A Crisis Loomed

By evening, after finishing her genjutsu training for the afternoon and safely escorting Kawaki Aoba home, Yuhi Kurenai hurried back to her own house, in high spirits.

As for Sarutobi Asuma, her teammate—being the Third Hokage's son, he had his own private tutor, an Elite Jonin from the Sarutobi Clan who was very good at teaching. Usually, for one reason or another, he disliked training with his tutor.

But ever since Kawaki Aoba had gouged out his own eyes, Asuma had changed. He trained with his tutor far more seriously and diligently than before.

Kurenai had usually received hands-on guidance from Yuhi Shinku, too, but lately, Shinku had been away from home all day, and she had no idea what he was busy with.

Of the three, only Kawaki Aoba—the one with a mind of his own—usually trained by himself.

Of course, the fact that he trained alone didn't mean Shinku disliked him. Quite the opposite: Shinku valued Kawaki Aoba, his student, more than anyone. If Kawaki Aoba hadn't shown such unusual talent as a ninja at an early age, Shinku would have taught him genjutsu long ago.

A few days ago, Shinku had also somehow managed to get hold of a number of training notes on Sensory Ninjutsu and given them to Kawaki Aoba.

It was clear that even though Kawaki Aoba had gouged out his eyes and was now considered a useless cripple by other ninjas, Shinku still wasn't willing to give up on his most talented student.

Of course, it would be even better if Kawaki Aoba stayed farther away from Shinku's daughter, Yuhi Kurenai. That was the resentment of a father.

"Father, I'm home." As Kurenai stepped inside, the first thing she saw was Yuhi Shinku sitting cross-legged at a low table, looking over something.

Seeing that her father was busy, Kurenai was considerate enough to slip quietly into the kitchen by herself.

Little did she know that what Shinku was looking at had everything to do with Kawaki Aoba, the boy who had been on her mind so much these past few days.

The Genin Miyamura Ayano had performed exceptionally well recently and completed the required number of missions, so the Hokage had specially promoted her to Chunin. She now had the right to accept missions on her own and form her own team.

The Hokage had also granted her permission to learn one A-rank ninjutsu and three B-rank ninjutsu for free.

Miyamura Ayano was the civilian-born ninja who had told the Hyuga Clan that Kawaki Aoba possessed the Byakugan.

In a sense, the spark that had set off everything—the loss of face for the Hyuga Clan after Kawaki Aoba gouged out his Byakugan, the clan's compromise with the Hokage, and the transfer of large numbers of ninjas to Root and the Anbu—had all come from this little Genin.

Though the little Genin had since been promoted to Chunin and rewarded with ninjutsu, Yuhi Shinku, who understood the village's rules, knew that the kunoichi Miyamura Ayano's life was already on a countdown.

But the problem was that, besides that damned Miyamura Ayano, his own young student was also nearing the end of his life.

Over the past few days, apart from running around trying to find a solution, Shinku had also been approached by ninjas from the Hyuga Clan.

The Hyuga Clan's demand was simple: they wanted him to give up Kawaki Aoba as a student. Their proposed solution was just as straightforward. Either Shinku, as a Jonin, could ask the Hokage to end Kawaki Aoba's career as a ninja, or he could help Kawaki Aoba apply for a special promotion to Chunin, just as Miyamura Ayano had.

Shinku didn't come from a great clan, and he certainly didn't want to offend a centuries-old clan like the Hyuga. He knew full well that handing Kawaki Aoba over was the best choice. It would not only earn him a favor from the Hyuga Clan but also bring him plenty of benefits.

But then again, he had gone and fathered a daughter like Yuhi Kurenai.

After the two kids had spent a year on the same team, seeing each other every day, even Shinku could tell how his daughter felt about that boy.

So, even with the Hyuga Clan's influence, for his daughter's sake, he, as her father... ahem!

Anyway, it worked out in Kawaki Aoba's favor.

Besides, Shinku could see a glimmer of hope.

Sarutobi Asuma!

That was right—the hope Shinku saw lay with Sarutobi Asuma.

Asuma could do very little to help with this matter, but his status was special.

As the Hokage's son, as long as Asuma remained on the team, the Hyuga Clan wouldn't make a move. That meant the Hokage hadn't completely abandoned Kawaki Aoba.

Of course, "not completely abandoned" could also mean that Kawaki Aoba was on the verge of being discarded.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had just gained considerable benefits from the Hyuga Clan. There was no way the Hokage would step in to protect Kawaki Aoba now.

So Shinku had to find an opportunity himself. As for where that opportunity might lie—sorry, he had no idea.

But having no solution didn't mean he should just wait to die. So Shinku's plan was to stall—to keep stalling until he came up with an answer, or until Kawaki Aoba could protect himself.

It was a clumsy plan, but it was the only one Shinku could think of.

And how was he going to stall? By taking a long-term mission, of course.

Shinku had already applied to the Hokage for a long-term mission far from the village. The Hokage hadn't approved it, but he hadn't refused either.

So, for now, Shinku was waiting.

"Oh, is that so? It seems Asuma really has grown up this time." At the Third Hokage's residence, Sarutobi Hiruzen listened to a report from one of his clan members, deeply pleased. He hadn't expected that boy named Kawaki Aoba could have such an influence on Asuma. It was an unexpected bonus.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. Young Master Asuma has been training very hard these past few days. In terms of the power of his ninjutsu alone, he's already no weaker than an ordinary Chunin. I'm sure he'll become an outstanding ninja someday," replied the private tutor Hiruzen had assigned to teach Asuma respectfully.

What father wouldn't be happy to hear his child praised? Sarutobi Hiruzen was no exception. Even if there was some flattery in those words, it hardly mattered.

"You should go back and get some rest, too. You've worked hard these past few days." After waving Asuma's tutor away, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke to the empty room. "What about that boy, Kawaki Aoba? What has he been doing these past few days?"

After Hiruzen asked, an Anbu wearing a mask emerged from the shadows. "Reporting to Lord Hokage: that Genin has a real talent for Sensory Ninjutsu, and his perception of the world around him is far stronger than that of other people who have lost their sight. Based on our observations over the past few days, he seems to have adapted to the darkness, and it no longer interferes with his daily life."