I Punch the Tailed Beast Ball

”Current Hokage’s wife...” Honoka’s expression showed some surprise, some action.

With two members of the same Clan, it wouldn’t be too boring if she went there.

Since the wife of the Hokage is a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Konoha shouldn’t have too much hostility towards Uzumaki members. It seemed that before, Konoha was even an ally of the Uzumaki Clan.

But then, Honoka remembered the words of her deceased parents.

Her parents told her to stay away from the Five Great Shinobi Countries, away from Shinobi of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, telling her that the Five Great Shinobi Countries were very dangerous.

She had always been obedient to her parents, and to avoid attracting attention, she even abandoned the surname Uzumaki. She had been doing missions on the edge of the world, maintaining her livelihood with a low profile and decent Sealing Techniques. She might have continued this peaceful life if not for Obito showing up at her doorstep.

No, if Obito hadn’t come, she might have died already.

Honoka suddenly remembered that when the Ultimate Summoning Beast went berserk, her Sealing Technique couldn’t suppress it. If Obito hadn’t come, everyone in the research institute would have died, including her.

At this moment, she was astonished to realize that the person who kidnapped her had now become her lifesaver.

”Don’t want to go? Well, then I’ll have Obito take you wherever you want.” Nagasawa said upon seeing Honoka did not say a word.

He asked Honoka if she wanted to go to Konoha simply because he felt that the Uzumaki Clan had a hard time in the world recently. Bringing her back to the village would also give her a chance to be with her fellow Uzumaki Clan, Kushina and Hanabira. If Honoka didn’t want to go, he wouldn’t insist.

After hesitating for a moment, Honoka decided to do something against her parents’ wishes and said, ”No, I want to go to Konoha with you.”

Whether it was the berserk Ultimate Summoning Beast or Obito’s kidnapping, Honoka had learned about the cruelty of the world.

Even if you were careful, disasters would still fall upon you.

Rather than continuing to be alone, worrying about the danger that might come at any time, it was better to go back to Konoha with Nagasawa. In Konoha, there were two Uzumaki she could rely on, and Konoha was one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries. No one should dare to come to Konoha to catch her.

In the past, her parents told her not to associate herself with anyone from the Five Great Shinobi Countries because they were afraid she would encounter danger. Now, she has the opportunity to go to Konoha and seek shelter. Holding onto her parents’ teachings so stubbornly at this time seemed too stiff.

”Well, then let me welcome you to Konoha.” Nagasawa smiled and said.

”By the way, what’s your name?” Nagasawa asked. They had been talking for a while, and he just realized that he didn’t know the girl’s name.

”Honoka.” Honoka walked to Nagasawa’s right side and looked carefully at Obito on the left.

”Why don’t you have the surname Uzumaki? Isn’t your father a member of the Uzumaki Clan?”

Honoka shook her head and said, ”My parents are both members of the Uzumaki Clan, but they said that the Uzumaki surname would bring disaster, so I don’t have a surname now.”

Hearing the reason, Nagasawa sighed. The once powerful Uzumaki Clan actually had to abandon their own surname, which made him feel emotional for a moment.

Nagasawa reached out and touched Honoka’s head. Honoka was only about 1.5 meters tall, so he could easily reach her head.

Honoka did not resist. The sensory ability of Uzumaki Shinobi was very keen, and she could sense that Nagasawa had no malice towards her.

”If you want to, starting from today, you can use the surname Uzumaki. In Konoha, you don’t have to worry that your surname will bring disaster to yourself.”

”I’m not very concerned about this kind of thing, it’s been so long, I’ve already gotten used to it.” Honoka didn’t really care about it.

”Do my two Clan members still use the surname Uzumaki?”

”Yeah.” Nagasawa nodded.

Originally, according to the custom, if a woman gets married, she should take her husband’s surname. However, neither Minato nor Kakashi cared much about this tradition, so Kushina and Hanabira still used the Uzumaki surname, not changing to Hatake or Namikaze.

”Well, then I’ll use the Uzumaki surname too, Honoka Uzumaki.” Honoka pronounced it to herself and felt that it sounded good.

