#43 - Can Hinata drop the entry?

As a veteran of the Second Shinobi World War, he had a keen sense of war.

And at this time, the importance of the Uchiha became even more apparent.

Unlike other ninja clans, the Uchiha clan, in war, might likely… become stronger with each battle.

After thinking for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi flipped back to Kiyoshi Uchiha's page of routine performance evaluation.

Taking out a pen, Hiruzen Sarutobi wrote the words "Focus on Closely".

Originally, he wanted to find someone from the Uchiha clan to serve as a bridge to ease relations with the Uchiha clan.

To have them be led by Minato.

Now it seems, perhaps another candidate can be added.

Kiyoshi Uchiha, who hasn't been here long, would probably be more receptive to the Will of Fire than other Uchiha.

……

Evening.

Sarutobi Asuma returned home, dejected.

The thought of losing face in front of Kurenai Yuhi made Sarutobi Asuma feel like the sky was falling.

The tough-guy image he had cultivated for so long was probably ruined.

"No, I must prove myself in front of Kurenai!"

Sarutobi Asuma clenched his fist.

He conceded that his genjutsu was inferior to Kiyoshi's.

He had underestimated Kiyoshi's strength due to his carelessness; even without the Sharingan, his genjutsu was strong.

Next, he would show his greatest strength.

Sarutobi Asuma looked at his trench knife-shaped ninja tool in the room, forged from half chakra metal and half ordinary metal.

He also planned to replace it entirely with special chakra metal in the future, creating a ninja tool unique to himself.

"Chakra Flow, I can't possibly lose to you in this, right?"

Sarutobi Asuma thought to himself.

To be safe, he also planned to continue special training for a while.

When the time came, he would challenge Kiyoshi to a one-on-one taijutsu match!

…………

Konoha Street, 7 PM.

There was another autumn rain last night.

Kiyoshi breathed out a puff of air.

Yesterday was also the last autumn rain; today, it's already winter.

Along the streets, the withered yellow leaves of the trees fluttered in the cold wind.

Some time had passed since he defeated Sarutobi Asuma and obtained the skill entry.

"I want this, and this."

Kiyoshi pointed to the ingredients, and the shop owner immediately wrapped them up for him.

Since he lived alone, Kiyoshi had to do everything himself, from buying groceries and cooking to doing laundry and cleaning.

"You're so useless, you can't even buy the right dessert."

A scolding voice came.

Accompanied by a crisp slap.

Drawing the attention of passersby.

Kiyoshi followed the sound and saw Hinata Natsu, whom he had met once at the Third Training Ground.

At this moment, she was obediently lowering her head.

Her dark green short hair covered her white eyes, and her body trembled slightly.

"Yes, Lady Ginka."

Hinata Natsu respectfully responded to a noblewoman in front of her.

The noblewoman's gesture of waving her hand, even under the cover of thick robes, perfectly outlined her charming figure.

"Remember to bring it back after you buy it, and also get a serving of fresh squid sushi."

Hinata Ginka ordered haughtily.

Recently, that sushi restaurant with the peculiar taste was really good.

Other sushi restaurants simply didn't have such new styles.

She turned her head, and the curious passersby immediately averted their gazes, not daring to make eye contact.

This was the main family of the Hinata clan.

The Hinata clan was one of the two major dojutsu clans in Konoha, and the members' identities were clearly divided.

That was the main family and the branch family!

Needless to say, the one being beaten was definitely from the branch family.

The passersby tightened their collars and continued walking.

These were internal affairs of the Hinata clan; it was best to leave first.

Kiyoshi kept watching this scene.

"Gentle Fist, will it drop a skill entry?"

Kiyoshi thought to himself.

He was very envious of the Hinata clan's abilities.

Take the acquired "Chakra Flow · Fire Release," for example; this ability could be attached to weapons.

As for attaching it to the body, that was far beyond Kiyoshi's means.

Even jonin couldn't do it at will; at most, they could only release chakra from their hands, feet, and other parts.

Releasing chakra in other parts of the body would be especially difficult.

And maintaining "Chakra Flow" on the body surface for a long time would put a great burden on the chakra points, causing the ninja to feel pain.

Only the Hinata clan could freely release chakra from all the chakra points in their body, such as the Gentle Fist techniques like "Eight Trigrams Palms Rotation."

"Squid sushi…"

Hinata Natsu looked at the sky; the horizon was already turning dark.

It would soon be night.

But that sushi restaurant wouldn't open at night at all; how was she going to explain it to Hinata Ginka?

"Are you having trouble? Hinata Natsu."

"Oh… Kiyoshi."

Hinata Natsu confirmed that Hinata Ginka had walked away before raising her eyes to see who was greeting her.

It was Kiyoshi, whom she wasn't very familiar with.

"Are you trying to buy squid sushi?"

Kiyoshi asked.

"Yes."

Although she didn't know why Kiyoshi Uchiha was looking for her, Hinata Natsu still nodded.

"Let's go, I'll take you there."

Kiyoshi waved his hand, revealing a smile.

"Eh… but that shop should be closed, right?"

Hinata Natsu sighed, her eyes hiding melancholy.

When she returned to the clan, she would probably be reprimanded again.

Hinata Ginka hated them making excuses the most.

"I'm a regular customer there."

Kiyoshi said with a faint smile.

The people at that sushi restaurant couldn't wait for him to go every day, preferably all the way back to Kumogakure.

"Let's go."

Kiyoshi took a few steps forward, signaling Hinata Natsu to follow.

Hinata Natsu was stunned for a moment, then followed.

Regardless of whether Kiyoshi was the regular customer the shop said he was, she had to confirm whether the shop was closed or not.

The two walked together and soon arrived at the sushi restaurant.

The person busy in the store was preparing to close, and seeing that there were still people coming, he planned to go out and tell the customers to come the next day.

But as he got closer, he realized it was Kiyoshi, and he immediately changed his words and enthusiastically asked Kiyoshi and Hinata Natsu what they wanted.

Kiyoshi glanced at the person receiving them.

It wasn't Samui.

It was another person he had seen in the secret room, but he didn't recognize him.

"I want a serving of squid sushi."

Kiyoshi said.

"You're a regular customer, we'll arrange it right away."

The person who received them was Yasugawa Sachiya; he led Kiyoshi and Hinata Natsu to a private room.

"I prefer a little quiet."

Kiyoshi added as Yasugawa Sachiya was about to leave.

The subtext was that he didn't like being spied on when he came here.

"Please rest assured, our store guarantees soundproofing."

Yasugawa Sachiya smiled and closed the door, then returned to the secret room to report to Samato.

"Then ignore him."

Hearing that Kiyoshi had brought a girl in, Samato agreed to Kiyoshi's request.

People of this age were just at the stage of being ignorant about the opposite sex, and Samato understood Kiyoshi.

This spy point was already exposed in front of Kiyoshi, and Samato didn't want to risk his life to offend Kiyoshi.

At least not here.