"I'm heading out for a bit."
A faint smile appeared on her delicate yet cold face as her soft lips parted slightly.
"I'll be back soon."
"You're going to Uchiha Kiyoshi, aren't you?"
Atsui seemed to have guessed something.
This wasn't their only base—there were several others.
But this one was mainly responsible for winning over Uchiha Kiyoshi.
Most likely, his sister was heading to him.
After all, Kiyoshi hadn't come here for quite some time.
They needed to understand what he was thinking.
"Yes. It's a mission."
"A mission…"
Atsui couldn't argue.
To be honest, he didn't like it.
It felt as though his sister was lowering herself, trying to please Kiyoshi for the sake of the village.
But he had no choice.
He himself had been sent here as well, to deepen their infiltration into Konoha.
That was why he had enrolled in the Ninja Academy.
Not long ago, Samui had personally registered him.
"Safe travels."
Atsui said.
"Mm."
Hearing her brother's words, a warmth rose in Samui's heart.
But when she thought about going to Kiyoshi—
That warmth gradually turned bitter.
Uchiha Kiyoshi was definitely the greedy type.
Who knew what he would want this time?
Subconsciously, Samui touched her wrist.
There was a Summoning Talisman there.
By activating the mark, she could summon the stored item.
It was similar to a Sealing Scroll.
But sealing scrolls could store more items and organize them.
Summoning talismans could only store one small object.
Inside hers, she had placed several ninjutsu scrolls.
Just in case Kiyoshi demanded more.
"I'm leaving."
Samui pushed open the glass door and stepped outside.
The streets were bustling with people.
Atsui watched her back for a moment.
Then he turned and continued wiping tables in the sushi shop.
Kiyoshi's Residence
"A distinguished guest. Aren't you afraid of exposing your identity?"
Kiyoshi said calmly.
Three minutes earlier, Samui had found him.
He was slightly surprised by Kumogakure's boldness as he exited his training state.
He had already pushed Lightning Release: Iron Body to its limits.
The currents that were once thinner than a strand of hair had grown to the thickness of wooden skewers.
All of them were confined beneath his skin.
As long as he refined chakra into Lightning Release—
They would begin to operate.
Because of this, his physical development had accelerated.
And his resistance to blunt force had improved.
At the same time, he understood—
His talent had likely become even more attractive to Kumogakure.
Enough for them to take such risks.
"There might be surveillance everywhere in the Uchiha district."
Kiyoshi poured her a cup of tea.
Still, since Kumogakure dared to send someone, they must have taken precautions.
"Our background in Konoha is clean. It can withstand investigation."
Samui took the tea and sipped it lightly.
Her lips gained a faint rosy sheen.
"You've visited the sushi shop many times. You're a regular."
"This can be explained as shop activity, or simply a private acquaintance."
Kumogakure had infiltrated Konoha for so long.
They naturally had real capabilities.
On the table sat a delicate gift box.
Inside were various types of sushi she had brought.
"Good."
Kiyoshi nodded.
As long as it didn't implicate him.
He then looked at Samui, observing her.
Her thin clothing couldn't hide her curves.
Yet her expression remained indifferent.
An ice-cold beauty.
The contrast was striking.
"So, Miss Samui, why have you come to see me?"
"I wanted to ask why you haven't…"
Samui raised her eyes to look at him.
She had intended to ask why he hadn't come.
But suddenly—
She sensed something.
Electric current.
She possessed Yang affinity and was skilled in Lightning Release.
From her perception, that faint current came from within Kiyoshi's body.
Samui immediately closed her eyes and focused.
In her perception, starting from the major chakra network around his heart—
His entire body was covered in tiny blue-white currents.
From head to toe—
There was not a single part untouched.
Including below…
Samui opened her eyes in shock.
"You've trained this technique to this level?!"
Giving Kiyoshi Lightning Release: Iron Body had been a calculated decision by Kumogakure.
Because this technique required extremely precise chakra control.
The current had to be restrained at all times.
Otherwise, it would damage the user.
But Kiyoshi had spread it throughout his entire body.
And its intensity exceeded that of ordinary ninja.
At that moment, many thoughts appeared in Samui's mind.
Was it taught by the Uchiha clan?
She immediately rejected that idea.
If so, why would Kiyoshi ask them for scrolls?
They had also investigated his jōnin instructor.
He didn't use Lightning Release.
Which meant—
There was only one possibility.
Kiyoshi's own talent.
"I only recently realized my talent might be quite good."
Kiyoshi smiled faintly.
"We both know what we want."
"As for that matter, I still need to consider it."
He was referring to returning to Kumogakure.
As long as he didn't refuse clearly—
He could keep them hopeful.
Until they reached their limit.
Kiyoshi estimated that would take a long time.
Enough for him to gain more benefits.
In the coming war, even Kumogakure's Third Raikage would die.
He would face ten thousand ninja alone to cover the retreat.
In the end, he would be overwhelmed and killed.
At that time, Kumogakure would fall into chaos.
Who would have time to deal with him?
"Don't you understand? The Uchiha in Konoha will only be suppressed."
Samui calmed herself and said.
Even outsiders could see the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha.
From the villagers' dissatisfaction—
To the subtle attitudes of other clans.
If the opportunity came—
A major conflict would break out.
Samui felt it wouldn't take more than twenty years.
But twenty years was too long.
If she stayed here that long—
How old would she be when she returned?
She might even feel like a stranger in her own village.
"That may be true," Kiyoshi said lightly.
"But Miss Samui, you should give me a sense of security."
"Even you once said I might not return."
"That I would stand with the Uchiha."
"No, that was just—"
Hearing him bring it up again—
Samui's composure was shaken.
She hurried to explain that it had only been a casual remark.