Chapter 27
"Want to go get some dango after get off work, senior?"
As Yuki changed out of her Anbu uniform and emerged from the changing room, she saw Hyuga Hizashi leaning against the door of the men's changing room. The tall man with delicate features wore a dark green kimono with the V-neck slightly open, revealing a small patch of his collarbone and tanned skin. Not knowing who he was waiting for, Yuki instinctively asked him out of politeness.
"Can."
Xue was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting the other party to agree. Was he waiting for her?
Hyuga Hizashi was a few years older than Namikaze Minato, and Yuki had to tilt her head slightly whenever she wanted to look directly into his Byakugan. However, in Yuki's opinion, the appearances of the Hyuga clan members didn't seem to differ much. The only difference between Hyuga Hizashi and her contemporary Hyuga Toku was that Hyuga Hizashi looked a little older.
Thus, a very strange scene unfolded in front of the dango shop in Konoha Village: the head of the Uchiha clan and the head of the Hyuga clan's branch family sat side by side on wooden stools in front of the dango stall. Yuki took a bite of a three-colored dango, her gaze fixed on Hyuga Hizashi. His aura, so out of place in the dango shop, was as he slowly and deliberately chewed his dango. The curious glances from passing villagers made Hyuga Hizashi somewhat uncomfortable.
"You seem to be quite popular?" Hyuga Hizashi's inexplicable post surprised Yuki.
Hyuga Hizashi, who had long been tasked with monitoring the Uchiha clan's activities, knew Uchiha Yuki's life story inside and out. From the time of Nara Shikara, Hyuga Hizashi had been secretly observing her from the shadows of the village. It wasn't until the Third Hokage arranged for Yuki to train in the Anbu that they became partners, albeit temporarily.
His bright white eyes fell on Yuki's puzzled expression, and Hyuga Hizashi paused for a moment before saying, "Many people like you."
Xue felt a sense of unreality. She frowned slightly, puzzled, and looked down, smiling as she said, "Is that so?"
Hyuga Hizashi vaguely sensed that the other person didn't like this topic. He paused for a moment, then stood up and said, "Shall we go take a look at the Hyuga territory?"
This wasn't a question, and Xue was taken aback.
While the Uchiha clan doesn't have as many rules regarding main and branch families as the Hyuga clan, the Hyuga clan's strict regulations are well-known throughout Konoha. However, no one openly discusses it, nor does anyone freely bring outsiders into the clan...
Hizashi Hyuga reached out his hand to her, and Yuki instinctively placed her hand in his palm.
For some reason, Hyuga Hizashi's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and even the corners of his mouth imperceptibly turned up slightly.
"I am the next head of the branch family, so there's nothing to worry about."
It was early winter, yet Xue felt her face burning. It was just a simple sentence, so why was she blushing? Xue looked at him; the two walked side-by-side, his profile strikingly handsome. His black hair was tied back to his waist, his expression always serious, a hint of worry between his brows.
The Hyuga clan's territory is located on the southwestern edge of Konoha's southern district. As the next head of the branch family, Hyuga Hizashi's assigned residence is naturally more remote than that of the main family, which is located in the center of the clan's territory. The relationship between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans has always been lukewarm, characterized by both cooperation and competition.
"Please sit down."
Yuki sat on the futon and looked around. The Hyuga clan's architectural style was more rustic than that of the Uchiha clan, but it still had all the necessary furniture and modern amenities. Yuki held up a cup of hot tea with both hands, watching Hyuga Hizashi's tall figure busily fetching things in the kitchen.
The other person removed their headband, revealing a swastika symbol on their fair forehead. They quickly wrapped it with white bandages, making the symbol invisible.
Hyuga Hizashi placed the snacks in front of Yuki and asked, "What do you think of the Hyuga clan?"
Xue thought for a moment and said, "Not a good idea."
