Uchiha Qing Xuan Had Been Found Out

A blood-moon night always jolted me awake.

My fingers unconsciously brushed the scar over my left eye. The phantom pain of chakra burns lingered there. Under the moonlight, the Memorial Stone glowed a pale blue-white, and the dew made Obito's name especially clear.

Whenever I fell into memories, that hellish night two years ago would suddenly break through the floodgates.

Konoha was burning.

Nine crimson tails swept across the sky, and a chakra hurricane tore half the mountain from the Hokage Rock. Anbu in masks leaped through the ruins, their uniforms slashed with countless tears by flying rubble. A woman's scream pierced the smoke. When Might Guy and I rushed into a collapsed house, all we found was half an arm...

"Get to the shelters!" I roared at the survivors, but my voice was crushed by the Nine-Tails' bellow. A little girl ran past me, clutching a charred rag doll. The next second, a falling beam crushed her into a bloody mess. Warm blood splashed across my face and trickled down my chin onto my trembling fingertips.

The Golden Flash tore through the night sky.

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The Nine-Tails' pupils suddenly contracted into the shape of Three Tomoe—so conspicuous, almost as bright as the full moon beside them...

Under the sunlight.

Kakashi drew a deep breath, feeling a fierce, searing pain pulse in his left eye beneath his forehead protector.

So many shinobi had died that day. The survivors hated the Nine-Tails with all their hearts, but most of them hated the Uchiha even more.

The Three Tomoe in the Nine-Tails' eyes had been far too conspicuous!

And with some people secretly fanning the flames, the Uchiha Clan found it even harder to get by in the village.

Ever since then, many people in the village had targeted the Uchiha, just like the Genin boy before him.

His attitude represented that of most people in Konoha.

"Your clan made the Nine-Tails attack the village, didn't you? The adults in the village all say the Uchiha Clan made it attack. Your clan is so cunning that we'll never catch the real culprit, but the culprit has to be one of you. The proof is that even Lord Hokage suspects you—that's why he gathered you at the edge of the village."

"You can't just get out of this by claiming you had nothing to do with it."

"The Uchiha Clan are our enemies. That means you killed our families, and you're the ones we should hate."

The three Jonin said nothing in response to Izumo Tenma's accusations.

"Hey, you've been going on and on this whole time. You're so annoying!"

A girl shouted loudly, her voice even rising above Tenma's heated complaints.

She was another member of the squad.

Her name was Inoha Shinji.

She was Tenma's classmate.

"You were always nagging Itachi at school, and now you're Genin. How long are you going to hold a grudge over something so trivial?"

"Shut up! You're a woman, but you sure talk a lot! And anyway, I've always wondered about this since we were in school—your accent is so thick that I can't understand you halfway through."

"I only came to Konoha three years ago. It's not like I can help it!"

Shinji shouted, pouting.

"Women get all gentle when they meet a handsome guy."

"W-why would I defend Itachi over something like this? Besides, he's only seven, and I'm thirteen! He couldn't possibly be a romantic prospect!"

"Love has nothing to do with age!"

The argument was taking a strange turn. Really, they were just acting their age.

"That's enough."

At last, Qing Xuan, who had been sitting there the whole time, spoke up.

The moment the focus of the conversation spoke, everyone's attention turned to him. Even the slackers sitting off to the side wanted to see what this little rascal would say.

Qing Xuan didn't disappoint. His next words stunned everyone.

"As teammates, I completely understand why you hate me!"

"W-what?" Tenma froze. He never expected Itachi to say that to him.

"Hey, Itachi, as a squad, we—"

Yuki couldn't sit still. He hurried to correct Itachi's mistaken idea, but just then, the other boy spoke again.

"Then I'm relieved!"

Beneath the midday sun, the leaves rustled in the wind. A soft breeze, carrying a hint of warmth, brushed past them.

Qing Xuan stood beneath the shade, speckled with sunlight filtering through the leaves.

He turned to Tenma, whose bewilderment had only grown, and said earnestly, "That way, if I ever die in front of you on a mission, you won't be sad, right?"

Tenma's gaze wavered. He was completely stunned. His Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't bring himself to say another harsh word.

What innocent boy of twelve or thirteen could withstand such advanced emotional manipulation?

Even Yuki, a grown man in his twenties, was too stunned to speak.

Instead of arguing when challenged, Qing Xuan had considered how his teammate felt first. What a noble quality!

Are you serious, Itachi? Yuki thought, moved by the moment. The softhearted Jonin was suddenly overcome with emotion.

"Tenma!"

He placed a hand on Tenma's head and spoke solemnly.

"This is Itachi's resolve!"

"Itachi's always been so kind!" Shinji, who had long since become his devoted fan, chimed in supportively.

"Damn it! Fine, I get it."

Only then did Tenma recover from his daze. He shook the hand off his head and grumbled irritably, but he kept avoiding Qing Xuan's gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.

In the end, the Uchiha were merely suspects.

And so, the squad that had been at odds with itself began to grow closer, right before their eyes.

"Well said!"

A deep voice suddenly came from the training ground. Three figures had appeared behind Qing Xuan without anyone noticing.

The woman in front was tall, her face hidden behind a white monkey mask. Her eyes fixed on Qing Xuan through the mask, and her voice, tinged with restrained amusement, reached everyone's ears.

"Uchiha Qing Xuan, you've been found out. Come with us."

The training ground fell silent. Then three startled cries rang out in quick succession.

"Uchiha Qing Xuan?"

"Huh?"

"Where are they taking Itachi?"

It had all happened so suddenly that Yuki's squad could barely make sense of the situation.

"Ma'am!"

When the female Anbu grabbed Qing Xuan by the back of his collar and started to lead him away, Kakashi had no choice but to step forward.

He looked at the Anbu. She was the captain of his Anbu squad, as well as the Third Hokage's daughter-in-law, Sarutobi Tsukikage.

"What's going on?"

She had already noticed Kakashi. She made no effort to hide anything from a fellow Anbu, simply dangling Qing Xuan, who looked half-dead, in front of him as she replied, "You'll have to ask the little guy. Lord Hokage wants to question him about something."

Then, as if she'd just remembered something, she added, "Since you're here, could you let Fugaku Uchiha know? This concerns his son, Uchiha Itachi, too."

"The Third Hokage said to have him come to the Hokage Building to collect his son."