”Sir, what’s your name? Can you tell me? I’d like to treat you to a meal after we return to Konoha,” Honoka asked.

She wasn’t foolish. Although she initially acted quite naive, that was because she was frightened by Obito. Anyone would be at a loss when they saw their kidnapper.

According to her observation, Obito was injured and looked very disheveled. He had lost the mask he usually wore.

In contrast, Nagasawa looked clean and energetic.

When those two people walking together, Obito looked like a little follower.

It was obvious that the big villain Obito had been punished, and Nagasawa was the one who did it.

If the two were companions, how could Obito be so miserable in a fight, while Nagasawa looked like nothing had happened?

This situation clearly indicated that Nagasawa was her savior, and she felt the needed to repay him.

”I’m Fujiwara Nagasawa, you can call me by my first name or surname, whichever suits you.” Nagasawa smiled and said, finding this little girl quite interesting.

After being taken outside, Honoka realized that it was already early in the morning, and the sky was still dark.

Since she had been kept in the basement, and there was no clock inside, she couldn’t judge the time at all.

After Nagasawa, Obito, and Honoka left Kirigakure, it quickly became bright outside, and it was already around six in the morning.

Considering that Honoka had been locked in the basement and Obito had been severely beaten by Nagasawa, Nagasawa took the two for breakfast first and then set off.

However, Nagasawa noticed that whether they were on the road or having breakfast, Obito seemed absent-minded, while Honoka looked quite happy.

Nagasawa took some money from his pouch and gave it to Honoka, asking her to buy something.

After Honoka left, Nagasawa asked Obito, ”What’s wrong with you? Don’t tell me you think I’m kidnapping you to Konoha, and you’re not happy about it.”

Obito shook his head and said with some helplessness, ”It’s not that I dislike Konoha; it’s just that I don’t know how to face Minato-sensei, Kushina-san, and Kakashi...”

A person who had already died suddenly appeared again, and he appeared as the mysterious person who had previously attacked Konoha. Although in the two memories Nagasawa showed him, Minato never blamed him, that was not something he had personally experienced, and Minato was not the same Minato. When it came time to it, Obito felt nervous.

Especially Kushina, Obito felt that he couldn’t face her.

”Don’t worry, my Medical Ninjutsu is not weak. You definitely won’t die, just endure some pain. You know Kushina’s temper too.” Nagasawa patted Obito on the shoulder and comforted him.

”If beating me up will make her feel better, I don’t mind.” Obito sighed.

If Kushina was willing to hit him, it might mean there was a chance of forgiveness. The problem was that when the time came, Kushina might not even want to see him.

Nagasawa looked at Obito with a strange look, touched his chin, and said, ”Did I hit you too hard, and you developed some strange fetish? Just to make it clear, this has nothing to do with me, but if Minato asks, just say that you got a bad influence outside.”

Obito: ...

Shouldn’t you say something touching in such a tragic scene? Why did it feel like he awakened some strange fetish?

Moreover, shirking responsibility in advance is too contemptuous. How come I didn’t notice this guy’s contemptuous side when he was in Konoha before?

”What fetish?” Honoka, who had finished shopping, felt like she heard something she shouldn’t have.

”Honoka, be careful with Obito. This guy might have awakened some incredible fetish.” Nagasawa warned Honoka as if advising his own child not to learn from naughty kids.

”I’ve always felt that this guy is not normal.” Honoka nodded in agreement and then hid behind Nagasawa, cautiously watching Obito. Catching and imprisoning a teenage girl in the basement, no matter how you look at it, was creepy.

Listening to Nagasawa and Honoka in sync, almost putting the word ”pervert” on Obito’s face, Obito was at a loss for words. However, because of this, the atmosphere became cheerful, and Obito’s nervousness eased a bit.

...

Konoha, Chunin Exam Arena.

Today was the day for the quarterfinals of the Chunin Exams. The arena was packed with people from various parts of the world, including wealthy businessmen and dignitaries, as well as Shinobi from various villages, along with many residents and Shinobi from Konoha.

It was currently two o’clock in the afternoon, and the eight quarterfinalists would battle it out here to determine the four Shinobi who would advance to the semifinals.

The rules were the same as before, with opponents and order determined by numbers.

