Heh Heh Heh

Gekko Hayate's Kekkei Genkai had stirred up more than half the Gekko Clan. That evening, everyone had turned up at Hayate's Home of their own accord to freeload on dinner, eating and drinking to their hearts' content.

Gekko Sekiseki, Hayate's father, welcomed everyone without exception. He went around pouring his home-brewed sake for the guests, and before long, he was dead drunk, sprawled on the floor and babbling nonsense.

Hayate's mother had died in childbirth, so after Sekiseki went down, Gekko Hoshino, his own brother, had no choice but to step in and take his son—not, take his sake—and continue pouring drinks for the guests.

Hanfu had eaten at the Gekko home too, but he couldn't stand the alcoholic breath filling the house. He climbed over the wall and returned to his own backyard.

But the moment his feet touched the ground, Hanfu sensed something was wrong.

Gekko Hoshino and Gekko Sekiseki were brothers, so their homes stood next to each other. Their backyards even joined together, separated by just one wall. Yet now, that wall seemed like a boundary dividing the world in two, splitting Hanfu's home from Hayate's Home.

On the other side, it was as lively as New Year's. On this side, it was as silent as the end of the world!

Hanfu's eyes widened. The noisy celebrations from next door seemed to grow fainter and more indistinct, gradually receding from his world. Then a shadow, like a dark cloud, swallowed him whole!

"What's your name?"

A black shadow slowly emerged from a corner of Hanfu's backyard. Its voice was hoarse, like sand grinding against stone.

Hanfu looked up in alarm. The first thing he saw was a pair of hands, white as jade, with long, slender fingers that stood out sharply in the darkness.

"I—I'm..."

Hanfu looked up further. The newcomer had long black hair and a face half-hidden in the darkness, its features impossible to make out. But those golden, slit-pupiled eyes were like suns suspended high in the night, radiating the only light and warmth. They were so dazzling that no one dared look directly at them!

Orochimaru!!

Hanfu's heart pounded like a drum. His blood surged into his brain like the Yellow River bursting its banks, and his consciousness seemed to float away. He couldn't tell east from west.

"Answer my question..." Orochimaru spoke in a low voice, his tone calm and impossible to read.

"I—I'm Hanfu of the Gekko Clan." Hanfu didn't dare risk provoking him, so he answered honestly, though he couldn't stop his heart from beating faster and faster.

He was terrified that the cheat in his mind wasn't a Golden Finger at all, but a ticking time bomb. If Orochimaru noticed it, Hanfu would probably spend the rest of his life in Orochimaru's laboratory!

But the last shred of Hanfu's reason told him that Orochimaru wasn't after him!

Gekko Hayate. That was right—Orochimaru had come for Gekko Hayate!

More precisely, he had come for Gekko Hayate's Kekkei Genkai!

Hanfu took a deep breath, trying to steady his heartbeat, but he breathed like a dying man struggling for air—ragged and frantic. The harder he tried to breathe deeply, the more erratic his heartbeat became.

Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes dipped slightly as he gave Hanfu a puzzled look. He hadn't even used killing intent to intimidate the boy. Why was he trembling so badly?

Was he really that timid?

The Gekko Clan was getting worse with every generation. Heh.

Orochimaru chuckled softly, then slowly took a step back. His figure instantly merged with the darkness and vanished.

Had he left?

Hanfu staggered, nearly falling to the ground. He quickly braced his hands against his knees.

At the same time, the noisy celebrations at Hayate's Home seemed to break through some barrier and reach Hanfu's ears.

That scared the life out of me!

Hanfu gulped down the cool night air, still shaken.

Without warning, Orochimaru had appeared right in front of him. He'd almost taken Hanfu out in one move.

Hanfu glanced back at Hayate's Home, wondering if he should go warn them. But then he decided he couldn't.

Orochimaru had shown up because he was interested in Gekko Hayate's Kekkei Genkai. But once Konoha Hospital confirmed the precise type of Hayate's Kekkei Genkai the next day, Orochimaru would lose interest, and both sides would go back to their own lives without interfering with each other.

But if Hanfu warned them now, the Gekko Clan, having just gained a Kekkei Genkai, would definitely go on alert. If they ended up clashing with Orochimaru, or if they alerted the Third Hokage, it might provoke Orochimaru's hostility. That was the last thing Hanfu, who planned to develop in Stealthy Development, wanted to see.

So, this never happened!

Hanfu tried to convince himself of that, but he still felt ashamed.

In the end, it all came down to the law of the jungle!

If he were as powerful as Uchiha Madara, Orochimaru wouldn't even dare show up on Gekko Clan territory!

Hanfu breathed in the cool night air, then staggered back to his bedroom. He flopped down on the Tatami and soon fell fast asleep.

By the time he opened his eyes, it was already the next day.

Why was it so quiet outside?

Hanfu climbed off the Tatami. Remembering what had happened the night before, he couldn't help frowning.

He ran to the backyard, but it was empty. He searched the house too, and still didn't find anyone. Only when he ran to the kitchen and saw two warm rice balls in the pot did he finally relax.

If something serious had happened, Mom probably wouldn't have been in the mood to make rice balls for him, right?

But speaking of which...

Why rice balls again?!!

Hanfu shoved the rice balls, wrapped in seaweed and sesame seeds, into his mouth with a disgusted look and gulped them down. Then he ran to the backyard, thought for a moment, and climbed over the wall in a clumsy crawl, making his way to Hayate's Home.

"Big brother!!"

The moment his feet landed, he heard a crisp, childish shout coming closer.

Hanfu turned and saw Gekko Hayate racing toward him on his little legs, grinning in the sunlight like the six-year-old little brat he was.

Although Hanfu had known his little brother would be fine, he didn't truly feel relieved until he saw him with his own eyes. Then he asked, "Little bro, are you home alone?"

"Dad went to the hospital," Gekko Hayate replied.

"Oh. Then everything's fine. See you."

Hanfu turned around and started climbing back over the wall—no, wait, turning his back on him.

"Big brother, big brother, let's practice swordsmanship together."

Gekko Hayate ran over, grabbed Hanfu's clothes, and tugged hard, looking up at him with an expectant expression.

Hanfu hesitated. There were no older kids at home for him to collect from, and he'd just end up sleeping if he went back. He might as well keep his little brother company and strengthen their bond, improving his chances of collecting successfully.

"Okay, let's practice together."

Hanfu smiled warmly. "Little bro, when you've learned Konoha-Style Kenjutsu, remember to teach it to me."

"Mm-hmm, I know." Gekko Hayate nodded like a chick pecking rice.

"You have to teach me your Kekkei Genkai too," Hanfu continued, trying to coax him.

Gekko Hayate was already six years old, after all. He answered earnestly, "Big brother, I don't think you can pass on a Kekkei Genkai..."

Hanfu was furious. "I can't believe you're that kind of Gekko Hayate! Get out of here. Don't come to my house!"

"Big brother, this is my house." Gekko Hayate looked aggrieved.

"I'm leaving!"

"Big brother, big brother, don't go. Stay and practice swordsmanship with me." Gekko Hayate was getting a little anxious.

"Then will you pass on your Kekkei Genkai?" Hanfu threatened.

Gekko Hayate nodded without hesitation. "I will, I will."

Hanfu's mouth curled into a grin, and he put on a knowing smile. Heh heh heh!