The moment Kiyosuke heard the name "Ao," his entire body tensed up.
The future bodyguard of the Fifth Mizukage, and aside from the Hyūga Clan of Konoha and the Ōtsutsuki clan of the moon, the only person known to possess the Byakugan.
"How is it? Does the Hyūga's Byakugan suit you?"
Mei Terumī asked with a smile.
"Ah, I've gotten used to it already. As expected of Konoha's strongest dōjutsu—after acquiring the Byakugan, I feel like my strength has risen again."
He gently touched his eye. Luck had really favored him—he'd managed to track down a member of the Hyūga main family and snatch one of their eyes.
Kiyosuke had heard about this from Hizashi before. Hizashi's grandfather, along with his brother, had fought in this war. Surrounded by Kirigakure forces, he had lost one of his Byakugan.
The main family was different from the branch family.
To protect their bloodline limit, the Hyūga clan had long split into main and branch families. The main family were the true heirs of the Hyūga name, tasked with protecting and continuing the clan. Only the direct eldest son of the clan leader could inherit the position.
The role of the branch family, on the other hand, was to sacrifice themselves if necessary to protect the main family and to prevent the Byakugan from falling into the hands of outsiders. Moreover, the branch family's Byakugan had a built-in weakness—a blind spot extending one degree outward from the spine.
If an enemy discovered that single degree of blind spot, it could very well cost the user's life.
Branch members bore the cursed seal—a "Caged Bird" mark—controlled by the main family. Should a branch member show signs of rebellion, the main family could activate the seal to destroy their brain.
This same seal also allowed the Byakugan to be destroyed upon the branch member's death, preventing it from being taken.
Yet Ao had succeeded in stealing a Byakugan from Hizashi's grandfather. The branch family escorting him had all died protecting him, while Hizashi, then assigned to another mission, had escaped that fate.
When Hizashi told Kiyosuke and the others this story, his expression was full of complicated emotions. He had long harbored resentment toward the Hyūga's system of main and branch families, seeing it as the root of the clan's suffering.
Because Ao had taken that eye, their grandfather returned to Konoha full of guilt and lived out his final days in deep regret.
As for Ao—he was soon listed on Konoha's most wanted list. His bounty was substantial—dead or alive.
...
"If there's nothing else, Lady Terumī, I'll take my leave. If anything comes up, feel free to call me."
Kiyosuke decided to slip away, holding onto the medical supplies and preparing to exit.
But just as he passed Ao, the man's expression shifted. Without warning, Ao grabbed Kiyosuke by the arm.
"Ow, ow, ow—you're hurting me!"
Kiyosuke put on a pained expression, tears welling up in his eyes, and whimpered, "Y-You're too rough~"
The tone was so soft and pitiful that even Mei, a woman herself, felt a pang of sympathy. Frowning, she said,
"Ao, what are you doing? He was just helping me apply my medicine."
Ao's expression darkened immediately.
"The higher-ups said a Konoha shinobi may have infiltrated the village. They've yet to be found. From the moment I entered this room, you've been acting suspicious. This eye came from the Hyūga clan of Konoha—I've never had the chance to test it on a live target. You'll do just fine. Byakugan!"
The veins around Ao's right eye bulged suddenly.
In an instant, he saw through Kiyosuke's disguise and caught sight of the immense chakra he was suppressing!
"You're that Konoha shinobi!!" Ao roared.
Mei's face flushed red—shame and fury mixing on her features. She trusted Ao more than a stranger. If this was true, then that meant the person who had just applied her medicine was...
Kiyosuke's expression darkened. He grabbed the bandage scissors from the tray and stabbed them straight at Ao's eye.
A charm-like earring suddenly flew to the Byakugan's surface. The scissors clashed against it, producing a burst of sparks.
The attack failed, so Kiyosuke lifted his leg and kicked, forcing Ao to retreat.
As he backed away, Kiyosuke said coolly, "Kirigakure's sealing techniques are pretty impressive. To think you've got a preemptive defense for your Byakugan."
The Protective Seal Charm—a masterpiece of Kirigakure's ANBU sealing unit. When the object it protects is threatened, the charm activates in the form of a seal. Only members of the sealing unit can remove it.
Even so, Ao could still use the Byakugan in the meantime.
"Lava Style!"
Mei Terumī spewed a thick, viscous liquid that sealed off the windows. Ao quickly backed out of the room and shut the door, while Mei sealed it from the inside, turning the ward into an airtight space.
Though in pain, she stood up, her beautiful face twisted in anger.
"Who are you?"
"Just a passing masked rider—remember that!"
"Hmph! Then prepare to die!"
She weaved hand signs and exhaled a thick mist.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Jutsu!"
Everything the acidic mist touched began to melt—good grief, even bones might dissolve if exposed long enough.
Kiyosuke backed up. In a sealed room like this, wind-style wouldn't be able to disperse the mist. But he wasn't out of tricks yet.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Water surged from the ground, forming into a massive dragon that slammed into the sealed window. But Mei's barrier was too sturdy—it didn't break.
"Save your strength. There's no way you're getting out of here."
Standing amidst the acidic mist, Mei was completely unharmed—of course, it was her own jutsu. She had full immunity to it.
Still, anger aside, she knew the situation called for calm. Capturing this intruder alive would be the best outcome for the village.
As the mist grew denser, Kiyosuke chuckled.
"You know, I always find a way out."
Clenching his fist, he punched the wall beside him. With enhanced strength, he smashed through. After a few more strikes and kicks, he blasted open a hole, startling the injured shinobi on the other side.
At that moment, a figure dashed in—it was Ao.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A group of clones appeared and spread out, dodging Ao's attacks.
Grinning, Kiyosuke said, "Since your vision is so sharp, let me give you a treat!"
The clones exchanged knowing glances and shouted in unison:
"Sexy Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
A cloud of smoke exploded—and when it cleared, the room was filled with scantily clad, voluptuous women.
Several Kirigakure shinobi lying on nearby beds erupted with nosebleeds.
Even Ao wasn't immune—his nose started to bleed. He shut his eyes and relied on his Byakugan to see. In his vision, chakra outlines filled the room—humanoid shapes with clear chakra networks.
That helped.
"You've got no shame!"
Kiyosuke clicked his tongue as the clones vanished.
"To think you could resist the great Sexy Jutsu... Are you a eunuch or something?"
"Bastard! What kind of Konoha shinobi doesn't fight properly and instead spends time inventing bizarre techniques like this!?"
What's bizarre about it?! It's brilliant, okay!? ×4
Everyone in the room—including Kiyosuke and the three other Kirigakure shinobi, Ao excluded—mentally agreed on that point.
"Not playing with you anymore. Tell the lady I said: Until next time—if fate allows..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a massive blade flew in from the window with a boom, exploding on impact!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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