Chapter 74: Kisame Strikes

"You want Samehada for what? Don't act recklessly. It's safer to leave this thing with the teacher," Even though Uchiha Kage's strength had already surpassed her own, Yuhi Kurenai still didn't want to share the danger with her students.

'Even if that student is nothing but a troublemaker...'

"No, I can use that ninja sword. If I carry it, it should enhance my strength to some extent."

"Is... that so?"

Half-doubtful, Yuhi Kurenai took out the Samehada sword from a space scroll.

And sure enough, as soon as it was placed on the ground, the sword let out a joyful screech, like a pet, in the direction of Uchiha Kage. It then eagerly crawled onto his shoulder, affectionately rubbing against his cheek.

"You can even tame an enemy's ninja sword, you little...", Yuhi Kurenai had tried holding Samehada before, but every time, she got pricked by the barbs that suddenly extended from the hilt.

"I don't know, maybe it's a talent," Because he had fused with a fragment of the Eight-Tails, Samehada was now even closer to him than before.

Uchiha Kage even felt that, even if Kisame were to come now, the sword might no longer recognize him as its master.

———

"Is it them?", In the shadows under a tree, two ninjas who had concealed their presence were watching the group leaving Konoha from a distance.

"Yes, every single one of them matches the intelligence report. There's no doubt about it."

"Then let's follow them and take them out, sis!", The male ninja, carrying a long sword on his back, seemed a little impatient.

"No, we're still within Konoha's area of influence. Plus, they have a Byakugan user. We must stay at least a kilometer away from them. Let's wait a bit longer."

'Wait until they lower their guard—then strike like lightning,' The female ninja, arms crossed, wore a cold expression.

"A one-hit kill is much cooler."

"But that's not hot-blooded at all... Fine, I'll listen to you, sis."

Seeing the look his sister shot him, the younger brother, though reluctant, had no choice but to obey her authority.

———

The orange firelight flickered inside the cave, illuminating the faces of four people.

Crack!

Snapping a twig in her hands, Yuhi Kurenai stole a glance at a certain student resting against the cave wall while watching the heavy rain outside.

Ever since becoming this guy's mentor, for some reason, she found herself enjoying missions outside the village more and more.

But today's rain was a buzzkill.

Not only did it prevent them from traveling, but they couldn't even camp outside and had to take shelter in this tiny cave.

Finally, they got out of the village, only to be met with rain shortly after—what a bad start.

"Um… Sensei… I… I want to go out for a bit," Hinata, slightly embarrassed, pressed her thighs together and whispered into Yuhi Kurenai's ear.

Besides needing to relieve herself, she also wanted to wash her sweaty body. And…

There was a waterfall nearby that was perfect for practicing Gentle Fist. She wanted to master the Sixty-Four Palms as soon as possible.

She had been this close during practice at home today.

"Alright, I'll have Kage go with you," Yuhi Kurenai looked at the pitch-black sky and the heavy downpour that would likely last all night.

Then, she playfully teased the shy girl a little.

"N-No need, Sensei…"

Hinata's face turned red as she refused her teacher's offer.

Whether it was training or bathing, she wasn't planning to wear clothes. How could she possibly… possibly let someone follow her?

'Even if it is Kage...'

'Even Kage-kun isn't allowed!'

'Besides...'

"Kage-kun looks really tired. I-I can go alone."

Hinata was also secretly glancing at Uchiha Kage.

'Usually, he always bickers and messes around with Kurenai-sensei, but today, he is surprisingly quiet.'

"Alright, just be careful of your surroundings," Yuhi Kurenai didn't tease the shy girl any further.

"Yes."

"Keep your Byakugan activated," Just as Hinata was about to step out of the cave, Uchiha Kage suddenly opened his eyes and reminded her.

"Mm!", Hinata nodded vigorously, then skipped lightly into the rain outside.

For a moment, the raindrops on her lips tasted sweet.

'Kage-kun seems to care about me more and more…'

———

"What a sinful man."

Just one sentence made Hinata so happy. Yuhi Kurenai kept snapping the twig in her hands, glaring at the young boy before her as if trying to break something evil.

"Sensei, can I use your lap as a pillow?"

After keeping his Byakugan active for half the day, Uchiha Kage was feeling a bit exhausted.

Besides, once night fell, he always started missing Kaguya and Uchiha Mikoto's lap pillows.

'Being wrapped in the warm thighs of a big sister—it is so comfortable.'

"W-What are you thinking? How can a teacher…"

Yuhi Kurenai glanced at Shino, who sat nearby with his eyes closed, meditating.

Then she hurriedly rejected her student's sudden and outrageous request.

'Shino is still keeping watch with his insects, and yet you…'

'No way—there is no way I will let this rebellious student, rest on my lap.'

'Not even in my dreams…'

The version of her in that dream, who couldn't resist at all, didn't count.

'This is the one time you won't ignore me?', Shino opened his eyes and checked on the little insects that had just returned, soaked in rainwater.

"Sensei, the rain is too heavy. My insects can't scout the surroundings anymore."

"Hmm, then let's rest here for the night."

Judging by the downpour outside, it wasn't stopping anytime soon.

"But we should stay on alert."

"Sensei…"

'Hmm?'

Uchiha Kage had just been about to bring up the night watch rotation when his Byakugan suddenly caught sight of a shadow flashing by outside.

He had been keeping his Byakugan active throughout the journey and hadn't detected anything unusual. But now, under the cover of night and rain, that person had finally made a move?

Uchiha Kage frowned. He sensed a familiar chakra.

And that familiarity could only mean one thing—it came from a powerful enemy he had encountered before.

"I'm going out for a bit," Shouldering Samehada, Uchiha Kage surveyed the area once more. After confirming there were no other presences nearby, he left the cave.

'So this guy really does care about Hinata, huh…', Yuhi Kurenai thought Uchiha Kage was leaving in a hurry to ensure Hinata's safety, so she didn't question him.

———

"Just you alone?"

Carrying Samehada on his back, Uchiha Kage soon arrived at a mist-filled forest.

SWISH! SWISH!

Silhouettes flickered through the trees.

Seeing this, Uchiha Kage casually pulled Samehada from his back and planted it onto the wet grass.

"One person isn't enough? Kid, you sure think highly of yourself," From the puddles on the ground and the surrounding tree trunks, multiple figures of Kisame emerged.

Even through the Byakugan, they all appeared to be real.

'Shadow clones?'

'No—water clones...'

Uchiha Kage watched the process of Kisame's body forming out of water.

Because there were far too many Kisames appearing before him.

'A clone battle strategy?'

Even in the rain, being able to summon so many water clones at once proved Kisame's incredible strength.

Uchiha Kage's eyes narrowed.

That was the downside of the Byakugan—it couldn't distinguish real entities from tangible clones.

"You don't seem surprised to see me. Looks like you already know about Itachi-san's situation in Konoha?"

SPLAT!

Uchiha Kage smacked an emerging Kisame clone with Samehada, dispersing it into a puddle.

"Not a very polite kid. I hadn't even declared the fight started yet, and you're already attacking."

The dissolved Kisame clone reappeared from another patch of grass.

Uchiha Kage kept whacking them like a game of whack-a-mole, but the water clones quickly filled the entire forest.

"Scared now, kid?"

Hundreds, thousands of Kisame water clones closed in on the surrounded Uchiha boy.

"..."

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