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The Third Hokage may speak grandly, but he never acts without personal gain in mind.
As for whether this will ultimately lead to Hizashi's death—well, I have no ties to the Hyuga clan, so their fate doesn't concern me.
After a long negotiation, Toshiro finally left the Hokage's office, having secured what he wanted.
"Hiruzen! Are you really going to hand over the Uzumaki Clan's secrets to him?"
"That's one of the few advantages we have over the Uchiha."
Koharu's indignation was palpable. Hearing the Third Hokage agree to give away the Uzumaki's secret scrolls left her fuming. Ever since her mentor, the Second Hokage, passed away and she became an advisor, she had rarely been so infuriated.
Which Konoha ninja doesn't show her respect? But those Uchiha... All of them, they treat her with outright disdain.
"Koharu, are you still hung up on Kagami?"
With just that single name, the Third Hokage managed to silence her completely.
Even Homura, standing beside them, glanced at Koharu and adjusted his glasses, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes.
They all had their own tangled web of emotions and memories—an intricate tale of love and conflict with a distinct Konoha flavor. But it seemed Koharu still couldn't let go.
…
On the other side, although Toshiro had secured the Third Hokage's promise, he didn't put much stock in it.
Any secret techniques he obtained from the old man would be scrutinized meticulously—they would be nothing more than a reference for his own use. After all, he wasn't about to make the same mistake twice.
After giving instructions to Uchiha Hana and Mei, and informing the clan head, Toshiro didn't waste any time. He set out alone towards Konoha's northern border.
**Somewhere on the Northern border**
"Yugito! Don't venture any further—this is the border of the Land of Fire. If Konoha's ninjas surround you, you'll be in serious trouble!"
A young man with short silver-blonde hair and dark skin, clad in a Kumo jounin combat vest, looked at his overly enthusiastic companion and sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
Perhaps it was the stifling atmosphere in the village, but Yugito, who had recently returned from training on Turtle Island, eagerly volunteered to join the fight upon hearing about the tensions between her village and Konoha.
The Fourth Raikage, seemingly curious to see the results of her training while also wanting to increase pressure on Konoha, agreed and sent her to the border.
Unfortunately, he was assigned as her partner and nanny, tasked with keeping an eye on her. However, as soon as they reached the battlefield, her excitement got the better of her. Ignoring his and others' warnings, she recklessly broke through the border and entered the territory of the Land of Fire.
Observing her elated demeanor, it was clear that she had no intention of retreating anytime soon. The thought alone made Darui's headache worse.
"C, don't worry about Darui," Yugito said dismissively. "See if there are any Konoha ninjas nearby. I still have plenty of new moves I want to test out!"
Darui's words had no impact whatsoever—Yugito paid him no mind. Having recently formed a tentative agreement with Matatabi and gained the ability to tap into the beast's power, she was eager to push her limits. She then turned her attention to another member of their group, a yellow-haired, fair-skinned ninja who specialized in both perception and medical ninjutsu, as well as illusions.
When Yugito decided to head to the front lines, the Fourth Raikage had specifically assigned Darui and C, who were of a similar age, to accompany her. Their role was twofold: to keep an eye on Yugito and to further their own training under the intense conditions of battle.
"About a kilometer ahead, there are three chakra signatures—they're likely the Konoha patrol team!" C reported, sensing the chakra with ease. "Judging by their strength, they seem to be Konoha's elite."
As soon as Yugito heard this, she grew excited. "Perfect! These prey are mine!" she declared, darting forward in the direction C had indicated.
"Hey, wait up!" Darui called after them, his exasperation clear in his voice. "You two can't just run off on your own! I'm the captain of this team, remember? If you keep acting on impulse like this, you'll mess up the boss's entire plan!"
Darui, known for his laid back nature, couldn't help but complain as he watched his two teammates completely disregard his concerns and eagerly plan another assault on a Konoha team.
"You Konoha rats won't escape my claws~," Yugito taunted, her voice dripping with confidence.
In the depths of a lush forest, she pursued two Konoha ninjas, her figure enveloped in the eerie red glow of rippling chakra. With sword-like claws at the ready, she moved with a relaxed air, as if she were a cat toying with its prey.
"Yugito, stop wasting time!" Darui called out, his tone urgent. "They've already sent a distress signal. If we don't finish this quickly, we could be walking into a trap. We need to wrap this up now."
Seeing his companion still taking her time, Darui frowned, realizing that Yugito was deliberately dragging things out. She seemed to be waiting for Konoha's reinforcements to arrive so that she could test her strength against them in a full-scale battle.
"Konoha also has some formidable fighters, especially the one I encountered yesterday... But for now, let's finish off these guys and head back to our base camp!" Darui urged, sensing the need to regain control of the situation.
When Yugito still seemed reluctant, Darui hardened his expression and reprimanded her, "Yugito, I understand you're strong, but remember, Raikage gave strict orders—you're to follow my lead in all actions!"
"You should realize that disobeying orders on the battlefield could cost you the freedom you fought so hard to gain when we return," Darui warned.
"Got it," Yugito replied, though clearly displeased. She knew that, as a jinchūriki, ignoring Darui's commands wouldn't lead to punishment or mistreatment upon returning to the village. However, it could result in more surveillance and restrictions, stripping her of the rare freedom she currently enjoys.
As a jinchūriki, if Darui reported her insubordination to the Raikage, her future would be far from easy.
"Oh! Leaving so soon?"
"I'm just about to entertain our Konoha guests!" A man's voice echoed as Yugito prepared to finish off the two fleeing Konoha Shinobi.
"Who's there?" Yugito snapped, but before she could react, C, the team's sensor ninja, suddenly looked up, his expression shifting to one of alarm.
"Yugito, be careful! The chakra from this person is incredibly huge!" he warned, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
"It's as strong as the Raikage's chakra—no, maybe even stronger," C added, his concern deepening.
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