Half an hour later.
Inside the reception hall on the first floor of Four Seasons Hotel.
The high-ranking elders, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, the Third Kazekage, and Chiyo, all remained silent, as if waiting for some news. Meanwhile, other Ninja from Konoha and Sunagakure, especially those from the younger generation, kept whispering nonstop.
"Still haven't found him yet?"
After a while, Hiruzen finally asked.
"Hokage-sama, a report just came in from Anbu Third Unit—they've located Heiyan at Training Ground Seven and are on their way here," answered one Anbu ninja respectfully.
"Hmm."
Hiruzen nodded slightly, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest of his chair while he gazed outside the hall, waiting patiently.
"Tsunade," Danzo suddenly spoke up, opening his eyes from his meditative state, "I heard you were Heiyan's doctor? Then you must know quite a lot about his condition?"
"Well... not exactly," Tsunade replied thoughtfully.
She paused briefly, rubbing her small chin before slowly offering an explanation.
"Maybe Heiyan was just a genius all along, only held back by his illness. Now that he's recovered, his natural talent has started to shine through. His abilities skyrocketed in a short amount of time..."
In her mind, there wasn't the slightest doubt that Heiyan belonged to the type of prodigy who gradually unleashes his potential after years of accumulation.
"I see."
Danzo responded with visible skepticism.
"Hokage-sama, we've brought him," another Anbu ninja announced at this moment, finally leading Heiyan himself into the hall.
Instantly, everyone turned their gaze toward the hotel entrance.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
With calm steps, a white-haired teen around fifteen entered the grand hall under countless gazes.
It was Heiyan.
Whoosh!
As though guided by an invisible force, the crowd automatically moved aside like waves parting left and right, creating an open path ahead.
At the end of the path stood two groups of high-level shinobi leaders from both villages. Among them were the Third Hokage and the Third Kazekage.
Maintaining his calm demeanor, Heiyan proceeded forward step by step, passing countless gazes—curious, envious, jealous, even hostile—all kinds of emotions directed at him.
Finally, he arrived before Hiruzen and the others.
Hiruzen asked him a few brief questions and then had him introduce himself to the group. Then, half-sternly and half-curiously, he asked:
"Where did you learn your Water Release techniques?"
In Hiruzen's mind, Heiyan had always been frail and ill, struggling even to graduate from the Ninja Academy—a basic requirement for becoming a ninja.
Yet today, Heiyan's performance at the arena had been nothing short of revolutionary—like a sudden appearance of a top-tier genius who had mastered even the Second Hokage's Water Release jutsu, including [Water Fang Wave].
"My teacher is Kosuke Maruboshi," Heiyan replied with a composed expression. "For the past few years, I've been learning ninjutsu under him."
"Kosuke Maruboshi?" Hearing this name, Danzo, Tsunade, and others frowned—none of them had ever heard of such a person before.
Among Konoha's jonin, there was no record of such a person.
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up with sudden realization.
"Oh, so he's his student. Now I understand."
He stroked his beard, revealing a gratified smile. All doubts about Heiyan disappeared instantly.
Kosuke Maruboshi was an old acquaintance of his.
Actually, they had studied under the same master—the Second Hokage.
Several months ago, he'd even completed a mission together with Kosuke, who injured one of his own eyes while protecting him and later refused his promotion offer, unwilling to become a jonin.
Over the years, Hiruzen had come to deeply understand Kosuke's character. He knew him as a man who silently devoted his entire life to the village, truly embodying the Will of Fire.
Therefore, upon learning Heiyan was Kosuke's student, he felt even more appreciation for him.
Thus, he said to the young ninja:
"Heiyan, come to the Hokage office tomorrow."
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Heiyan knew deep in his heart—he'd succeeded.
"Now, Kazekage," Hiruzen turned his gaze from Heiyan toward the Third Kazekage, "shall we proceed with signing the trade agreement?"
