The lesson had moved from night to day, but the blindfold stayed.
Kiyoshi stood in the middle of the Konoha Military Police Force courtyard, his eyes covered, listening to each sound around him in turn.
The gatekeeper's broom sweeping the courtyard, the cries of burden-carriers beyond the wall-he could make out where each came from and where each went.
The blindfold was a rule left over from the last lesson. With his sight gone, his ears had to take in the entire courtyard.
Something stirred outside the main gate.
Footsteps stopped by the gatehouse, and something was handed in.
The voices were too low to make out the words. All he could tell was that the gatekeeper was resisting.
The gatekeeper jogged over with a visiting card resting in his palm.
The card was plain, without an envelope, its edges neatly aligned.
There was only one name on it. It called for him, and him alone.
The gatekeeper stood beside him, rubbing his hands, and asked whether he should notify their superiors first.
Kiyoshi did not answer.
The gatekeeper went back and forth twice more, asking several rounds of questions. He returned looking troubled; no one dared make the decision for anyone else.
Kiyoshi nodded to him.
The visitor entered the courtyard and stopped three paces away without a word.
Before the blindfold came off, the visitor had already watched most of the lesson.
"The blindfold is unnecessary."
Kiyoshi removed it.
Neji Hyuga stood three paces away, his collar neatly upright, the shadows beneath his eyes faint.
The courtyard gate stood ajar behind him.
An unnumbered lookout had appeared atop the courtyard wall and remained still.
Neji spoke first.
"A note from the Hyuga Seat must be opened in person."
Kiyoshi raised his hand and took something from inside his