The night market was lively and noisy, filled with the calls of various food vendors, the aroma of food, and the sounds of people laughing and talking, all interwoven with the atmosphere of everyday life.
For Kisame, who had spent years living in the Bloody Mist Village, constantly surrounded by conspiracy and betrayal, this was an unfamiliar and novel experience.
His tightly strung nerves seemed to relax bit by bit in this noisy yet peaceful environment.
Miru seemed very happy, stopping from time to time at stalls selling small trinkets or specialty snacks. Kisame stayed by her side, silently watching her chat with vendors, watching her pick up shiny hair clips and try them on, asking for his opinion.
He always gave brief evaluations: 'Passable.' 'Too flashy.' 'Poor for concealment.'
This elicited more light laughter from Miru.
As they walked, at a crossroads, Kisame's steps suddenly halted. His gaze sharply focused on a bustling takoyaki shop at the street corner.
Miru followed his gaze, curious, "What is it, Kisame? Do you like takoyaki too?"
She knew Kisame had little interest in sweets and rarely paid attention to such snacks.
Kisame didn't answer immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly, quickly scanning the shop and its surroundings as if assessing a mission environment, subconsciously analyzing: "This shop is very good."
"Oh? How can you tell? Is it because there are many customers and it smells good?" Miru asked with interest, thinking he had finally developed some interest in food.
"No," Kisame shook his head, his tone in its usual calm analytical mode, "This crossroads is a traffic node for this area, with dense pedestrian flow. The shop's location is right at the corner, with an open field of view, allowing observation of movements from all four directions without blind spots."
"And look," He continued, "The alley behind the shop leads directly to another parallel snack street. In case of an emergency, whether choosing to defend on-site using the shop or quickly evacuating through the back alley, it's very convenient. This is an excellent reconnaissance point and could also serve as a temporary safe house alternative."
He finished his serious tactical analysis but found no response beside him.
Puzzled, he turned his head to see Miru covering her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly, her smiling eyes curved like crescent moons, clearly trying hard not to laugh.
"Pfft... Hahaha-" Finally, she couldn't hold it in, letting out a light, bell-like laugh, "You...! I thought you meant its takoyaki tasted very good! Turns out you were analyzing its tactical position as 'good'! Really!"
Kisame looked at the laughing Miru, belatedly realizing what he had just said. He turned his head away somewhat annoyedly, "Habit."
Miru stopped laughing, but her eyes still held gentle amusement. She took Kisame's hand and pulled him decisively towards the takoyaki shop, "Since its location is so 'good', let's go try how its taste really is!"
She bought a portion of freshly made, steaming takoyaki, carefully skewered one with a pick, blew on it gently, and then brought it to Kisame's mouth, her eyes shining with expectation, "Here, try it? Maybe the taste is as 'good' as its location?"
Kisame looked at the smiling woman before him, then at the food offered to him. He hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth, allowing Miru to feed him the takoyaki.
Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy inside, the octopus pieces firm, the sauce rich… an unfamiliar, warm taste belonging to ordinary life spread in his mouth.
"How is it?" Miru asked expectantly.
Kisame chewed slowly, silent for a few seconds before muttering his evaluation: "...Mmm. The taste... is indeed good too."
Miru's smile brightened even more, as if she had received the highest praise. She ate one herself, then linked her arm with Kisame's again, leaning against him contentedly, "Then let's come to this shop with 'good location and good taste' often from now on!"
Kisame didn't answer, just let her hold his arm as they continued walking. The bustling lights of the night market reflected on his face, diluting much of the usual sinister ferocity that surrounded him. The slight upturn of the corners of his mouth was something even he might not have noticed.
The night market crowd hadn't thinned… the noise and aromas intertwined to form the Star City's unique nighttime vitality, warm and auspicious. For many, a new life was just beginning.
Miru took a small bite of the last takoyaki on her pick, savoring it delicately, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.
"The octopus here... or rather, the fish used, has a very distinctive taste," She said softly, her voice cutting through the surrounding noise, "The flesh is firm, with a hint of the clear, sweet coldness unique to the North Sea. It should be caught in the northern waters of the Snow County, right? It's very different from the fish we often ate in the Land of Water."
Kisame listened attentively. He wasn't very sensitive to the taste of food itself, but his long Ninja Career had accustomed him to observing and analyzing every detail.
"The fish in the Land of Water mostly come from warm seas, the flesh tends to be softer, the flavor different," Miru continued, as if reminiscing, or perhaps sharing, "Life nurtured in different waters truly carries the mark of its homeland even in its texture."
Kisame nodded thoughtfully. His thought process made him focus more on the information behind her words… logistics, supply chains, regional specialty trade.
