Chương 119: Chapter 119: Reunion Joy

"Kiyoshi—"

Due to the previous events, the ninja academy had ended classes early, so there were no lessons today.

Returning to the weapons shop just now, Tenten looked at the figure before her, filled with unspeakable joy.

"When did you come back?"

"I just got back recently." Kiyoshi replied with a smile.

Looking at the boy before her, Tenten's eyes were filled with excitement, and she smiled. "If Ino knew you were back, she'd be thrilled."

"I've already seen Ino," Kiyoshi chuckled. "She was quite bold—she clung to me and even skipped class."

"Oh, talking behind my back, Kiyoshi-nii."

At that moment, Ino rushed in, pouting angrily.

"Ino, you're here." Tenten greeted her cheerfully.

Over the past two years, even though Tenten and Ino hadn't seen each other daily, they'd regularly met on weekends to train together whenever they had the chance.

They'd often reminisce about Kiyoshi, thinking back on the carefree days when they were all together, making them inseparable friends.

"Look here."

Ino opened her right hand, revealing a small green paper crane sitting in her palm. She looked curiously at Kiyoshi and asked, "Kiyoshi-nii, was this your jutsu?"

Earlier, just as she was about to head home with her father, this strange green paper crane had flown toward her and landed right in her palm.

And from it, she'd heard Kiyoshi's voice, asking her to come meet at the weapons shop.

"Yeah, I folded it from the leaves. It's a jutsu I can use to send messages," Kiyoshi replied with a smile.

"Wow!" Ino admired the delicate green crane, recalling the incredible scene from earlier. Her eyes shone with awe as she looked at Kiyoshi.

"Kiyoshi-nii, you're amazing."

"What's going on, Ino?" Tenten asked, looking puzzled.

"It's like this."

Seeing that Kiyoshi didn't stop her, Ino's cheeks flushed with excitement as she eagerly recounted the events of the morning to her best friend.

"What?" Tenten's eyes widened in shock.

She looked at Kiyoshi in disbelief, her mouth agape. "Kiyoshi, you're the one who damaged the Hokage Rock?"

She never would've imagined that Kiyoshi was responsible for destroying the Hokage Rock.

And the tremors they felt earlier? Those had been caused by Kiyoshi's confrontation with the Anbu at the Third Training Ground. It was simply unbelievable.

"Shh, don't be so loud." Ino quickly covered Tenten's mouth.

After all, the Third Hokage had issued a strict order. Shikaku had even been prepared to remind Inoichi to seal her memory of the event.

It was only because Kiyoshi had stopped them through the paper crane that they abandoned the idea.

However, before leaving, Inoichi had specifically warned her not to tell anyone. Little did he know that Ino would immediately forget her father's warning.

"So, that's how it was."

After a long pause, Tenten finally processed the shocking information and looked at Kiyoshi in admiration. "Kiyoshi, you're incredible."

Not only did he possess the Wood Release of the First Hokage, but he could also effortlessly summon a vast forest that covered the entire Training Ground, easily overwhelming the Anbu squad. It was beyond imagination.

"It's nothing."

Kiyoshi didn't seem overly pleased with himself. Glancing at the time, he smiled. "It's almost noon. How about we go get some barbecue?"

He genuinely missed the taste of Konoha's barbecue.

Even though he had tasted various barbecues and other delicacies while traveling with Tsunade, nothing quite compared to the authentic flavor of the Akimichi clan's barbecue.

"Yes!"

The girls' eyes lit up as they eagerly nodded. Rarely having the chance to dine with Kiyoshi, they naturally wouldn't say no.

Giggling, the two girls linked arms with him, one on each side, as they walked toward the barbecue restaurant together, drawing attention from everyone who saw them.

Two years had passed, yet their longing for Kiyoshi hadn't faded in the slightest.

Even Tenten, who was usually more reserved, let go of her shyness and, like Ino, held onto Kiyoshi's arm. At first, her cheeks turned slightly pink, but she soon relaxed.

Kiyoshi was more than happy to oblige.

