Chapter 70: Next, Focus on Eliminating Internal Troubles
These words from Hyuga Ritsu sounded like he was deliberately picking a fight. Uchiha Aika's smile stiffened for an instant in anger. She grumbled inwardly—was there really a need to speak like that? Couldn't he just talk normally? Why did he have to point out their shortcomings?
"Ritsu-nii, what are you doing?" Hyuga Akiba pouted, immediately speaking up for her teammate's sake.
"Akiba, you're all too naive. Freedom is such a luxury that even I don't dare claim to possess it. What makes you think you've grasped freedom? Being driven by orders like dogs or oxen to rush about and fight—what kind of freedom is that?"
Ritsu's smile remained on his face, but his words were blunt and unsparing as he lectured them.
He continued, "I can see you all genuinely care about this girl. But precisely because of that, you should be happy for your friend. Becoming a jinchuriki has nothing wrong with it, in my opinion. At the very least, she's no longer expendable cannon fodder that can be easily discarded!"
"Don't forget—she's different from you two. Apart from her good fortune in having a good teacher, she has no other special skills. After all, unlike other villages, we Konoha don't lack medical ninja."
With these words, he instantly extinguished the Uchiha girl's impulse to argue.
She couldn't help reflecting that perhaps her and Akiba's views really were somewhat naive. They'd instinctively thought from their own perspective, assuming becoming a jinchuriki offered no benefits.
But Nohara Rin came from humble origins. Unlike them, she didn't possess one of the shinobi world's top-tier bloodline limits. Becoming a jinchuriki might not necessarily be a bad thing for Rin.
As a jinchuriki, as long as she could barely control that power, she'd become one of Konoha Village's top experts. Perhaps eventually, the two of them would have to look up to their friend Rin.
Of course, these were ultimately just outsiders' views. They'd still have to wait for Nohara Rin herself to wake up and see what her own attitude was.
"Rin..." Hyuga Akiba also became somewhat self-aware, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Hyuga clan head, when will Rin wake up?"
Kakashi hadn't participated in the girls' debate with Ritsu. He was simply worried about Nohara Rin's condition. As for his own view on Rin becoming the Three-Tails jinchuriki—searching his heart, he probably leaned more toward Ritsu's perspective.
Because he himself had already deeply experienced the pain of powerless weakness and understood how important it was to possess strength.
"How would I know? I'm not a medical ninja."
Ritsu's Byakugan constantly covered all directions—sky above and earth below—yet Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, and Uchiha Obito still hadn't appeared. He felt somewhat disappointed and couldn't help sighing.
From this situation, it seemed this time there'd be no opportunity to encounter Uchiha Obito. Who knew what methods Black Zetsu and Uchiha Madara would use next against Nohara Rin, this unfortunate girl?
After sighing inwardly, Ritsu suppressed these distracting thoughts. Nohara Rin had no blood relation to him—no need to worry and expend effort on her behalf. Right now, he still needed to prioritize his personal affairs.
Tonight's matter was only a beginning!
The external threat had temporarily been quelled. Next, he needed to focus on eliminating internal troubles!
"Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Aika, Hyuga Akiba—bring Nohara Rin and return with me to the forward camp. If the bigwigs above don't give us a reasonable explanation for tonight's events, I absolutely won't let this matter rest!"
Ritsu spoke with a voice laden with killing intent.
Using the Chimera Technique to absorb a White Zetsu, his strength had once again received a comprehensive boost, giving him extremely sufficient confidence to do things he'd previously lacked certainty about.
Of course, his words undoubtedly contradicted Kakashi's squad's original orders to escort supplies to Mount Kinko. Moreover, strictly speaking, Ritsu and Hatake Kakashi held equal rank on the battlefield—he had no authority to command Kakashi.
But Kakashi also harbored resentment in his heart. Just thinking about how without Ritsu's mighty intervention, perhaps Rin truly would have fallen victim to the Mist shinobi's schemes this time—he hated whoever had betrayed their intelligence to the bone.
The Mist shinobi's attack had been far too precise. Looking back now, it was clear the Mist had come directly for Rin, completely aware of their position and relative strength. This would have been absolutely impossible without someone betraying their intelligence.
Conveniently, the Hyuga clan head had also captured prisoners alive. Once they returned to the forward camp, they could request Yamanaka clan jonin to act—perhaps they could obtain useful clues and intelligence.
Kakashi glanced at Kirishima Shinya and White Zetsu being held by the summoned creature. Though very curious about what the latter was, he was sensible enough not to pry. He simply nodded. "Hyuga clan head, I also have many questions that need answering back at camp. If Orochimaru-sama cannot provide answers, I'll contact my teacher. I must investigate this matter thoroughly."
He silently made his resolve, determined not to let this matter rest easily.
This incident had truly frightened him terribly. If something had really happened to Rin, how could he face Obito after death?
Moreover, he'd already decided that once he returned to camp, he'd send a message to his teacher. Now that Rin had become the Three-Tails jinchuriki, he had no qualification to participate in decisions regarding her subsequent arrangements and treatment. Considering Rin's safety, he absolutely had to request his teacher's intervention.
At this moment, Uchiha Aika's pretty face was also filled with killing intent. She said resentfully, "That's right! This matter absolutely cannot be let go. No matter who schemed behind the scenes, I won't forgive them!"
Her crimson eyes were filled with murderous intent. The two black tomoe trembled slightly, and another tomoe actually separated from them.
"Aika, your eyes... Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Hyuga Akiba's eyes widened. She hadn't expected to actually witness the Sharingan's evolution. She hastily congratulated Uchiha Aika.
"...Three tomoe!"
Uchiha Aika pulled out a small mirror to look at her reflection. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, but she quickly calmed down again. Only achieving three tomoe at fourteen—her accomplishments would probably only amount to this much. There was no need to be overly pleased about it.
Setting aside everything else, just looking at Hyuga Ritsu and Hatake Kakashi beside her—both their achievements far surpassed her own. Especially this Hyuga clan head, who'd accomplished an unprecedented feat in the Hyuga clan's nearly thousand-year history. He absolutely qualified as one of the present era's heroes!
Tonight, their squad had avoided the fate of total annihilation entirely thanks to Ritsu's timely assistance!
Just then, Ritsu's gaze suddenly focused. The corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. "Kakashi, you head south first to rendezvous with my shadow clone. Search for your lost mission scrolls. Once you've found them, wait for me. I still have some matters here that need handling, but they won't take too long."
"Yes, Hyuga clan head."
Kakashi completely disregarded the fact that his and Ritsu's positions were actually equal. He accepted Ritsu's arrangements without hesitation.
Hyuga Akiba had already quite nimbly shouldered the unconscious Nohara Rin on her back. Kakashi took the lead, Akiba with Rin in the middle, and Uchiha Aika guarding the rear.
Watching Team Kakashi head south along their original route, Ritsu turned to face northeast.
In his field of vision appeared none other than Suikazan Fuguki and a group of Mist shinobi.
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