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The one lying on the ground was a boy about eight or nine years old, with dark skin and bright white teeth.
He was young, but his body was already solid and well-built.
Standing nearby were two others, a boy and a girl.
The boy looked a little over twelve. He had bronze-toned skin, thick lips, and long white hair that covered his left eye. A broad sword rested across his back.
The girl, around fifteen or sixteen, had delicate features, short pale-blonde hair, and a striking figure. There was something distinctly exotic about her.
"Darui… and Samui?" Ken frowned.
From the forehead protectors they wore, he could tell they were ninja from the Hidden Cloud Village.
He didn't recognize the boy on the ground, but the other two were familiar.
The older boy was Darui, wielder of Storm Release. In the future, he'd shine in the Fourth Great Ninja War, even subduing the infamous Gold and Silver Brothers… and eventually become the Fifth Raikage.
As for the girl, Samui—her cold, mature aura made her hard to forget.
Tsunade, Pakura, and Samui… all were known for their beauty and mature charm, each with their own style.
Tsunade was a bit too old.
Pakura carried a seductive allure in her maturity, every glance enough to steal someone's breath.
Samui, though, was different. Distant. Cool. The kind that made people want to conquer her.
Each had their own flavor.
"Ken, what are you staring at?!"
Hitomi suddenly pinched his arm, puffing her cheeks in annoyance, clearly jealous.
"Hitomi, keep your distance," Ken said flatly, snapping back to himself and looking away.
What he didn't realize was that his brief, unconscious gaze had already annoyed Samui.
She let out a cold chuckle. "Didn't expect someone your age to already be such a little pervert."
"So this is what Konoha ninja are like?"
Before Ken could respond, Sarutobi Kei stepped forward.
"If you say Uchiha Ken is a pervert, I won't argue," he said bluntly.
"But don't you dare insult Konoha's ninja! Many of them live and die to protect this village. I won't let you disrespect its heroes!"
"And for your information, I, Sarutobi Kei, aim to become Hokage. Your looks don't impress me at all!"
He snorted and lifted his chin, looking ridiculously proud.
Ken opened his mouth, wanting to explain.
Women only slow down my sword.
I'm really not that kind of guy…
The boy on the ground—Omoi—had already climbed back up. His eyes burned with fury, like a starving wolf locked onto its prey.
"You dared to sneak attack me?!" he roared, fists clenched, veins bulging.
Ken shrugged, expression blank.
"You ran into me. Not my problem."
Cloud ninja were known for their physical training and taijutsu, but compared to Ken… they weren't even close.
"I was distracted, that's all! You just got lucky. Fight me again if you've got the guts!"
Omoi's eyes were full of battle intent.
"Boring." Ken rolled his eyes and turned to leave.
They were from the Hidden Cloud, here to "sign a peace treaty."
If things escalated, Sarutobi Hiruzen would probably punish his own people first.
Forget it.
I'll let it go… old fox Third Hokage.
But don't push me too far, Cloud Village.
Or I'll really take you all down.
His dismissive attitude only made Omoi explode with rage.
With a stomp, he lunged forward, fist packed with force as it shot toward Ken's back.
"A sneak attack?" Ken sneered.
The kid looked like he was still in the academy at best. Maybe just a genin.
And yet he was this arrogant?
Didn't know his place at all.
"Get lost."
Ken sidestepped effortlessly, dodging the punch, then drove a kick straight into Omoi's stomach.
The boy flew back like a ball.
If Ken hadn't been holding back, that kick alone would've sent him straight into the sky.
Samui gasped, clearly not expecting such a ruthless move.
Darui, on the other hand, reacted instantly and caught Omoi midair.
The boy screamed in pain, his face turning pale.
Darui had always treated him like a younger brother. Seeing him injured, his gaze turned sharp as a blade.
"For the sake of peace between the Cloud and Konoha, we came all this way as envoys," he said coldly. "And this is how Konoha treats its guests?"
"I didn't invite you," Ken shot back without hesitation.
"Yeah, and who knows how much food you've already eaten from our village," Sarutobi Kei added, never one to hold back—especially since many of his clan had died at the hands of Cloud ninja during the last war.
Darui clenched his fists, veins bulging.
"If Konoha refuses to apologize," he said slowly, "then don't blame us for what happens next."
The tension snapped tight, ready to explode at any moment.
Samui quickly stepped in front of him and whispered, just loud enough for him to hear:
"Darui, did you forget why we're here?"
"If we fail this mission, Lord Raikage won't spare you."
This visit wasn't really about peace.
Their real goal was to steal the Byakugan.
And if they could grab a bloodline or some jutsu along the way, even better.
Darui exhaled, confidence returning.
"Relax. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is obsessed with peace. He won't dare act against us."
Before coming, the Cloud delegation had already studied Konoha thoroughly. They knew exactly where the line was.
Beating up a kid?
Konoha would just swallow it.
The standoff grew heavier.
Then, just as things were about to erupt—
A gentle voice rang out.
"You're not allowed to fight inside the village, you know."
A young man walked over.
He wore a black high-collared short-sleeve shirt and black pants, a short sword strapped to his back. A warm, easy smile rested on his face, making him instantly approachable.
Uchiha Shisui.
Beside him stood Itachi.
They had just returned from training.
"Friends from the Hidden Cloud, welcome," Shisui greeted them with a calm smile, eyes half-closed.
"Uchiha Shisui…!" Darui's earlier arrogance vanished instantly, replaced with raw fear.
Years ago, during the Third Great Ninja War, he had been a logistics ninja for the Cloud—and had "the honor" of witnessing Shisui's terrifying power on the battlefield.
Now, just seeing him made his legs tremble uncontrollably.
Noticing this, Shisui teased lightly:
"It's the middle of summer, and yet you're shivering like that… your body must be pretty weak."
"....."