Kiyoshi's shameless attempt to turn the blame around left Hyūga Natsu speechless.
Her demands were too much?
Wasn't it obvious that Uchiha Kiyoshi was the one asking for too much?
After thinking for a moment, Natsu suppressed her thoughts and said nothing.
She quietly lowered her head, bid farewell, and slowly walked toward the door.
Kiyoshi rubbed his chin and silently watched Natsu's increasingly mature figure.
Year after year, flowers may look similar, yet every year they bloom differently.
He wasn't the only one growing—everyone else was changing too.
To Kiyoshi, it simply meant the wheat was ripening.
The season of harvest was approaching.
"Kirigakure attacking Sunagakure… that's an opportunity."
That was where Kiyoshi's confidence came from.
When the Hidden Mist and Hidden Sand went to war, Pakura would eventually die because Sunagakure's higher-ups negotiated a ceasefire with Kirigakure.
Pakura herself would become Sunagakure's "sincerity."
Look, we're even sacrificing one of our rare geniuses. That's how sincere we are.
It was absurd.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, truly treated no one like a human being.
Whether it was Pakura or even his own son Gaara, everyone was merely a bargaining chip in his eyes.
Of course, Pakura's death was something for the future.
For now, the more relevant event was Kirigakure attempting to steal the Byakugan from the Hyūga clan's main family.
During war, even children were forced onto the battlefield—let alone bearers of bloodline limits.
If the Byakugan were lost, the Hyūga clan would mobilize their entire clan to retrieve it.
Because it would be the first major case of the Byakugan leaking outside the clan.
Once people realized that transplanting the Byakugan placed almost no burden on the body, an entirely new world would open.
Long-distance vision.
X-ray vision.
360-degree perception.
The enhancement it gave to a ninja was incredible.
Unfortunately, the Hyūga clan simply didn't know how to use it properly.
They obsessed over Gentle Fist while lacking Kaguya's chakra reserves.
Honestly, if they focused more on long-range combat instead of close-range Gentle Fist, wouldn't they be far stronger?
"Hiss…"
Under Kiyoshi's guidance over the past few days, the white snake—whose intelligence was comparable to a three- or four-year-old child—had even learned how to close doors.
After shutting the door, it quickly slithered back and curled around Kiyoshi.
His body heat felt comfortable to it.
Kiyoshi played with the white snake for a while before continuing his Wind Release training.
Hokage Building
"Hiruzen, Sunagakure has been acting suspicious lately."
Shimura Danzō placed down a report with a gloomy expression.
Sunagakure had gained certain imported resources through cooperation with the Land of Demons.
But the greedy Sand ninjas still weren't satisfied.
They wanted the fertile lands of the Land of Fire.
"The First Hokage was already merciful to give them territory! Yet these ungrateful bastards still want more!"
Danzō slammed the table angrily.
He was a man aiming to become Hokage.
If the Land of Fire lost territory, wasn't that his loss too?
"That's enough, Danzō."
Hiruzen shook his head.
Having served as Hokage for so many years allowed him to see farther than Danzō.
"We should strengthen our alliance with Sunagakure."
Hiruzen spoke calmly.
This would also allow Konoha to gauge Sunagakure's true attitude.
If Suna remained ambiguous, Konoha would need to raise its war readiness.
"Who should we send?"
Mito Mon'ei asked while adjusting his glasses.
As one of the Hokage advisors, his opinion carried weight.
"Let Tsunade go."
Hiruzen thought for a moment before answering.
Ever since developing hemophobia, Tsunade had almost stopped taking missions, and even rarely treated patients.
But this mission was merely a diplomatic visit to Sunagakure.
No combat would be necessary.
And Suna wouldn't be foolish enough to attack an ally's envoy.
More importantly, Tsunade's status made her suitable to represent Konoha.
"Alone?"
Koharu frowned.
Ever since losing both her younger brother and her lover, Tsunade had fallen into decadence.
Drinking, gambling… she indulged in almost everything except prostitution.
Ironically, the "womanizing" part had been perfectly embodied by another one of Hiruzen's disciples—Jiraiya.
"Yes."
Hiruzen nodded.
Jiraiya was too unpredictable.
Orochimaru was too sinister.
As long as gambling wasn't involved, Tsunade was actually fairly reliable.
"She'll take the Mizunotsuki Team with her. Mizunotsuki Yūki's hands are injured."
After taking a puff from his pipe, Hiruzen finalized the decision.
"Hmph. Just admit you're paving the way for your son."
Danzō, who constantly coveted the position of the next Hokage, was extremely sensitive to these matters.
"Danzō, I have always acted openly as Hokage. This just happens to be a vacancy."
Hiruzen replied calmly.
Minato's team had already left on a D-rank mission.
There were indeed better teams than Asuma, Kiyoshi, and Kurenai—but they were all out on missions.
As for weaker teams, there was no point sending them.
After all, this team had recently received a personal letter of gratitude from the Daimyō of the Land of Demons.
Their reputation was excellent.
"Hmph."
Danzō waved his sleeve and left.
Seeing that Mito Mon'ei and Koharu showed no opposition, he already knew the matter was settled.
As he walked out, one thought crossed his mind:
Uchiha…
Uchiha Kiyoshi.
Back then, he had requested the boy from Hiruzen, but Hiruzen refused and instead placed him in his son's team.
Ironically, one of Danzō's own subordinates had ended up taking Kiyoshi as a disciple.
Not only that, but Kiyoshi had also interacted frequently with Orochimaru.
"Having an Uchiha in my hands isn't bad either."
Danzō glanced back toward Hiruzen's office.
Hiruzen was already old.
In a few years, a new Hokage would be chosen.
At that time, the candidate Danzō supported—Orochimaru—would have the greatest advantage.
And once Orochimaru became Hokage, Danzō could later force him down from the position.
After all, Orochimaru cared far more about research than political power.
By then, Kiyoshi's value would truly emerge.
Using an Uchiha against the Uchiha—
that was the most effective method.
Destroy the Uchiha from within.
"Hah? Me? Lead those brats?"
A drunken Tsunade exploded in annoyance after hearing the ANBU messenger.
Seeing her clenched fist, the ANBU quietly stepped back.
"This is the Hokage's order. Please meet with your new team members, Tsunade-sama."
The ANBU vanished instantly with the Body Flicker Technique, leaving only a black blur leaping across rooftops in the distance.
"What a pain…"
Tsunade muttered.
"Shizune! Shizune!"
The young girl who had just paid Tsunade's bill hurried over.
"What is it, Tsunade-sama?"
"Go gather Asuma, Kiyoshi, and Kurenai."
After saying that, Tsunade grabbed her sake bottle and prepared to head home for a nap.
Shizune could only sigh and start asking passersby for directions.
After all, aside from Kiyoshi's house, she had never visited the others' homes before…
(End of Chapter)