Don't Look Back! I Am My Brother! (Seeking Follow-ups, Monthly Votes)

"..."

Qingyi Lang froze. In his eyes, clouded by alcohol, a flicker of disbelief flashed, quickly followed by the rapid dimming of the small flame that had just ignited.

As if hearing the biggest joke in the world, his shoulders sagged. He reached for the sake bottle and poured himself a full cup with a rough hand.

The transparent liquid spilled over the rim, flooding the table.

"Gulp..."

He tilted his head back, downing the spicy liquid in one go. Then, he slammed the cup down on the table with a crisp sound.

"Stop joking, Sou."

Qingyi Lang chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. He reached for the sizzling grill net, fiddling with the slightly burnt beef, but never picking any up.

"What are the prerequisites for joining the Police Force?

It's either awakening the Sharingan or completing an A-Rank Mission."

He pointed to his eyes, mocking himself. "Do you think I can complete an A-Rank Mission, or awaken my eyes?

Let alone the Sharingan, my control over Chakra is only barely passable.

Can you help me? Can you help me turn these useless eyes into that red, monstrous thing?"

"..."

Sou watched him, his fingers gently stroking the rough edge of the teacup, not answering immediately.

In fact, he could.

Whether by simulating extreme grief through genjutsu or through special chakra meridian stimulation, he was confident he could ignite a tomoe in Qingyi Lang's ordinary eyes.

But the thought only circled his mind once before Sou extinguished it.

An innocent man is guilty when he possesses a treasure.

As he was now, though he had barely entered the clan's sight through his military achievements, he was still not strong enough.

If his good friend suddenly awakened the Sharingan, or even showed an abnormal rate of evolution, then not only the old stubborns in the clan, but even the Second Generation, would pounce like sharks smelling blood.

At that time, not only he, but Qingyi Lang's entire family would suffer.

"Awakening the Sharingan depends on fate; it cannot be rushed."

Sou withdrew his gaze, his tone flat as he brushed past the topic. He reached into his robe, felt the hard object still warm from his body, and then flicked his wrist.

"Snap."

A scroll, stained with dark brown blood and somewhat worn at the edges, was tossed onto the tabletop, sliding precisely in front of Qingyi Lang.

"What's this?"

Qingyi Lang blinked, his eyes hazy with alcohol, and looked at the scroll. "If it's an IOU, I won't acknowledge it."

"Took it off a Kumogakure ninja."

Sou picked up a chopstick, speared a piece of grilled beef tongue, and put it in his mouth, saying nonchalantly, "A simplified training method for Lightning Release Armor."

Upon hearing the words "Lightning Release Armor," Qingyi Lang's previously unfocused pupils snapped shut.

As an Uchiha who frequently dealt with the Land of Lightning, he naturally knew the significance of this jutsu.

It was a simplified version of Kumogakure's secret, and though it couldn't compare to the Raikage's complete form, known as the "Strongest Shield," it offered a terrifying boost to physical vitality and Shunshin speed.

Most importantly, while Uchiha Qingyi Lang was weak in genjutsu and fire release, he possessed considerable talent in the nature transformation of Lightning Release Chakra.

"I recall you're decent with Lightning Release, kid."

Sou glanced at him, his tone still casual. "This thing doesn't require the Sharingan. All it takes is for your body to withstand it.

If you train it well, even without awakening your Sharingan, you could complete a few A-Rank Missions and secure a spot in the Police Force. It wouldn't be a problem."

Qingyi Lang's trembling hand reached for the scroll.

The dried bloodstains on it seemed to tell of the danger of its acquisition.

He knew very well that spoils of this caliber could fetch a high bounty on the black market.

And Sou had just tossed it to him as if it were a trivial item.

"Sou..."

Qingyi Lang clutched the scroll tightly, his eyes instantly reddening.

The alcohol had made his emotional defenses exceptionally fragile. He sniffled, looked up at Sou, his eyes filled with gratitude and an indescribable... terror.

"Kid... why are you suddenly being so nice to me?"

Qingyi Lang's voice trembled slightly. He instinctively recoiled, crossing his arms protectively in front of his chest, and eyed Sou with a wary expression.

