The chūnin was barely clinging to life.
His body was covered in severe burns—one clean hit would be enough to end him.
Hyūga Hizashi stepped forward, intending to finish the job.
Then—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Shuriken tore through the air.
Hyūga Ming's attack came first.
The shuriken were reinforced with Bear Grapple Hand, fast and brutal.
By the time Hizashi realized what was happening, it was already too late.
His eyes widened as he stared at Hyūga Ming in disbelief.
What the hell is this guy doing?!
Is he trying to kill me?!
"Rotation!!"
A blue hemispherical barrier formed instantly.
The shuriken struck it and were flung away.
Hyūga Ming rushed in immediately.
He raised his blade and brought it down on the barely-breathing chūnin.
The head rolled across the ground twice before stopping.
A notification flashed before his eyes.
[Experience Gained: 1451]
Hyūga Ming calmly collected the dropped items and stored them away.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Hizashi roared in fury.
Hyūga Ming glanced sideways at him.
"You tried to steal my kill," he said flatly. "Do that again and I'll kill you."
That had been the final hit.
And Hizashi had dared to step in.
Did he think Ming was blind?
Hizashi didn't understand the word kill in that context—but he understood perfectly that Ming had nearly attacked him over it.
This guy was insane.
Enemy kills weren't credited individually anyway.
Hyūga Ming didn't bother explaining.
He turned and sprinted toward the other battlefield.
There was still a jōnin and another chūnin left.
Maybe—just maybe—he could still harvest something.
But when he arrived—
Hyūga Hiashi was lying unconscious on the ground.
Tsunade was kneeling beside him, green chakra glowing as she used Mystical Palm Technique.
The other chūnin lay dead nearby.
Hyūga Ming let out a regretful sigh.
Not his kill.
No drops. No experience.
He'd been too slow.
He hadn't expected Tsunade to finish her opponent so quickly.
As expected of a future Sannin…
Even against another jōnin, she ended it decisively.
"All clear?" Tsunade asked, glancing up.
"All enemies eliminated," Hyūga Ming replied.
He looked at Hiashi's pale face, his white robes soaked red.
That was close.
Hizashi walked over, his expression dark.
He glanced at Ming, then at Tsunade—but said nothing.
Even if he spoke up, Ming wouldn't care.
In fact, Ming wanted Hiashi to understand something clearly.
Sometimes—
He was the real danger.
Hizashi didn't say it aloud, but the realization hit him anyway.
If Hiashi truly wanted to "tame" Hyūga Ming—
It wouldn't depend on loyalty.
It would depend on whether Hiashi's life was hard enough to survive it.
"His condition is stable," Tsunade said, withdrawing her hands.
Then she turned to Ming. "You treat him."
This would be Ming's first time treating a real patient.
Hizashi's expression changed instantly.
"Tsunade-sama! My brother's injuries should be handled by you!"
Tsunade waved dismissively. "Relax. Hyūga Ming is competent."
Hizashi nearly exploded.
Was that what he was worried about?!
He was worried Ming would finish the job.
Now he understood clearly.
Hyūga Ming wasn't ruthless.
He was unhinged.
Any thought of turning him into Hiashi's loyal retainer vanished completely.
This man should be branded with the Caged Bird Seal and never allowed freedom.
"Alright, I'll give it a try," Hyūga Ming said casually.
But inwardly, a dangerous thought surfaced.
If I accidentally kill him… would a clan-head Byakugan drop?
A main-branch Byakugan would boost his own by an entire level.
Tempting.
Very tempting.
Hizashi's concern was absolutely justified.
The moment Ming stepped forward, Hizashi blocked him.
"Tsunade-sama, my brother does not need Hyūga Ming's treatment!"
Tsunade frowned.
She had noticed the sudden shift in Hizashi's attitude.
Something had clearly happened.
She turned her gaze toward Ming.
What did this kid do now?
Hyūga Ming looked up at the sky, completely indifferent.
He already knew—
Trying to kill Hiashi in front of Tsunade was impossible.
Heal him or not—it didn't matter.
"Hyūga Ming," Tsunade ordered, "go retrieve the supplies."
"Yes."
Ming responded instantly, leaping into the trees and vanishing.
They had dropped the packs before combat to avoid hindrance.
Once Ming was gone, Tsunade spoke in a low voice.
"What did he do?"
Hizashi hesitated, then opened his mouth.
But this was internal Hyūga business.
In the end, he said stiffly, "Nothing."
Tsunade studied him for a long moment.
Then let it go.
When Hyūga Ming returned, he was carrying four full packs.
One on his back.
One on his chest.
One in each hand.
Without Byakugan, he wouldn't even be able to see where he was going.
Hiashi had already regained consciousness, though his face was still pale.
Compared to Hizashi, his performance had been… disappointing.
If Tsunade hadn't returned in time, he would have died to that chūnin.
"We rest here," Tsunade decided.
Everyone was low on stamina and chakra.
Another fight now would be disastrous.
"Fine by me."
Hyūga Ming jumped onto a branch and lay down casually.
Nearby, Hizashi leaned close to Hiashi and whispered urgently.
Hiashi's expression darkened with every word.
Tsunade examined the corpses.
The ninja wore a Cloud Village headband—
Yet inside the gear pouch, she found an Iwagakure headband.
"…Iwa-nin," she muttered.
Using false headbands during missions was common among villages.
Hyūga Ming glanced at his inventory, his expression strange.
Based on the drops—
They weren't Cloud.
They weren't Stone either.
He knew exactly what those villages dropped.
Two enemies had dropped three pieces of equipment.
High drop rates.
In all his accumulated knowledge, only one village matched that profile.
The poorest village in the world.
And the richest one in a player's eyes.
Sunagakure.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
http://patreon.com/KuroTL