As he led the girls out, he glanced subtly toward a few inconspicuous corners but paid them no further attention.

"They're pretty quick to react."

…

In less than half an hour, they were seated inside the Akimichi barbecue restaurant.

Kiyoshi stared at the large plate piled high with grilled meat in front of him, unable to help but twitch his mouth in amusement.

Tenten and Ino seemed almost in competition with each other, continuously placing cooked meat on his plate, barely taking any for themselves, which left him both amused and helpless.

"You two..."

He placed some of the meat back on their plates, tapping both of their heads lightly. "You should eat more, you're still growing."

"Mhm..."

The girls exchanged a glance, their cheeks blushing. Then, with delighted smiles, they savored the meat he'd placed back on their plates, eating slowly.

"Kiyoshi-nii, are you planning to leave again soon?" Ino asked, gazing at Kiyoshi with big, hopeful eyes. Next to her, Tenten looked at him just as expectantly, hardly blinking.

"I'll probably stay for about ten days," Kiyoshi replied with a smile. "It's still a bit too early for me to settle back in the village."

"Oh!"

Although a bit disappointed, the girls couldn't help but feel happy to hear he'd be staying for a little while.

"By the way, Ino, how is your clan's secret technique training coming along?" Kiyoshi asked, patting Ino's head with a smile.

"It's going good." Ino patted her chest proudly.

"With your training methods and insights, I've been working hard on my chakra control every day and have now mastered most of our family's secret techniques."

"Mm, as expected, Ino you're a genius." Kiyoshi praised, making her beam with happiness, eyes crinkling in delight.

He then turned to Tenten. "What about you, Tenten?"

"I can now control both Kiyoshi No. 1 and the flying puppet Mahoroba smoothly."

Tenten replied with confidence. "Although it might take more practice before I can use them in actual combat."

Not wanting to let Kiyoshi down, she had devoted herself to training without ever slacking off in the past two years. She could now skillfully operate both puppets.

"Kiyoshi-nii, Tenten's known as a prodigy puppeteer at the academy." Ino added with a laugh.

"Even the teachers are impressed."

"Oh, I'm not that great. It's only because of Kiyoshi's help." Tenten's cheeks flushed bright red.

Was she really a genius? At best, she felt she was simply diligent. The real genius was Kiyoshi, who mastered puppet techniques and construction without even needing a teacher.

"Don't sell yourself short and just believe in yourself. Someday, you'll become a renowned puppeteer in the shinobi world." Kiyoshi encouraged her with a smile.

---------------

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Chương 120: Chapter 120: Fated Struggle

"Alright, I guess it's time to visit the Third Hokage."

After a satisfying barbecue with Tenten and Ino, Kiyoshi escorted the two girls back home. They reluctantly parted ways, agreeing to meet up at their usual spot in the afternoon.

As he passed by the Hokage Rock, Kiyoshi noticed some shinobis repairing the cracks on the stone faces and clearing the green vines that had grown over the Third Hokage's head.

He decided to drop by the Hokage's office for a quick visit.

…..

"Kiyoshi, it's rare for you to remember an old man like me." Hiruzen chuckled as Kiyoshi entered his office.

"You flatter me, Hokage-sama. Not only are you the Hokage, but you're also Tsunade-sensei's teacher," Kiyoshi replied with a respectful smile, showing none of his earlier rebellious spirit.

He scratched his head awkwardly and added, "Respecting teachers and elders has always been a strong tradition in our village, after all. I just got back and have been busy."

The truth is, since the deaths of the First and Second Hokage, Konoha has upheld this tradition of respecting teachers and elders to the extreme.

Ironically, this tradition had become distorted, with many disciples betraying their masters and advancing their paths through ruthless actions.

Compared to those cases, his goal of being the next Hokage's rebellious but devoted student seemed almost saintly.

With that thought, Kiyoshi couldn't help but straighten up, confidence gleaming in his eyes.

"..."

Hiruzen's lips twitched. If not for what happened earlier in the day, he might actually believe this young man to be humble and respectful.

