Ch-71 Do not tell anyone.

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...

Far from the battlefield where Michikatsu and Roshi were engaged in combat, a team of skilled ninja found respite under the shade of a towering tree. This group happened to be Michikatsu's team, temporarily under the command of Nawaki in Michikatsu's absence.

Nawaki, as the second in command, took on the role of captain for the time being. He halted the team's progress and declared, "Take a well-deserved break here. We're a considerable distance from the battlefield, so rest assured, there's no need to be on edge."

One of the special Jonin couldn't help but voice their concern, "Vice-captain, what about our captain? Is he going to be alright?"

In a reassuring tone, Nawaki replied, "You can trust in Michikatsu's strength. If he believes he can make a safe escape, then he will. So, relax and take this time to rest. We'll remain here for 15 minutes. If Michikatsu arrives during that time, we'll join forces with him. If he doesn't, we can't afford to linger here for long. We must continue our journey."

Upon hearing Nawaki's words, every Konoha ninja nodded in agreement. They understood that Nawaki and Michikatsu were not only best friends but also dedicated teammates. If Nawaki had faith that Michikatsu would return unharmed, they had no choice but to trust his judgment and have confidence that their captain would come back safely.

At that very moment, a thunderous explosion reverberated through the air. The earth-shattering boom emanated from the battlefield they had recently withdrawn from. A deep seriousness washed over Nawaki's face as he turned his gaze toward the battlefield, his thoughts filled with concern for Michikatsu. He whispered under his breath, "Michi, I hope you remain unharmed and keep your promise to return safely."

As Nawaki silently prayed for Michikatsu's safety, an unexpected occurrence shook him. The vase he held in his hand began to tremble, and soon, a strange black liquid oozed from it, gradually taking the shape of Michikatsu.

"Michikatsu, are you alright?" Nawaki inquired with a mix of relief and curiosity.

Michikatsu replied confidently, "I'm perfectly fine. What could happen to me?"

Nawaki couldn't help but express his concern, "That's a relief, but what about the explosive sound we heard from such a distance?"

Michikatsu explained, "It was the 'Tailed Beast Ball' explosion. To delay the enemy, I had to provoke the four-tails Jinchuriki, and that led to the 'Tailed Beast Ball' detonation."

Nawaki sought further clarification, "And you managed to escape at the last moment?"

With a firm nod, Michikatsu confirmed, "Exactly!"

"Thank goodness you're unharmed. If anything had happened to you, I wouldn't know what to say to Aunt Kiyomi and Kakashi," Nawaki breathed a sigh of relief, his anxiety dissipating.

Michikatsu chose to remain silent, finding solace by taking a seat beneath a sprawling tree. He perched himself on a root that had emerged from the ground, not out of physical exhaustion—his demon body ensured he remained physically robust—but to grant his mind a few moments of respite. Engaging in combat with Roshi, while primarily focused on evading attacks under unrelenting pressure, had been mentally taxing.

Observing Michikatsu's moment of rest, Nawaki refrained from saying anything. He recognized that Michikatsu had just faced a significant battle and must be weary, but this was where Nawaki was mistaken. Michikatsu, in reality, was far from tired; it was a misconception Nawaki held.

Nawaki turned his attention to the other Konoha ninja present and emphasized, "What you witnessed regarding Michikatsu today must remain a well-guarded secret. I mean this quite literally—do not disclose it to anyone, not even the Hokage."

Upon hearing Nawaki's words, every Konoha ninja understood Michikatsu's desire to keep his abilities hidden from prying eyes. Concealing one's true strength was a common practice among ninja. However, the notion that they couldn't even share this with the Hokage left a few of them uncomfortable.

One of the Special Jonin couldn't restrain their curiosity and ventured to question, "Why the prohibition on discussing this with the Hokage? Did Captain do something wrong? On the contrary, our Captain possesses a formidable Kekkei Genkai. Shouldn't the Hokage be aware of this? The Hokage could harness Captain's talents more efficiently, and Captain could garner greater achievements, possibly even ascending to the position of Hokage."

Michikatsu fixed his gaze upon Nawaki and addressed him with a gentle but firm tone, "Nawaki, what you're suggesting..."

Upon locking eyes with Michikatsu, Nawaki instantly comprehended the unspoken message within that gaze, prompting him to fall silent. Michikatsu's look conveyed a clear directive not to pursue the matter further, and, as Michikatsu's teammate and friend, Nawaki respected that unspoken request.

Michikatsu broke the silence, offering clarification to the group, "You're free to discuss whatever you've witnessed today. It's simply my personal inclination to keep my abilities as concealed trump cards. Consequently, very few individuals are privy to my true capabilities, including the Hokage. This is why Nawaki conveyed the message not to share this information. Please don't take Nawaki's words to heart."

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