"Kyoichi, come in!"
Dazen called out.
"—Then pardon the intrusion."
Kyoichi gave a polite greeting, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.
The moment he entered the room, he immediately felt the sharp gazes fall upon him. His eyes quickly swept across the room, not lingering on details, before lowering his head slightly toward Dazen and asking,
"Clan Head, what did you call me here for?"
"Kyoichi, relax. It's nothing serious. I just wanted you to join us two old men for a meal."
Dazen replied cheerfully.
"A meal?"
Kyoichi raised a brow.
His gaze swept over Kirigumo Masakazu and Terumī Mei, the grandfather–granddaughter pair seated before him.
This meal…
didn't seem like it was going to be very "good."
"So you're Koeda Kyoichi? Not bad at all… truly a fine young man. No wonder they say you managed to kill Hanzō of the Salamander!"
The moment Kyoichi stepped through the door, Masakazu's eyes had been locked on him. Now, he suddenly broke into a broad smile and praised him aloud.
"You flatter me."
Kyoichi answered modestly.
"I almost forgot to introduce myself. I'm the head of the Kirigumo clan—Kirigumo Masakazu."
"An honor to meet you, Clan Head Masakazu."
Kyoichi greeted him politely.
Masakazu then pointed to the girl sitting beside him and said,
"This is my granddaughter, Terumī Mei. I wonder if you two have met before…"
"Grandfather, I've already spoken with him before."
Mei interjected, cutting off his words.
"Oh, you've met already? That's good then!"
Masakazu clearly didn't mind being interrupted, even in front of outsiders like Dazen and Kyoichi. On the contrary, he seemed so at ease that it made others instinctively feel more comfortable, as if they weren't outsiders at all.
"Kyoichi… is it all right if I address you like that?"
"Of course, you may call me as you like."
"Good. Kyoichi, inviting you to dinner was my idea. The reason is simple—I'm just very curious about what kind of genius it takes to slay someone as formidable as Hanzō of the Salamander. So I couldn't resist calling you over. I hope I haven't delayed you?"
"Not at all. It's just about mealtime anyway. I was planning to eat, so there's nothing I've been delayed from."
"That's good, very good!"
Masakazu nodded with relief. Then he added,
"Kyoichi, please, sit down. No need to stand—have a seat so we can talk properly."
Without protest, Kyoichi complied, taking the empty seat beside Dazen.
Then—
"Kyoichi, just a moment ago I told Dazen that my granddaughter here is quite exceptional. But Dazen insists that no matter how talented she is, she still can't compare to you… Tell me, what do you think?"
Masakazu asked with a smiling gaze, but the question itself was a difficult one.
If Kyoichi claimed he was beneath Mei, it would be like slapping his own clan leader in the face.
But if he echoed Dazen's bold claim, he might risk angering Masakazu—and that could affect the clan's future.
"…To say one is invincible in the shinobi world would be presumptuous. There are still many strong ones I have no confidence in defeating, not to mention the hidden dragons lurking in the shadows… Perhaps I've digressed. In short, Clan Head Masakazu, I don't mean to boast, but if your granddaughter wishes to stand on the same stage as me… she still needs more time to temper herself."
Kyoichi's tone sounded polite—
but his words themselves were anything but.
Dazen only smiled knowingly, as if everything was unfolding exactly as he had planned. In truth, it was.
Ever since Kyoichi slew Hanzō, Dazen had personally tested his strength. Upon confirming that Kyoichi's abilities had indeed soared beyond his reach, he began to pin the Koeda Clan's hopes of revival on this boy.
What he had said earlier to Masakazu were his true feelings—Kyoichi's sudden meteoric rise could only be seen as the blessing of their ancestors. Entrusting the clan's future to him was only natural.
That was why he'd decided to change the clan's cautious strategy. Instead of keeping Kyoichi's light hidden, he wanted it displayed openly before the shinobi of Kirigakure.
Who knew? If fate allowed, perhaps this very display could even secure a match with the girl across the table—a descendant of both the Terumī and Kirigumo clans. Such a union would guarantee the Koeda Clan a firm foundation in Kirigakure.
So, with just a look, he signaled to Kyoichi: Don't hold back. Show yourself.
Kyoichi himself had no idea that his clan leader was already thinking this far ahead about his personal life. In truth, he had little interest in such matters, but reality often forced him to consider things he'd rather not.
Now, with Dazen subtly urging him to cast aside restraint, he felt a layer of weight fall away. He could speak freely—without needless politeness.
Masakazu, hearing his words, showed no displeasure. His heart wasn't so narrow, and Kyoichi hadn't spoken rudely—merely with a hint of arrogance. But then again, what genius who could slay Hanzō wouldn't have some measure of arrogance?
The only question was—
could he maintain it?
"So you're saying I don't even have the right to spar with you?"
The elders present were calm, unaffected by his words. But the thirteen-year-old girl across from him hadn't yet grown the same composure. Like a small chili pepper, her temper flared instantly. She slammed her hand on the table, glaring at him with fire in her eyes.
"I didn't say you have no right to spar."
Kyoichi shook his head, sighing inwardly at the lack of experience in the future Fifth Mizukage.
"In a spar, there's no such thing as qualifications. As long as both sides agree, it can happen. What I meant is that your current strength isn't at the same level as mine. You're not strong enough yet."
"You…! Hmph! Don't think just because you've got a pretty face I'll hesitate to pound you!"
Terumī Mei clenched her fists, her chest rising and falling with anger.
After steadying her breath, she crooked her finger at Kyoichi in a provoking gesture, and said,
"If you've really got the guts, let's spar right now! I'll see for myself if your strength is as great as you claim, pretty boy!"
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