"Although I have never met Hiashi-senpai, in my opinion, it is too unfair that someone as strong as Hiashi-senpai should be subordinate to the main family."
Hyuga Hizashi was surprised that Uchiha Yuki would say such a thing. He flicked his fingertips slightly and gently tapped Yuki's forehead, his face lacking the rich expressions of Namikaze Minato.
"As expected... he's still a child."
"Senior isn't that much older than me, is he?" Xue retorted, rubbing her forehead.
"Eight years old." The young man held up the number eight. "Eight years older than you."
-
War eventually came inevitably. After learning of the disappearance of the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure, the Land of Lightning, which had always been keen on military expansion, took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the Land of Wind.
The Land of Lightning's offensive was exceptionally fierce, rapidly advancing the battle line to the border of the Land of Fire. Upon learning of this urgent military situation, the Third Hokage immediately ordered the dispatch of a temporary team consisting of Uchiha Yuki and Namikaze Minato to the border to conduct peace talks with the two countries.
Before their departure, Minato's team and Kushina Uzumaki came to see them off.
At that moment, snowflakes were falling heavily at the entrance of Konoha Village.
"Snow, don't drag Minato down!" Obito said, putting his hand on Snow's shoulder and looking up at her helpless expression.
The black-haired girl wore an indigo-blue Uchiha clan robe with a wide neckline, and a large cloak over it for warmth. Beside her stood Kushina, who looked worried, her gaze lingering between the girl and Minato Namikaze as she bit her lip.
"Before judging others, consider your own abilities first," Kakashi said irritably, his eyelids drooping. These two always bickered whenever they were together.
"Kakashi, do you dare to have a man's duel with me?!"
"Even if I don't duel you, I'm still a man."
"Don't be quick to argue!"
"Oh my, you actually know this kind of idiom. Do you know what it means?"
Lin was busy trying to mediate the argument, while Minato Namikaze smiled and ruffled the hair of the two bickering boys.
"Alright, let's end the farewell here," Minato Namikaze said, taking Yuki's wrist.
Obito and Kakashi looked away from their clasped hands. Obito frowned, but before he could say anything, he was already looking away.
Kushina took Yuki's other hand, her dark blue eyes resolute: "Take care of yourself, and come back to the village. Yuki."
Xue paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked at Minato Namikaze, who was just smiling gently at her.
Xue's gaze fell on the wrist that was holding hers, then moved up to her eyes. She nodded with a slight upturn of her lips and looked at the three members of the Minato class behind her.
"I will. Both Minato and I will."
-
When the two arrived at the border, the scene before them resembled the devastation left by a locust swarm—utter chaos. In the village, besides the corpses of ninjas lying strewn about, many civilians had also perished. Minato clenched his fists, while Yuki crouched down and reached out to check the body temperature of the corpses.
"They were killed about three hours ago," Xue said.
Originally, the two planned to deliver the Third Hokage's personal letter to the Land of Wind, but the ninjas from Sunagakure attacked them without mercy upon seeing them, intending to kill them all. The ninjas from Kumogakure were even more ruthless; several lightning release techniques nearly struck Yuki, but she narrowly escaped thanks to the Sharingan.
Therefore, Minato Namikaze decided to return to Konoha as soon as possible to report the matter. Yuki remained alone at the border until the military forces sent by Konoha arrived. This time, Konoha appointed Jiraiya-sama as the supreme commander of the front lines to direct the operation. The combat force, composed of regular ninja, was divided into three battalions responsible for resisting the enemy's attack, and these battalions were further subdivided into several smaller teams. Perhaps because they had received intelligence in advance, Konoha was very well prepared for the start of this war.
Minato Namikaze, who was already somewhat famous, became even more renowned in these battles. He even prompted the Raikage of Kumogakure to order a retreat without engaging in combat if he encountered the Yellow Flash.
It was also during this war that Jiraiya officially met Uchiha Yuki for the first time.