Wearing a mask, Kakashi stood on the central arena, holding the list, and announced the start of the first match of the quarterfinals.

”The first match, Kabuto Yakushi against Kōsei.”

”Contestants, enter.”

Hearing his name being announced over the broadcast, Kabuto walked into the central arena from the contestant’s exclusive passage.

At the same time, his opponent, Kōsei, the Iwagakure Explosion Release Shinobi, also entered the arena.

The two could be considered old opponents. They first clashed during the first fight over the Summon Steel Tag, where he attempted to hide and wait for Kabuto and others to weaken each other before coming out to snatch the Summon Steel Tag.

However, Kōsei didn’t expect Kabuto to leverage his advantage with his Medical Ninjutsu, using it to negotiate with Kumogakure and Sunagakure Team, foiling the plans of those trying to take advantage of their fight.

In the second Summon Steel Tag skirmish, they met again, and once again, the battle ended with Kabuto and his team’s victory.

Losing twice in a row against an early graduate like Kabuto made Kōsei feel quite ashamed, especially since both battles were broadcasted live.

Kōsei desperately wanted to redeem himself in this quarterfinal match.

As the two approached the center of the arena, they finally stopped at a position indicated by Kakashi, not too close but not too far apart, about fifteen meters separating them.

Kakashi raised his hand, glanced left and right to ensure there were no violations, then quickly counted down. When he shouted ”one,” he swiftly lowered his hand and backed away to the edge of the arena.

”Did you see that? That’s my dad. He’s really fast; you can’t even see his movement. He’s super powerful.” In the third row from the top, a little white-haired girl pointed to Kakashi on the arena, proud of her father.

”Tch, what’s the big deal? My brother, Itachi Uchiha, is also a contestant, and he will definitely come out victorious.” Sasuke tilted his head slightly proudly.

”Your dad and brother are not as powerful as my dad. My dad sits in the highest place.” Naruto proudly pointed with his small hand towards where the Kage were sitting, where Minato was chatting and laughing with the other Kage.

Before Naruto could finish boasting, Kushina, holding him, lovingly knocked him on the back of his head.

”That has nothing to do with you. If you want to show off, show off your own strength,” Kushina scolded Naruto.

”Ouch!” Naruto’s eyes teared up a bit. Getting hit by his mom hurt the most; she was so strong!

”Kushina, you’re going too far. Naruto is almost crying from your hit.” Next to them, Uchiha Mikoto reminded.

Today, they happened to be free, so Kushina, Uchiha Mikoto, and Hanabira brought their children to watch the Chunin Exams together.

”It’s okay; Naruto inherited my constitution, so he won’t be easily injured.” Kushina laughed.

Due to Kushina’s dominant presence, the bragging contest was forcibly halted before a winner emerged. Yurika and others shifted their attention back to the ongoing matches.

In the arena, desperate to redeem himself, Kōsei relentlessly used Explosion Release against Kabuto, creating a series of loud explosions. The ground was marred with craters, and Kabuto had to continuously dodge.

”Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai is really brutal. It doesn’t need fancy techniques; just activating the Kekkei Genkai can cause terrifying attacks.”

”Yeah, compared to ordinary Shinobi, those with Kekkei Genkai have a significant advantage...”

”This Iwagakure Explosion Release guy is dangerous. At this rate, the kid may lose.”

Discussions arose among the spectators, including Shinobi of different ranks and even civilians, making the event lively and engaging.

The massive discussions in the audience didn’t affect the two fighters in the midst of their battle.

”Huff, huff.” Kōsei panted, taking a temporary break from the attacks. Kabuto, like a slippery eel, managed to evade the assaults. The vast arena made it challenging for Kōsei’s Explosion Release to cover the entire area, limiting the actual threat to Kabuto.

”Come and fight me head-on.” Kōsei provocatively challenged.

”Sure.” Kabuto smiled and replied. Gripping the Chakra Blade, he put a bit more strength to his hand.

Since their stamina had depleted quite a bit, it was time to put an end to the battle.

Against an impulsive Shinobi like Kōsei, Kabuto had a lot of experience. After all, a certain unnamed Uchiha had been challenging him for a long time.