Uchiha Kaoru and Uchiha Kenichi of the Uchiha Clan were both around Chunin level. The Hyuga Clan's resources were nowhere near those of the Uchiha, and if the two Uchiha joined forces, our side would definitely be in for a tough fight.
So when he had Hyuga Ningxiang release the points, Sato Hideaka took precautions. He asked whether she could restrict Uchiha Kenichi's chakra, so that it wouldn't recover for another half hour and cause more trouble.
To his surprise, Hyuga Ningxiang really did know a technique for that. Although most of Uchiha Kenichi's blocked points had been released, high-intensity chakra still remained in his main points. It would take half an hour for them to be fully released...
In other words, Uchiha Kenichi could move now, but he couldn't use chakra at full strength or perform ninjutsu. He had recovered less than forty percent of his strength.
When Uchiha Kenichi learned all this, his face turned green. With his strength still not fully restored, all he could do was watch Sato Hideaka, Yuhi Kurenai, Hyuga Ningxiang, and the Hyuga Clan's team leave...
After the two teams had gone, Uchiha Kenichi and Uchiha Kaoru were alone. Uchiha Kenichi suddenly turned to Uchiha Kaoru and asked, "Kaoru, why did you let those ghosts go? Especially that Lava Release guy just now. His appearance might be exactly what gives the Third Hokage's faction another Kekkei Genkai clan."
"Is that so? I suppose the Third Hokage already had that in mind when he took that guy back to Konoha." Uchiha Kaoru gazed in the direction Sato Hideaka's group had gone, lightly brushed back her long black hair, and replied in a calm voice.
Hearing that, Uchiha Kenichi grew even angrier and shouted, "The Senju Clan has fallen, and the only ones who can stand against us are the Hyuga. Now there's another Lava Release guy in the village. His Kekkei Genkai has tremendous destructive power. Even if he's just one person, he won't threaten the Uchiha—but if he joins the Third Hokage's faction, do you even realize..."
"Uchiha Kenichi, with your strength and position, you have no right to discuss these things!" Uchiha Kaoru abruptly opened her Two-Tomoe Sharingan, her voice icy. "Your grandfather told you all that, didn't he? Heh, how truly..."
"The Uchiha Clan has sole control of the Military Police Force, but our compound is far from the village. Do you think that was merely an honor granted to us by the Second?"
"The Military Police Force's authority has grown so great that the village fears and covets it. That, in itself, is the Second's shackle on the Uchiha. The Hokage's inner circle will always be wary of the Uchiha's growing power. Only by learning to compromise can we survive in Konoha."
With that, Uchiha Kaoru turned and left. Watching her go, Uchiha Kenichi spat and said angrily, "Damn Kagami Uchiha! He's even managed to influence the clan elder. Now that the Senju Clan is gone, what can the village possibly use to stand against the Uchiha? What a bunch of cowards...!"
Two days later, in the afternoon.
Hyuga Ningbo's dehydration had finally eased, much to the relief of Hyuga Xiangning and Hyuga Giichi. The two teams continued toward the Tower of Death together, though there were some sources of friction within the group. The first was Shimura Masao, who had chosen to stand by and do nothing at a crucial moment. That had clearly earned him the scorn of the two Hyuga.
The second was Sato Hideaka. Hyuga Ningbo and Hyuga Giichi didn't seem to like him much, either. He had urged Hyuga Ningxiang to compromise with the Uchiha Clan, bringing humiliation upon the Hyuga. And then there was the way he'd treated Hyuga Ningbo like a piece of cargo, tossing him to Shimura Masao, and kicked Hyuga Giichi out of the way while he was under attack from shuriken...
There was no need to mention how atrocious those actions were!
Faced with someone so brazen, who completely ignored their existence and gave no thought to anyone else, it was only natural that nobody would feel any goodwill toward him!
As they continued along the path, the tip of a tower slowly appeared in the distance. Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai let out a chorus of excited squeals. During their few days in the Forest of Death, the two girls had been constantly on edge, plagued by insect bites and strange bugs and beasts. Most of all, they hadn't been able to bathe properly for four or five days...
How could a woman put up with not being able to take a proper bath?
Sato Hideaka had heard them complain about it many times along the way. Watching Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai shout excitedly as they rushed toward the Tower of Death, he gave a wry smile and hurried after them without a second thought, catching up to the two girls.
Danger often appeared when people let their guard down, so it was best to scout the area first!
"Byakugan... activate!"
Watching the three fools blindly charge ahead, Hyuga Ningbo frowned. Without forming any Hand Seals, he instantly activated his Byakugan. The veins at the corners of his eyes bulged, making his handsome face look somewhat fierce and terrifying.
"Ningxiang, two teams have set traps a kilometer ahead and are waiting for you three to walk right into them. You're taking the Chunin selection exam, and you're a sensor-type ninja. Don't you have even the slightest sense of caution?"
Hyuga Ningxiang stuck out her tongue and formed a few seals before activating her Byakugan. After spotting the two teams ahead, she turned and answered Hyuga Ningbo meekly, "When Hideaka came over to me just now, I already knew to look around. That's our teamwork, right, Hideaka?"
Sato Hideaka rolled his eyes. Their team had been fairly vigilant in the Forest of Death, but Hyuga Ningxiang was only seven. She obviously couldn't keep an eye on their surroundings every moment. Most of the time, she only scouted because he reminded her and told her to.
That was the strange understanding the three of them had developed during their few days in the Forest of Death!
After hearing Hyuga Ningxiang, Hyuga Ningbo gave Sato Hideaka a long look, his gaze clearly showing his displeasure. Sato Hideaka didn't know why Hyuga Neji was looking at him like that this time, either, but whatever the reason, he ignored it all the same!
Over the past two days, Hyuga Ningbo had given him that look countless times. It always seemed to happen when Hyuga Ningxiang praised him, so Sato Hideaka had concluded that the handsome fourteen-year-old Hyuga Ningbo was probably a hardcore sister complex, and naturally hostile toward anyone who had earned Hyuga Ningxiang's trust.
After using his Byakugan to confirm that no team was pursuing them from behind, Hyuga Ningbo led his three-person team away with three quick swishes, overtaking Sato Hideaka's team as they hurried toward the Tower of Death...
Watching Hyuga Ningbo lead the way, Sato Hideaka clasped his hands behind his head and strolled along with Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai. As if they were sightseeing, they leisurely admired the scenery around the Forest of Death...
With Hyuga Ningbo leading the way, they could handle a few ordinary examinees!
"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
"Gentle Fist: One Palm, Two Palms, Three Palms... Thirty-Two Palms!"
The three members of Hyuga Ningbo's team perfectly bypassed the traps their opponents had set. When the three of them suddenly came around behind the two teams, the teams that had laid the traps didn't react in time. Hyuga Ningbo, Hyuga Giichi, and Shimura Masao defeated them.
By the time Sato Hideaka arrived with his hands behind his head, accompanied by Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai, all six members of the two teams had been tied up with ropes. The scrolls they'd been carrying seemed to have been taken out by Shimura Masao, who was holding them and turning them over in his hands.
"Five days have passed. We've finally made it—the Tower of Death!"
Looking up at the imposing Tower of Death, Sato Hideaka murmured to himself.