Yuhi Shinku abruptly looked up. The instant he saw Kawaki Aoba, surprise flashed through his eyes before being replaced by solemnity. He slowly straightened, tightening his grip on the sword in his hand, his voice low. "Aoba? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the village receiving mission assignments?"
Kawaki Aoba gave a derisive snort and lightly shifted his feet, walking over to the spy and looking down at him. The tip of his short blade rested lightly against the spy's shoulder. The force was slight, but enough for the man to feel the threat. "Mission assignments? Yuhi-sensei, what kind of decent missions do you think Lord Third would assign me? Nothing but trivial chores. Rather than waste time in the village, I might as well take a look around the border. Maybe I'd find something interesting, like... a spy who infiltrated Konoha."
The spy's body trembled slightly. A sharp pain came from where the short blade pressed against him. He struggled to raise his head and look at Kawaki Aoba. Fear flashed through his eyes, but he still forced himself to remain composed, his voice hoarse. "You... you're a Konoha ninja? At your age, barely in your teens, you already possess such a powerful presence..."
"Powerful?"
Kawaki Aoba raised a brow and pressed the short blade down a little further. It pierced the man's clothing, and a trace of blood seeped out. "I'm only a little stronger than trash like you. Don't look at me with those filthy eyes. It disgusts me."
Yuhi Shinku stepped forward and gently pressed down on Kawaki Aoba's wrist, his tone carrying a note of restraint. "Aoba, don't act rashly. He won't last much longer. We need information from him. We can't kill him."
Kawaki Aoba violently shook off Yuhi Shinku's hand. His