"Hello everyone, I'm A'fei. Nice to meet you all. How about I treat you tonight?"
"Okay—"
Before Fū could finish, Shigeo already stopped her:
"No need. We can pay ourselves."
Obito, wearing his spiral mask, tilted his head. His eye curved mockingly.
"Kid, I wasn't talking to you. I was inviting these two pretty girls. Why cut in?"
His eye swirled into Mangekyō Sharingan. He aimed to cast genjutsu on them.
Shigeo immediately stepped in front of Fū and Yugito, body taut, hand raised. With Mokuton (Wood Release) chakra flowing inside him, genjutsu had no effect on him.
"What are you trying to do?" His voice was sharp.
"Konoha brat, don't meddle in what you can't stop."
Obito was unsettled. Konoha had birthed such a wary child? One who not only sensed his intent but resisted outright. This boy was dangerous.
He had planned to use genjutsu to lure the Seven-Tails jinchūriki and the Two-Tails jinchūriki, force them to serve Akatsuki, and later extract their beasts for the Tsuki no Me (Eye of the Moon) plan. But the chance was slipping.
Wucheng crawled with Iwa and Taki shinobi, alert and watching. Akatsuki wasn't strong enough yet. They needed time. His best chance was in secret—and tonight he thought it perfect. Yet this brat spoiled it.
"Then let's see ability!" Shigeo suddenly dropped his tense look and smiled. He yelled into the busy street:
"Help! Molester! This old man is harassing girls! Somebody stop him!"
Obito froze. The crowd surged, people rushing over. Skilled shinobi among them closed in. Rage burned in him, but he shoved past and slipped away.
"Hahaha!"
Outside Wucheng in the forest, White Zetsu rolled laughing. Never had he seen Obito humiliated.
"That kid—I love him! I really love him!"
Obito's fists clenched.
"Doesn't he look familiar? Like we've seen him before?"
"He's from Konoha. Just a Konoha child," Black Zetsu replied grimly.
"No. I haven't been to Konoha in two years. Feels like I saw him within this year, but I can't place it." Obito sighed, leaning against a tree.
"If we don't take the Seven-Tails and Two-Tails before this tournament ends, we'll have to wait until the Eye of the Moon plan."
"Yes. Once they return to their villages, chances vanish. And if they can't be controlled, it's better not to startle them at all," Black Zetsu said.
"No matter what, I'll try," Obito growled, his temper refusing to let go.
"Hahaha! If that brat has ability, I wouldn't mind recruiting him! He's hilarious, I like him!" White Zetsu laughed wildly.
"What's his name?" Obito asked.
"Hyuga Shigeo. A blind kid," Black Zetsu answered.
Back in Wucheng, the three kids kept eating.
Fū laughed happily, Yugito dropped her usual calm to enjoy skewers, and the two girls even turned it into a contest. Shigeo smiled faintly, joining their noisy meal.
When it ended, Yugito stood.
"Tomorrow on the field, we'll be opponents. Thank you, Shigeo, for the treat."
"Yeah! If not for this tournament, we'd never sit together like this—ninjas from three different villages. Thanks to Taki, and thanks to you, Shigeo!" Fū raised her drink as if it were sake.
"Thank you for charging to the summit first without hesitation. Because of you, we each earned ten thousand ryō!"
Shigeo nodded. Then his expression turned serious.
"In the next two days, be careful. That weird old man… I don't think his intentions were good."
"Mm. Don't worry, we'll be alert," Yugito and Fū agreed.
They parted ways, each returning to their own inns.
The second match would be individual. Fifty-one contestants would enter the eastern labyrinth newly built in the city. Constructed with mathematics and astronomy, it allowed no ninjutsu. Progress required answering questions posed by stationed staff. Only correct answers would open new paths.
The match would end as soon as three contestants escaped, no matter how long it took.
In the stands, Nara Shikaku led the nine Konoha kids. The arena was packed, the host rousing the crowd.
Bets surged higher than before: fifty-one choices, one winner. Odds stood at a hundredfold return.
"Who wins today? Maybe that boy from Group Three? He could fly yesterday!"
"Don't be stupid. He only stole the win from behind. Today no ninjutsu, and he's blind. Yesterday he had two girls pulling him along. In a maze full of twists, a blind kid won't manage. He's useless!"
(End of Chapter)
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