"Creak..."
The crude wooden door was pushed open with the sound of wood scraping against wood. Hyuga Yukyō, his face stern and cold, stepped out first, followed by a dazed, still-uncomprehending Kiko and Nozawa Sota.
After them came the baby-faced Maki.
"Then, Captain Maki, let's set out."
After walking some distance, Hyuga Yukyō stopped and turned back to speak.
"Huh? Mm! All right!"
Maki, who had stopped along with Hyuga Yukyō, was taken aback at first. Then he immediately came to his senses, forcefully suppressing his astonished thoughts—He actually persuaded Captain Chizhen. Even Lord Asakura was persuaded. With just a few words!—and answered.
"Then, no time to waste. Move out!"
He quickly slipped into his role as captain, giving the order before taking the lead.
Upon hearing the order to depart, Hyuga Yukyō called out to the still-dazed Kiko and Nozawa Sota, then followed after him.
Kiko and Nozawa Sota trailed closely behind as well.
Before long, the four vanished into the grasslands beyond the camp.
"So you just arranged for them to go like that?"
As the door slowly closed, Chizuru, still inside the crude cabin, glanced at Asakura beside him, whose expression was rather grim. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke.
"What else could I have done? That Hyuga Clan genius had already made up his mind to go. Have you forgotten the weight behind his final words?"
Hearing the dissatisfaction hidden in his old friend's words, Asakura sighed and replied in an equally unpleasant tone.
"His final words?"
Chizuru froze slightly. His gaze left his old friend, and his brows furrowed.
Don't worry. If the situation turns unfavorable, I will never let the enemy gain anything from me! Hyuga Yukyō's final words surfaced in his mind—the sole disciple of Konoha's foremost Gentle Fist master,