But what he wanted to share more at the moment was something else.
"In a few days," He began, his voice still low but lacking its usual killing intent, "There will be a large-scale graduation exam at the Ninja Academy."
Miru turned her head, her black eyes looking at him inquiringly.
"Shura-sama has ordered it," Kisame explained, "Requiring all department's Jonin, barring urgent missions, to attend and observe."
"The intention is to select promising seedlings from among them, take them as disciples, and provide focused training."
Hearing this, understanding dawned on Miru's face. She gently tapped her chin with the pick, "I see. Shura-sama's emphasis on the new generation is indeed extraordinary. He is accumulating strength for this nation's future, cultivating a cornerstone completely loyal to the Land of Stars and understanding the new Ninja Philosophy."
Her analysis always carried the clear logic characteristic of an intelligence officer, "This isn't just about supplementing combat power… it's also about establishing inheritance and a sense of identity."
Miru nodded slightly and continued, "Our Anbu's Intelligence Division truly needs fresh blood as well. Many reconnaissance and infiltration missions require young people with meticulous minds and strong learning abilities. I'll go take a look then. If there are suitable children, perhaps I can bring them back to the Intelligence Division and train them personally."
Her tone held a note of expectation, like a gardener looking forward to seeing good sprouts.
Kisame looked at the mentor-like sparkle in Miru's eyes and felt a slight stir in his heart. He found himself paying more and more attention to these matters unrelated to pure killing.
…
Meanwhile, in Konoha Village.
Neji finished his day at the Ninja Academy and walked home alone, his schoolbag on his back. The setting sun stretched his solitary shadow long.
Passing by the school training grounds, it was still bustling inside. Lower-year students were engaged in tedious physical running drills, their clothes soaked with sweat.
In one corner, a familiar scene was unfolding: Naruto, with his spiky blond hair, was animatedly saying something to Sasuke, who stood with his arms crossed, looking cool and aloof, retorting with short, sharp remarks that made Naruto jump around even more. Their vitality was almost blinding.
Neji's gaze involuntarily shifted away, then settled on another spot.
Hinata, that timid heiress of the main family, was standing slightly blushing, clinging like a small bird to a boy with spiky black hair.
It was Menma.
Hinata was saying something quietly to Menma, her fingers nervously twisting together, while Menma listened with a lazy yet patient demeanor.
Seeing this, an extremely complex emotion surged in Neji's heart.
Was it disdain for Hinata's weakness?
Disgust at her main family status?
Bafflement at Menma's seemingly casual yet always attention-grabbing demeanor?
Or... a trace of isolation and loneliness that he himself was unwilling to admit?
He quickly averted his eyes, his face expressionless, and quickened his pace, leaving this training ground filled with various sounds.
The fate of the Hyuga Clan's branch family was like the unremovable Caged Bird Seal on his forehead, constantly reminding him of his limits.
Returning to the strictly regulated mansion of the Hyuga Clan's compound, dinner was quiet and oppressive.
Following the rule of silence during meals, only the faint clinking of bowls and chopsticks could be heard.
After dinner, Neji took almost no rest and went straight to the clan's dedicated training ground.
Assuming the Gentle Fist's opening stance, the young figure moved swiftly across the empty field, his palm strikes fierce, each blow carrying a relentless determination to defy fate.
Some Hyuga Clan's members passing by, seeing his diligence, couldn't help but whisper praises.
"Neji is so hardworking..."
"Such talent and so diligent, truly worthy of Hizashi-sama's son..."
"What a pity..."
Those unfinished words following the 'pity' pricked Neji's heart like needles, only making him train even more desperately.
Only when his sweat had thoroughly soaked his training clothes and his Chakra was nearly exhausted did he stop, panting heavily.
Dragging his tired body home, he washed up, washing away the day's fatigue and jumbled emotions.
Lying on the tatami, physical exhaustion quickly dragged his consciousness into a deep sleep.
However, just as he fell into slumber, an extremely secret mark on the back of his right hand, usually almost undetectable, quietly emitted a faint glow perceptible only to spiritual senses.
Neji's spirit seemed to be gently pulled by a powerful force, breaking free from his body's constraints and falling into a realm both familiar and unfamiliar.
It was a mental space constructed by a powerful Genjutsu.
Here, it wasn't dark, but an infinitely extending world where the ground shimmered with watery ripples and the ceiling was an endless starry sky.
A figure was already waiting there.
It was a boy about his own age, with rare pale white hair and unusually fair skin.
Most notably, he also possessed pure white eyes, the Byakugan.
At this moment, he stood there quietly, his demeanor cool and aloof, with a hint of unapproachable pride.
It was Kaguya Kimimaro.
