Hyuga Kagami took one glance and roughly understood what was going on. Another damn melodramatic case of a simp pursuing a goddess and getting nowhere.
"The guy in front of us is pretty strong, but unfortunately..."
He shook his head. "Mei Terumi is a looks-first kind of person. He never stood a chance."
For someone who cared about looks, appearance was the first thing they judged!
"Looks-first?"
Mei Terumi was taken aback. The word... seemed to strike a chord deep inside her. "What does that mean?"
"It means having very high standards for looks and appearance. It describes someone who likes beautiful things."
Hyuga Kagami explained casually.
That was also why Mei Terumi had held back against Uchiha Sasuke during the Five Kage Summit.
No other reason.
He was just too damn handsome!
The other person Mei Terumi was fond of was Uchiha Madara.
Both men were devastatingly handsome and carried themselves with extraordinary presence.
That showed just how high Mei Terumi's standards were!
"That's right! That's exactly the kind of person I am!"
Mei Terumi's eyes gleamed. "As a man, of course you have to be good-looking!"
She couldn't help looking at Hyuga Kagami. His wild, domineering air and strikingly handsome features made him seem almost divine!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of something cutting through the air rang out.
Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi arrived beside Hyuga Kagami.
"What happened?"
Hatake Kakashi looked utterly bewildered, his eyes cold. "We've only just settled in, and something's already happened?"
"Is this how Kirigakure treats its guests?"
"It's just some lowlife looking for trouble," Hyuga Kagami replied coolly.
His expression was indifferent.
He acted as if Koto Kenichi didn't even rate a second glance.
A glint flashed through his eyes. Besides... without Genji's tacit approval, this guy could never have shown up here. So this was Genji testing their strength!
If they couldn't pass the test, then... they weren't worthy of being an asset to Kirigakure.
"Koto Kenichi, stand down at once!"
Mei Terumi shouted. "These are honored guests of our Kirigakure! Don't make me say it twice!"
But her words didn't make Koto Kenichi back down.
Instead, his expression darkened even further!
"You're going to turn on me, your friend, for that pretty boy?"
He roared, "Hyuga Kagami, if you've got the guts, come out here yourself and fight me fair and square like a man!"
He'd been in love with Mei Terumi for thirteen years!
He'd fallen for the exquisite, beautiful, somewhat domineering girl the moment he met her at the age of four.
But after all these years, he'd never managed to reach her heart.
"What are you supposed to be?"
Hyuga Kagami stepped forward. Mei Terumi tried to stop him, but he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her behind him with an imperious gesture!
His wild brows drew together as he looked down at Koto Kenichi with disdain.
"And you think you're worth my effort?"
How arrogant!
Absurdly arrogant!
Who could have imagined that Hyuga Kagami would be this brazen even in Kirigakure?
He was outrageously arrogant!
He didn't take Kirigakure seriously at all!
"Kagami, we're not in Konoha. If we really offend Kirigakure, they might not let us leave."
Hatake Kakashi was sweating profusely.
More and more Kirigakure shinobi were gathering around them, all glaring at Hyuga Kagami and the others in anger.
Their eyes were full of hostility!
"Kakashi, if he hadn't been given permission, do you think this idiot could have shown up in front of us?"
Hyuga Kagami's eyes were full of disdain. His clear gaze seemed to see through everything.
What a clever old man.
He'd made them into pawns, hoping to use this farce... to draw out the Fourth Mizukage?
An old man who lived too long became a menace!
Genji really was a crafty old man!
A clever old fox!
The advantage of this move was that it shifted the blame onto them. He could let them stir up a commotion and draw out the Mizukage. Even if they later discovered that the Mizukage wasn't under a genjutsu, Genji could still keep himself out of it!
But...
That was exactly what Hyuga Kagami wanted!
He already needed to go see the Mizukage and get his sign-in reward!
Genji had just handed him a pillow when he was sleepy.
He'd play along and turn the tables!
"Kagami, you mean..."
Hatake Kakashi was taken aback, only half understanding.
Was this guy... being used to test their strength?
Hyuga Kagami shook his head. Hatake Kakashi hadn't understood...
He'd only grasped the first layer.
Koto Kenichi's eyes were bloodshot. He was on the verge of madness as he roared, "Then today, it's you or me!"
"Let's sign a death pact!"
"If I die today, no one in Kirigakure will come after you. But if you die, you'll have to accept the punishment yourself. That's how a death pact works in Kirigakure!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar!
"A death pact?"
Hyuga Kagami's lips curled up. Kirigakure was different from Konoha.
In Konoha, shinobi from the same village could spar, but they couldn't threaten each other's lives, and afterward they had to form the Seal of Reconciliation.
Kirigakure was different.
Kirigakure raised shinobi like poisonous insects in a jar!
If you died, you died. No one cared. Only the shinobi who survived to the end were the strongest—and the only ones who deserved to live!
"No!"
Mei Terumi's face was stricken with worry. "A death pact means both sides fight to the death. It only ends when one of them dies!"
"Kagami-kun, don't agree!"
Hyuga Kagami's lips curled up. He turned his head, and his pale eyes radiated a mesmerizing power.
"When men are handling things, women should stay quietly behind them!"
He grinned and thrust out his right hand!
The terrifying Black Spiked Hammer appeared and slammed onto the ground.
Hyuga Kagami stared coldly at Koto Kenichi. "I was satisfied with Juzo Biwa's strength. I hope you're even stronger than he was."
"Don't disappoint me!"
He licked his lips.
So far, none of the enemies he'd encountered had made him use his full power.
Hearing this, everyone was stunned!
Their faces filled with disbelief.
"What? What did he say? Does he mean... he defeated Juzo Biwa? That elite jonin wielded one of the Ninja Swords!"
"Impossible. He must be lying!"
"How old is he? How could he defeat Juzo Biwa? That guy... was the strongest and most ruthless of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"
No one believed him.
They assumed Hyuga Kagami was lying to build himself up.
Hyuga Kagami couldn't be bothered to explain.
By now, Koto Kenichi could no longer contain his bloodlust. He licked his lips and looked excitedly at Mei Terumi. "Mei Terumi, I'll show you who the strongest genius is!"
"Only I, Koto Kenichi, am worthy of you!"
His expression was feverish.
As if defeating Hyuga Kagami would prove he was worthy.
As if it would let him be with Mei Terumi.
"Come on, Kenichi! Teach that guy a lesson!"
"Right! Mei Terumi belongs to Kirigakure!"
"Know your place! Kenichi's a jonin!"
The crowd cheered excitedly for Koto Kenichi.
"Idiot. Why are you still running your mouth?"
Hyuga Kagami sneered and swung the Great Hammer hard!
A man shouldn't be a simp.
He should be a War Wolf!
People like Koto Kenichi lowered the standard for all men!
Boom!
A huge crater appeared in the ground!
Koto Kenichi was sent flying with a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood!
The entire crowd fell silent.
They stood there, stunned.
Before you continue