The Third Kazekage heard this and immediately darkened his face. However, having made prior arrangements and with everyone watching, he naturally couldn't back out on his word, and could only reluctantly agree.
Thus, both sides' high-ranking elders left together toward the Hokage office to formally sign the trade agreement.
With these important figures gone, the hall was now full of young people, and the atmosphere suddenly lightened and became more lively.
The banquet continued.
Predictably, Heiyan became the center of attention at this party, surrounded by everyone like stars circling the moon.
Ninja from all major clans within Konoha—Sarutobi, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, and even Uchiha—came over trying to establish rapport, simply wanting to make themselves familiar to him.
After all, Heiyan's performance tonight had been too remarkable—using merely a Shadow Clone to take on seven Sand ninja alone, including two bloodline prodigies.
Tonight would surely mark the beginning of his rise to fame.
Plus, Heiyan also came from immense wealth, personally owning numerous business ventures.
Who wouldn't want to befriend someone like that?
There were victors, but naturally also losers.
Needless to say, the Sand ninja were dispirited. On the Konoha side, however, none seemed more frustrated than Hiashi.
His original plan had been to wait until Konoha's ninja suffered a crushing defeat, then step forward to turn the tide—to become Konoha's hero. But then...
Heiyan had ruined everything midway through, leaving him posing pointlessly on stage for half the night.
Hiashi cast a deep glance at Heiyan among the crowd before losing all interest in staying any longer, immediately turning around and leaving.
The banquet was approaching its conclusion.
Since Heiyan hated big crowds, he finally saw a chance to slip out of the banquet hall unnoticed.
"Heiyan!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from behind—turns out it was Pakura who had followed him.
Pakura appeared hesitant and uncertain, but when others noticed, they wisely scattered away, giving the two some private space.
"What's wrong?" Heiyan asked.
"That..."
As Pakura was about to speak, her vision blurred momentarily before a figure appeared out of nowhere, standing between her and Heiyan.
It was Fugaku Uchiha.
"Fugaku-kun, it's been a while."
Heiyan showed slight surprise at Fugaku's sudden arrival but still greeted him politely.
"Heiyan..."
Fugaku inhaled deeply, then stared straight into Heiyan's eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately, "I'm challenging you."
Right to the point—he came straight to the heart of the matter, no beating around the bush.
"Now?"
Heiyan frowned. From Fugaku's gaze alone, he'd already guessed his intentions.
After all, the Uchiha were a warlike race, not unlike Saiyans. Their passion for battle was engraved deep in their bones.
A clash between Heiyan and Fugaku was always destined to happen.
"Of course not."
Fugaku shook his head.
He knew Heiyan had just come off a major battle and wouldn't take advantage of someone when they weren't at their peak.
"How about I meet you at the Valley of the End two days from now at 2 PM?"
"Fine."
Heiyan nodded slightly.
He knew refusal wasn't an option. Rather than letting Fugaku keep interrupting him, he might as well humor the other man with a match.
[Whoosh!]
Having received the answer he wanted, Fugaku wasted no time and immediately disappeared using the [Shifting Body Technique].
"What an ill-mannered man! Doesn't he understand common courtesy? Can't he wait his turn?"
Pakura glared at Fugaku's retreating figure, muttering in dissatisfaction before turning back toward Heiyan, planning to continue speaking.
But just at this moment—
[Whoosh!]
Another figure dashed forward, leaping across rooftops from distant streets until landing gracefully before them.
It turned out to be Hiashi Hyuga. After leaving the banquet early, he'd felt a growing sense of frustration and anger, unable to let it go, so he turned back.
"Heiyan, I challenge you—to settle this once and for all!"
Ignoring Pakura completely, Hiashi fixed Heiyan with an intense stare, his eyes burning with sky-high fighting spirit.
Another one?
Well, that works fine too. Since Fugaku has already chosen the time and place, what's one more opponent? They could settle everything together then.
Thinking this, Heiyan turned to face Hiashi Hyuga and spoke:
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