Determination

There were only a handful of people in the entire Shinobi World capable of pulling something like this right under Mizuki's nose.

Although having Yukimura show his face like this meant exposure was bound to happen sooner or later, it was truly difficult to balance everything at a time like this.

Faced with Mizuki's question, Yukimura hesitated and seemed somewhat aggrieved, as though he harbored some resentment over Mizuki's long-standing indifference.

After finally coming to see him once, Mizuki had arrived with an accusatory attitude. Yukimura clearly had no ill intentions, yet it felt as if he had done something wrong. He truly could not understand it.

Was he entering his rebellious phase?

Every child went through this stage of growth. Though Yukimura looked like a young man in his early twenties, his mental age had not matured that far. His knowledge far exceeded his years, but his emotional intelligence was indeed severely lacking.

Looking at the stubborn young man with his head lowered in passive resistance, neither arguing nor willing to tell Mizuki the truth, Mizuki turned to Isaribi and said, "You tell me. Tell me everything you know!"

Isaribi looked awkwardly at the somewhat panicked Yukimura. After hesitating for a moment, she answered honestly, "Some time ago, a strange boy around thirteen or fourteen came by. He said he was a wandering ninja and wanted Yukimura to leave with him. After being refused, he left behind a strange ninjutsu scroll and departed, saying he would come again in the future. But he hasn't appeared again to this day."

Such a practiced attempt at luring away a talented young ninja felt strangely familiar!

"What else was there?"

"That person said his name was Mitsuki. I couldn't understand the ninjutsu scroll he gave Yukimura. I only knew that the words