. "We cannot allow it to vanish in our generation."
"Fortunately, apart from a few extremely rare forbidden techniques, most of its jutsu have living practitioners who can help recompile them."
He hadn't finished when—
"...Sigh…"
Evan let out another sigh.
Hiruzen's eye twitched.
Again?!
There really was a reason he disliked this kid.
"I just remembered…" Evan said, looking wistful.
"Before they died, the two elders only thought of one thing—recording my swordsmanship in the Scroll of Seals… for Konoha's sake."
"I never imagined… one night and both the elders and the Scroll would be destroyed…"
Hiruzen's face turned dark.
Can you stop bringing that up?
Evan ignored him.
"To honor the elders' devotion to Konoha, I've decided to be the first to offer up my sword style to the new Scroll of Seals."
"So more Konoha shinobi can learn swordsmanship—
and make our village stronger."
Shff, shff, shff—
Everyone in the office froze for a moment.
Then slowly turned to Evan.
Grief, dissatisfaction, gloom—
all those emotions vanished.
What remained—
Heat.
Recognition.
For Minato, it was sincere approval.
For everyone else, it was pure, burning desire.
Danzō, usually silent, actually lifted his head; his hand clenched by instinct.
Even Fugaku and Hiashi, leaders of Konoha's two great dōjutsu clans, flashed subtle interest.
Nara Shikaku, normally composed and reserved, lost his calm for once.
Each gaze landing on Evan shone like a starving wolf eyeing fresh meat.
Evan smiled faintly, utterly unbothered by the attention.
He pulled out a scroll from his robes.
He'd prepared this sword manual long ago.
Stepping forward, he solemnly handed it to the stunned Hiruzen.
"Lord Third, I leave my sword art in your hands. I hope Konoha can raise many more sword masters."
Hiruzen swallowed.
Slowly, he reached out and took the scroll, gripping it tightly.
All eyes locked onto it.
Faces flushed, eyes burning, curiosity raw and naked.
That's Evan's swordsmanship.
Konoha's Number One Swordsman.
The man who forced both Suna and Kiri to back down in the Third War.
The one who humiliated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Everyone in the room knew:
Ninjutsu relied on talent and bloodline.
Hard work could only take you so far.
Chakra reserves determined the ceiling.
But Evan's swordsmanship… was different.
Everyone knew he was terrible at ninjutsu—borderline incapable.
If Konoha hadn't been desperate for manpower during the war, he might never have graduated the academy at all.
Yet through swordsmanship alone, he carved his legend into the battlefield.
His sword art ignored chakra limitations.
Even an ordinary shinobi, learning just one or two moves, might reach the power of a chunin—or even a jōnin.
How many new fighting forces could that create?
Even the conservative Hyūga clan felt tempted—
Let alone the smaller houses.
Evan watched their reactions and sneered inwardly.
Let's see if you have the guts to truly practice it.
After all, to truly master this sword style—
some "unnecessary organs" might have to be sacrificed.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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