Chapter 19: Crisis Looming on the Horizon

In the evening, after finishing his afternoon genjutsu training and safely escorting Aoki Kawaki home, Akatsuki Kurenai cheerfully hurried back to his own house.

As for Asuma Sarutobi, a member of the same team and son of the Third Hokage, he had his own private tutor—an elite jonin of the Sarutobi clan who excelled in teaching. Usually, for various reasons, Asuma disliked training with his tutor. However, since Aoki Kawaki gouged out his own eyes, Asuma’s attitude changed noticeably; he became much more earnest and diligent during training sessions.

Normally, Akatsuki Kurenai was personally guided in his training by Akatsuki Shinku, but recently Shinku had been absent from home constantly, occupied with unknown affairs.

Among the three, only Aoki Kawaki, who was strong-willed, trained alone.

Of course, training alone didn’t mean Akatsuki Kurenai disliked him. On the contrary, Kurenai valued Kawaki as his most prized disciple. If Kawaki hadn’t demonstrated such a unique talent for ninjutsu early on, Kurenai would have long since passed down his genjutsu techniques to him.

Moreover, a few days prior, Kurenai had somehow obtained a number of insights into sensory ninjutsu and handed them over to Kawaki.

It was clear that even though Kawaki had blinded himself and appeared to other ninjas as a lost cause, Kurenai was unwilling to give up on his most gifted student.

Of course, Kurenai wished Kawaki would keep his distance from his daughter, Akatsuki Kurenai’s silent grievance as a father.

“Father, I’m home,” Kurenai said as he entered the house, immediately seeing his father, Akatsuki Shinku, seated cross-legged at the low table, intently observing something.

Seeing his father occupied, Kurenai quietly slipped into the kitchen, showing his usual thoughtfulness.

Unbeknownst to him, what Shinku was watching was related to Kawaki—whom Kurenai had been thinking about nonstop these days.

Genin Ayano Miyamura, due to recent excellent performance and meeting the quota of missions assigned, had been specially promoted to chunin by the Hokage, gaining the right to accept missions independently and form her own team.

Additionally, the Hokage granted her permission to learn one A-rank ninjutsu and three B-rank ninjutsu for free.

Ayano Miyamura, the civilian ninja who had informed the Hyuga clan about Kawaki’s possession of the Byakugan.

Kawaki’s self-inflicted blinding and the resulting damage to the Hyuga clan’s face, which led to the Hokage’s concession of dispatching many ninjas to the Root and the Anbu, all originated from this small genin.

Although this lowly genin had been promoted to chunin and rewarded with ninjutsu privileges, Akatsuki Shinku, who was well aware of village rules, knew that Ayano Miyamura’s life was now on borrowed time.

However, the problem was that besides the cursed Ayano, his own little disciple’s life was also ticking down to its end.

In recent days, aside from rushing around trying to find solutions, Shinku had also been approached by ninjas from the Hyuga clan.

According to the Hyuga’s demands, he was supposed to give up Kawaki as a student. Their proposal was simple: either Shinku, as a jonin, would petition the Hokage to end Kawaki’s ninja career, or, like Miyamura, help Kawaki apply for special permission to become a chunin.

Shinku was not from a prominent family, nor did he want to offend the millennia-old Hyuga clan. He knew well that handing Kawaki over was the best option—it would earn the Hyuga clan a favor and bring him considerable benefits.

But, he had a daughter—Akatsuki Kurenai.

Having spent a year together in the same team, even the most oblivious father could see what his daughter felt about that boy.

So, although the Hyuga clan was powerful, for his daughter’s sake, Shinku—as a father—could only... cough, cough!

In short, it was Kawaki who would benefit.

Moreover, Shinku still saw a glimmer of hope.

Asuma Sarutobi!

Yes, that was the hope Shinku clung to.

Asuma’s role in this matter was minimal, but his special status was key.

As the son of the Hokage, as long as Asuma remained in the team, the Hyuga clan would not take action. This meant the Hokage had not completely abandoned Kawaki.

Of course, not completely abandoned also meant Kawaki was on the verge of being forsaken.

Currently, Hiruzen Sarutobi had just gained considerable benefits from the Hyuga clan. Asking the Hokage to intervene on Kawaki’s behalf was impossible.

Therefore, Shinku’s task now was to find an opportunity himself. Where that opportunity lay, he had no idea.

But having no solution didn’t mean waiting to die. So, Shinku’s plan was to stall—delay as long as possible until he could find a solution or Kawaki gained the strength to protect himself.

This method was clumsy but the only one Shinku could think of.

As for how to stall? A long-term mission would do.

Shinku had already applied to the Hokage for a long-term mission away from the village. The Hokage neither approved nor refused.

So, Shinku was waiting.

“Oh, is that so? It seems Asuma has really grown up this time,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said with satisfaction in his heart as he listened to the clan’s report at his residence. He hadn’t expected that Kawaki could influence Asuma; this was a pleasant surprise.

“Yes, Lord Hokage. Master Asuma has been training very diligently these days. In terms of ninjutsu power, he is no weaker than an average chunin. Surely, he will become an outstanding ninja in the future,” Asuma’s tutor respectfully replied.

Which father wouldn’t be pleased to hear praise for his child? Hiruzen was no exception, even if the words carried some flattery.

“You should also go rest properly. You’ve worked hard these past days,” Hiruzen said after dismissing Asuma’s tutor, then asked the empty room, “What about that Kawaki? What has he been doing lately?”

After Hiruzen’s question, a masked Anbu appeared from the shadows.

“Reporting to the Lord Hokage, that genin has great talent in sensory ninjutsu and his perception of the outside world is far stronger than others who have lost their sight. After several days of observation, it seems he has adapted to the darkness and it no longer affects his daily life.”