Ultimately, Terumi Mei decided to go to Pakura first.
She could see the anger towards Kiyoshi in Pakura's eyes, so Pakura wouldn't give up as directly as Kumo ninjas.
Night fell.
Outside the mountain rocks near the downstream of the river
There was the light of a bonfire, the flames burning in the wood, making crackling sounds from time to time.
The dew remaining from the daytime was scarce at night, but some damp wood could still be used, and Kiyoshi could ignite it with Fire Release.
Kiyoshi and his group gathered here with Natsu and her two companions.
The glimmer of the flames reflected on everyone's faces, and Kiyoshi sprinkled seasoning on a grilled fish.
The exam lasts for five days, and the food during this period must be found by the participants themselves.
Kiyoshi had the foresight to prepare some seasonings.
After seasoning the grilled fish, he handed the fish to Kurenai.
Kurenai's eyes lit up, and she immediately took it. She blew a breath, and took a bite with a 'huff'.
"It's hot, but delicious."
Kurenai said while panting.
She loved to eat fish.
The Forest of Death can be said to be a primeval forest, and the ecology inside is very primitive.
The fish in the river are 100% wild, and their flesh tastes much fresher and more tender than the ones farmed outside.
Kurenai was wondering if these fish also had some meager chakra in their bodies.
Maybe the chakra tempered their meat to be very tender in order to adapt to the life in the primeval forest.
"Kiyoshi, what about me?"
While Kurenai was tasting the grilled fish, Asuma looked at Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi threw the seasoning bottle to Asuma and let him do it himself.
There were still many fish in the simple basket woven with wooden strips.
With Kiyoshi's vision, he could accurately catch fish, rarely missing.
As for Tetsu and Homura, they were eating the fish they had caught themselves. But the fish were not only small but also tasteless.
Natsu was still grilling fish, her white eyes gazing at the crackling bonfire.
"Natsu, let's talk."
Kiyoshi stood up when he felt the time was right.
Having eaten and drunk enough (water), it was time to get down to business.
"Okay."
Natsu put down the grilled fish and followed Kiyoshi towards the cave.
"Natsu!"
At this time, Tetsu put down the half-cooked fish in his hand.
Natsu's affairs lingered in his heart for some reason, making him uneasy.
Seeing Natsu going to talk to Kiyoshi, Tetsu couldn't bear it anymore.
"What's wrong?" Natsu turned her head and asked.
Tetsu said, "No... nothing. Just know that I will always stand by your side."
'No matter what happens.'
Tetsu added this sentence in his heart.
Natsu lightly smiled, and said okay to Tetsu. Then she followed Kiyoshi into the cave.
There are many large creatures in the Forest of Death, and caves are not uncommon.
"About this matter, how do you plan to atone?"
After entering the cave, Kiyoshi lightly said.
Natsu stood in place, biting her lip, twisting her sleeves unconsciously with her fingertips.
"I... can give you money."
She opened her mouth cautiously, her voice slightly dry.
After thinking about it, Natsu found that the only valuable thing she had was money.
Gentle Fist is a secret technique passed down only in the main family.
So it is impossible to teach it to Kiyoshi, and Kiyoshi cannot learn it without Byakugan.
Natsu also has very ordinary standard equipment such as other ninja tools. She didn't think these could impress Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi looked at her with a half-smile and slowly said, "Okay, give me one million ryo."
"O... One million?"
Natsu suddenly raised her head and widened her eyes in shock.
Kiyoshi was really being impolite.
Even if she sells all of her possessions, it will be impossible to gather one million ryo.
"Can't give it? Or do you think that the reputation of the Uchiha clan is not worth a mere one million ryo?" Kiyoshi's tone turned cold.
In the dark cave, only a little bit of the faint light of the distant bonfire came in. Kiyoshi's face was covered in shadows.
Natsu anxiously said, "The reputation of the Uchiha clan is of course more than this amount of money, but... this money is too much, I need to inform Ginka-sama."
She has been assigned to serve Ginka, and Ginka is generally in charge of everything. Besides, this matter was originally caused by Ginka.
She is just Ginka's servant, how can she bear such a huge amount of "atonement" alone?
"You don't even have this much sincerity?"
Kiyoshi's words contained a strong disappointment.
Natsu's heart trembled, and she shook her head subconsciously.
"No, that's not it! But I really can't get this money..."
Natsu told the truth, hoping that Kiyoshi could make a reasonable request.
"You said you would atone, but you can't come up with anything." Kiyoshi shook his head and said.
Natsu's hands clenched her sleeves unconsciously.
She lightly bit her lower lip, and faint tears appeared in the corners of her eyes.
She has received the Hyuga clan's simple and strict education since childhood.
The most important thing is to be humble and orderly, and not lose etiquette and shame the Hyuga clan's reputation.
"Kiyoshi..."
She finally opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, and her eyelashes drooping.
"Then... then how can I atone?"
Kiyoshi looked at her reaction, and the corners of his lips raised into a slight arc that was not easily noticeable.
This is the attitude he wanted.
The one million ryo Kiyoshi had said was just a casual remark. It was to pave the way for the next thing.
Humans are a kind of creature that like compromise.
As long as you put forward a very excessive request in advance, and then put forward a request that is excessive, but not as excessive as the first one, then they will often accept the second one.
"Since you can't come up with money, then use other ways to express your apology."
Kiyoshi slowly walked to Natsu, and looked down at her.
Then he suddenly asked in a light tone, "Natsu, do you know what your identity is?"
Natsu suddenly raised her head, and a trace of unease flashed in her eyes.
She murmured, "I am... a branch house member of the Hyuga clan."
"Incorrect."
Kiyoshi shook his head, with a smile on the corner of his mouth.
He said, "You didn't say it completely, it should be a servant of the Hyuga main family."
Natsu's face suddenly turned pale.
It was as if she had been slapped hard, and a sense of shame instantly surged into her heart.
She clenched her sleeves with her fingers, but she was unwilling to open her mouth.
Kiyoshi was not annoyed, but instead looked at her with interest, as if admiring her fragile persistence.
"What? Do you not dare to say it?"
He deliberately approached her slowly.
He sllightly lowered his head, and leaned close to her ear, his voice low and seductive.
"Is it because you don't think you are, or are you unwilling to admit it?"
Natsu still clenched her teeth tightly, stubbornly unwilling to open her mouth.
Kiyoshi looked at her, and suddenly chuckled, his eyes showing a playful pity.
The Caged Bird Curse Seal is considered a relatively powerful curse seal in Naruto.
After countless years of his death, when Hizashi was reincarnated by Edo Tensei, he still had the caged bird curse seal on his forehead.
In other words, the branch house members are servants of the main family when they are alive.
And they are still servants of the main family even after death.