That's Fifty Million Ryo!

Sunlight filtered through the dense branches of towering trees, casting dappled shadows across the ground.

Three figures sprinted across the branches between the trees and their shadows, leaving behind streaks of afterimages.

"Makoto, you look a little nervous."

As they advanced, Tenzo seemed to notice that Hyuga Makoto was in an unusual mood and smiled as he comforted him.

"Don't worry. With Captain Kakashi here, there won't be any problems."

"I've read your mission reports and witnessed your abilities myself. You're very impressive."

Kakashi spoke up as well. Though his voice was somewhat cold, his tone was firm.

"Besides, I'll never let my comrades be killed."

"..."

Hyuga Makoto pressed his lips together. He sincerely wished Kakashi would stop talking.

Because Kakashi's situation was simply too absurd.

Whoever he said he would protect basically ended up doomed!

Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin aside, he had even said something similar to Uchiha Itachi.

In the end, Uchiha Itachi wiped out his entire clan. In a sense, his death had already been predetermined!

"Although Uchiha Madara was largely responsible for that, and Uchiha Itachi himself had something wrong with his head, still..."

Hyuga Makoto really didn't dare take that gamble, but when facing Kakashi, he still forced a smile.

"I understand. I'll adjust my mindset."

That was what he said, but he became even more vigilant.

He really didn't want to launch in Gundam Form, so he cautiously asked,

"Captain, Senior, which squad are we supporting this time?"

"A very impressive squad. Their captain is famous too."

There was no need to hide such a thing. Tenzo smiled indifferently, and Kakashi nodded as well.

"It's the squad of 'Body Flicker Shisui.' They happen to be carrying out a long-term mission near the Land of Whirlpools, so there's no need to worry too much."

"Uchiha Shisui?"

Hyuga Makoto froze for a moment, and a strange feeling immediately welled up inside him.

It seems like I've seen this scene before?

In his memories, he seemed to have truly seen a scene of Uchiha Shisui dealing with Kirigakure.

Only, those Kirigakure shinobi hadn't even had time to get close. From far away, Uchiha Shisui had already knocked two of them out with genjutsu!

In the end, the squad captain had reluctantly chosen to retreat, and that captain...

"Was Ao, the one with the Byakugan!"

Hyuga Makoto's eyes flickered. If this really was that incident, then things would be very interesting indeed.

"Let's speed up."

Just as he was pondering this, Kakashi spoke calmly once more.

"Although we're only providing support, we still have to take it seriously."

"Yes!"

Hyuga Makoto came back to himself and shouted a reply together with Tenzo.

At this moment, he was full of motivation. Whether it was Ao or Uchiha Shisui, either of them might bring him some benefits!

The three of them moved quickly. Several days later, they crossed the border of the Land of Fire and entered the Land of Whirlpools.

"How convenient."

Under the hazy moonlight, inside a cave in the dense forest of the Land of Whirlpools, Tenzo looked at Hyuga Makoto, who was checking their surroundings, and smiled.

"I'd only heard about the Byakugan's effects before. Now I finally know how useful it is."

"The Byakugan's power has always been reliable."

Kakashi nodded from the side, but Tenzo rubbed his chin.

"No wonder Kumogakure back then..."

"Hey, Tenzo!"

Before Tenzo could finish, Kakashi interrupted him somewhat helplessly.

Tenzo was good in every way, but sometimes he could be a little offbeat.

He rubbed his brow and spoke helplessly.

"Don't bring up those matters. We have a more important mission."

"It's fine, Captain Kakashi."

Hyuga Makoto didn't mind. After deactivating his Byakugan, he smiled and said,

"I once heard Uncle Hizashi say that Kumogakure kidnapped the Fourth's wife a long time ago. I wonder if it's true."

"..."

The corner of Kakashi's mouth twitched, while Tenzo smiled from the side.