His gaze first fell on Xue's delicate features, then slowly slid down and settled on the snow-white sword at her waist.
He bent slightly, his broad figure casting a shadow that completely enveloped the snow.
"Orochimaru is giving this sword to you, little girl!"
Jiraiya slapped his forehead and suddenly realized.
He had always heard rumors about an Uchiha clansman who wielded a white sword and was suspected of using Ice Release. It turned out that it was because of this sword.
The man in front of me had long, white, frizzy hair tied in a ponytail, a Konoha headband on his forehead, and fine, pointed face paint under his eyes.
Xue instinctively protected her Ice Feather Sword and took a few steps back, but unexpectedly, she seemed to bump into a broad chest from behind.
She looked up and saw Minato Namikaze's gentle smile.
“Teacher, please stop teasing Xue. She’s still young,” Minato Namikaze said.
Jiraiya rested his chin on his hand, observing the way his apprentice looked at Uchiha Yuki. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and teased, "Can a kid hold off the Sand Village ninja attack all by himself before the main force arrives?"
Yuki hesitated for a moment, then replied, "You flatter me, Jiraiya-sama."
"Ha ha ha ha!!!!"
Unexpectedly, Jiraiya burst into hearty laughter, patted Minato Namikaze on the shoulder, and said, "You have good taste, Minato!"
Because the Land of Fire is located in the center of the continent, it enjoys an excellent geographical position, but it is also surrounded by other countries, making it an enemy on all sides. Currently, the war situation in Konoha is still concentrated in the southwest and northwest. One is commanded by Jiraiya, while in the other, as soon as the war broke out, the Third Hokage appointed Minato Namikaze to lead another team to the front.
A fierce wind howled, its fury like the wails of demons from hell. Then, a swirling sandstorm, mixed with falling snow, swept in, carrying with it a heavy stench of blood. Yuki stood atop a small hill of corpses, sword in hand. The sword was still stained with the blood of her enemies, dripping slowly. Perhaps because she appeared weaker than the taller, stronger ninjas, even with the seemingly glamorous title of "Konoha's Snow Princess," the enemies swarmed towards her relentlessly.
When Yuki infuses chakra into the Ice Feather Sword, she occasionally performs hand seals similar to those of an Ice Release bloodline limit. The ice blade precisely pierces the enemy's vital points, and as the temperature rises, the ice gradually melts. After the ice blade is removed from the heart or vital parts of the enemy's corpse, small streams of dark blood gush out like a fountain.
It's extremely strange.
Having lost track of Uchiha Yuki, Jiraiya, who arrived using his chakra senses, witnessed this scene.
Belatedly noticing Jiraiya's figure, Yuki leaped off the mountain of corpses and forcefully flicked the blood off the tip of her sword.
"Lord Jiraiya."
Jiraiya noticed the enemy's blood splattered on her fair face. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket, intending to wipe it for her, but then stopped himself. Yuki realized what he meant and quickly wiped her face with her sleeve.
"Hahaha, I'm glad you're alright. The sensory ninjas reported that your chakra signal was interrupted." As if to cover up his embarrassment, Jiraiya scratched his head: "I came to check on the situation."
Hyuga Tokuma, a sensory ninja who was part of the regular troops assigned to this battle, rushed over from afar along with Nara Shikara, who was also participating in the battle.
"Lord Jiraiya did this on purpose, didn't he? Using Yuki as bait..." Nara Shikara, dressed in a Chunin vest, stood with Hyuga Tokuma. Shikara thought this was understandable, otherwise, when Hyuga Tokuma lost track of Yuki and reported the news, there would have been no action taken. It wasn't until the enemy was defeated and unable to fight back that Lord Jiraiya slowly appeared.
"Nara, you must not be rude to Lord Jiraiya." Although Hyuga Tokuma wanted to make amends for Lord Jiraiya, he might not have thought the same way as Nara if someone else had been used as bait.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
