Victory

"Damn little brat..."

The masked woman clutched her abdomen, gasping continuously.

Less than ten minutes had passed since Hyuga Sho appeared.

His movements had been crisp and efficient, without a single unnecessary motion.

That was precisely what made him so terrifying.

How could a child... possess such methods?

Could it be...

"Are you from the Hyuga Clan's Main Family?!"

The masked woman cried out.

In her mind, only the "Hyuga Main Family," which branded its own kin with the Caged Bird Seal, could be so cruel.

"..."

Hyuga Sho did not answer her.

Instead, he swept his cold gaze over her, making her feel as though she could not breathe.

Hyuga Sho was like a king in the dark night, cold and proud.

The next moment.

The masked woman suddenly rolled over and fled into the distance with all her strength.

"Hmph..."

Hyuga Sho snorted softly.

Then immediately gave chase.

Trying to escape beneath the cover of night was completely useless.

This darkness was Hyuga Sho's home ground.

No matter how the masked woman fled, it was meaningless within the Byakugan's field of vision.

Every attempt to escape only invited an even stranger assault.

Amid the forested hills.

Hyuga Sho advanced and made a move.

The other woman roared, blood spurted, and her injuries worsened.

Until her vision blurred and the world spun around her.

The sensation of excessive blood loss made her realize that there was no way out.

"Truly tenacious... as expected of an Iwagakure ninja."

As the woman fell.

Hyuga Sho praised her.

Just as Konoha revered the Will of Fire.

Iwagakure also upheld the Will of Stone.

Their ninjas were cruel and overbearing, yet possessed the same resilience as rock.

But in the end...

In the contest for victory, Hyuga Sho was still the one who laughed last.

[Doka Degree: 11.5%]

Only when these characters appeared before his eyes.

Did Hyuga Sho know that tonight's pursuit had come to an end.

Of course.

To prevent her from suddenly rising up again like Uchiha Obito.

Hyuga Sho directly threw four Kunai, pinning her limbs in place.

Who knew how much time had passed.

In the darkness, the woman slowly woke up...

Through her hazy vision, she heard two children talking.

"Even smells can be concealed?"

"You've already asked ten times... This is a medicinal formula passed down through the Morino Family. Even if it's blood, sprinkle it over yourself and it will absolutely conceal your scent."

After the Iwagakure Female Ninja fell unconscious.

Morino Ibiki and Hyuga Sho wrapped her in a sack.

Then sprinkled her with special medicine.

The two ran all the way, carrying her back to... Morino Ibiki's basement.

As for the still-unconscious Hyuga Natsu.

She was upstairs, lying on the sofa in Morino Ibiki's home.

"Hmph... I'll come clean. My father actually works for the Interrogation and Torture Department..."

A smug smile curled at Morino Ibiki's lips.

This special basement in his home was naturally used to imprison criminals.

"Dad and Mom went out on a long-term mission. They won't be back for several weeks..."

Therefore.

Morino Ibiki had become the king of the house.

Ignoring his boasting, Hyuga Sho shook his head and turned his gaze toward the Iwagakure Female Ninja.

This was a basement.

Special oil lamps were lit around it.

According to Morino Ibiki, these lamps were made with whale oil and could burn for decades.

The Female Ninja's limbs were restrained by chains, binding her in place.

"Pepper water, tiger bench, Konoha's ten great tortures."

Hyuga Sho looked around, searching for suitable torture instruments.

In the end, he found none.

"Forget it. I'll just use this to make her talk."

Hyuga Sho pulled out a Kunai, its chilling gleam aimed at her.

He knew what he was doing.

Morino Ibiki nodded to himself, his gaze toward Hyuga Sho becoming even friendlier.

Passionate, clever, with a clear sense of right and wrong...

The more Morino Ibiki looked, the more he felt that Hyuga Sho was a real talent.

"I am a Konoha Ninja. I'm going to interrogate you and ask you questions. If you refuse to answer, I'll stab you once, until you do."

Hyuga Sho gestured with the Kunai, his expression utterly serious.

"Hehehe... To think I actually fell into the hands of a little brat..."

The Female Ninja's limbs were injured, and with her restraints, she no longer had the strength to resist.

Yet a voice like an evil spirit still came from her mouth.

Thinking of how Morino Ibiki had followed her earlier.

She shook her head and gave a bitter laugh.

"You Konoha ninjas had been watching me all along..."

"No."

Hyuga Sho shook his head.

"It was me, and him."

Hyuga Sho pointed at Morino Ibiki.

"Two children..."

The Female Ninja's eyes widened, and then she seemed to realize something.

"That short, fat Konoha Ninja was you using the Transformation Technique?!"

"That's right."

Hyuga Sho answered calmly.

One Transformation Technique had saved Morino Ibiki and conveniently frightened the Female Ninja.

"Your name."

Hyuga Sho stopped wasting words and began the interrogation directly.

"Hehe, Iwagakure and Konoha may not be allies, but there is still an Armistice Agreement between us. You can't treat me like this!"

Squelch!

Hyuga Sho drove the Kunai into her arm.

"!!"

The Female Ninja's eyes widened in disbelief, and the next moment, she screamed.

"I have seen many people who would rather die than yield. But believe me, most people... including you, are not as capable of enduring pain as you imagine."

Hyuga Sho released the Kunai and spoke indifferently.

Damn... Hyuga Sho's lines are so cool...

Morino Ibiki clasped his hands behind his back, trying hard to look stern.

But actually...

The instant he saw Hyuga Sho stab someone with a Kunai, he had already been scared stiff.

Although Morino Ibiki was always thinking about basements and torture.

He was only a fledgling calf, after all.

Perhaps ten years later, Morino Ibiki might become an interrogation expert.

But right now...

When it came to someone truly tough, Hyuga Sho was the one to look to.

"You Iwagakure ninjas are allowed to abduct our people, but we aren't allowed to capture you and interrogate you? Sorry, I don't really understand that logic."

Hyuga Sho shook his head and pulled out another Kunai.

There was a trace of coldness hidden in his words.

Seemingly realizing her current situation, the Iwagakure Female Ninja obediently lowered her head.

"My name is Kōseki..."

Among Iwagakure's ninjas.

Many had names containing characters such as "stone" and "earth."

"What did you come to Konoha for?" The Kunai rotated slightly, signaling that it could stab into her body at any moment.

"I came to seize Konoha's Kekkei Genkai. After observing for several days, I discovered that the Hyuga Clan was the easiest target... Your guard arrangements for the Branch Family seem rather lax..."