"I've heard that too. It seems something like that really happened. Those Kumogakure shinobi are true bandits."

"That's right. They're a bunch of bandits."

Hyuga Makoto agreed wholeheartedly. He really didn't like those people from Kumogakure.

"All right, you two..."

Their duet left Kakashi somewhat helpless.

"Kumogakure are undoubtedly bandits, but what we have to deal with now is Kirigakure. We need to focus our energy on the mission!"

"Oh..."

Hyuga Makoto felt that line sounded somewhat familiar, but he didn't think too much about it.

"Uchiha Shisui's squad has already begun setting an ambush. As for the people from Kirigakure, we haven't detected them yet."

"Could Kirigakure have received intelligence as well and changed their route?"

Tenzo thought for a moment before asking, and Hyuga Makoto nodded along.

"If we can obtain intelligence, they might be able to as well. Even if they can't, they may have other means of avoiding detection."

"Other means?"

Kakashi paused, then looked at Hyuga Makoto thoughtfully.

"You mean the Byakugan?"

"That guy Ao?"

Tenzo realized it as well. They were both very familiar with the ruthless man who had stolen the Byakugan and was now high on Konoha's wanted list.

Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't impossible for Ao to be involved in this kind of mission.

After all, if they really wanted to enter the Land of Fire, the Byakugan could help them avoid quite a few problems!

"It's not impossible. If it really is him, we'll have to be more serious."

Kakashi pondered for a moment before speaking, and Tenzo became serious as well.

"Indeed. That guy is on the wanted list. If it's really him, we'd better not let him escape."

"That's right."

Hyuga Makoto's expression turned solemn as he murmured,

"Besides, he's worth a lot of money."

"Mm... Mm?!"

Kakashi and Tenzo nodded instinctively, but the two of them soon froze.

What?

Worth money?

"What's wrong, Captain Kakashi, Senior Tenzo?"

Hyuga Makoto blinked, his voice seeming somewhat curious.

"Don't you know that this guy is worth fifty million ryo?"

"I know..."

Tenzo looked bewildered, but Kakashi knew very well. Before he could finish, Hyuga Makoto interrupted him with a smile.

"Then that settles it. We can't let this money slip away!"

"If I remember correctly, your Hyuga Clan put up most of that money."

The corner of Kakashi's eye twitched, but Hyuga Makoto looked completely justified.

"That's right, but I'm from the Branch Family."

"..."

"Also, if it really is that guy, after we deal with him, could you say that you were the ones who did it?"

"..."

"I'm afraid the Main Branch will pocket my share."

"..."

At that moment, Kakashi fell completely silent. He had no idea what to say.

Tenzo looked at the two of them in bewilderment, seemingly still unable to understand what this meant.

"All right, now isn't the time to talk about this."

Kakashi finally couldn't take it anymore and decided to put an end to the topic once and for all.

Yet he could faintly feel a headache coming on. He had read some of Hyuga Makoto's reports and knew that this boy from the Hyuga Branch Family was a decent person.

He had thought Hyuga Makoto would be much like Uchiha Itachi. After all, both were disciples from powerful clans.

Moreover, the Third Hokage had handed the boy over to him. It was probably, like with Uchiha Itachi, an act of trust and protection.

After all, he understood how great a shock it would be to the Main Branch for someone from the Hyuga Branch Family to enter the Anbu.

That was also one of the reasons he had immediately led people out of the village on the first day Hyuga Makoto joined the Anbu.

But now it seemed that Hyuga Makoto was very different from Uchiha Itachi...

With a sigh in his heart, Kakashi finally spoke with a hint of helplessness.

"We still can't confirm whether it's him. There's no point in discussing this. We need to focus our energy on the mission!"

"Oh, I understand, Captain Kakashi."

Hyuga Makoto obediently nodded, then pointed toward the distance.

"However, it seems our target has appeared."

"?"

"Also, it seems I was right. It really is that Ao!"

"..."