A Lesson for Hyuga Kazefu, Part Two

"Aah!"

A piercing scream suddenly rang out through the street. On the nearly deserted road, it even echoed, as shrill as a pig being slaughtered.

"Stop, stop it! Let go of me!"

Hyuga Kazefu's body twisted unnaturally as his fist was gripped. His voice trembled slightly, making it painfully clear just how much agony he was in.

It was as though Xuan Ye's fist held endless strength. His grip on Hyuga Kazefu's hand grew tighter and tighter. Hyuga Kazefu felt as if his fist no longer belonged to him; it had gone completely numb, as though it were about to break.

Xuan Ye stared coldly at Hyuga Kazefu, whose fist he held. He saw his twisted body and heard the tremor in his voice. He knew Kazefu was nearly at his limit, but that did not mean Xuan Ye intended to let him go.

Xuan Ye still did not release Hyuga Kazefu's hand. His strength continued to increase, and Kazefu's body shook violently before him. He could no longer even make a sound, his mouth merely opening and closing as though he were trying to say something.

As the force continued to increase, the bones in the hand I held were nearly shattered. Even if Hyuga Kazefu went back for treatment now, that hand would probably be beyond saving. But the problem was, I had no intention of letting him leave yet.

Hyuga Kazefu had been so arrogant just moments ago. He had little real strength and only knew how to throw his weight around because he had been born into the Hyuga Clan. I had merely bumped into him because I was not watching where I was going, yet he had actually wanted me to kneel.

Since that was the case, I would not hold back. People like him needed to learn what it meant to keep a low profile. He needed to understand that not everyone was someone he could afford to provoke. Hyuga Kazefu also needed to learn that what he saw was not necessarily real; even what one's eyes witnessed could be false.

At that moment, two Konoha Anbu wearing animal masks were quietly discussing matters from afar. The subject of their discussion was Genya Namikaze—why Genya Namikaze possessed strength that did not match his age.

However, after discussing it for a long time, the two could only reach one conclusion: Genya Namikaze was an extraordinary genius. After all, his father was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and Minato Namikaze himself was an exceptionally gifted genius.

He had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. As the son of the genius Fourth Hokage, it was barely possible to understand why Genya Namikaze possessed strength beyond his years. After all, geniuses were not people ordinary individuals could comprehend.

Although the two Anbu shinobi now knew about this matter, they still needed to report it to the Fourth Hokage. Not only did it concern Genya Namikaze, but it was also tied to the Hyuga Clan, one of Konoha's great clans.

If it had not involved the Hyuga Clan, it would have been easier to handle. The two Konoha Anbu secretly protecting Genya Namikaze could have stepped in. But since it involved the Hyuga Clan, one of Konoha's prominent clans, it was not something two mere Anbu shinobi could resolve.

Now that the Hyuga Clan was involved, they had to report the matter to the Fourth Hokage and let him handle it. Still, with Konoha's Fourth Hokage personally dealing with it, it should not be difficult to resolve.

After all, Genya Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage's only son, and Hyuga Kazefu had been the one to start the trouble. So even though Kazefu was a member of the Hyuga Clan, it would not be too difficult for the Fourth Hokage to settle the matter.

In a concealed corner, Anbu A, wearing an animal mask, said to Anbu B, "You go report this to the Fourth Hokage first. I'll stay behind and protect Young Master Genya."

"But..." Anbu B seemed somewhat hesitant.

"No buts. I know what you want to say. You're worried that I won't be able to protect Young Master Genya by myself. You don't need to worry about that at all. This is Konoha. Even if I cannot protect him alone, I can still buy time. Besides, Young Master Genya is not without strength himself. Go without worry. Leave this place to me."

After hearing Anbu A's words, Anbu B's hesitation vanished. He leaped onto the rooftops with his formidable strength and raced toward the Hokage Office Building at his fastest speed.

Before long, the Konoha Anbu arrived at Konoha's Hokage Office Building. He came to the door of a room. Though the door was open, he did not enter immediately, merely raising his hand to knock on it.

The room was spacious. A young man sat inside, with golden hair and crystal-blue eyes. He wore a long robe—the Hokage battle robe exclusive to Konoha's Hokage. It was obvious that he was the man who wielded Konoha's highest authority: Konoha's Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

"Come in." Minato Namikaze set down a scroll containing all kinds of information about Konoha that he had been reading. He raised his head and looked at the newcomer. The animal mask and black robe made the man's identity unmistakable: he was one of Konoha's Anbu.

However, upon seeing this Konoha Anbu, Minato Namikaze clearly frowned. He recognized the man. He was one of the two Anbu Minato Namikaze had personally assigned to secretly protect his son.

"Why are you here? What is it that you need to report to me?" Minato Namikaze asked the Konoha Anbu in a low voice.

The Anbu questioned by Minato Namikaze dropped to one knee and reported, "Lord Fourth Hokage, after Young Master Genya went out to buy some ninja tools, he ran into a member of the Hyuga Clan on one of Konoha's streets. A conflict occurred, and that Hyuga Clan member even attacked Young Master Genya."

The Anbu spoke quickly, but his words were clear. Minato Namikaze, who had been sitting in his chair, abruptly stood up. His eyes widened as he stared at the kneeling Konoha Anbu. "Who was that member of the Hyuga Clan? And why are you here if a member of the Hyuga Clan attacked Little Ye? Answer me."

Minato Namikaze's voice was extremely grim, and a faint killing intent appeared on his face. It was the naturally formed killing intent born from the countless shinobi he had slain during the Third Shinobi World War.

Upon hearing the Anbu report that Genya had clashed with someone from the Hyuga Clan, and that the Hyuga Clan member had even attacked his only son, Little Ye, Minato Namikaze could no longer remain calm.

That Konoha Anbu had never seen the Fourth Hokage make such an expression before. He had only heard of the Fourth Hokage's many outstanding accomplishments during the Third Shinobi World War. Usually, the Fourth Hokage always wore a smile and appeared extremely kind.

But now, the Fourth Hokage had released only a trace of his aura, yet it was enough to frighten those with weak wills into speechlessness.