Thank you, Qingguang, For Letting Me Lean On You For A While

As Senju Momoka bent down, preparing to apologize to Qingguang with a dogezza.

Her arm was suddenly grabbed by a hand.

"Qingguang, you..."

Momoka looked up at Qingguang, who was stopping her, her eyes filled with guilt.

Tsunade's turning and leaving was within her expectations; after all, no one wanted to live like a puppet.

But facing Qingguang, she truly felt ashamed.

Not only had his father died because of it, but Qingguang himself had lived under the surveillance and brainwashing of Danzo and Hiruzen since childhood, and had even risked his life to undergo Wood Release experiments.

Everything Qingguang had endured was far heavier and more dangerous than Tsunade's.

He could have followed Kagami's path at any moment and passed away.

"Senior Momoka, in your eyes, what you and Lord Tobirama did to me for the future of the village is equivalent to putting me in danger."

"But in my eyes, it's not like that."

Senju Momoka was helped up by Qingguang. Looking at his current demeanor, she found it somewhat unbelievable.

Even she didn't feel that Qingguang was just saying polite words; everything felt so sincere.

"Some people are born with disabilities and face the risk of abandonment by their parents right at birth. Even if they survive, their lives will be much more difficult than ordinary people."

"I was born into the Uchiha clan, and compared to ordinary people, I'm already considered exceptionally gifted. Uncle Hiruzen raised me to adulthood and found me several ninjutsu mentors, which is why I have my current strength."

"Rights and obligations have always been equal. How can I enjoy extremely superior conditions and then complain about you all?"

"Moreover, my name is Qingguang. Although I've never met my father, his ideals and thoughts have always been with me. We are all working to make this world a better place."

"My name is Qingguang, the sunlight at sunrise. Seniors, you are the practitioners who hold up torches in the darkness before the dawn arrives."

"You don't need to feel guilty. Someone has to inherit this light; why can't it be me?"

At this moment, Momoka's nose felt a little sore, and her eyes welled up with tears.

From the first moment she saw Qingguang, she felt that this child inherited the shadows of Kagami and Tobirama. But she hadn't expected that he had not only inherited them but also possessed the warmth that Hashirama had before he became obsessed.

It was as if those three were standing behind Qingguang, ready to support him as he moved forward.

Qingguang was a true successor of the Will of Fire.

"I'm sorry, I've lost my composure."

Momoka raised her hand and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the sleeve of her blue robe.

"From now on, as long as you and Tsunade give the order, the Senju clan will help you at all costs and be ready to restore our clan at any time."

Soon, Momoka adjusted her emotions, placed her hands on her knees, and bowed slightly, making her promise.

Qingguang did not respond, merely turning away silently.

"Senior Momoka, I'll go and see how Big Sister is doing first. I'll visit you again when I have time."

Watching Qingguang's retreating figure, Momoka waved her hand and called Senju Itsuki, who had been hidden outside the house, inside.

Looking at Itsuki's expressionless face, Momoka felt a pang of apology.

"Itsuki, do you hate me and Tobirama?"

"How could I hate Mother and Lord Tobirama for no reason?"

"Qingguang is right. Enjoying extraordinary rights, I have no right or reason to hate you."

"Everything is for the village."

Everything Qingguang had just said had been clearly heard by Senju Itsuki from outside.

He naturally admired Qingguang greatly; only such a person was worthy of bearing the heavy responsibility of this plan.

He imagined that if he and Qingguang had swapped roles, he would have found it difficult to bear such a reality. Even if he had accepted it after calming down, he would definitely not have felt it was justified.

"That's good. From now on, don't act openly in the village, but in private, try your best to help them."

"I'm a little tired. You should go back early too."

"Yes, Mother." Senju Itsuki withdrew.

Momoka watched his retreating back, clutching the hem of her clothes.

She had almost failed to hold onto her inner bottom line and tell Itsuki the truth.

Senju Itsuki was actually a test-tube baby cultivated by her and Tobirama.

"Senju Tobirama, to continue the so-called plan, even his own bloodline cannot be spared and must become a pawn in the plan?"

"Poor child..."

She had regretted it, but once the plan began, it was like a torrent that would affect the entire Konoha. It was impossible to stop, and she could only persevere...

After Qingguang left the wooden house, his mind kept replaying Momoka's words.

Every sentence was like an information bomb.

This plan, spanning nearly forty years across all of Konoha, involved far too many things.

If he hadn't been a transmigrator, he probably would have collapsed upon learning these details, just like Tsunade, and left on the spot.

Unfortunately, everything Qingguang did was intentional and within his own plan.

It just so happened that these actions also aligned with the expectations of Touka and Tobirama.

Walking along the narrow path, Qingguang saw Tsunade curled up under a tree trunk behind the Hokage Rock.

She had her knees pulled to her chest, burying her face within them.

Tread, tread, tread...

Qingguang slowed his steps, moving gently, and sat beside Tsunade.

He didn't speak, just quietly accompanied Tsunade, watching the autumn leaves drift with the wind.

He also picked up the fallen autumn leaves from her.

"Qingguang, do you think I'm being too sentimental?" After an unknown amount of time, Tsunade asked in a low voice, her tone choked with tears.

Qingguang twirled the stem of an autumn leaf in his hand, holding it up to the sunlight. "How could you be? Big Sister, you're the most carefree and straightforward woman I've ever met. There's no way you'd be sentimental, right?"

"After all, sentimental people don't drink several pots of sake and gnaw on a whole young chicken in one meal."

Hearing this, Tsunade immediately looked up at Qingguang, tears stopping as a smile broke through.

Her eyes were red, and faint tear streaks could be seen on her cheeks. "You brat, you dare to tease me?"

With a swing of her arm, her right hand skillfully went behind Qingguang's neck and pulled him into a hug!

"Big Sister, I wouldn't dare tease you. I'm just telling the truth. There's nothing wrong with drinking heartily and eating heartily, right?"

"Besides, Big Sister, you're so busy with this and that every day, and you've recently taken on a bunch of troublesome matters in the Medical Department. You work so hard, I only feel heartache for you, so how could I..."

As he spoke, Qingguang braced himself for the fatal chokehold he expected, but instead, he felt something lean against his shoulder.

He could feel soft, delicate hair brushing against his skin with her breaths.

"Thank you, Qingguang."

"Just let me lean like this for a while."

"Mhm..."