Escaping the Mist Ninja starts with backstabbing your teacher.

"I want to go with Lord Izumikawa!" Momona said, holding her head and mustering her courage to shout out what was in her heart.

This made Izumi and Yekura nod slightly in satisfaction; this girl was still too intimidating in front of them.

Even though he and Yecang wouldn't eat her, he keeps scaring himself and putting pressure on himself.

"Can!"

"Oh, really?"

Upon receiving such a straightforward response from Izumikawa, Momona showed a hint of surprise.

After all, in her opinion, the fact that Ye Cangjie wasn't even taken along on this trip must mean something big, and wouldn't she just be a burden if she went along?

"Really, and some things would be better if you were there."

Izumikawa stroked his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. After all, Momona was a member of the Uzumaki clan, as was Kushina.

The Nine-Tails is about to wreak havoc in Konoha, and the Fourth Hokage and his wife will die. If we can get the Uzumaki clan's sealing technique scroll from them, it would be an incredible windfall.

So bringing Momona along isn't a problem. Her perception is much broader than his, making it a good place to hide.

Momona chuckled, revealing a hint of happy excitement. Rather than being constantly protected, she felt it was best to be able to make the most of her abilities.

"Then, Lord Izumi, when shall we depart? I'll go pack."

"Go pack up. We'll set off tonight under cover of darkness. The journey is long, so we'll need to travel at night."

"Uh-huh!"

With a bouncy and cheerful air, Momona got up and hummed a little tune as she headed toward the white skeleton house, preparing to tidy up and gather some tools.

Meanwhile, Yekura, who remained in place, had a small fireball of Scorch Release constantly swirling around her finger, occasionally changing into other forms, such as a fire snake swimming around.

She is honing her chakra control skills. Since that battle, she has chosen to seek Izumi's help to see how she can develop and become stronger.

Izumikawa then handed over the "Talent of the Immortal Clan" to Yekura, allowing her to shape the fireballs of the Scorching Release into various forms, which should enhance their power and application.

An ordinary ninja's chakra is fixed at birth. Only by constantly developing their control and utilization of chakra, learning ninjutsu, secret techniques, awakening bloodline limits, and gaining combat experience can they improve their strength.

In Izumi's view, a training system that cannot continuously improve one's chakra through self-cultivation is a very incomplete thing.

Indeed, it was incomplete. The chakra came from the Otsutsuki clan, and the opponent's methods of improvement were simply planting trees and consuming chakra fruits to increase their strength.

This external enhancement is limited, which is why the Otsutsuki clan had to search far and wide for suitable planets to plant the Divine Tree.

The energy of the ninja world itself, Sage Chakra, is not much different from chakra in essence. However, the comparison is with the chakra of Chakra Fruits, which possess all attributes of chakra.

Instead of the chakra that ninjas possess today, which is incomplete and lacks quantity, the enhancement that Sage Chakra provides to ninjas is particularly significant.

"Ye Cang, then I'll leave this place to you. At the moment, not many people are paying attention here, except for those merchant guilds who have their eyes on this piece of meat."

"However, these guys have been much more obedient since I took action earlier. If they dare to cause trouble again, you don't need to be polite."

"Take direct action to take down that chamber of commerce and bring it under control. Don't let our information leak out."

Ye Cang nodded slightly. The wandering ninjas and samurai employed by ordinary merchant guilds were only really intimidating to ordinary people.

Any genin from any of the five great ninja villages could easily solve the problem; the difference in resources and quality is enormous.

……

A few days later, late at night.

Flying on the giant skeletal bird, Izumi traveled from the coast of the Land of Rivers to the Land of Fire, arriving near Konoha.

As agreed upon at the time and place, Risa has arrived here, seemingly resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, he remains vigilant.

At the sound of light footsteps, Hizashi immediately opened his eyes, his white eyes, veins bulging, locked onto Izumi.

Looking at that familiar chakra, which seemed to have grown considerably stronger, Hizashi's brows were still furrowed, but his Byakugan was closed and the veins had subsided.

Seeing the other's expression, Izumikawa smiled knowingly: "What, are you secretly hoping I'll break my promise, Head of the Hizashi Clan?"

As he finished speaking, Izumi Kawa approached Hizashi's side and continued quietly.

"Now that things have come to this, there's no need to maintain that false mask. Let's face reality!"

"You have already betrayed your family in your heart, so once you betray them, you will betray them countless times. The fact that you have betrayed them will never disappear."

Hearing the tense sound of Hizashi's clenched fists, Izumikawa slowly circled around him before continuing, "Neji...you're quite talented, aren't you!"

"With such talent, shouldn't she be in the main family instead of the branch family?"

Hizashi took a deep breath, his usual numb expression gone, and looked sharply at Izumi, saying, "Now that I've come to you, there's no need to provoke me with words."

"If it weren't for the fact that you are from the Bamboo Cutter Clan, no matter how eloquently you speak, I would never have come to see you."

"I know you've never been interested in the Bamboo Clan since you were a child, and you've even stayed away from them, so you seem to have some misconceptions about the relationship between the two clans."

These words surprised Izumi Kawa. He didn't really know the details of the relationship between the two sides, only that they were related. The information about the Hyuga clan was all from his previous life.

Could it be that the two sides have a really good relationship? If so, what's the story behind the first group of Hyuga branch family ninjas who came looking for him?

"You seem puzzled because of the first group of Hyuga branch family ninjas who hunted you down, right?"

"It's not surprising. Every family has factions. The one who came to you belongs to the radical faction, so they're after you to kill you."

"And when I went to see you again later, I did so mostly to persuade you, you don't deny that, do you?"

Izumi nodded slightly. "Factions are rampant within the clan! That's no surprise then; I understand all too well."

"You told me that you wouldn't harm Neji's Byakugan, and that you would even protect him as he grows up. I believe you."

"Even if you take Neji's left eye, I won't mind. It's enough to leave him with a Byakugan and allow him to live freely."

Hiyashi spoke calmly, as if these were not a big problem compared to the "Caged Bird" inscription.

Enough!

This was Izumi's evaluation of Hizashi, his expression slightly serious. He hadn't expected the other party to be so decisive and reckless once he made up his mind.

Hizashi continued, saying that he would create an opportunity to take Neji out of the Hyuga clan, and then let Izumi take him away.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Izumi stopped Hizashi from explaining his plan, and seeing the other's puzzled expression, said in a deep voice.

"I don't care what you think, I care what I think!"