"Ao—"
Ao suddenly stepped forward.
The tense atmosphere that had been brewing suddenly dissipated.
Yet, both Mei and the other Mist shinobis looked visibly shocked, faces twisted in disbelief as they stared at Ao, who had stood up with an expression of unwavering resolve.
They knew well just how much Ao valued that eye of his.
No one had expected it.
For him to actually agree to hand over his Byakugan willingly.
"I am willing to surrender the Byakugan."
Ao's face was solemn.
Stopping Mei and the others before they could protest, he looked directly at Tsunade and Kiyoshi and spoke firmly.
"But I expect you to keep your word. No additional conditions. The Six-Tails Jinchuriki must be safely returned to us, to Kirigakure."
His tone was calm, without a hint of anger.
But his tightly clenched fists, veins bulging, betrayed his inner reluctance.
"Oh?"
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow.
Tsunade, Shizune, and the others also looked on in surprise as Ao voluntarily offered to return the Byakugan.
They had expected some sort of conflict to break out.
"Agreed."
Tsunade nodded.
Glancing at the two or three Mist shinobis corpses scattered around, she said offhandedly.
"Seeing as you're being so cooperative, I can arrange an eye transplant for you. After all, it's better than wasting a perfectly good eye."
"No need to trouble yourself—"
Mei instantly refused, glaring at Tsunade with fiery eyes, her voice gritted. "We in the Mist also have skilled medical ninjas.
They may not match your level of expertise, but performing an eye transplant for Ao is certainly within our abilities."
"As you wish."
Tsunade shrugged slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she observed Mei, who was suppressing her anger with visible frustration.
Pretending to reclaim the Byakugan on behalf of Konoha and the Hyuga clan was all just an excuse.
Although Tsunade still saw herself as a part of Konoha, she didn't concern herself with every matter that came her way.
The real reason she had pressured Kirigakure to hand over the Byakugan was simply because she disliked this enchanting, younger woman who had been winning Kiyoshi's attention.
She couldn't stand it.
It felt as though a cherished toy of hers was being taken away.
An unsettling sense of possessiveness grew within her, which she couldn't ignore.
So she had claimed the right to retrieve the Byakugan to curb this woman's arrogance.
Watching this woman, who Kiyoshi said was likely the future Fifth Mizukage, glare at her with a dark expression, Tsunade's calm was unshaken.
Inwardly, she felt a satisfying thrill, supremely content.
Even if Mei were to officially join them, she'd still be trailing behind her.
Still, she couldn't deny a faint sense of satisfaction in Kiyoshi's loyalty.
That boy might be a bit of a philanderer, but at least he hadn't lost his head over this girl.
He hadn't played it off or acted the fool.
Without hesitation, he had taken her side.
Although he often challenged her as his teacher, he still respected her.
Her efforts as his mentor hadn't been in vain.
'Tonight, maybe I should reward him for that.'
She looked at Kiyoshi with a hint of pride, secretly contemplating.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
No, she hadn't developed feelings.
She was merely acknowledging his good behavior with a small treat to ensure he didn't end up ensnared by some other girl.
Yes, that was it.
Satisfied with this justification, Tsunade felt her confidence surge.
"However, I should mention that my Byakugan is bound by a seal, and it can't be removed by ordinary means."
Ao, now entirely deflated, spoke flatly.
"No worries. I have some experience with sealing techniques," Kiyoshi stepped up to Ao, his dark, piercing gaze turning crimson, faint red chakra swirling around his eyes.
"Is that…"
"A Dojutsu?"
"Red eyes?"
The Mist shinobis present stared in shock at Kiyoshi's eyes.
"Don't resist."
Kiyoshi placed his right hand over Ao's right eye socket.
In an instant—
Seals densely covered Ao's right eye, blocking Kiyoshi's attempts to extract it.
With blue chakra visibly emanating from his fingers, Kiyoshi tore through the seals and gripped Ao's Byakugan.
A swift, brutal motion.
"Aah…."
Ao screamed as blood splattered.
Kiyoshi had forcefully extracted Ao's eye, still dripping with blood.
The Mist shinobis watched, fists clenched, furious yet unable to speak out.
"So, can we now take the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and leave?" Ao, drenched in cold sweat, looked at Tsunade with his one remaining eye.
"Go ahead."
Tsunade didn't stop him.
She had no interest in the Tailed Beasts.
"Although, if I were you, I wouldn't keep such a dangerous entity around."
She offered them some well-meant advice.
As Tsunade recalled the contents of the Uchiha Stone Tablet that Kiyoshi had mentioned earlier, she couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
If Madara was truly still alive, then possessing a Tailed Beast might not necessarily be a good thing for Kirigakure.
