Have I Been Exposed?

"No. If we kept going, I'd only be humiliating myself. I lost!"

Darui conceded quite decisively.

In truth, he had no choice but to admit defeat!

It was one thing that his swordsmanship was inferior to Ye Liangnai's.

Even his secret technique, Black Lightning, had only matched Ye Liangnai evenly.

His defense was not as strong as Ye Liangnai's either, so his chances of winning were too slim!

Coupled with Ye Liangnai's terrifying Hand Seal speed, he could see little hope of victory.

"Then I'll gladly accept! If we kept going, I wouldn't have much strength left to fight either!"

Ye Liangnai said as though he had merely gotten lucky.

But Darui did not believe him, nor did the watching Cloud Ninja.

He clearly still had the strength to keep fighting.

That rotten old man is sly as hell!

Though I won, it was only by narrow advantages in every aspect!

If he had been a little stronger, I would have had to fight a battle of attrition. I couldn't have won with such an absolute advantage!

There was no doubt that Darui was powerful!

He had defended against Ye Liangnai's genjutsu and his prized swordsmanship.

Those two points alone were enough to prove his strength.

After all, there were far too many people who could not withstand even a single strike from Ye Liangnai's sword.

"Then the battle ends here!"

At that moment, the Fourth Raikage personally declared the battle over.

He patted Darui on the shoulder and encouraged him. "Don't lose heart. Keep working hard. You're still young, and your future is promising!"

"Of course, Lord Raikage!" Darui replied firmly.

He would not become dispirited over a single defeat.

"That's enough, everyone. Disperse!"

The Fourth Raikage dismissed the crowd again. Then, looking at Ye Liangnai with an unreadable expression, he said, "Kirigakure really let an extraordinary talent slip through the cracks."

"I find it remarkable that someone as talented as you is only a B-rank rogue ninja."

After saying those two baffling remarks, the Fourth Raikage left.

"Next time, I'll definitely become stronger. I won't lose to you so easily again!"

Before leaving, Darui made that vow to Ye Liangnai.

Ye Liangnai said, "Then so will I. I won't give you the chance to catch up."

He also believed that would soon become reality.

But what did those two remarks from the Raikage mean?

What did he mean by, 'Kirigakure let such an impressive talent slip through the cracks, and I find it remarkable that someone like you is only a B-rank rogue ninja'?

As he walked, Ye Liangnai could not help furrowing his brow.

Wait, could it be...

Suddenly, a bold thought surfaced in his mind and irrepressibly consumed his entire brain.

Has my identity been exposed?!

Other than that possibility, he could not think of any other explanation.

No, impossible. There wasn't the slightest flaw on the Anbu side, and I haven't done anything that would expose my identity!

Other than this mission being rather conspicuous, I haven't had any notable achievements. How could I have been exposed?

Ye Liangnai firmly believed he had not been exposed. Otherwise, why had the Raikage not captured him directly just now?

So, while I haven't been exposed, I've started to draw the Raikage's suspicions? Is that why he said those words?

Then what is the basis for his suspicion?

I've changed my fighting style. If there's anything that could arouse suspicion, it can only be my swordsmanship!

Like unraveling silk from a cocoon, Ye Liangnai slowly approached the answer.

If that's the case, then I'm not too worried!

Swordsmanship is highly similar by nature. It's easy to explain away!

Perhaps that is precisely why the Raikage did not restrain me on the spot?

That's it, it must be so! Otherwise, if he was suspicious, he should have restrained me!

The closer Ye Liangnai came to the answer, the fewer doubts remained in his heart, and the more at ease he became.

If that's the case, then come at me, Lord Raikage!

As long as I don't reveal a critical flaw, your suspicions will be useless!

But just in case, I still need to increase my strength as quickly as possible. Only then will I have the means to adapt to any situation!

With that thought, Ye Liangnai immediately strode toward his home.

Naturally, this scene did not escape the eyes of Tenshin, whom the Raikage had secretly sent to monitor him.

Kira, you'd better not disappoint me. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to execute you myself!

Upon returning home, Ye Liangnai began swinging his sword.

At that moment, a group of Anbu arrived, delivering 450,000 yen and a property deed.

"Many thanks, Lord Raikage!"

Ye Liangnai gladly accepted them, then respectfully saw the Anbu off.

"It seems our connection ends here."

Ye Liangnai said this as he glanced at the dilapidated house behind him.

The house was full of mosquitoes and insects, which somewhat affected his training.

It was also drafty everywhere. Fortunately, it had not rained yet.

Otherwise, Ye Liangnai would truly have experienced what it meant for an old quilt to be cold as iron and for spoiled children to kick holes through it in their sleep!

At the same time!

Raikage's Office!

"Are you certain there is nothing wrong with this Kira's memories? That he truly has no connection whatsoever to White Cold Light?"

The Fourth Raikage looked sternly at the Anbu intelligence division members before him.

"Yes, Lord Raikage. We have absolute confidence in that!" the intelligence division members replied confidently.

"Then have you found anything unusual about him?" the Fourth Raikage asked Tenshin.

Tenshin answered, "No! Other than training exceptionally diligently, he has displayed no other abnormal behavior!"

"Strange. Was I really being overly suspicious? His swordsmanship makes him seem remarkably like White Cold Light, which unsettles me!"

"But White Cold Light fights using Water Release, while Kira uses Lightning Release. There are still differences."

"If Kira and White Cold Light truly are the same person, then it seems difficult for him to possess such terrifying mastery of Lightning Release!"

"To be strong enough to contend against Darui's Black Lightning, his mastery of Lightning Release could not have been achieved without seven or eight years of research and refinement!"

The Fourth Raikage was an expert in Lightning Release, so he knew how difficult it was to attain such terrifying Lightning Release!

Moreover, White Cold Light's Water Release was so powerful. Without devoting himself entirely to it, the Fourth Raikage did not believe it could be achieved!

If Kira truly was Ye Liangnai in disguise, then how monstrous would he have to be to possess such terrifying mastery of both Water Release and Lightning Release?

The Fourth Raikage could not imagine it!

"How about this? You intelligence division members will verify Kira's memories once more, to ensure there are no mistakes!"

"Tenshin, send some people to investigate White Cold Light's recent movements!"

"Remember, do not let Kira know about this!"

"Once the information from both sides has been confirmed, I will give him one final test."

"If he passes the test, I will formally accept him!"

At the Fourth Raikage's orders, the two nodded and withdrew.