"You... you didn't get stimulated in the Land of Lightning and have a change in orientation, do you? Do you have designs on my pure body, bro?"

"Get lost, you bastard!"

Veins bulged on Sou's forehead. He made a move to snatch the scroll back. "If you don't want it, give it back! I'll just sell it for money to buy ninja tools."

"Hey, hey, hey! What's given can't be taken back. That's the rule."

Qingyi Lang reacted extremely quickly, stuffing the scroll into the most intimate spot inside his clothes. He patted it with a solemn air, "Once it's in my embrace, it's mine. You want it back? Only over my dead body!"

"Ambitious."

Sou snorted and took a sip of his wine.

Although he cursed verbally, his eyes were full of tenderness.

In this world full of schemes, having someone to joke around with without any reservations was also a rare form of rest.

The two continued to brag over the grilled meat for a while, their conversation ranging from the dark-skinned strongmen of the Land of Lightning to the unreasonable recent price hike at Konoha's bathhouse.

After eating and drinking their fill, the charcoal fire gradually died down.

Sou put down his chopsticks, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"By the way, Qingyi Lang, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead. As long as it's not borrowing money or asking for my backside, I'll talk about anything." Qingyi Lang contentedly patted the scroll in his embrace, currently in a state of exhilaration, ready to "stab two people for his brother."

"As you know, although I returned alive this time, I'm still lacking in combat experience."

Sou said, half-truthfully and half-falsely.

Although he had successfully escaped from Kinkaku during this reconnaissance mission, escaping was not the same as actual combat. He still needed more practical experience.

"I want to find a combat expert within the clan to learn from."

Sou tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Preferably someone low-key, but with absolutely solid strength."

Upon hearing this, Qingyi Lang dropped his playful expression and fell into thought, stroking his chin.

"Skilled in combat... and also low-key..."

He furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he snapped his fingers. "Got it! If it's her, she absolutely fits your requirements."

"Who?"

"Uchiha Akane."

Qingyi Lang uttered a name, a mysterious smile appearing on his face. "You must have heard of her, right?

Although she isn't in the Police Force and doesn't usually show herself in the clan, I heard from some old-timers in the Police Force that she often undertakes B-rank or even near-A-rank combat missions alone.

She's a famous battle maniac!"

"Uchiha Akane..."

Sou searched his mind for the name. The Original Owner's mind didn't seem to have detailed records of this person. However, the Shinobi World was full of hidden talents. If the Uchiha Clan only had the experts who were openly known, they would have probably fallen long ago.

"Yeah, her combat style is really unique. It's not about overwhelming force, but more like... like a spider web. By the time you realize it, you're already completely ensnared."

As he said this, Qingyi Lang leaned forward, that lecherous look returning to his face. He winked and said:

"And more importantly—she's a great beauty too!"

Qingyi Lang spread his hands, making an exaggerated S-shape in the air, and lowered his voice with a chuckle. "She's only in her early twenties, the prime age for a mature female ninja.

Her figure, her aura... tsk, tsk, tsk.

So, what do you think? Got any ideas? You're already quite well-known in the clan now, maybe you could even have a legendary romance of a bear and a beauty?"

Seeing his friend acting like a matchmaker, Sou's face darkened further.

He wanted someone to spar with, not a blind date.

However, if Uchiha Akane could truly complete high-difficulty missions alone without relying on the Police Force's resources, as Qingyi Lang claimed, then her methods were definitely worth learning.

Sou glanced at Qingyi Lang, who was still lost in his own world, babbling about Uchiha Akane's beauty. The corner of Sou's mouth suddenly curved upwards, forming a wicked smile.

He leaned forward and said with extreme sincerity:

"Compared to that Uchiha Akane..."

"Hmm? What is it?" Qingyi Lang looked at him expectantly.

"Actually..."

"!!!"

Before he could finish, the smile on Qingyi Lang's face froze.

It wasn't because of what Sou said, but because he suddenly felt something pressing against his back.

"Don't turn around, I'm your brother!" a voice came.