"You're here," Kimimaro's voice was calm and even, like the space itself.
Neji took a deep breath, assumed the Hyuga-style Gentle Fist opening stance, his eyes sharp, "Enough talk. Let's begin!"
This wasn't the first time.
Ever since Menma had placed this mark on him, almost every night when he fell asleep, his spirit would be drawn into this space to engage in unreserved life-or-death battles with this boy named Kimimaro.
Here, there were no restrictions of main or branch families, no threat of the Caged Bird, not even worry about death or injury… any wounds would slowly heal after the battle.
They could unleash their full power, pushing each other to their limits.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Neji launched the first attack, his figure swift as lightning, palm strikes flying everywhere, attempting to seal Kimimaro's Chakra Points.
This was the so-called secret technique not taught outside the main house. The eight-year-old Neji, relying on his exceptional talent, had independently comprehended the Sixty-Four Palms, though still in its formative stages, had already broken the main family's monopoly on the Gentle Fist's advanced knowledge.
However, Kimimaro's movements were bizarre and unpredictable, often evading Neji's fiercest attacks from inconceivable angles.
Even more terrifying was his Kekkei Genkai.
"Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
The next moment, pale white bone spurs shot out from Kimimaro's ten fingertips, whistling towards Neji like bullets, astonishingly fast!
Neji's Byakugan could clearly see the trajectory of the bone bullets. His body rapidly dodged, but he was still grazed by two or three, bringing simulated sharp pain on a spiritual level.
The battle continued.
Neji pushed the intricacies of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist to the extreme, his Eight Trigrams Palms realm continuously expanding and being forced to contract.
But Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku was both offensive and defensive.
Bone blades, bone spears, even thorny bones bursting from his body… his attack methods were endless, bizarre and lethal.
Finally, after a feint and a rapid charge, Kimimaro's arm transformed into the sharpest bone spear, capitalizing on a tiny flaw during Neji's palm transition.
Thud!
The pale bone spear pierced through Neji's shoulder, pinning him harshly to the mirror-like ground.
Intense, simulated pain instantly swept through his entire body.
"Ugh-!" Neji grunted, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, his body twitching slightly from the pain.
Kimimaro slowly withdrew the bone spear, standing beside him, looking down at him.
His eyes remained calm, but within that calmness, there was a trace of recognition for a worthy opponent. Over this period, under orders, he had been training this little guy named Neji in the Engraved Tsukuyomi Space.
Each time the other fell, he would get up faster. Each failure, he would learn the lesson and become stronger. His perseverance and talent had earned Kimimaro's respect.
"That's enough for tonight," Kimimaro stated flatly.
Neji lay on the ground, gasping for breath, feeling the tingling, itchy sensation of slow repair at his wound site.
Gritting his teeth, unwilling, he asked, "Why? I can keep going!"
"A few days off," Kimimaro explained succinctly, "I have matters to attend to."
"What matters?" Neji instinctively pressed, filled with curiosity about this 'opponent' who possessed both the Byakugan and the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai, whose Taijutsu skill far surpassed his own.
Kimimaro was silent for a moment, as if considering whether to answer. Finally, he said, "The Ninja Academy is holding graduation exams. I need to return."
"Graduation exams?" Neji was stunned, "Your Land of Stars' Ninja Academy?"
"Mhm. Shura-sama requires us to return and observe the performance of the new generation," Kimimaro added.
A complex emotion instantly welled up in Neji's heart.
That distant, mysterious Land of Stars, the place that had such a powerful peer... He couldn't help but ask, "You... what level are you considered there?"
Hearing this, Kimimaro's two red dots markings on his forehead furrowed slightly as he tilted his head in thought.
His white eyes looked into the distant void, as if weighing something, "That year, six of us graduated early together," He finally replied, his tone not boastful, merely stating a fact, "The other five... they are all no worse than you."
'No worse than me!'
These words struck Neji's heart like a heavy hammer.
He had always considered himself a genius, the strongest hope of the Hyuga Clan's branch family, outstanding even among all his Konoha peers. Even losing to this strange Kimimaro, he attributed it to the other's unique dual Kekkei Genkai.
But now he knew that in another part of the world, there existed six monsters his own age, possibly stronger than him!
An unprecedented sense of urgency and a clear recognition of his own weakness instantly flooded Neji.
Konoha's small world, the Hyuga Clan's internal strife… at this moment, it all seemed so ridiculous and pathetic.
'I needed to become stronger, strong enough to break this damned fate, strong enough to see the wider world!'
The mental space slowly faded, Neji's consciousness sinking into deeper sleep. But that resolve to become stronger remained deeply engraved in his heart, like a brand.