Chapter 497: "You Won’t Fight Someone Who’s Nearly Blind? Are You Scared?"

"Are you looking down on Kumogakure?" A demanded, his voice brimming with fury.

Unlike Dodai, who could maintain composure, A had no patience for subtle insults. His temper, typical of Raikage, flared easily—even though he hadn't yet officially inherited the title.

"And this is…?" Takuya asked, feigning ignorance as he turned his head toward Dodai. With an apologetic tone, he added, "My apologies. My eyes haven't been in the best condition lately, so I can't clearly recognize people I haven't met before."

"..."

The crowd, consisting of Konoha ninja and representatives from other villages gathered at the gate, looked on with strange expressions.

Yagami Takuya, do you even hear yourself? Your conscience must hurt saying that out loud.

Even with his eyes covered, no one would believe he had trouble recognizing people. Anyone with even basic intelligence reports on him knew Takuya's sensory abilities rivaled the Uzumaki clan's. His sight might be impaired, but his perception was impeccable.

Dodai's expression soured slightly, but he maintained his politeness as he introduced, "This is Lord A, the son of the Third Raikage."

In Kumogakure, regardless of their original name, those who became Raikage adopted the title "A."

"A?" Takuya tilted his head as if trying to discern A's presence with his sensory abilities. After a long pause, he hesitantly asked, "If I remember correctly, only Raikage can use that title, right?"

"Well, that's because—"

A had barely begun to explain when Takuya interrupted with exaggerated realization.

"Oh! Only the Raikage can use the name A, and since the Third Raikage is still alive, you must be… Little A?"

"Pfft—"

Several people in the crowd burst into laughter, unable to hold it back despite their best efforts. Even those trying to suppress it failed miserably, covering their mouths as their shoulders shook.

The Kumogakure delegation was stunned. Little A?

What kind of ridiculous nickname was that? Yet when they thought about it, it did make a strange kind of sense. The Third Raikage was A, and his son, also named A, could logically be called Little A. But the term was undeniably awkward.

What the hell? Dodai thought, utterly speechless. He had never imagined anyone would dare to call A something so absurd. And yet… the logic was infuriatingly sound.

"This brat has lost his mind!" Dodai thought, shaking off the bizarre reasoning that momentarily trapped him.

"You bastard! Are you mocking me?!" A's face turned bright red with rage, his already massive muscles swelling as if he were preparing to crush Takuya with a single punch.

"Oh no, not at all," Takuya replied, his expression calm and pleasant. "Mocking you? That's too harsh. I was merely ridiculing you. Mockery would be far more serious."

"…"

That's even worse!

Pakura sighed, covering her face with one hand. Sensing the situation spiraling out of control, she tugged at Takuya's sleeve, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Lord Takuya," she whispered, "he may be provoking you, but he's still a guest. Let's avoid unnecessary conflict."

While Pakura admitted Takuya's points were technically valid, quarreling with a guest at the village gate wasn't exactly a good look for Konoha.

"A!" Dodai exclaimed in alarm, quickly stepping between A and Takuya. He feared A might lose his temper and attack, creating an even bigger mess. While it wasn't ideal for a host to mock a guest, it would be disastrous for a guest to attack the host.

Dodai glanced nervously at the nearby Konoha shinobi, many of whom were already gathering to observe. If a fight broke out, things could escalate quickly.

Kumogakure's usual strategy of using veiled threats of war to get what they wanted wouldn't work here. With Tsunade about to take office as the Fourth Hokage, any threat would only provoke Konoha further.

Besides, even in its weakened state, Konoha wouldn't back down from a fight with Kumogakure.

"Hmph!" A forced himself to calm down, glaring at Takuya with a mix of frustration and disdain. "I've heard that Yagami Takuya is hailed as a genius on par with the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju. But seeing you now, blind from overusing your Sharingan, I can't help but feel disappointed."

"What?"

A's words shocked the onlookers, especially the Konoha ninja. Even the Third Hokage, watching through his crystal ball, nearly fell out of his chair.

Although he and Takuya had their differences, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want any harm to come to one of Konoha's strongest assets.

Could it be true? Has the overuse of the Mangekyō Sharingan taken its toll? What now?

If Takuya's eyesight were truly compromised, it would severely impact his combat effectiveness—a disastrous blow for Konoha, especially with Iwagakure on the brink of war and Kumogakure stirring trouble.

Pakura grabbed Takuya by the shoulders, turning him to face her. For once, her tone was forceful. "Is it true? Are your eyes damaged?"

Damaged my ass!

Takuya wanted to roll his eyes but refrained. If not for the cloth covering his face, he would've shown them the faint circles of his developing Rinnegan.

I'm fine. More than fine. My Rinnegan is almost complete—I'm about to soar to new heights.

"It's nothing serious," he reassured her. "Just some mild irritation. It'll pass in time."

Seeing A's smug expression, Takuya decided to play along with the misunderstanding. If he thinks I'm nearly blind, why not lean into it?

"Truly unfortunate," A sneered. "I had hoped to test my strength against you, but seeing your condition now, it seems pointless."

Oh, so you like taunting people, huh? Two can play that game.

"Did you want to challenge me?" Takuya asked, brushing off Pakura's grip and facing A directly.

"I did. But now…" A shrugged, spreading his hands in mock disappointment. "Why bother fighting someone who's nearly blind? There's no point."

"You used to be a man. Are you not one anymore?" Takuya retorted.

"???"

A blinked, dumbfounded. "What are you even talking about?"

"I said," Takuya replied with a grin, "if you won't fight someone who's nearly blind, are you scared?"

The air around them grew tense. Takuya's words were a clear challenge, and the crowd knew things were about to escalate.

"Hmph! Name the time and place," A snapped.

Dodai, now visibly distressed, tried to intervene. "A, don't be rash!"

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