A few days later, the negotiations between Ibiki Morino and Cloud Representative #1 finally came to an end.
Ibiki began visiting the shops opened by Konoha villagers in Kumogakure one by one, offering suggestions for further optimization and regulation.
During those same days, Uchiha Hikaru returned to Turtle Island, guiding Naruto's training and helping him further expand the Rasengan's variations and applications.
Until this morning.
The sea was shrouded in thick fog. From a distance, Turtle Island looked hazy and indistinct—until a ship appeared, and a lone figure could be seen sprinting across the surface of the sea.
The ninja stationed at the island's perimeter immediately reported the situation to Killer Bee.
Killer Bee, who had been preparing to sleep in, abruptly sat up and scratched his head in frustration.
"Why is it that ever since Hikaru showed up, people keep trying to land on Turtle Island, yo?"
"Tch…"
"Go call Hikaru. Tell him to come with me and take a look."
Half an hour later, Uchiha Hikaru and Killer Bee arrived at Turtle Island's landing port.
The moment Hikaru stepped onto the dock, he saw two people locked in a heated argument.
"Inviting Hikaru to visit Iwagakure was a task personally assigned by my grandfather," Kurotsuchi said, arms crossed, her tone sharp. "Even the Hokage of Konoha approved it. Why can't I invite him?"
"Hmph," the woman opposite her snorted. "Even so, Hikaru came to the Cloud Village first. If he goes anywhere, Iwagakure would still be after us."
"Besides," she added bluntly, hands on her hips, "Hikaru might not even want to visit that rundown place of yours. Rocks everywhere—what's so interesting about that?"
Hikaru felt a headache coming on the moment he took in the scene.
…Is this a fight between women?
If I leave now, it'll feel rude. Maybe I'll just watch for a bit… (￣▽￣;)
Like Killer Bee, Hikaru stood silently to the side, observing the spectacle.
At first, the argument between Kurotsuchi and Yugito Nii was relatively restrained. Soon enough, however, it devolved into sharp jabs and personal attacks.
At that point, Hikaru cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"Ahem."
The two women instantly stopped arguing and turned toward him at the same time.
"Hikaru!" Kurotsuchi rushed forward and forcefully shoved a scroll into his arms. "This is a letter my grandfather wrote to you personally."
Yugito stood off to the side, arms crossed, visibly sulking.
Hikaru opened the scroll and skimmed its contents before nodding.
"Since Ōnoki personally invited me, I'll go," he said calmly. "I also need to speak with him about Deidara."
"After all… Deidara is his former apprentice."
The moment Deidara's name was mentioned, questions immediately filled Kurotsuchi's head.
"Brother Hikaru, how did Deidara even end up in Konoha?"
"And why was the wanted notice against Akatsuki suddenly revoked?"
"Did Akatsuki disband?"
"Or could it be that not just Deidara-sama, but the entire Akatsuki joined Konoha?"
The questions spilled out one after another.
Hikaru closed the scroll and put it away.
"Don't ask," he said flatly. "Some things aren't suitable for kids to know."
With that, he flicked Kurotsuchi on the forehead, leaving a faint red mark on her smooth skin.
"Ow!" Kurotsuchi immediately squatted down, clutching her forehead. "You're only four or five years older than me! Why are you acting so old and serious?!"
"Well, that can't be helped," Yugito cut in lazily, seizing the opportunity. "After all, you're still a minor—a kid who can't even drink alcohol."
Kurotsuchi's face flushed with rage as she pointed at Yugito.
"You old woman! You're just jealous of my youth!"
Generally speaking, age was a taboo subject for women—especially being called "old" to their face.
Yet Yugito only puffed out her chest proudly.
"I'm in my prime," she said coolly. "What would a little girl like you know?"
For a brief moment, Kurotsuchi felt utterly defeated. She stared at Yugito's confident figure with a mix of envy and irritation, snorted, then turned away.
Storming toward the edge of the dock, she began skipping stones across the sea in silence.
Hikaru turned to Yugito.
"By the way," he said casually, "what are you doing here? Don't tell me you missed me." (￣ω￣)
Killer Bee nearly choked.
As expected of Hikaru…
The strongest man alive, daring to say things no one else would even think about.
Yugito Nii was someone even he didn't dare provoke. Her natural queen-like presence, combined with her status as the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, made most men in the village keep their distance. Even Killer Bee himself rarely joked with her.
Yet—
Yugito's face instantly turned red.
She shot Hikaru a glare filled with embarrassment and indignation.
"H-How could that be!?"
"I was just bored and came to Turtle Island to take a look!"
"Besides, I trained here for several years. It's perfectly reasonable for me to come back and visit!"
Killer Bee wisely chose not to expose Yugito's flimsy excuse.
Training on Turtle Island felt more like being locked up than anything else. If it weren't for helping Naruto train, he doubted she would ever come back here of her own accord.
The village is way better, Bee thought. I can hold concerts, sign autographs, spread the art of rap, yo!
Hikaru nodded repeatedly, responding silently in his heart.
Mm-hmm. Of course. Totally believable. (＾▽＾)
"Since you're already here," Hikaru said aloud, "help Naruto learn to control tailed beast chakra together with Killer Bee."
"I've been here almost half a month anyway. It's about time I head back."
"After this trip to Iwagakure, I'll return to Konoha."
At those words, Yugito froze.
Her expression stiffened, and her gaze drifted awkwardly to the nearby trees.
"U-Um…"
"I just realized… Turtle Island is kind of boring."
"And it just so happens that I have a few months of vacation."
"So I was thinking of traveling outside the village."
"I'll reluctantly accompany you to Iwagakure," she said, then added lightly, "and after that, I'll go to Konoha~"
"It's a rare break. If I don't go out and enjoy myself, it'd be a waste."
If Kurotsuchi's earlier behavior had made Killer Bee feel like the sun rose in the west, then what he was witnessing now felt like a full-blown science fiction movie.
What is happening?!
Yugito actually said something like that!?
This was no different from a proud woman completely smitten.
In that instant, Hikaru's status in Killer Bee's mind soared to unprecedented heights. He looked at him as though gazing upon a legend.
All he wanted to do was kneel and ask:
[Big brother… are you planning to start teaching classes? I'll learn. On my knees.]
Hikaru simply nodded in silence.
A faint smile appeared on Yugito's face.
No one could have imagined that Yugito Nii would ever act like this. If the men of the Cloud Village knew, countless hearts would probably shatter quietly.
After all, this was the queen they only dared admire from afar—
Yet in front of Uchiha Hikaru, she was as docile as a kitten.
It was… almost unreal.
...
...
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