It's White Album Season Again (Parts 1 and 2; Three Updates Resume Tomorrow)

Yūhi Kurenai gave a soft hum and turned her head away.

I didn't.

After she finished speaking, she turned her head back and looked at Qingyu with her red eyes.

Yūhi Kurenai became bolder.

She went up in A.

Yūhi Kurenai's lips pressed against Qingyu's lips.

This time there were no dumplings, only her soft, warm lips, carrying the sweetness of the Three-Color Dango and a lingering fragrance of Anko Mitarashi paste.

Qingyu responded to her.

The two of them took turns feeding each other until they finished the remaining few strings of meatballs in the paper bag.

The meatballs were sweet, the glutinous rice was soft, and the Anko Mitarashi paste was smooth.

But with the last few, neither of them paid any attention to the taste.

Only when the paper bag was empty did Yūhi Kurenai step back.

Her breathing was a little rapid, her chest rose and fell slightly, and a blush spread from her ears to the back of her neck.

She raised her hand to tidy her slightly messy curly hair, her fingers pausing briefly in her hair as if confirming something.

Let's go.

Yūhi Kurenai said, head bowed.

Qingyu carefully put away the empty paper bag and walked to her side.

"Then let's go back."

Seeing that the Yūhi Kurenai had calmed down, Qingyu chuckled softly.

He reached out and took Yūhi Kurenai's hand in his palm.

The next second, Qingyu activated the "Flying Thunder God Technique".

A flash of blue and white lightning, and the two figures disappeared into the forest.

Another period of time has passed.

The war in the Land of Grass remains deadlocked. After the Supply Line were restored, Iwagakure intensified its offensive. Orochimaru and Uchiha Fugaku are fighting well on the front lines, and Konoha's defenses are relatively stable for the time being.

During this time, in addition to practicing Wood Release and Flying Thunder God Technique, Qingyu also occasionally led teams to carry out reconnaissance and raid missions.

That evening, Qingyu practiced Wood Release alone in the woods outside the camp.

He is trying to combine Wood Release Chakra with "Sage Mode" to give the trees he creates greater hardness and resilience.

As soon as the Chakra in his palm surged into the ground, a sapling broke through the soil, and a familiar Chakra appeared in his Sensory Barrier.

Qingyu withdrew his Wood Release Chakra and straightened up.

The person emerged from the woods, their long, dark brown hair swaying slightly in the evening breeze, their tall figure casting a long, slender shadow in the twilight.

It was none other Mei Terumi.

She was wearing a dark cloak with the hood pulled low, obscuring most of her face.

"So cautious?"

Seeing the cautious Mei Terumi, Qingyu couldn't help but find it amusing.

However, Qingyu had anticipated that Mei Terumi would come.

When he saved Mei Terumi before, the two of them had already achieved a fusion.

It's normal for Mei Terumi to come over because of his strength.

"Qingyu."

Mei Terumi walked up to him, took a sealed scroll from her bosom, and handed it to him.

"As agreed, this is the intelligence for this mission."

Qingyu took the scroll, unsealed it, and glanced at it.

The document, written in fine handwriting, details the recent movements of the Kirigakure Ninja, along with several messages regarding interactions between the Daimyo of the Land of Water and the Kirigakure's leadership.

The gist is that the Kirigakure's Anbu have been frequently in contact with the remnants of the Iwagakure in the Land of Grass, suggesting a possible joint operation plan.

The scroll also marked several locations where Kirigakure Ninja gathered, as well as some vague directions of troop movements.

Qingyu frowned.

The combined forces of Kirigakure and Iwagakure.

Madara Uchiha is about to make his move.

The area around Kirigakure has been unusually quiet lately.

Looking back now, that silence itself was a signal.

Madara Uchiha has taken control of the high-ranking officials of Kirigakure and is secretly gathering troops, preparing to launch a large-scale counterattack in coordination with Iwagakure.

This would allow Rin Nohara to be captured, giving Obito a suitable opportunity to escape.

Qingyu put the scroll away and looked at Mei Terumi.

Thanks.

"You're welcome, I'm just fulfilling our agreement."

Mei Terumi pulled her hood down further, covering more of her face.

