Interesting.
Hoshiyomi's curiosity only deepened as he watched the girl quickly lower her head and walk briskly away from the training grounds. Just what kind of secret is she hiding…?
Not long after the sparring assessnt ended, it was dismissal ti. The kids from Minato's class scattered out of the classroom in small groups. Soon, only a few students remained.
A few minutes later, the three girls left the classroom together. After walking a short distance, Kushina split off from the group since their hos were in different directions.
Now, only Mikoto and Kuugetsu remained.
Instead of continuing to use the Transparent Escape Technique, Hoshiyomi switched tactics and used Transformation Jutsu to turn himself into an inconspicuous middle-aged man, trailing them from a safe distance.
The two girls had no idea they were being followed. They chatted idly as they walked and soon approached the Uchiha compound.
Seeing the towering walls surrounding the district, Hoshiyomi sighed and activated Transparent Escape again to slip inside.
He wasn't particularly worried about getting caught. First, his current skill level made it extrely difficult for even most jōnin to detect him. Second, he was confident enough in his status—if he was discovered, all he had to do was explain himself. The Uchiha wouldn't dare lay a hand on him.
After all, Hoshiyomi was widely regarded as one of Konoha's future pillars. Even if he didn't beco Hokage, he'd surely be a high-ranking official. The Uchiha might have their grievances with the village, but things hadn't deteriorated to the point of open conflict—not yet.
At this point in ti, the Uchiha Clan hadn't been massacred. Most of their land hadn't yet been seized by the village, and their compound still spanned a vast area.
After walking for a bit, Mikoto and Kuugetsu eventually parted ways.
Mikoto had been stopped by a boy a few years older. From his appearance and the faint voices drifting over, Hoshiyomi could just barely make out the na "Fugaku."
He couldn't help but chuckle. Even Sasuke's father was young once, huh.
Leaving Mikoto and Fugaku to their awkward romance, Hoshiyomi kept following Kuugetsu.
Her ho was located far from the core area of the compound—another reassuring sign. The remoteness ant less chance of being spotted.
Along the way, a few children muttered jeers at Kuugetsu, though no one laid a hand on her. She said nothing and simply lowered her head, walking away quickly.
But Hoshiyomi noticed sothing—her fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly, as if restraining herself.
Finally, Kuugetsu reached her ho. It was fairly impressive. After all, her father, Uchiha Hokushin, was a jōnin, and his older brother had once been the fad Uchiha Kagami.
Though Hokushin had been ostracized due to ideological differences and the circumstances of Kagami's death—hence being forced to live in this remote corner—his family's living conditions were still quite decent.
Kuugetsu stayed in her room for a while, then erged with a finely crafted shinobi blade strapped to her back.
After scanning her surroundings to make sure no one was watching, she slipped into the wooded area within the Uchiha compound.
Hoshiyomi followed at a asured pace.
After a while, he noticed that Kuugetsu seed to be doubling back and changing direction in a calculated way.
Looks like she's noticed .
But he wasn't concerned. He kept trailing her at the sa calm pace—until she suddenly whipped a kunai out of her sleeve and hurled it over her shoulder without even turning around.
Hoshiyomi tilted his head slightly to dodge the blade. At the sa ti, Kuugetsu spun around and unleashed a Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu straight toward him.
Of course, Hoshiyomi had sensed the chakra fluctuation and was ready. The fireball didn't expose his position either.
Still, Kuugetsu's voice cut sharply through the trees, tinged with anger:
"Co out. I already know you're there."
Her tone was utterly unlike the timid girl from class. It was cold—calculated—icy.
Now that's more like an Uchiha, Hoshiyomi thought, amused.
He didn't reply. Instead, he silently drew his blade—Mikazuki Munechika—from his waist.
With his level of swordsmanship, combined with Transparent Escape, unsheathing the blade without a sound would've been easy. But Hoshiyomi intentionally let the blade scrape slightly against the sheath, producing a distinct tallic shhhhk.
The sound imdiately changed Kuugetsu's expression. Without hesitation, she flung three more kunai toward the source of the noise.
In the sa motion, she rolled sideways to evade a potential counterattack, then drew her own sword and stood ready, blade in hand.
The kunai were expertly thrown—covering the front and both flanks. A standard Uchiha-style ninja tool throwing technique, clearly showing strong fundantals.
But this level of attack was aningless to Hoshiyomi. He didn't even use Body Flicker; he simply sidestepped them while remaining invisible, rapidly closing the distance between them.
Under her thick bangs, Kuugetsu's brows furrowed tightly.
Damn it... what kind of enemy is this? He's been watching all day—but why won't he show himself? And worse, my kunai didn't even faze him. I lost track of him completely after that throw…
Just as she struggled to regain control of the situation, pain flared in her shoulder—a shallow slash had opened, spraying blood.
Kuugetsu grunted but didn't falter. Ignoring the pain, she spun around and unleashed a sweeping slash behind her.
Hoshiyomi's eyes glinted with admiration.
Her fundantals, judgnt, and reaction—she's already above the level of most genin. The only question is: where does her ceiling lie?
As he dodged the sweep, Hoshiyomi deliberately let his chakra flicker for a mont, producing a faint, distorted silhouette.
Kuugetsu spotted the ripple instantly. Her mind raced.
Roughly 180 centiters tall. The blade looked about 80 centiters—definitely a full-grown man.
But why? Why would an adult male be stalking ? Who is he? Another Uchiha? Or soone else entirely?
She forced herself to calm down and analyze.
Adult male. Specialties: kenjutsu and stealth. From the shadow he showed while evading earlier, large-scale movent causes a visual ripple.
If that's true... then a sword swing should do the sa.
His movent speed isn't overwhelming, either. If I activate it now… I might stand a chance.
Kuugetsu took a deep breath.
"I'll protect you. I promise."
Then, in her heart, she whispered:
Sharingan… activate.
Even with strands of hair still falling in front of her face, her vision felt sharper—clearer. She tightened her grip on her blade, then shouted toward the unseen Hoshiyomi:
"If you want my life, then co and take it! I'll be right here waiting!"
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