"Ahem! well said, Kiyoshi. Where tree leaves dance... one shall find flames... the fire's shadow will illuminate the village... and once again tree leaves shall bud anew."

Once he started, the Third Hokage launched into a long-winded speech about the Will of Fire, sharing the philosophies he had used to lead Konoha and subdue headstrong young ninjas.

Two hours later.

Kiyoshi left the Hokage office with a scowl, a headache lingering from the old man's ramblings.

The Third Hokage had skirted around the topic and pushed the Will of Fire philosophy, hinting at Kiyoshi as his future successor. But Kiyoshi remained unaffected.

It didn't matter if the Third actually intended to groom him as a successor, Kiyoshi had no interest in the position.

Becoming Hokage? He preferred a life of freedom and relaxation.

Spending days and nights tied to a desk, endlessly signing papers—where was the appeal in that?

With that in mind, he declined Hiruzen's suggestions with a few polite phrases and quickly excused himself.

---

Seeing that Karin hadn't returned, Kiyoshi decided not to disturb the recently reunited mother and daughter, Karin and her mom.

Wandering around without a destination, he found himself on the village outskirts.

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms."

"Thump… Thump…"

In the distance, a small figure clad in training clothes, with a gray bandana around his head, struck a series of wooden posts at lightning speed, his bandaged hands creating afterimages.

It was his old classmate Neji Hyuga, whom he hadn't seen in two years.

"Huff... Huff…"

Neji was panting, his forehead veins bulging as his Byakugan surged with intensity.

"Kiyoshi?" Neji's eyes narrowed in surprise.

Using the Hyuga clan's almost 360-degree field of vision, he immediately noticed Kiyoshi approaching.

He could sense an immense amount of chakra coursing through Kiyoshi's system, almost overwhelming in its presence.

"Hm?" Seeing the familiar figure, Kiyoshi raised his eyebrows, a bit taken aback. He greeted him with a smile, "Yo, Neji, long time no see."

Kiyoshi had been casually wandering, taking in the sights he hadn't seen in years, without actively using his sensory abilities. Living with constant awareness was exhausting, after all.

"You're back?"

Neji's surprise was evident.

He had long known that Kiyoshi had been taken under the wings of one of the Sannin, Tsunade.

For the past two years, Kiyoshi had been training alongside her.

"Yeah, just got back." Kiyoshi noticed the faint bloodstains seeping through the bandages on Neji's hands.

Admiringly, he said, "You really work hard, Neji. Being able to hit sixteen palms in a single moment. you're truly a Hyuga prodigy."

Though Rock Lee's effort was undeniable, Neji's dedication and hard work were also extraordinary.

Behind his reputation as a genius lay countless hours of blood, sweat, and struggle.

"Hmph, compared to you, I'm still far behind." Neji muttered, reluctant to challenge Kiyoshi.

Just from Kiyoshi's massive chakra reserves, he knew the gap between them was insurmountable. This, perhaps, was fate.

Some were born to stand as rare, shining stars that people could only gaze upon in awe.

Others, no matter how hard they tried, were destined to be "talented" but always just ordinary in the eyes of others, unable to escape the shackles of destiny.

And there were those who, despite every effort, could never escape mediocrity.

At this thought, Neji clenched his fists. He frequently spoke of fate, but it was precisely his refusal to submit to fate that drove him.

Though blessed with talent, he was born into the Hyuga clan's branch family, fated to serve the main house forever.

His own fate paled next to the privileged life of the main house's heir, a girl weaker and more timid than him, yet showered with respect and reverence simply by birthright.

"Are you angry about your fate?" Kiyoshi observed knowingly. He was well aware of Neji's struggles.

Neji's father, Hizashi, had indeed suffered an unfortunate fate. Born just moments after his twin brother, Hiashi, Hizashi's destiny diverged dramatically.

Hiashi became the esteemed leader of the Hyuga's main house, while Hizashi was marked with the Caged Bird Seal, a symbol of submission to the main family's control.

Even Neji himself, at the age of four, had been branded with the Caged Bird Seal, forever bound to his status as a branch family member.