"However, I must warn you, something's very strange about Kirigakure. The Mizukage hasn't made a public appearance in a long time, and all the mobilization orders are being issued directly from the Anbu. Even a ninja of my rank doesn't have the authority to view the complete battle plan."

She paused, then said, "There is indeed someone manipulating the Kirigakure."

Qingyu nodded.

He certainly knew who was manipulating things, but that couldn't Mei Terumi.

"I understand. Be careful."

"Um."

Mei Terumi responded, turned around, and disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Qingyu stood there, looking at the scroll in his hand, and remained silent for a moment before putting the scroll into his Ninja Tool Pouch and turning to walk towards the camp.

By the time we returned to camp, it was completely dark.

Campfires lit up throughout the camp, patrolling ninjas moved between the Camp Tent, and the sounds of conversation drifted from the Medical Unit tents in the distance.

Qingyu crossed the main road, intending to return to his Camp Tent to organize intelligence, he ran into Minato Namikaze, who was walking out of his Camp Tent.

"Qingyu."

Minato Namikaze saw him and gave him a gentle smile.

"Still out so late?"

"Just returned from my cultivation."

Qingyu responded, looked at Minato Namikaze, and suddenly spoke.

"Brother Minato, how about a spar?"

Minato Namikaze blinked.

"Now?"

"Now."

Qingyu nodded.

Minato Namikaze looked at him for a moment, then smiled and put the documents in his hand into his Ninja Tool Pouch.

"Alright, I've been wanting to see how far you've progressed with your Flying Thunder God Technique."

The two walked to an open area outside the camp.

This is an open space reinforced with Earth Release, the ground covered with crisscrossing cracks and charred marks. It is where the ninjas in the camp usually spar and train.

Minato Namikaze took out several trident Kunai from his Ninja Tool Pouch and casually tossed them into various corners of the training ground.

Qingyu also took out several Kunai, left his own spell mark on them, and threw them in different directions.

"Let's begin."

As soon as Minato Namikaze finished speaking, his figure disappeared.

Qingyu's Sharingan activated instantly, with the three Tomoe spinning continuously in his pupils.

Qingyu took a half step back with her right foot, and her figure also vanished.

With a flash of lightning, he appeared next to one of the Kunai he had thrown, just in time to avoid a palm Minato Namikaze coming from behind.

Minato Namikaze's palm passed through the spot where he had just stood, and the force of the palm blew the pebbles on the ground into a frenzy.

"Good."

Minato Namikaze's voice came from another direction.

His figure disappeared again, reappearing beside the Kunai at the other end of the training field.

Qingyu followed closely behind, and the two engaged in a high-speed chase on the training field.

Flying Thunder God Technique against Flying Thunder God Technique!

The two figures flickered across the training field, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, sometimes up, sometimes down.

Each flash of light was accompanied by the appearance and disappearance of a figure, their movements intertwined and entangled.

Qingyu could sense that Minato Namikaze's Body Flicker Technique was slightly faster than his.

That was an almost instinctive reaction speed.

Qingyu, on the other hand, still needs to rely on his senses to lock onto the spell before activating the Flying Thunder God Technique, which adds an extremely brief but decisive time difference.

"Is it a superior nervous system that gives it such maneuverability?"

Qingyu sighed, marveling at Minato Namikaze's natural talent for Body Flicker Technique.

No wonder he could surpass Senju Tobirama; he truly possesses extraordinary abilities.

In the brief moment that Qingyu was distracted, Minato Namikaze conjured Rasengan in his hand.

Qingyu realized what was happening.

Then, another Rasengan was launched.

Rumble!

The two Chakra clusters expanded.

Minato Namikaze vanished in a flash, reappearing a few meters away next to another Kunai.

"That was close."

Minato Namikaze shook his hand and smiled at Qingyu.

"You have more Chakra than me, but when it comes to the Rasengan, I can't beat you."

Minato Namikaze.

The core of the "Rasengan" is Chakra.

The more Chakra injected, the longer it lasts and the more powerful it becomes.

For Minato Namikaze, the "Rasengan" was merely a means to break through defenses when Kunai.

"Even if I wanted to meet Minato, it would be very difficult."

Qingyu said.

Minato Namikaze is a typical assassin.

High speed and high burst damage, but very fragile.

"It's hard to say what will happen in a few years."

Minato Namikaze.

