This Is Bad—Kiyoshi Has More Leverage Now (Happy New Year)

Her hand rested lightly on Kiyoshi's shoulder, like a gesture of comfort toward a junior.

She had thought Uchiha Kiyoshi would be as crude as the people of the Land of Lightning, which was why she had kept putting off this task.

But after seeing him today, he actually seemed somewhat simple and honest.

At such close range, Kiyoshi could even catch a faint fragrance.

Hazuki Uchiha said a few comforting words before quickly leaving.

Kiyoshi watched her departing figure, his gaze flickering.

Hazuki Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha, the mother and daughter, resembled each other.

Both had tear moles beneath their eyes.

But Hazuki Uchiha looked more like a mature version of Izumi.

When he opened the scroll in his hand, he found it contained a Lightning Release genjutsu called "Lightning Release: Blazing Flash."

For Kiyoshi, who already possessed the Sharingan, it was somewhat underwhelming.

Genjutsu was essentially a technique that sent Chakra into the opponent's body, interfering with their five senses and trapping them in an illusion.

It could roughly be divided into three categories: visual, auditory, and tactile.

Examples included the visual Tsukuyomi, the auditory Demonic Illusion: Shackling Sound, and the tactile Izanami.

The medium for casting genjutsu only needed to follow one of those three categories.

Lightning Release could also serve as a medium for genjutsu. "Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion Flash Pillar" was one such technique.

It had been created by Shi, Kumogakure's versatile elite jonin.

It could turn one's entire body into a flash of lightning, making the opponent mistake it for a ninjutsu that obstructed vision and thus fall into the genjutsu naturally.

"No, perhaps incorporating Lightning Release into genjutsu wouldn't be bad either."

Kiyoshi suddenly thought of something.

In the future, the renowned Body Flicker Shisui's "Phantom Body Flicker Technique" fused Sharingan genjutsu into the Body Flicker Technique.

Kiyoshi could try doing the same.

The Uchiha name was far too famous.

The Shinobi World had already reached a consensus on dealing with Uchiha Clan ninja: never make eye contact with the Sharingan.

Using other methods to cast genjutsu might catch enemies off guard instead.

"It's time to find Samui."

Kiyoshi put the scroll into his bag and continued walking outside.

He was sorely lacking offensive techniques now.

At present, he knew three techniques: the Transformation Technique, Lightning Release: Lightning Finger, and Lightning Release: Iron Skin.

All of them could only serve as support.

The essence of Lightning Release: Iron Skin was to train the body and accelerate its development.

As for Lightning Release: Lightning Finger, he had only just begun learning it and could barely use it. Even if he improved his proficiency, its power would not increase by much.

This ninjutsu had probably originally been meant for medical use, releasing weak electric currents to paralyze targets.

Sushi restaurant.

"...Samodo, why is Atsui here too? He's still so young!"

Inside the sushi restaurant's secret room, Samui frowned deeply as she looked at her younger brother, who was about the same age as Kiyoshi.

Being a spy was an extremely dangerous mission.

One careless mistake, and both of them could die here.

"The Third Raikage places great importance on Yotsuki Kiyoshi's matter, so we can't mess it up. The village spent considerable effort resolving Atsui's identity issue. Next semester, he'll enroll in the Ninja Academy and go undercover."

A rough voice came from Samodo's mouth. Thick dreadlocks, each as thick as a finger, were packed tightly together.

He looked at the siblings before him.

Sending in spies required a great deal of effort.

Yet the village had sent another person.

It seemed Yotsuki Kiyoshi's value had risen again.

Samodo swept his gaze over the people in the secret room.

Besides Samui and the newly arrived Atsui, there were several people dressed as waiters.

They were all spies sent by Kumogakure.

Several companions responsible for keeping watch remained outside.

On the surface, they maintained the restaurant's daily operations. In secret, they gathered Konoha's intelligence.

And he was the superior responsible for managing these spies.

"Big sister, this is all for the village. I volunteered to come."

Atsui spoke, every other word about dedicating himself to Kumogakure.

He tossed his blond hair, the same color as Samui's. He looked like a child, but the red character for "heat" had already been tattooed on his left shoulder.

"Besides, I want to do something for my sister too."

Atsui said.

His sister was a very calm woman.

That gave her excellent potential as a spy.

But going undercover was simply too dangerous.

It was said that Yotsuki Kiyoshi was also the distant nephew of the Second Raikage. Bringing him back would be a tremendous achievement.

Then his sister would no longer need to carry out such dangerous missions.

Samui said nothing and merely sighed softly.

She was both touched and saddened.

Her little brother was being planted here already?

"He's an Uchiha, and the distant nephew of the previous Raikage. You should understand the value involved."

Samodo paused, then said earnestly,

"Kiyoshi came looking for you last time. He'll most likely have further contact with you, so you need to make more of an effort to win him over."

If they handled this matter well, it would be everyone's achievement.

They would not have to risk their lives by infiltrating enemy territory, unable to sleep soundly each day.

"Yes."

Samui nodded.

Afterward, Samodo offered everyone a few words of encouragement. He also explained matters concerning next semester's enrollment to the newly arrived Atsui before dismissing them to return to work.

Distracted, Samui returned to the sushi restaurant and wiped the tables with a white rag.

Seeing her younger brother had left her restless and uneasy.

It was not because she disliked him.

She was worried.

"Do you still sell squid sushi here?"

Samui subconsciously looked up. Just as she was about to reply that they did, she realized it was Yotsuki Kiyoshi.

The unease in her heart grew even stronger.

Samui suppressed the feeling, glanced around, and seeing that there were no customers nearby, quietly asked,

"What else do you want?"

Samui did not believe Kiyoshi would simply agree to return to Kumogakure. He was probably here to mooch off them again.

"Give me a few more scrolls. Preferably swordsmanship."

Kiyoshi held out his hand.

"Do you think these things are weeds you can pick up whenever you want?"

Seeing Kiyoshi's matter-of-fact expression, Samui could no longer maintain her calm.

Samodo had said to win Kiyoshi over, but Kiyoshi was really... begging to be punched.

They had only given Kiyoshi two Lightning Release ninjutsu scrolls not long ago, and now he was asking for more.

One had to know that most scrolls available for purchase with money were commonplace ninjutsu with poor effects. So many fraudulent scrolls circulated on the market as a result.

The vast majority were passed down within ninja clans.

Otherwise, one had to take on a master and be favored by them before one could learn ninjutsu.

"Of course I know that."

Kiyoshi said leisurely, about to give the excuse he had prepared.

Then, behind Samui, he suddenly spotted a man with the exact same hair and eye color as her, as well as a tattoo on his left shoulder.

The excuse he had prepared quietly changed.

It seemed his luck was rather good.

"This is your younger brother, isn't it, Samui?"

A faint smile curled at Kiyoshi's lips.

Samui's emerald eyes abruptly widened.

She turned around and saw her brother, already changed into a waiter's outfit. Perhaps because he was warm, he had rolled his sleeves up quite high.

Then Samui's brows knitted tightly together.

This was bad.