Shiraishi departed, leaving behind an extremely awkward Arakawa Maru.
"Father," Arakawa Maru finally said, unable to hold back, "Shiraishi has already become Elder Ebizō's disciple. Why did you still refuse him like that?"
He truly could not understand his father's decision.
The Elder Council wielded overwhelming authority—so much so that even the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had to show them due respect. Why, then, would his father deliberately refuse to be on good terms with Shiraishi, someone now clearly aligned with the Elder Council?
Clan head Arakawa Akita spoke with a grave expression.
"The Three Sand Lineages are the core of our clan's continuation. You must remember that."
The Arakawa, Yamaji, and Rō clans together formed the Three Sand Lineages of Sunagakure, much like Konoha's Ino–Shika–Chō alliance—an ancient, inseparable partnership spanning countless generations. As collateral blood relatives of the Wind Country daimyō's family, the three lineages had produced outstanding talents for centuries.
Among them, the Yamaji clan had produced a Third Kazekage, while the Rō clan had given rise to the current Fourth Kazekage. Combined with their deep blood ties to the daimyō's household, they constituted the most noble lineage associated with Sand Release.
This long history and lofty bloodline had bred deep-rooted arrogance. Even when facing the Elder Council, they never truly bowed their heads.
Ebizō and Chiyo were disciples left behind by the Second Kazekage. Their origins traced back to ordinary minor ninja families—far removed from the bloodlines of the Third and Fourth Kazekage.
Compared to the sharp confrontation in Konoha between the Second Hokage's direct descendants and clans like the Uchiha, Sunagakure's internal relations had always been relatively mild. The Elder Council had even yielded the Kazekage's seat to the Sand Release clans.
Chiyo and Ebizō's repeated concessions were precisely why both sides had managed to coexist peacefully. Even after the Third Kazekage's disappearance, the Elder Council still supported Rasa, a member of the Three Sand Lineages, as Kazekage.
But everything changed after Shiraishi exposed the ambiguous truth surrounding Sasori of the Red Sand and the Third Kazekage's death.
An invisible rift had formed.
As the Third Kazekage's disciple, the Fourth Kazekage couldn't have any thoughts of his own regarding the Elder Council—yet Sunagakure could not afford internal strife.
Previously, when Pakura had left Kikyo Pass without authorization, everyone expected Rasa to fly into a rage and clash with her. Instead, he merely docked part of her mission pay and let the matter drop.
Not only that—his attitude toward Pakura had noticeably softened, even showing faint signs of drawing her closer. This alone made the political climate at the top of Sunagakure increasingly unpredictable.
Refusing Shiraishi's trade was itself a statement—one made for both the Fourth Kazekage and the Elder Council to see. It clarified the Arakawa clan's stance and strengthened their position in Rasa's eyes.
Compared to the other two clans that had produced Kazekage, Arakawa Akita desperately wanted his son to become the next one.
"Is being Ebizō's disciple really more valuable than being the Fourth Kazekage's disciple?"
Yamaji Ryōko sneered.
Recently, the Arakawa clan had been in constant contact with Rasa regarding Arakawa Maru's potential apprenticeship. Today's rejection of Shiraishi was, more than anything, a deliberate show of attitude.
—
As Shiraishi left the Arakawa estate, he could not help but admire the shamelessness of great clans.
They had kept his jutsu for so long, only to publicly refuse the trade in the end. Did that mean his Fire Release technique had essentially been given to the Arakawa clan for free?
Their tactics truly broadened his horizons.
The Arakawa clan's refusal carried no follow-up actions—cold, but restrained. It felt less like hostility and more like a firm declaration of position.
Shiraishi did not yet fully understand the internal structure of Sunagakure's upper echelons. His original plan had been to scan and record as many books as possible before leaving the village with Ebizō. Now, that plan had to be abandoned.
This transaction had initially been known only to Shiraishi and Arakawa Maru. Yet, under deliberate manipulation, it quickly became a topic known among Sunagakure's upper ranks.
Chiyo was furious at the Arakawa clan's attitude, but Ebizō, by contrast, was deeply curious about Shiraishi's self-created C-rank Fire Release technique.
Up to now, every ninjutsu Shiraishi had developed started at C-rank: Whirlwind Blade, Psychic Force, and Spark.
Among them, Psychic Force had already proven its immense value. The subsequent abilities derived from externalized psychic power showed vast potential, enough that Sunagakure's high command and Elder Council were planning to selectively teach its principles to elite jōnin with exceptional chakra control.
Spark, on the surface, looked no different from traditional low-level Fire Release. But according to Shiraishi's theory, Spark was not merely an attack—it served as a foundational framework for higher-tier Fire Release techniques.
While Ebizō was explaining theoretical principles at home, he casually asked Shiraishi about this C-rank Fire Release.
Shiraishi's reply caught him completely off guard.
"It can be evolved into a higher-tier Fire Release."
Ebizō snapped his book shut and ruffled Shiraishi's messy hair.
"Advanced Fire Release? Are you fooling this old man?"
"I'm still working on it," Shiraishi replied honestly.
Yet after Shiraishi outlined several core concepts, even Ebizō began to wonder if such an evolution was truly possible.
Since the topic had come up, Ebizō stated his position plainly.
"A library pass isn't something only the Arakawa clan can obtain."
With that, he casually tossed Chiyo's access pass to Shiraishi.
Chiyo's eyes went wide as she glared at her brother.
"Elder Sister," Ebizō said lightly, "you don't even like reading these things anyway."
"You old bastard, looking for a beating?!"
Chiyo yanked her fishing rod up in one smooth motion. Countless chakra threads shot out instantly, their speed so terrifying that even Shiraishi's expression changed.
The threads danced wildly through the air, dazzling and impossible to track.
So this was the power of a true master.
A single release of chakra threads already felt completely unavoidable.
Ebizō, grinning like a mischievous monkey, darted and weaved with astonishing agility, narrowly evading Chiyo's attacks.
"Sister, your chakra thread control is still incredible," he said cheerfully. "The speed and precision are perfect. But I have a few things I don't quite understand…"
Feigning innocent confusion about puppet techniques, Ebizō raised several questions that had long troubled Shiraishi.
Chiyo's eyes widened further as she cursed her brother inwardly.
So he never takes disciples—and once he does, he treats them like treasure?
Now he was even trying to squeeze answers out of her for his student!
Still, Chiyo valued family deeply. Since Ebizō was clearly putting in so much effort, she did not hesitate to explain, breaking down several key points in detail.
In an instant, many of Shiraishi's long-standing confusions were resolved.
"Three days from now," Ebizō said, "we'll leave the village for training."
—
Shiraishi still had three days left in Sunagakure.
The moment he received the pass, he went straight to the Sunagakure Library.
Under the envious gazes of the guards, Shiraishi presented Chiyo's access pass and entered without obstruction.
The massive library covered a vast area, yet very few people were inside. Aside from the librarians, only two or three ninja were quietly researching their own materials.
"Have you heard?" one whispered. "The Fourth Kazekage plans to personally take on disciples. Besides Arakawa Maru, he's willing to accept one more. A lot of rookies are preparing to apply."
Shiraishi closed the book in his hands.
In his mind, the silhouette of a graceful young woman quietly surfaced.
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