The Temptation of Returning to the Village

"Boom~" The sound of an Explosive Tag detonating came from behind him. Zi Xu dusted off his pants and continued onward, following the clues left behind by his clone to catch up with Tenzo's group. But he couldn't understand why there were so many Explosive Tag traps on the ground. Had those Kirigakure Ninja left them behind?

Having concealed his presence, Zi Xu simply leaped onto the tree trunks and traveled aboveground. The trees here were enormous, easily capable of supporting adults like Tenzo, so they naturally posed no problem for him. However, while traveling through the trees, he encountered some unwelcome guests.

"Hm? Kirigakure Ninja pursuers?" Zi Xu spotted the group of Ninja from afar. They kept stopping and moving, as though avoiding something. Since they had not noticed him, he had no intention of stirring up trouble. He swiftly changed direction and avoided the Kirigakure Ninja.

The clone on the other side sensed something as well and knew that the original body was not far away. He had to create an opportunity for his return.

"Teacher Tenzo, I need to use the bathroom." The clone put on an expression of barely holding it in, clenching his fists as his legs trembled slightly.

As the saying went, holding in your pee lets you travel a thousand miles, but when you really had to go, you couldn't take another step. Tenzo had no choice but to send Hatsumi and Chino far away while remaining near Zi Xu to keep watch. Although the Kirigakure Ninja had been bluffed by the "Empty Bug Stratagem," those Mist Ninja would probably discover the truth soon enough. Fortunately, while they were still some distance from Konoha, they were already nearing the edge of Kirigakure's territory.

"Hurry up. As a Ninja, you don't need to hold it in at a time like this. Just quickly let it—" Tenzo's eyes beneath his Headband vigilantly scanned the surroundings, ready to deal with any danger that might appear.

"Boom~" An accident really did happen, but this Explosive Tag seemed to be one he had planted earlier. Could the enemy have caught up already?

Tenzo hurried into the bushes, intending to drag Zi Xu away directly. Even if he had to sprint off like Liu Xiang, that was still better than losing his life. Yet he did not find Zi Xu behind the bushes, and his heart immediately sank.

Fortunately, Zi Xu's original body had already returned and seamlessly took over just as Tenzo was wavering in uncertainty.

After explaining things to Tenzo, Zi Xu rejoined the group. He had stored his mask, crowbar, and other equipment in the system space, and he had made slight adjustments to his appearance based on the memories transmitted by the clone. There was no visible flaw.

There were no further dangers along the way. No matter how arrogant Kirigakure's pursuers were, they would not dare venture too far from their village. It would be ridiculous if they failed to hunt their targets down and were killed instead. Kirigakure had truly suffered heavy losses in this battle. They had failed to obtain the Ninja swords or capture the wanted criminals, Konoha had learned their intelligence, and they had even failed to silence everyone involved. Worst of all, they had provoked the immensely powerful Mysterious Crowbar Man. They had lost everything.

The surrounding mist gradually dispersed, like gauze dissolving in water. The rotten, damp stench was no longer in the air, and their vision was no longer blocked by the endless white fog. In short, Zi Xu and the others finally felt as though they had emerged from darkness into light, with the vast world opening before them.

"We finally got out of that hellhole. It felt like I couldn't even breathe in that fog. I was almost suffocating..." After receiving the Personality Correction Palm, Hatsumi lay on the ground and greedily gulped down the clean air, looking as though she had been granted a new life.

Chino's brows remained tightly furrowed, the same confusion showing in her gray and white eyes. She did her best to shift her attention away from that one-eyed man and looked toward the vast sky.

The earlier battle had seemed to take little time, but the sky, faintly brightening with the pale light of dawn, clearly told them that this was only an illusion. The battle had actually lasted a long time.

Zi Xu also stretched lazily. On the surface, he had fought the least among them, but in reality, he had fought more than anyone else.

He had first sparred with Bai for an entire night, leaving him mentally exhausted. Then he encountered attacks from Ronin and the Mist Ninja. After sending out his clone, the total Chakra in his body had been split in half. He had then used that half to become the Mysterious Crowbar Man and unleash Thunder Strike multiple times, only to end up getting blown up by Explosive Tags afterward...

Tenzo stood with his arms crossed, watching the rising sun slowly emerge over the distant horizon. Yet he was thinking about the Mysterious Crowbar Man's identity. Lightning-nature Chakra, used in a way somewhat similar to one of my seniors. Such fierce attacks... Still no clue...

Konoha, the Hokage's Office. Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe in one hand as he leaned back in his chair, gently rubbing his brow.

Tenzo knelt respectfully on one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi and recounted the events in full.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly opened his eyes. They held both exhaustion and sharpness. Only after exhaling a puff of smoke did he speak.

"So, the little ones from the Hyuga and Aburame Clans behaved normally. The little one from the Uzumaki Clan has talent for Taijutsu. When you taught them the Summoning Technique and mentioned Impure World Reincarnation, they showed no unusual expressions. Then, during the mission, the Kirigakure Ninja attacked first, and only afterward did you learn that the two warriors were Bai and Zabuza, wanted by Kirigakure. Is that correct...?"

Tenzo nodded respectfully, lowering his head deeply.

Silence. Boundless silence. The only sound in the Hokage's Office was the faint crackling of tobacco burning in Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe.

"I understand. You need not concern yourself with this. Make preparations for the Chunin Exam in a few months." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, breaking the dreadful silence. Tenzo also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as he withdrew.

"They showed no interest in Impure World Reincarnation... Their suspicion can be ruled out for now..." Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head, looked out over the village beyond the window for a while, then slowly closed his eyes.

Hyuga Branch Family, Chino's residence. She was discussing something with her father.

"Father, is the fate of the Branch Family truly to remain controlled by the Main House for our entire lives? Must every member of the Branch Family bear this predetermined fate from birth, only finding release in death?"

Chino's father gave her a solemn look. After hesitating for a long time, he finally spoke with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"Chino, fairness does not exist in the Ninja world. The Main House—or rather, the entire Ninja world—is like this. Only the strong can make the rules. So become stronger. I believe that someday, you will find a way to break the fate of the Branch Family..."

"...Father..." Though he had not said it outright, Chino already understood what he meant.

Aburame Clan, insect grounds. With a pained expression, Hatsumi expelled the Bugs living within her body. She then refined those Bugs with her Chakra before integrating them into it. She was attempting to create a new school of practice. As for where this path would lead, she did not know, nor could she see it clearly.

Ryūchi Cave. The Three Divine Maidens chattered around Zi Xu, discussing one thing after another.

"Oh, your Senjutsu training is still inadequate. If you could master Sage Mode, those Ninja would all be mere small fry..."

"Your Taijutsu is decent, but you have mastered far too few Ninjutsu. Once you master Sage Mode, we'll teach you a few Senjutsu. Wouldn't that be better than swordsmanship?"

"Kirigakure Jutsu? Can it make you truly invisible like we can? Don't place too much faith in Ninjutsu. When your Ninjutsu is countered, think of Senjutsu and Taijutsu..."

Zi Xu's head buzzed. The Three Divine Maidens had not left Ryūchi Cave for too long and were curious about everything in the outside world. They pestered him to tell them about it, claiming that they were testing his emotional stability while in Sage Mode.