Shirakumo Hayama felt that things were a bit surreal.
In the past, missions like this required him to tremblingly infiltrate enemy territory.
Sometimes, to catch a better opportunity, he would have to stay motionless in an enemy location for several days.
In the end, he would only complete the kill through a narrow escape, and he might not even be able to make it back after the kill.
The scar on his mouth was left during a mission where he almost died.
But now, Aokawa just stood here and fired a Chakra Arrow.
Then he casually told him that the mission was complete.
Although it had been planned from the start, he still found it emotionally difficult to accept.
The times were abandoning traditional Ninjas like them who had fought their way up from the bottom.
Aokawa walked a few steps and found Shirakumo Hayama still dazed: "Lord Sohma?"
Shirakumo Hayama snapped out of it and found Aokawa looking back at him in confusion.
He composed himself and quickly caught up.
"Coming!"
The two quickly met up with Uchiha Hachidai and the other two.
The five of them walked towards the base together.
Hinata Iruha walked at the very front, looking lost.
At this moment, the image of that giant Spirit Bow in his mind would not go away.
Also replaying in his mind was the moment Onigumo was pierced and killed, along with that terrifying lightning at the end.
"Is it a Secret Techniques?"
"Probably not!" He shook his head secretly.
His talent wasn't bad; although he wasn't qualified to learn some of the clan's Secret Techniquess, he had some exposure to them.
He had never heard of a Secret Techniques with such a long striking distance.
Furthermore, the clan had always taken the Gentle Fist as its core development, making it unlikely they would develop a Ninjutsu with such a completely different style.
Combined with the previous rumors of Aokawa "neglecting his proper duties to develop archery."
This technique was likely developed by Aokawa himself.
"Heh~" Hinata Iruha mocked himself in his heart.
At that time, he had deeply despised him in his heart, thinking this person was ignoring the broad road to focus on trivial tricks.
He didn't expect the man to have already developed such a terrifying skill.
"Remember to keep it secret." Just as he was thinking, a voice suddenly came to his ear.
He turned to look and saw Aokawa with a half-smile.
In an instant, his mind buzzed: "Was I discovered?"
But when he looked closely again, Aokawa's smile became very sincere, not looking like he had discovered him.
Hinata Iruha didn't dare say much, gave a few perfunctory words, and quickened his pace toward the camp.
Halfway there, he realized.
Aokawa might have meant that the scene he saw of Onigumo being killed should be kept secret.
After all, even if he hadn't peeked at the start, he could have seen part of Aokawa's technique during surveillance.
He shook his head; he had become like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow.
Inside the garrison base.
Uchiha Inabi crossed his arms over his chest and sneered:
"I want to see what the Village is really up to."
"Being so mysterious, even solving a problem is tied to secrets, sending us all away."
Beside him, Chiba Xun, who had just recovered from a serious injury, coughed twice, his voice weak:
"I don't care about secrets; it's fine as long as the problem is solved."
"Otherwise, every time I go out on patrol, I'm terrified. I almost died this time."
"It better be solved, not like the last two times, coming back in disgrace."
Uchiha Inabi snorted coldly: "If the problem isn't solved this time, let the higher-ups send others for the rotation."
He sat on a chair, crossed his legs, and looked up at the ceiling: "Anyway, I can't stay any longer. I'm exhausted every day like a dog."
"If it's not solved, I'll pack my bags and go back to my Konoha Military Police Force."
"Now that I think about it, life in the force was truly happy."
Chiba Xun smiled helplessly upon hearing this.
This is the advantage of a great clan; as soon as things don't go their way, they clamor to go back to the clan.
Unlike him, a mere commoner with no background or power.
After being injured, the Village's arrangement was actually for him to recover at the garrison, with no intention of letting him go back to the rear to recover.
For a moment, he felt a bit disheartened.
Just as he was thinking, Hinata Iruha came in.
Uchiha Inabi saw his dejected look and thought to himself, 'Just as I expected.'
"I knew it."
He had been dealing with Saga's group a lot lately, and his tone was a bit sarcastic:
"Oh my! Sending a Ninja Academy Student saying they'll complete the mission to kill Onigumo..."
"He's dead!" Hinata Iruha nodded, not giving Uchiha Inabi a chance to continue.
"Ah! Onigumo is dead?"
Uchiha Inabi was caught off guard, directly cutting him off mid-sentence.
Then he reacted: "Since he's dead, why do you look so dejected, Iroha?"
"I'm just tired."
"It's not like you did it, why are you tired?"
But Uchiha Inabi didn't press these minor details.
He continued: "Tell me, how did Onigumo die?"
"Is your clansman that strong?"
He was very interested.
How exactly would the Hyuga Clan, famous for close combat, kill an enemy across a canyon?
Beside him, Chiba Xun also became curious, forcing himself to stand up and lean over.
"I can't say how he died. Didn't you hear Jonin Sohma say it's a secret before we left?"
"Don't be like that!" Uchiha Inabi felt an itch in his heart.
He pulled Hinata Iruha and kept questioning him.
Hinata Iruha remained silent, only shaking his head.
Finally, helpless, he could only say: "I can only say he died miserably. You'll have peace from now on."
"As for anything else, I know nothing."
Uchiha Inabi wanted to ask something else.
Uchiha Hachidai walked in: "That's enough, stop being curious. If they said it's a secret, it's a secret."
He turned and saw Shirakumo Hayama's trio entering as well.
That mysterious "Hyuga Secret" was among them.
His eyes flickered over intentionally or unintentionally, observing Aokawa.
"He doesn't look special," he thought to himself.
"Aside from being a bit handsome, he's no different from other Hyuga."
Uchiha Hachidai saw that everyone happened to be here and cleared his throat.
He said: "I have good news for you. Onigumo has been killed. From now on, patrol missions return to normal!"
Woohoo!
Everyone cheered!
"That bastard should have died long ago; he killed so many of our brothers."
"Yeah, those ghost days are finally over!"
"Lately, I've even been dreaming about patrolling."
"I'm even worse; I dream every day about being shot by Onigumo."
"..."
Uchiha Hachidai saw the joyful crowd and smiled as well.
He turned to Iroha and Yamanaka Shimi: "Then you two can also return to the Village with Jonin Sohma. Thank you for your hard work."
The two also breathed a sigh of relief. Yamanaka Yuichi, who came with them, had run off long ago, leaving them behind.
Now they could finally go back too.
Uchiha Hachidai then looked at Shirakumo Hayama and Aokawa behind him:
"Although I already said it on the way, I still want to say it again."
"Thank you very much for coming to support us!"
"Captain Hachidai is too kind!" the two replied.
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