Kakashi's Thirst for Knowledge

The Konohagakure was shrouded in a thin layer of mist that morning. Sunlight dappled through the gaps in the leaves, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and vegetation. Shops lining the streets began to open one by one, their wooden signs swaying gently in the morning breeze with a faint creaking sound.

Uncle Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, stood at the entrance, wiping down the sign with a damp cloth. Steam wafted from inside, carrying the rich aroma of bone broth, which attracted a few early-rising ninja on patrol. They removed their headbands, greeted Uncle Teuchi with smiles, and then entered the shop, ready to start their day with a steaming bowl of ramen.

On the training grounds not far away, some diligent ninja were already practicing. The sound of kunai cutting through the air and the whispers of hand seals intertwined, occasionally punctuated by muffled explosions. An elite ninja was instructing several young ninja in shurikenjutsu, his voice steady and strong: "Pay attention to the angle, keep your wrists steady!"

In the marketplace, vendors were setting up their stalls. Fresh vegetables and fruits were neatly arranged in wooden crates, and the shopkeepers chatted with regular customers while tidying their goods. An old man selling ninja tools sat behind his stall, leisurely polishing a kunai. The sunlight illuminated his wrinkled face, making him look exceptionally kind.

In the center of the street, several children chased each other, their laughter clear and pleasant, full of the vitality of morning birdsong.

As Qing Xuan walked past with Nawaki, one of the children pointed at the statues of past Hokage carved into the rock face and proudly told his companions, "I'm going to be Hokage too someday, and have my face carved up there!"

"They really are full of energy!" Qing Xuan exclaimed.

Ever since entering the village, he had become unusually active.

After disguising himself all the way here, he realized that his upright self really couldn't play the part of being fake.

Rather than being exposed for his clumsy acting and ending up in a bad situation, he decided it was better to let loose and show his true self honestly!

So he completely relaxed, and very readily pulled Nawaki aside to ask him all sorts of questions, even getting Nawaki to buy him things to eat.

This, however, made Nawaki quite annoyed.

And this guy was really impolite...

Nawaki looked at his empty sleeve, which was being tightly held by a small hand, and inwardly lamented that the other party truly didn't consider him a person!

"How old are you now?"

"Six, I think?"

Qing Xuan looked uncertainly at the system panel before him.

ID: Uchiha Qing Xuan
Age: Six
Timeline: Konoha Year 53
Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan [Stage 1 18%] Wood Release [0%]
Soul Points: 1636
Bloodline Points: 6
Heroic Spirit: Qing Long (Recuperating)
Items: Beginner Throwing Technique Experience Book, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough Beginner Skill Book, Intermediate Puppet Technique Experience Book, Sand Body Beginner Skill Book, Beginner Sunagakure Taijutsu Experience Book, Intermediate Puppet Creation Experience Book.

Qing Xuan had transmigrated to the world of Naruto, and his cheat was this damn system. As long as he changed the plot, he would get corresponding treasure chests. As for Qing Long's Ice True Qi, it was drawn from a silver treasure chest.

Actually, Qing Xuan still couldn't figure out how they got a silver treasure chest just for stealing a sheep in the Land of Wind.

"So you've been in the Land of Wind for all these six years?"

Qing Xuan scratched his head, took a bite of the skewers Nawaki had bought him, and then smiled, "I don't know! I woke up in a cave, and when I woke up, I was already six years old!"

"Who wakes up at six years old! That doesn't make any sense!"

"I did!"

Nawaki covered his face, speechless.

Just then, a silver-haired youth wearing a forehead protector slanted on his head and a black mask walked out from the entrance of the Hokage Building.

"Lord Nawaki."

The youth looked somewhat sickly, and greeted them mechanically with a listless, "dead fish" expression.

Nawaki sighed and was about to say something when Qing Xuan tugged at his sleeve, pointed at the person with his half-eaten bamboo skewer, and asked, "Uncle, who is this little white-haired guy!"

Nawaki's mouth twitched. He was about to scold Qing Xuan when the silver-haired youth opposite them became agitated first.

"Uncle?"

Those originally listless, dead fish eyes widened as they stared at Qing Xuan's face.

"This child... this child couldn't be Lady Tsunade's..."

Kakashi didn't know how to express his shock. This child looked so much like Uchiha Itachi! And he called Nawaki "Uncle"!

"It's not what you think!"

Seeing Kakashi's mind already racing, Nawaki, with dark lines all over his forehead, just wanted to quickly hand this unlucky child over to the Third Hokage.

"Don't talk nonsense. I'll explain when I get back!"

Hokage's lounge.

The Third Hokage didn't usually like staying in his office to handle tedious paperwork. Now that he was over fifty, he enjoyed a more peaceful life. The ninja knew him well, so if they had something to report, they would usually go to the lounge to find the Hokage.

The Third Hokage would usually stay here, smoking and practicing calligraphy or painting.

Nawaki Senju also knew the Hokage well, so he directly led Qing Xuan to the lounge door and then hurried off to find Kakashi.

Qing Xuan didn't mind. To be honest, he also wanted to see what kind of person the Third Hokage, who was controversial in his past life, truly was.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Qing Xuan pushed open the door and entered the lounge, only to see an old man with white hair leaning against the wall on a large tatami mat covered with red cloth, smoking a pipe and writing.

The old man didn't turn around. The entire lounge was quiet, with only the rustling sound of a brush on paper.

Qing Xuan carried his skewers and walked over, his gaze falling on the messy handwriting on the large scroll. He struggled to make out the characters and read aloud, "Holy... hell? This..."

He rubbed his eyes. When he looked up again, the old man had put down his brush at some point and was looking at him with a helpless expression.

Qing Xuan sensed his displeasure and could only scratch his head to salvage the situation. "What beautiful calligraphy! Third Hokage! It's... very spirited!"

The old man looked at Qing Xuan, and for a moment, the scene before him seemed to rewind to the past. He blurted out, "If you really can't praise it, you don't have to force it."

He remained silent, as if reminiscing about past events. By the time Qing Xuan's legs were almost numb from standing, the old man finally showed a kind smile.

"Uchiha Qing Xuan?"

He extended his hand to Qing Xuan and beckoned him, "Don't be formal, have a seat."

Qing Xuan really disliked kneeling, so he sat down cross-legged.

He had expected the Third Hokage to ask him what he had been doing for the past six years, or who Qing Long was, like everyone else.

However, the old man asked nothing. He simply smiled and handed him a cup of tea, having noticed the skewers in Qing Xuan's hand.

"Do you like Konohagakure?"

It was like a casual chat between family members, which made Qing Xuan understand why the younger generation of Konohagakure liked this Hokage so much.

He always showed them his best side.

Qing Xuan nodded, then heard the old man ask, "Then do you want to be Hokage?"

"No!"

Qing Xuan looked up, his clear eyes showing no desire for the position of Hokage.