Tower of Death

Uchiha Kaoru and Uchiha Kenichi of the Uchiha Clan both possessed strength comparable to a Chunin. The Hyuga Clan's foundation was far inferior to the Uchiha's; if the two Uchiha teamed up, his side would definitely fall into a bitter struggle.

Therefore, while having Hyuga Ningxiang release the acupuncture points, Sato Hideaka took special precautions. He asked Hyuga Ningxiang if she could restrict Uchiha Kenichi's chakra usage, forcing him to wait half an hour before recovering his chakra to avoid further trouble.

Unexpectedly, Hyuga Ningxiang actually possessed such a technique. Although Uchiha Kenichi had most of his acupuncture points unsealed, high-intensity chakra remained in his primary points, requiring half an hour to fully dissipate.

In other words, while Uchiha Kenichi could move, he was unable to utilize high-intensity chakra or release ninjutsu; his strength had recovered to less than forty percent.

Upon realizing this, Uchiha Kenichi's face turned green. With his strength not fully restored, he could only watch helplessly as Sato Hideaka, Yuhi Kurenai, Hyuga Ningxiang, and the Hyuga Clan team departed.

Once the two teams had left and Uchiha Kenichi was alone with Uchiha Kaoru, Uchiha Kenichi suddenly asked, "Kaoru, why did you let those brats go? Especially that Lava Release brat; it's very likely that because of his appearance, the Third Hokage's faction will gain a new bloodline family."

"Is that so? I imagine the Third Hokage already had this intention when he brought this brat back to Konoha," Uchiha Kaoru said, watching the direction in which Sato Hideaka's group had left, gently brushing back her long black hair with a calm tone.

Hearing this, Uchiha Kenichi became even more furious and shouted, "The Wood Release Senju Clan has fallen, and the only ones who can rival us are the Hyuga. Now there's another Lava Release brat in the village. This guy's Kekkei Genkai has immense destructive power. Although he is just one person and wouldn't pose a threat to us Uchiha, if he joins the Third's faction, do you have any idea..."

"Uchiha Kenichi, with your strength and status, you have no right to discuss these things!" Uchiha Kaoru suddenly opened her Two-Tomoe Sharingan, her tone chilling. "These words were told to you by your grandfather, right? Heh, how naive..."

"The Uchiha Clan holds sole control over the Military Police Force, yet our compound is far from the village. Do you think this is merely an honor bestowed upon us by the Second Hokage?"

"The power of the Uchiha Military Police Force has grown to the point where the village is both wary and covetous of it. This itself is a shackle the Second Hokage placed upon the Uchiha. The direct line of Konoha Hokage will always be wary of an Uchiha clan with expanding power. Only by learning to compromise can we survive in Konoha."

After speaking, Uchiha Kaoru turned and left. Watching her retreating figure, Uchiha Kenichi spat on the ground and said indignantly, "Damn Kagami Uchiha, he's even influenced the Great Elder. Now that the Senju Clan is gone, what else can the village use to rival the Uchiha? What a bunch of cowards!"

One afternoon, two days later.

Hyuga Ningbo's dehydration symptoms finally eased, allowing Hyuga Xiangning and Hyuga Giichi to breathe a sigh of relief. Both teams moved toward the Tower of Death, though there was a discordant element in the group: Shimura Masao. His choice to stand by during the critical moment had clearly earned the contempt of the two Hyuga members.

The second was Sato Hideaka. Hyuga Ningbo and Hyuga Giichi also seemed to look down on him. Sato Hideaka had instigated Hyuga Ningxiang to compromise with the Uchiha Clan, bringing shame upon the Hyuga, not to mention tossing Hyuga Ningbo to Shimura Masao like cargo and kicking Hyuga Giichi away while he was under shuriken fire...

These malicious behaviors went without saying!

Facing someone so unscrupulous, completely ignoring his own existence and disregarding the thoughts of others, surely no one would harbor any goodwill.

As they traveled, a tower spire slowly emerged in the distance. Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai let out simultaneous shrieks. The two girls had spent several days in the Forest of Death not only in fear and suffering from insect bites and wild beasts, but most importantly, they hadn't had a proper bath in four or five days.

How could a woman tolerate being unable to take a proper bath?

Sato Hideaka had heard them complain many times along the way. Watching Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai scream and rush excitedly toward the Tower of Death, Sato Hideaka gave a bitter laugh and followed them without a second thought, catching up to the two girls.

Danger often arises most easily the moment people relax, so it was better to scout ahead.

"Byakugan... Activate!"

Watching the three brats blindly rushing forward, Hyuga Ningbo frowned slightly. Without forming hand seals, he instantly activated his Byakugan. The veins on both sides of his eyes bulged, making his handsome face look somewhat fierce and terrifying.

"Ningxiang, there are two teams one kilometer ahead that have already set traps, just waiting for you three to walk into them. As a sensory-type ninja participating in the Genin selection, do you not have even a shred of vigilance?"

Hyuga Ningxiang stuck out her tongue, formed a few hand seals, and activated her Byakugan. Seeing the two target teams ahead, she turned back to Hyuga Ningbo and said weakly, "When Hideaka came to my side just now, I actually knew to observe the surroundings. This is our tacit understanding, right, Hideaka?"

Sato Hideaka rolled his eyes. Their three-person team was vigilant enough in the Forest of Death, but the seven-year-old Hyuga Ningxiang clearly wouldn't monitor the surrounding information at all times, often only conducting reconnaissance under his reminders and instructions.

This could be considered the strange tacit understanding the three had developed during their days in the Forest of Death.

Hyuga Ningbo listened to Hyuga Ningxiang's words and looked deeply at Sato Hideaka, his gaze revealing clear dissatisfaction. Although Sato Hideaka didn't know why Hyuga Ningbo was looking at him like that again, regardless of the reason, the result was that he was ignored by Sato Hideaka.

During these two days of interaction, Hyuga Ningbo had looked at him like this countless times, seemingly every time Hyuga Ningxiang praised him. Therefore, Sato Hideaka speculated that the fourteen-year-old, handsome Hyuga Ningbo was likely a die-hard sister-complex who held an innate hostility toward him for gaining Hyuga Ningxiang's trust.

After confirming with his Byakugan that there were no pursuing teams behind them, Hyuga Ningbo led his three-man team and vanished from the spot with three swift movements, overtaking Sato Hideaka's team and heading rapidly toward the Tower of Death ahead...

Seeing Hyuga Ningbo take the lead, Sato Hideaka walked with his hands behind his head, strolling slowly with Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai as if they were sightseeing and enjoying the scenery of the Forest of Death.

With Hyuga Ningbo leading the charge, taking down a few ordinary candidates should be fine!

"Eight Trigrams: Palm Bottom!"

"Wind Release: 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 set by their opponents. Facing the three-man team that had suddenly flanked them, the two teams that had set the traps didn't react in time and were defeated by Hyuga Ningbo, Hyuga Giichi, and Shimura Masao.

When Sato Hideaka arrived at the scene with his hands behind his head, accompanied by Hyuga Ningxiang and Yuhi Kurenai, the six people from the two teams had already been tied up with ropes, and the scrolls they carried had apparently been fished out by Shimura Masao, who was playing with them in his hands.

"It's been five days; we've finally arrived, the Tower of Death!"

Looking up at the magnificent Tower of Death, Sato Hideaka muttered to himself.