Konoha's Secret Technique

Before Kato Xu leaped out of the forest, he had already heard the deafening cheers.

Beyond Konoha's walls, waves upon waves of people surged like a tide. Whether from joy or sorrow, the crowd had utterly boiled over.

Bathed in Konoha's glory and tempered by the Will of Fire, the people of Konoha could weep while still feeling proud of those sacrifices and acts of devotion.

Kato Xu had never thought there was anything wrong with that.

Any ideal that endured for a long time and won the approval of most people was bound to possess a unique spiritual core capable of resonating with the majority. It was also a miniature reflection of the ideology of Konoha's small society.

The desire to defend one's homeland and the anger of resisting foreign enemies had always been the easiest emotions to exploit anywhere.

For Konoha, founded amid war and chaos, developing such a spiritual core did not surprise Kato Xu in the slightest.

It was just that... the more noble a belief was, the more dangerous it became once someone with ulterior motives took advantage of it.

The sense of mission brought by a lofty faith that occupied their entire hearts would make them blindly choose to lay down their lives for it when they did not even understand why.

Kato Xu had never felt any sense of belonging toward Konoha. Though he understood and admired people like them, he could never become like them...

In this world, he only wanted to live for himself...

The forest was dense and deep. The moment he leaped out, Kato Xu found the sunlight unbearably dazzling, while even the faint breeze stung his cheeks.

"Xu... over here!"

Kushina Uzumaki and Rin Nohara, who had been looking around, spotted Kato Xu walking slowly behind the advance unit and could not help calling out loudly.

Obito Uchiha, wearing goggles, stood behind the two girls, arguing about something with Kakashi Hatake, his face full of smug pride.

Hearing the call, Kato Xu walked over at an unhurried pace.

But just before reaching them, his eyes flickered. He casually glanced toward the corners of the surrounding crowd, then abruptly stopped and pulled his hood tighter.

"I still have other matters to attend to..."

With that, he prepared to turn and leave.

He did not know how well his mission had gone, but the next time they met, they would very likely be enemies fighting to the death.

"Hey! You brat, get over here already..."

Kato Xu could hardly imagine how Kushina's slender arms contained such tremendous strength. In that instant, he even had the illusion that he was powerless to resist and could only let her forcibly drag him toward Obito and the others.

"Xu, what could possibly be happier than stuffing yourself with a feast..."

Obito pushed up his goggles and raised his brows at Kato Xu. Kato Xu roughly understood that expression—it was the face of someone hoping to freeload.

Rin also looked at Kato Xu with anticipation. Only Kakashi gave a cold snort, though he did not show as much obvious hostility as usual.

"Fine..."

Kato Xu sighed softly and agreed. He could now be certain that his mission of winning Minato Namikaze's team's trust had more or less succeeded. Yet an inexplicable sense of guilt rose within him. Even though the warnings he had given were already more than enough.

"That's more like it..."

With a light laugh, Kushina patted Kato Xu on the shoulder, tucked his head into the space between her arm and ribs, then grabbed Kakashi as well. Like a female warrior, she strode through Konoha's gates.

Obito and Rin walked on either side, covering their mouths as they secretly laughed.

Pressed against Kushina's side, Kato Xu remained silent.

Kakashi, however, had turned red. Rolling his dead-fish eyes, he stared coldly at Kato Xu with a trace of embarrassment and irritation.

Kato Xu ignored Kakashi's gaze. Being this close to the red-haired woman, he could even feel the warmth of Kushina's body—a passion and warmth as Chi-hot as a volcano.

It was as if she had sensed the coldness and darkness in Kakashi and himself. She simply kept radiating heat, trying to melt the two blocks of ice.

Raising his eyes slightly, he suddenly found himself somewhat curious about Kushina.

He had once secretly sensed Kushina's spiritual fluctuations, only for her to notice instantly. Today, she had displayed such strength as well.

Kato Xu suddenly realized that Minato's partner, whom he had previously overlooked as merely someone with special sensory abilities, was definitely not just an ordinary Special Jonin.

"Konoha Secret Technique—Taijutsu Ultimate Art..."

Obito trailed behind Kakashi, muttering something under his breath. Kato Xu could not hear him clearly, but he could sense the slight fluctuations in Obito's emotions. They seemed to contain a faint trace of malice. It looked like some sort of prank.

Glancing at Kakashi, who looked as lifeless as though he were about to die, Kato Xu chose not to say anything.

"Thousand Years of Death!"

Obito formed the Tiger hand seal with both hands and gave a low shout. Kato Xu felt Kakashi's entire body stiffen as his muscles rapidly contracted.

Breaking free from Kushina's embrace, Kakashi's eyes seemed to lose their light. His body trembling, he slowly turned around. His murderous gaze made Kato Xu, who had taken the opportunity to slip away, glance sideways.

But Kato Osamu's eyes fell on the height where Obito's hands had stopped. He then looked at Kakashi's back, where the center of his black military pants had wrinkled inward as though it had caved in.

"Obito! I'm going to kill you!"

Enduring the pain, Kakashi leaped forward and kicked at Obito. Obito seemed to know he had gone too far and fled toward the buildings lining the street.

"Kakashi... you lied to me... the Thousand Years of Death's power... there's no way it can make a Jonin lose the ability to move..."

Obito ran farther and farther away, while Kakashi chased him like a madman, locking onto Obito's figure without letting go. The two ran farther into the distance until they gradually vanished from sight.

"Hahaha..."

"Obito... Obito... how could he be so naughty..."

Kushina could no longer hold it in. Clutching her stomach, she laughed so hard that she bent forward and backward.

Kato Xu knew she had definitely sensed Obito's actions, yet she had not stopped him. It seemed that this kind of horseplay was also her idea of a way for the two boys to strengthen their friendship...

Rin covered her face, looking somewhat stunned and seemingly embarrassed by Obito's actions. Yet when she recalled Kakashi's expression, she could not help letting out a snort of laughter.

"Childish..."

Kato Xu gave a soft snort, but a rare smile appeared at the corner of his lips. The cheerful everyday life of chuuni boys did not seem quite so boring after all...

"You little brat, who are you calling childish!"

Kushina grabbed Kato Xu from behind, seized both of his ears, and twisted his head back and forth as if teasing a child.

"Hahaha..."

Rin could no longer keep a straight face. The enormous contrast between Kato Xu now and his usual self made her laugh until her stomach hurt.

"I'm leaving..."

Kato Xu's figure suddenly vanished from Kushina's grasp. He landed atop a high platform, gently rubbed his ears, and then disappeared.

"Hey, Xu! Minato will be back tonight, and we're celebrating at home for you becoming a Special Jonin! You have to come..."

Kato Xu had already disappeared, and it was unknown whether he had heard her. Kushina chuckled, then linked arms with Rin. Like close sisters, the two wandered through the market, chatting and laughing as they prepared ingredients for that evening.