Exposed in public

The smoke cleared.

The man who had crept up to ambush Gojo Satoru while he was talking to the pale-haired ninja now lay flat on the ground, completely motionless.

A flicker of surprise crossed Kiyota Sato's eyes as he fought fiercely nearby.

The boy's fresh-faced image suddenly cracked.

He seemed... a little different from what Sato had imagined.

The pale-haired ninja facing him froze as well.

He hadn't expected such a young brat to pack that much of a punch.

But.

He was nothing like that third-rate trash from before.

He stared fixedly at the white-haired boy a short distance away, his eyes cold and murderous.

There was no way his ninjutsu could have gone wrong.

Gojo Satoru's lips curled upward. The anger that had been lodged in his chest had already subsided by half.

He was even in the mood to chat with the pale-haired ninja now.

"Hey, old man over there."

"Where was I?"

The pale-haired ninja paused, his expression turning uneasy.

He hadn't asked that question earlier simply because he couldn't figure things out.

That was only one minor reason.

More importantly, he had wanted to give the others an opening for a sneak attack.

That was the only reason.

That was why he had deliberately drawn his opponent's attention.

But why was this white-haired brat doing the same thing?

Given a ninja's vigilance, a trick like that was practically useless after the first time.

There was no chance of ambushing him again.

The pale-haired ninja studied the lively Gojo Satoru across from him, doubts stirring in his mind.

"Calling you 'old man' is kind of awkward, isn't it?"

Gojo Satoru paused, clapped his hands together, and continued.

"I don't know your name, so I'll just call you Giant Rock."

His casual words struck the pale-haired ninja's heart like a muffled thunderclap.

His pupils constricted sharply.

How was that possible?

Had he figured out who I was?

Had someone leaked the information?

A flash of panic shot through the pale-haired ninja, but his face didn't betray a thing.

They were indeed members of the Giant Rock Clan.

Their current disguises were meant to advance the next stage of their plan.

They had never expected someone to expose their identities.

What now?

Their true identities absolutely could not come to light during a covert mission like this.

Was he... bluffing?

He forced down his panic, his gaze turning cold.

"Heh. A brat through and through."

"You'll even spout nonsense like that."

"The Giant Rock Clan?"

"We're not those idiots."

"Remember the name of the man who kills you: Hozuki Mizukawa!"

His murderous aura grew thicker, while his presence became increasingly faint.

"Oh? Really?" Gojo Satoru propped his chin on his hand and tilted his head.

He looked as though he was about to be convinced.

The pale-haired ninja relaxed, silently letting out a breath.

That was close.

But Gojo Satoru's next words made his heart leap into his throat again.

"You're lying."

His voice was level, yet carried a few barely perceptible traces of amusement.

Gojo Satoru pointed at a ninja locked in combat nearby.

"Look at him. Sure, he has pale skin and gray hair, but he's built thick and broad."

"Members of the Hozuki Clan do have lighter hair and skin than most people, but because of their unique secret clan technique, they tend to be slender."

He shifted his gaze to the man fighting Captain Naoya Kuchiki and continued unhurriedly.

"This one gives himself away even more."

"He prefers getting in close and trading blows head-on. His movements and transitions are smooth and natural."

"He isn't as comfortable with ninjutsu as he is with Taijutsu, and sometimes he even takes potentially fatal hits with his body."

"The Hozuki Clan can't do that. Their specialty is the Hydrification Technique."

As Gojo Satoru rattled off his observations, the pale-haired ninja's face darkened completely.

How did he know so many secrets?

Just who was he?

Their assignment this time was to impersonate the Hozuki Clan and pick a fight with Konoha.

If their identities were exposed, the mission would be ruined.

Now this brat had thrown all their schemes and plans into disarray.

What rotten luck.

Was there any point in continuing?

The wind lifted Gojo Satoru's short white hair, but his expression remained as calm as ever.

It was as though he hadn't just revealed a long-planned secret, but had merely remarked that the weather was nice today.

He watched the pale-haired ninja without a ripple of emotion, looking utterly mysterious.

No one knew what was actually going through his mind...

Three-Color Dango, I've avenged you.

A gentleman takes revenge without a moment's delay.