i am kimimaro

The morning mist hadn't fully lifted at the gates of Konoha.

Hiashi Hyuga, along with three other Hyuga clan members, was already waiting for Kimimaro.

These three were Hiashi's bodyguards, all possessing Jonin-level strength.

The Hyuga clan head always traveled with heavy protection, rivaling even the Hokage's security detail.

Their goal was to safeguard the Byakugan, preventing it from falling into enemy hands.

The previous clan head, due to carelessness, had lost a Byakugan to the Hidden Mist Village.

This was considered a great shame by the Hyuga.

Since then, the clan head's security had been significantly increased.

They would rather destroy their own eyes than let the Byakugan be lost again.

"Clan Head, is that boy from the Kaguya clan really coming?" Hiashi Taka worriedly asked.

"Yes, he will," Hiashi confidently replied.

"He's here!" Hiashi Homura, who had been using his Byakugan to observe, spotted Kimimaro's figure.

He was heading their way.

Soon, Kimimaro appeared before the four.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Haha, it's alright. We arrived early. Kimimaro, did you arrange everything with the Sound Village?" Hiashi asked with a gentle smile.

"Yes. The captain agreed, but he asked me to return before the Chunin Exams start."

"Of course. This trip won't interfere with the Chunin Exams."

"Then there's no problem, Hyuga Clan Head. Shall we set off now?"

"Everyone's here, let's go."

The group of five assembled, with Hiashi Homura leading the way, Hiashi Taka and Hiashi Iluha flanking the sides, subtly surrounding Kimimaro and Hiashi in the middle.

This was a common protective formation, but also a common surveillance formation.

Three Jonin as escorts, Kimimaro couldn't help but marvel at the Hyuga clan's wealth and power.

For an ordinary clan, having two Jonin was considered good, but the Hyuga had more than ten.

This so-called "Konoha's number one prestigious clan" might not be entirely accurate, but their power was undeniable.

"Such a force visiting the Kaguya clan seems reasonable, but if they truly wanted to cause trouble, it would be easy. I need to be extra careful on this trip," Kimimaro thought to himself, not fully trusting Hiashi.

It's always better to be cautious.

"Hyuga Clan Head..."

"I'm friends with your father, just call me Uncle Hiashi. Calling me Clan Head sounds too formal."

Trying to get closer? Kimimaro looked at Hiashi's friendly face, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

This guy's behavior was unusual.

The clan head was being so friendly to him?

Instead of feeling closer, Kimimaro became more vigilant.

Something strange was going on.

This Hiashi wasn't acting normal.

"Alright, Uncle Hiashi... where are we going now?"

"To a place called Taketori Village, on the outskirts of the Land of Fire. At our pace, three days should be enough."

Three days to get there?

Round trip, only six days.

But Hiashi had previously said it would take about half a month. What was he planning to do with the remaining nine days?

Kimimaro grew even more suspicious of Hiashi's motives.

"Uncle Hiashi, have you been to Taketori Village before?"

"Yes. Three years ago, I went there once. At that time, the Kaguya clan had emerged from the shadow of the war."

"How many Kaguya clan members are there now?"

"About a hundred. After nearly six years of recuperation, the children from back then have grown up, and new lives are being born."

"Has anyone awakened the Shikotsumyaku?"

"Yes, but they are all suppressing their awakened bloodline limit, wanting to live ordinary lives."

"It's hard to believe that the Kaguya clan, who always took pride in fighting, would give up combat."

Kimimaro felt a bit emotional.

But at the same time, he was also a bit skeptical.

"This is thanks to your father's final command. He told the escaping clan members that if they didn't want to repeat the same mistakes, they should give up fighting and become ordinary people.

It's mostly the Kaguya men who are warlike. The ones who left were women and children, so change is possible. When I went there last time, I also found it hard to believe.

Of course, this is all what they told me."

"I see."

Along the way, the two chatted casually, and Kimimaro learned more about the current situation in Taketori Village.

From Hiashi's words, it seemed that the Kaguya clan in Taketori Village had indeed given up being ninja and were living ordinary lives.

The Hyuga clan's regular visits were simply to maintain the thousand-year friendship between the two clans.

At the same time, the Hyuga also wanted to see if the Kaguya clan needed any help.

If they did, they would offer assistance.

From this information, the Hyuga clan seemed like genuinely good people.

But was it true?

The Hyuga clan had no ulterior motives and wholeheartedly helped this powerless clan?

In this world of intrigue, was there such a purely kind clan?

Kimimaro found it somewhat absurd.

Moreover, the closer they got to Taketori Village, the more he sensed Hiashi's impatience.

He seemed to be anticipating something, yet also worried about something.

It was a contradictory state.

"It seems this trip to Taketori Village won't be simple."

Three days passed quickly.

Taketori Village was in sight.

"Taketori Village is two kilometers ahead," Hiashi whispered.

Kimimaro looked around. They were in a dense bamboo forest, different from the previous scenery.

Just as he was observing, Hiashi Homura, who was scouting ahead, exclaimed, "Clan Head, something's wrong! Taketori Village is in trouble!"

"What?"

Hiashi was startled, and Kimimaro also frowned.

Byakugan activate!

Including Hiashi, the three Hyuga clan members activated their Byakugan and looked into the distance.

In this situation, Kimimaro didn't dare to activate his Byakugan, but his Kagura Shingan could also sense things.

"This is..."

In his Kagura Shingan's perception, Taketori Village ahead was empty, like a deserted village.

As for other details, his Kagura Shingan couldn't sense them.

The Kagura Shingan couldn't sense beings without chakra, in this aspect, it was inferior to the Byakugan.

"How could this be? The village is empty, but there are bloodstains everywhere? Were they attacked? Let's hurry up and see what's going on!"

Hiashi was shocked and quickened his pace.

Kimimaro followed closely, displaying speed not inferior to the other four.

Soon, the five arrived at Taketori Village.

It was a mess!

There were signs of fighting and bloodstains everywhere.

It looked like a fierce battle had just taken place.

"What happened here? How did it become like this?"

Hiashi looked bewildered, his expression seemed genuine.

Kimimaro reached out his right hand and gently touched the blood on the ground.

"The blood hasn't completely dried yet, the battle must have ended not too long ago. Uncle Hiashi, let's search the surroundings and see if we can find anyone."

"Alright!"

(End of Chapter)