The First

Judging by appearances alone, Miyazawa Hideaki could be considered quite handsome. In terms of bearing, he seemed more like a schoolteacher than a ninja.

There were many people in this world whom one could not judge by their faces, and Miyazawa Hideaki was undoubtedly one of them.

Of course, someone like Kaguya Ogata did not count. You could tell just from his face that he was no good—he was remarkably consistent inside and out...

"Qi-kun, after not seeing you for several years, you've grown into an outstanding young man."

Perhaps Miyazawa Hideaki had already dispersed his chakra. Now that Qi had walked up to him, he could "clearly" make out the face of this Kirigakure Anbu chief amid the dense fog.

The passage of several years had not left the slightest trace of aging on Ogata's old friend. Though he was nearly fifty, he looked just as he had back then. Calling him handsome and refined would not be an exaggeration.

"This junior, Kagetsu Qi, greets Lord Miyazawa."

Qi's expression turned solemn as he stepped forward and bowed. Although the man before him was a Mist Ninja, he was one of the very few people Qi truly respected.

"No need for such formality. I invited you here to help us in the first place. I'm already very grateful that you were willing to come."

Miyazawa Hideaki smiled amiably. He spoke much more slowly than the average ninja, but his words were clear and his tone gentle. Qi inwardly sighed. Only someone like this could be friends with Ogata. Anyone else would never be able to stand Ogata's awful personality.

In Qi's view, words like crude and shameless were not even worthy of serving as embellishments for Ogata. When that guy got casual, he was barely human to begin with—and the