Crisis, Imminent

In the evening, after finishing her genjutsu training and safely escorting Kawaki Aoba home, Yuhi Kurenai headed back to her own house with a cheerful skip in her step.

As for Sarutobi Asuma, who was on the same team, he had his own private tutor—an elite jonin of the Sarutobi Clan who was highly skilled at teaching. Being the son of the Third Hokage, Asuma had previously disliked training with his tutor for various reasons.

However, ever since Kawaki Aoba gouged out his own eyes, Sarutobi Asuma had changed. He had become much more diligent and hardworking during his training sessions than he ever was before.

In truth, Yuhi Kurenai was usually guided through her training by her father, Yuhi Shinku, but lately, he had been away from home all day, and she had no idea what he was busy with.

Among the three of them, Kawaki Aoba was the only one who had always been independent enough to train on his own.

Of course, training alone did not mean that Yuhi Shinku disliked him. On the contrary, Yuhi Shinku valued Kawaki Aoba more than any other student. Had Kawaki Aoba not displayed such unique ninja talent early on, Yuhi Shinku would have passed on his own genjutsu techniques to him long ago.

Furthermore, just a few days prior, Yuhi Shinku had managed to acquire several insights into sensory ninjutsu through unknown channels and handed them over to Kawaki Aoba.

It was clear that even though Kawaki Aoba had gouged out his eyes and was considered a cripple by other ninjas, Yuhi Shinku was unwilling to give up on his most gifted student.

Naturally, it would be even better if Kawaki Aoba could stay away from his daughter, Yuhi Kurenai—a sentiment born from the resentment of an old father.

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

Seeing that her father was busy, Yuhi Kurenai, being a sensible girl, quietly slipped into the kitchen.

Little did she know that what Yuhi Shinku was reading had everything to do with the Kawaki Aoba she had been thinking about all day.

Genin Miyamura Ayano had been specially promoted to chunin by the Hokage due to her recent outstanding performance and the number of missions she had completed, granting her the right to accept missions independently and form her own team.

Additionally, the Hokage had granted her permission to learn one A-rank ninjutsu and three B-rank ninjutsu for free.

Miyamura Ayano was the very civilian ninja who had informed the Hyuga Clan that Kawaki Aoba possessed the Byakugan.

It could be said that Kawaki Aoba gouging out his own Byakugan, the loss of face for the Hyuga Clan, their subsequent compromise with the Hokage, and the transfer of a large number of ninjas to Root and the Anbu—the spark for all these events was this insignificant genin.

Although this small genin had been promoted to chunin and rewarded with ninjutsu, Yuhi Shinku, who understood the rules of the village, knew that the life of this female ninja was already on a countdown.

However, the problem was that besides this damned Miyamura Ayano, his own little student was also on a countdown, just like her.

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

The Hyuga Clan's intention was, of course, for him to abandon Kawaki Aoba. Their proposed solution was simple: either he, as a jonin, should step forward and apply to the Hokage to end Kawaki Aoba's ninja career, or he should do as they did for Miyamura Ayano and apply for a special promotion to chunin for him.

Yuhi Shinku did not come from a great clan, and he certainly did not want to offend a thousand-year-old powerhouse like the Hyuga. He knew full well that handing Kawaki Aoba over was the best choice; not only would it earn him a favor from the Hyuga, but he would also gain significant benefits from it.

But, he had the misfortune of having a daughter like Yuhi Kurenai.

During the year these two little ones had spent on the same team, living and working together, even a man as dense as Yuhi Shinku could see how his daughter felt about that boy.

Therefore, even though the Hyuga Clan was powerful, for his daughter's sake, he—as a father—had to... ahem!

In short, Kawaki Aoba was the one getting the better end of the deal.

Moreover, Yuhi Shinku was not without a glimmer of hope.

Sarutobi Asuma!

That was right; this was the hope Yuhi Shinku saw.

The role Sarutobi Asuma could play in this matter was minimal, but his status was special.

As the son of the Hokage, as long as Sarutobi Asuma remained on the team, the Hyuga Clan would not dare to make a move. This suggested that the Hokage had not completely given up on Kawaki Aoba.

Of course, "not completely given up" could also be interpreted as being on the verge of abandonment.

Right now, Sarutobi Hiruzen had just obtained significant benefits from the Hyuga Clan; it was impossible for the Hokage to step in and protect Kawaki Aoba at this moment.

Therefore, all Yuhi Shinku could do was look for an opportunity himself. As for where that opportunity lay—well, he didn't know.

But being unable to find a way did not mean waiting for death. Thus, the strategy Yuhi Shinku came up with was to stall—to stall until he could find a solution, or until Kawaki Aoba possessed the strength to protect himself.

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

As for how to stall? Long-term missions were the answer.

Yuhi Shinku had already applied to the Hokage for a long-term mission far away from the village. As for the result, the Hokage had neither agreed nor refused.

So, Yuhi Shinku was waiting.

"Oh, is that so? It seems Asuma has truly grown up this time." At the residence of the Third Hokage, listening to the report from his clansman, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a sense of relief. He hadn't expected that the boy named Kawaki Aoba could actually influence Asuma; it was an unexpected delight.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. Young Master Asuma has been training extremely hard these past few days. In terms of the power of his ninjutsu alone, he is already no weaker than an average chunin. I believe he will surely become an extraordinary ninja in the future," the tutor assigned by Sarutobi Hiruzen to teach Asuma replied respectfully.

What father wouldn't be happy to hear his child praised? Sarutobi Hiruzen was no exception, even if the praise was laced with flattery.

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

After Sarutobi Hiruzen's question, an Anbu wearing a mask emerged from the shadows. "Reporting to Lord Hokage, that genin is highly gifted in sensory ninjutsu, and his perception of the outside world is far stronger than others who have lost their sight. After observing him for these past few days, it seems he has adapted to the darkness and it no longer affects his daily life."