Kikyō Pass? Gone

One Nine Masked Beast after another emerged from the lava. Huayue silently tucked the scrolls clenched in Vermilion Bird and Genbu's mouths into his Ninja Tool Pouch, but his gaze remained fixed in the direction of the Land of Wind.

"Is that so? Those in the Land of Wind really couldn't even keep watch over a hostage... Forget it. It has nothing to do with me."

His figure flickered. Clumps of White Mist dispersed, and the Nine Masked Beasts vanished from where they stood. Only crimson lava flowed quietly through Kikyō Pass.

Elsewhere, the open and covert scrutiny and whispers left Uchiha Fugaku unable to say a word.

If he claimed not to know him, who would believe that the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force and head of the Uchiha Clan did not recognize one of his own clansmen?

But if he got it wrong, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing when that guy returned?

Fortunately, Fugaku's awkward predicament did not last long. Unconcealed footsteps rang out, followed by a black kunai and a figure that filled Yūhi Shin Kurenai with delight.

"Red! Are you all right? Red..."

"The aftershock from the Tailed Beast Bomb only grazed her leg. Once the Medical Squad's Medical Ninja treats her, she'll be fine."

"And saying you didn't know me was really rude, Minato-sensei. We clearly met during the Third Hokage's prewar mobilization. Honestly."

As he removed his mask, the prominent Konoha families and their clan heads were all taken aback. Wasn't this Uchiha Huayue, the boy who had openly behaved indecently before the Third Hokage and only then graduated from the Ninja Academy?

What was going on? How had he suddenly become so strong? Who had taught him the Flying Thunder God Technique?

"Huayue? So it was you. Did the Third Hokage send you as reinforcements?"

"No. Orochimaru-sensei had me accept the Third Hokage's commission. I was only responsible for the battlefield against the Sand Ninja. Once the battle there ended, I came over to take a look."

His smile was bright, his tone devoid of even a hint of falsehood. Yet those sincere words only left everyone speechless, numb for a long while.

"Huayue, don't tell me you suppressed Chiyo, the Kazekage Advisor of the Land of Wind?"

Faced with Minato's question, Huayue openly admitted it.

"That's right. Among my Summoning Beasts is one specifically suited to counter Puppet Ninjas, so that battle went unexpectedly smoothly."

"The Kazekage Advisor! Someone like that? Is this real? You're not joking, are you?"

The successive shocks made Yuhi Kurenai instinctively look around, seeking answers from the chūnin, jōnin, and her father.

"Have they arrived already?"

Tilting his head slightly, Huayue watched as members of the Konoha Medical Squad hurried over. The petite woman at their head was the current captain of the Konoha Medical Squad, Yakushi Nonō, the Wandering Miko.

"Where are the wounded? You, prioritize the severely injured. After giving the remaining wounded emergency bandaging, come help immediately. Assign priority according to red, yellow, and green."

"Sister Nonō, this patient is a little unusual. I'll leave her to you."

A flicker of delight passed through his eyes behind the Toad Glasses, as though a heavy burden had finally been lifted from his heart. Nonō nodded firmly and began examining Yuhi Kurenai's injuries.

"Thank you so much. If it hadn't been for you, I truly wouldn't know how to explain this to her mother."

Like Yuhi Kurenai, the Konoha jōnin Yūhi Shin Kurenai had black hair and red eyes, with somewhat similar features. He gave a slight bow, the worry in his eyes impossible to dispel.

"It's all right. Red and I are friends. Her leg was only injured, and she'll recover after resting for a while."

Nonō smiled gently and nodded, confirming that the injury was not serious. Only then did Yūhi Shin Kurenai finally relax, turning toward Huayue.

"You're quite close with Red? You should have only graduated this year. You're two years younger than Red, so the age difference isn't much."

Huayue frowned at those words. Sir, you seem to be thinking about something dangerous.

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I'll be borrowing this child for a while, Shin Kurenai."

A calm, capable voice sounded from behind them. Uchiha Huayue turned around, and the first thing that entered his vision was the emblem of the Konoha Military Police Force.

"Lord Fugaku... Understood."

Yūhi Shin Kurenai walked over to Yuhi Kurenai's side and quietly asked her something.

Lying flat on the ground, Yuhi Kurenai barely turned her head to look at the Fire Fan on the back of that black cloak. Her entire body felt scorching hot and weak, as if she had caught a severe cold.

"What is it, Lord Fugaku?"

"Uchiha Huayue, your strength and talent qualify you to join the Konoha Military Police Force and formally participate in the clan assembly..."

Before Fugaku could continue, Huayue raised a hand to stop him, his tone calm.

"I refuse. Next, I'll be formally training with Orochimaru-sensei. For the time being, I have no plans to serve in the Konoha Military Police Force. As for the clan assembly, we can discuss it after my training is over."

Uchiha Fugaku frowned slightly. After a moment of silence, he nodded gently.

"Orochimaru-sensei? Then congratulations. To be accepted as a disciple by Orochimaru, one of the Sannin... with a little experience, perhaps you may become a ninja no less capable than him."

As they spoke, Fugaku looked toward Namikaze Minato. After meeting his gaze and exchanging a slight nod, expectation flickered in Fugaku's eyes.

"The Uchiha Clan and the village need a bond. Your talent and circumstances are destined to make you a key figure connecting the village and the clan in the future."

"Whatever you need, you may ask the clan for it. But you must remember that you are a member of the Uchiha Clan, and Uchiha blood flows through you... No, you are destined to be an Uchiha clansman capable of awakening the Sharingan."

Talking to himself, Uchiha Fugaku occasionally glanced at the boy beside him, failing to notice the indifference and disdain in Huayue's eyes.

"Lady Nonō, Lady Nonō! Please take a look at this child. It seems his brain suffered some kind of shock, and he has lost his memory."

The faint voice did not escape Huayue's ears. Looking slightly into the distance, he saw the white-haired youth being led before Nonō by a Medical Ninja.

"Huayue, there are some things I'd like to ask about—regarding Kikyō Pass..."

Namikaze Minato and Nara Shikaku approached Huayue together, intending to ask for the specific details of Kikyō Pass. Uchiha Fugaku also remained where he was, wanting to know its current condition.

"Kikyō Pass? There is no more Kikyō Pass. As expected of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's Tailed Beast Bomb, that attack flattened the entire mountain and blasted out an enormous crater. If anyone had taken that attack head-on, there would have been no saving them."

His tone was full of amazement and completely without pretense. Just like that, a massive blame was pinned onto Killer B.

"What about the Fourth Raikage? And Rasa of the Sand Ninja, along with that Scorch Release Ninja?"

"They retreated. When that Tailed Beast Bomb was fired, I redirected it. Getting hit by their own attack must have hurt. How pitiful, hehe..."

Nara Shikamaru's mind crashed for a moment, his CPU spinning wildly. After a long silence, he murmured in awe.

"So... we won?"