"This is an internal matter of Kirigakure. There's no need to worry yourself, Lady Tsunade."
Mei, her face ice-cold, shot a scornful look at Tsunade as she turned her attention to Ao, who was being supported by Mist shinobis.
Seeing Ao's pain, Shizune sighed lightly and asked, "Do you need help with the treatment?"
"No, we're fine."
At that moment, a Mist shinobi proficient in medical ninjutsu stepped up to treat Ao.
Mei's gaze fell back on Tsunade, who seemed to be relishing her moment.
Her pride wouldn't allow her to swallow the defeat easily.
"Today, I had the rare privilege of meeting one of the Sannin and even witnessed the long-lost Wood Release…. how lucky indeed," Mei remarked, feigning admiration.
But before Tsunade could respond with a smile, Mei's tone turned sharp, her words laced with sarcasm.
"Though, they say you're already forty or fifty years old, Tsunade-sama. It's quite impressive that you can still appear as youthful as an eighteen year old girl. Truly, your medical skills are something to be envious of."
"...."
Karin and Shizune froze.
Even Kiyoshi's eyebrow twitched slightly.
Clearly, Mei wasn't letting this go, provoking Tsunade in the most sensitive way possible.
No woman likes to hear remarks about her age.
Especially not someone like Tsunade.
"And just who are you calling an old lady, Mist girl?"
"You brat from Hidden Mist—who are you calling old woman?"
Upon hearing this, Tsunade's veins popped on her forehead.
Her fists cracked as she clenched them.
Her gaze became murderously intense, staring at Mei.
Resisting the urge to punch Mei right then and there, she took a deep breath to calm herself.
Fighting the impulse to rush forward and punch the woman, Tsunade tried to regain her composure.
Smiling, she narrowed her eyes and said, "Better that than being in one's twenties and lacking the wisdom to maintain oneself.
Your skin looks so coarse it might only be a few years before you'll resemble a forty or fifty year old yourself."
"What did you say?"
Sparks crackled in the air.
The two women stood off against each other.
Like "water" and "fire," their glares clashed, shooting sparks that made those nearby break into a cold sweat.
"Tsunade-sama."
"Lady Mei."
"Silence—"
Without breaking eye contact, the two hissed in unison, staring each other down.
The killing intent was palpable.
Shizune, Karin, and the others dared not interrupt any further.
"Goodbye, Kiyoshi-kun."
As the medical shinobis finished tending to Ao's eye, and with the unconscious Six-Tails Jinchuriki and fallen Mist shinobis gathered, Mei looked back at Kiyoshi one last time, eyes full of conflicted emotion.
She then departed without further delay.
It was rare for her to meet a man who stirred her heart.
Yet he was much younger than her, and from Konoha.
Perhaps their differing allegiances meant they were simply not meant to be.
"Goodbye, Lady Mei."
Kiyoshi smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
Swoosh.. swoosh…
In no time—
One after another, Mist shinobis vanished into the night.
After watching Mei leave, Kiyoshi carefully placed the bloodied Byakugan into a small bottle filled with special medicinal fluid.
"So that's the Byakugan?"
Karin and Shizune approached, curiosity shining in their eyes as they observed the eyeball in the glass bottle.
"If you're interested, go ahead and study it," Kiyoshi offered, tossing the bottle to them with a grin.
To him, it was just a Byakugan.
Its main value was in gaining some favor from the stiff Hyuga clan elders when he returned it.
"That won't be necessary," Shizune shook her head as she inspected the eye. "I was just curious."
"Disappointed, huh?"
Tsunade said with a playful smile on her face.
Seeing Kiyoshi's calm expression, she teased, "Am I to be blamed for ruining your chances?"
"It's fine. Worst case, I'll go to Kirigakure and steal a bride," with a casual smile, Kiyoshi laughed, making a half-hearted joke.
He patted his chest, speaking with double meaning. "In my heart, you, Tsunade-nee, are still the most important."
"Well, at least you're smart enough to not push it," Tsunade said with a smirk.
She gave Kiyoshi's head a light tap, feeling quite pleased with his attitude.
"You want to go to the Mist village and steal a bride?" Karin, arms crossed, pouted.
"Hmph, I bet you'll end up having your soul stolen by that Mist's lady."
"Where did all this jealousy come from...?"
Kiyoshi chuckled in amusement and, without hesitation, ruffled Karin's hair.
"You're annoying Kiyoshi, messing up my hair again."
And so, the playful atmosphere continued, with teasing and laughter filling the air.
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