Minato Namikaze

Sure enough, laughter and cheer once again filled every corner of Konoha.

But not everyone was celebrating. Some still worried for family members who had yet to return from the battlefield.

All one could say was that people's joys were never truly shared.

Hm? Ichiraku Ramen? A famous must-visit spot in Konoha—and even the entire Ninja World!

Then I definitely had to go see how it tasted.

"Hello, one house-special ramen, please." Looking at the busy Otsutsuki Isshin before him, Bai Yue began ordering, then turned toward the hidden Hyuga Bun in the distance. "Uncle Wen, would you like a bowl too?"

"..." Hyuga Bun did not reply. As an Anbu Guard, he had no desire to show his face in public.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes." Bai Yue then added, "Make that two."

"Coming right up!" Teuchi immediately answered.

Before long, two large steaming bowls of ramen were brought over. "Ichiraku's specialty Tonkotsu Miso Ramen. Please enjoy."

"It looks pretty good." Breaking apart his chopsticks, Bai Yue called out again, "Hurry up, Uncle Wen. The noodles won't taste good once they get soggy."

A figure appeared beside Bai Yue, and Hyuga Bun's expression was somewhat complicated.

As a member of the Branch Family, he had naturally begun to hate the Main Family after being branded with the Caged Bird. Yet because he had been chosen as a direct guard for the Main Family, he was in turn despised by the ordinary members of the Branch Family.

Caught between both sides, he had long since gone numb. Yet Bai Yue had always shown him sufficient respect, and not only him—Hyuga Hanako as well.

He had even heard Hyuga Hanako say that Bai Yue was a good child. Even those ordinary Branch Family members who had not become Ninja received enough respect from Bai Yue.

How long could such childlike innocence last?

The Main Family's sense of superiority, born from holding the Branch Family's lives and deaths in its hands, would sooner or later erode that innocence.

"It really does taste good. What do you think, Uncle Wen?" Bai Yue had no idea how conflicted his direct guard was. After asking, thoroughly satisfied with the ramen, he continued eating.

"It is quite tasty." Hyuga Bun answered blandly.

"When you have nothing to do in the future, you can come here for a change of pace."

"Mm..."

"As long as you customers are satisfied!" Teuchi was delighted by the diners' praise.

"Boss, one Spicy Miso Vegetable Ramen."

"Please wait a moment..."

The flavor of everyday life~

It was a rare thing in the disaster-ridden Ninja World.

After eating and drinking his fill, Bai Yue left behind the money and departed.

He strolled leisurely while making his way toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.

A green figure flashed past, and the dust it kicked up caught Bai Yue's attention.

This was?!

Might Guy, who seemed to appear in every corner of Konoha year-round?!

Byakugan—activate!

Heh, it really was him. But the current Might Guy still looked somewhat young, and his face carried a heavy, bitter expression.

It seemed he had yet to emerge from the pain of his father's death in battle.

Bandages were still wrapped around him. No wonder he was in Konoha. He was probably recovering from injury here because he had been wounded, and the war was already in its final stages.

"Even injured, he still couldn't sit still and came out to train. No wonder..." Bai Yue muttered after deactivating his Byakugan.

Truly worthy of being the fiercest man with the strongest self-discipline.

Eight Inner Gates Formation!

It was a good thing!

He had to find a way to get his hands on it!

Although the ultimate move of the Eight Inner Gates Formation was a technique that took both sides down together, even opening only the first seven gates provided an astonishing boost in combat power.

Not to mention anything else—even with only seven gates open, Guy had few opponents besides those freaks with cheats.

Excluding the overpowered fighters, among Ordinary Ninja—including the Kage of every village—Guy with only seven gates open could at least rank in the top ten.

Of course, because his methods were so one-dimensional, Guy could easily be killed by those Scheming Old Bastards using all sorts of fancy tricks.

"No rush, no rush. I'm still young. I have plenty of time and patience." Bai Yue unhurriedly continued toward the Clan land.

He did not immediately try to build a relationship with Guy. After all, Guy was already on the radar of all Konoha's big shots.

An unknown eternal Genin had forcibly used unfashionable Taijutsu, which no one valued, to defeat the famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Ninja World.

He killed four of them on the spot. The three survivors had their faith shattered and were all utterly rattled!

Who among Konoha F4 would not keep an eye on such a powerhouse with nuclear-level potential?

If not for the Eight Inner Gates Formation's harsh and brutal training requirements, with very few people capable of mastering it,

Konoha might have raised a group of them to play mutual-destruction tactics against the other Ninja Villages.

Rock Lee opened Five Gates at thirteen and nearly defeated Gaara, who possessed Jonin-level strength, only to be promptly written out.

Though Kishimoto had written himself into a corner and could not wrap it up, it was also possible that the Eight Inner Gates really was that difficult to train.

Perhaps the first four gates were easy to open, while each gate afterward grew increasingly difficult? And opening them did not mean success—only achieving it without side effects counted as true mastery?!

Come to think of it, it was rather ironic. Dai, who had never burst forth with dazzling brilliance, was merely an eternal Genin everyone despised, like a stray dog by the roadside that anyone could kick twice.

The news of Dai defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen must have scared plenty of people into wetting themselves.

That roadside stray everyone could bully was actually that fierce? Fortunately, Dai had a good temper and had not opened Eight Gates to kick them.

"Sure enough, people need to have value. Compared to Dai, who had previously been unknown and clown-like, Guy has it far better now." After sighing, Bai Yue returned to the Clan land. "Today's encounter was pretty nice, but I need to work hard too. Compared to being a parasite, I still want to show off."

"Young Master, the Elder requests your presence." Three days passed in a flash, and Hyuga Bun's voice came from outside the door.

"Understood. Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Wen." Closing the Sealing Jutsu scroll in his hands, Bai Yue replied.

Not long afterward, led by Hyuga Bun, Bai Yue arrived at his destination.

This time, however, the destination was rather special: the reception hall the Clan Head used to entertain distinguished guests.

Heh, they were making this pretty serious.

That blond-haired man, with a gentle smile like the sun.

Tsk, tsk. It was the succubus Minato!

"Jonin Minato, this is my disappointing grandson—Bai Yue." Upon seeing Bai Yue arrive, Hyuga Jinren immediately introduced him.

"Hello, little Bai Yue." Minato Namikaze immediately greeted him warmly.

"Greetings, Jonin Minato." Bai Yue also greeted him politely.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Bai Yue obediently stood behind his Grandpa, his mind wandering as he listened to the adults' small talk.

All he could say was that the adult world was full of twists and turns. Social etiquette and worldly dealings were far too troublesome.

"Minato, what do you think of this child?"

Oh? They were finally getting to the important matter? But he had not expected the Clan Head to speak up. Going straight for the point like this felt a little off.

Shouldn't some Elder have spoken first? That would have left room to maneuver. With the Clan Head speaking directly, wasn't he putting Minato over the fire?!