Yugito?
Utakata watched these two people with an indifferent expression, completely uninterested in what their names were.
The only reason Utakata hadn't left directly was that these two were jinchuriki like him.
Since Yuto-sama had these two come find him, he clearly placed some importance on them.
Or rather... to monitor these two!
Utakata's eyelids drooped slightly, his face showing an impatient expression.
However, his eyes seriously assessed the two before him.
Glancing briefly at Fu, Utakata's gaze passed over her and landed on Yugito.
Yugito, huh?
It seems you're the main one to be monitored!
The three stared at each other, none of them speaking. The atmosphere quickly turned cold.
No matter how one looked at it, Yugito, Fu, and Utakata were clearly not people skilled at conversation.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly awkward, light footsteps approached from the distance.
Looking in the direction of the footsteps, a figure dressed in blue and white clothing appeared before everyone.
"You're a bit late, Haku."
Utakata remained leaning against the tree, his peripheral vision catching the approaching figure as he spoke indifferently.
"I apologize, Utakata-sama. I encountered some trouble on the way, so I'm a bit late."
Haku seemed to sense the somewhat awkward atmosphere, showing an apologetic expression while nodding gently at Fu and Yugito with a warm look.
"In any case, I'll leave these two to you."
Utakata's eyelids drooped as he casually waved his hand, clearly uninterested in the reason for Haku's tardiness.
Haku nodded, then looked at Yugito and Fu with a warm expression, a hint of apology in his voice:
"Utakata-sama has always been like this. Please don't take offense. My name is Haku. I look forward to working with you both."
"Hmph, such an arrogant guy."
Fu let out a dissatisfied snort toward Utakata, then quickly ran up to Haku, widening her eyes as she looked at him with surprise:
"Big sister, you're so beautiful!"
Yugito, standing to the side with her mature demeanor, also walked past Utakata.
Compared to Utakata, who seemed indifferent and ready to fall asleep at any moment, Haku, with his warm expression, seemed much easier to approach.
"Um, although I know Fu-san is complimenting me, Haku is actually a boy."
Haku's warm expression stiffened slightly, a hint of helplessness showing.
A boy?
Yugito's movement toward Haku paused as she carefully examined Haku's pale skin and long, straight black hair.
If Yugito hadn't detected no hint of joking in Haku's voice, she would have strongly suspected that Haku was teasing them.
Fu, being a child, didn't think much of it beyond some surprise.
However, both Haku and Yugito could hear Fu quietly muttering:
"The people of Kirigakure really are a bunch of strange ones."
Under Haku's guidance, Yugito and Fu walked in another direction. Clearly, Haku intended to arrange a place for them to stay.
As jinchuriki and outsiders, naturally they couldn't be placed near the villagers.
Of course, for better surveillance, Haku had already decided to place them next to Utakata's residence.
Surely Utakata-sama wouldn't mind too much, Haku thought to himself.
Before the three had walked far, they suddenly heard intense collision sounds from ahead.
Yugito's gaze sharpened as she quickly looked up.
Not far ahead, two young ninjas were sparring with each other. Calling it sparring, but their attacks showed no hint of holding back.
"Hehe, Byakugan brat, you can't escape!"
Suigetsu Hozuki, wielding the blunt sword Kabutowari, rapidly approached Neji Hyuga.
During his fast movement, Suigetsu released two small Water Release jutsu to block Neji's escape routes.
In the next instant, Suigetsu appeared before Neji, raising Kabutowari and striking directly with the broad blade.
"I told you, with the Byakugan, your movements are too obvious."
Neji remained calm throughout, his body slightly crouched like a spring as he suddenly charged forward.
"Eight Trigrams—Vacuum Palm!"
While charging forward, Neji raised his palm, terrifying chakra erupting from his palm and striking the approaching Suigetsu first.
Facing this attack, Suigetsu's body directly collapsed, turning into flowing water that spread across the ground.
A water clone!
BOOM!
Just then, the ground where Neji had been standing suddenly cracked with a loud explosion.
Suigetsu's real body had appeared at Neji's previous position at some point.
"Tch, using Water Release jutsu to mask the main body's movements doesn't work well against your Byakugan after all."
Having missed his attack, Suigetsu showed no surprise, instead pouting.
"Heh, the ninja sword in my hand is said to shatter all defenses..."
Suigetsu grinned, revealing sharp teeth, his voice carrying a provocative tone.
"Don't provoke me. Actually, I'm also curious whether you can break my absolute defense!"
Neji's expression remained calm, but he had already assumed a Gentle Fist stance.
"In that case." Suigetsu's mouth curled up as he shook his arms, his hands quickly forming seals.
Water Release—Great Water Arm Technique!
Suigetsu's wrists rapidly expanded visibly!
Grabbing Kabutowari, Suigetsu charged toward Neji again.
Meanwhile, Neji also moved, just as fast.
At the moment they were about to collide, Suigetsu raised Kabutowari, using the hammer to strike the blade's back toward his opponent.
"Gentle Fist Art—Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!"
Neji shouted, terrifying chakra erupting from his entire body, forming a high-speed rotating blue chakra shield that crashed toward Suigetsu.
BOOM BOOM!
The moment they collided, terrifying explosions rang out. With the two at the center, the ground rapidly cracked and spread outward.
In an instant, earth and stones flew, and everything around the area was cleared.
"S-So amazing!"
Seeing this from the side, Fu couldn't help but widen her eyes, speaking in shock.
"Kabutowari? Another of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? Their strength has probably reached the elite jonin level, or higher."
"And the other one should be the defecting genin from Konoha, Neji Hyuga. With the strength just displayed, that's not something an ordinary genjin could achieve."
"No wonder he was valued by the First Mizukage, Yuto. I originally thought this information wasn't accurate."
Although Yugito maintained a calm expression, she was quickly analyzing the information before her.
And Haku, standing there with a gentle expression, calling himself a boy—Yugito recalled the intelligence stored in her mind.
There was little information about Haku. Yugito only knew that Haku was an orphan taken in by Zabuza Momochi when he defected, and appeared to possess the "Ice Release" kekkei genkai.
"Really, haven't these two finished sparring yet? Looks like we'll have to take another route."
Haku looked at the ground destroyed by their battle ahead, lightly wrinkling his nose.
On a street in Kirigakure, inside a small noodle shop.
SLAP—
A bowl full to the brim, filled with various fish, shrimp, rolls, and meatballs, was gently placed before Yuto.
"Say, I only paid for one portion. This isn't a scam shop, is it?"
Yuto looked at the large, overflowing bowl before him with some bewilderment.
[
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