In reality, he was thinking that Qingyu might catch up with him next year.

The two continued their fight.

Qingyu was constantly adapting to Minato Namikaze's rhythm. His Sharingan was operating at high speed, capturing every movement of Minato Namikaze, trying to find patterns in those trajectories.

Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze was also observing Qingyu's Flying Thunder God, to see how this young junior handled the transfer between techniques.

After another Flying Thunder God dodge, Qingyu suddenly noticed words appearing in front of him.

[Collectible Trait Detected: Yellow Flash]

[B-Rank Trait: Yellow Flash]

[Effect: Increases nerve reflex speed by 100%.]

[Synthesis: Improved Flying Thunder God Technique, upgraded to a higher-level trait.]

Qingyu was surprised.

The speed of nerve reflexes increases by 100%.

This means his reaction speed will double, allowing him to finish off enemies the instant they make a move in combat.

To dodge or counterattack.

This ability, combined with the Sharingan's dynamic vision and the Flying Thunder God Technique, will allow him to reach a whole new level in Body Flicker Technique.

"Continue."

Qingyu said something to Minato Namikaze.

The two clashed again.

This time, Qingyu clearly sensed the change.

Minato Namikaze's movements became clearer in his eyes; those previously somewhat blurry trajectories could now be precisely captured by his eyes and senses.

His physical reaction speed is also improving. Attacks that he used to need to predict with his Sharingan to dodge can now be reacted to the same time as Minato Namikaze's attack.

Minato Namikaze also noticed Qingyu's change.

"It's gotten faster."

He said in a low voice, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The two used Flying Thunder God Technique, flashing and intertwining across the training ground, their speed increasing rapidly until even the nearby firecrackers were tilted to one side by the wind generated by their movements.

In the end, Minato Namikaze's hand strike stopped behind Qingyu's neck, while Qingyu's fist stopped in front of Minato Namikaze's chest.

Both of them stopped fighting at the same time.

Minato Namikaze withdrew his hand and gently exhaled.

"Qingyu, your Flying Thunder God is already very powerful."

He paused, then added.

However, there is still a lack of experience.

"I know."

Qingyu nodded.

Minato Namikaze's Body Flicker Technique speed was indeed slightly faster than his, a result of muscle memory formed from years of using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"However, your Chakra reserves and 'Strength of a Hundred' make up for that."

Minato Namikaze smiled and stretched his wrists.

"I absolutely cannot take your punch head-on."

Qingyu withdrew his fist and looked at Minato Namikaze.

"Minato- kun, I have a few questions about the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"You say."

Minato Namikaze leaned against a tree trunk by the training field, his posture relaxed.

Qingyu raised several problems she had encountered in her cultivation.

Regarding the perception range of technique markings, the control of Chakra consumption during long-distance transfers, and so on.

Minato Namikaze answered each question.

"Your Chakra reserves are far greater than mine, so theoretically you could be better than me at long-distance teleportation."

Minato Namikaze said.

"But the perception of spell markings is the foundation of Flying Thunder God. You need to leave more markings in normal times, spreading them throughout the areas you frequently move in, so that you have more options in battle."

Qingyu wrote down his words.

Just as he was about to ask another question, the system panel popped up again.

[B-Rank Trait Detected: Ninja World's Swift]

[Should we synthesize it?]

"Synthesis."

Qingyu immediately chose this one.

[A-Rank Trait: Ninja World's Swift]

[Effect: Increases the effectiveness of Body Flicker Technique- type Ninjutsu by 200%.]

A warm sensation surged from his body, spreading along his meridians to his limbs and bones.

Qingyu could feel her muscles trembling slightly, as if they were being rewoven by some kind of force.

Nerve endings become more sensitive, and the response speed of all senses—touch on the skin, sound in the ears, and images in the eyes—is greatly improved.

Qingyu clenched her fist.

I can feel that my five senses are perceiving the world more clearly.

Minato Namikaze looked at Qingyu and keenly sensed something.

I have a feeling that Qingyu has changed in some way.

However, this change was fleeting, and Minato Namikaze didn't take it seriously.

"Qingyu, you now—"

He paused, then continued, "That's really impressive."

Minato Namikaze exclaimed in admiration.

Qingyu shook her head.

"I'm still a little short of being like Minato."

Qingyu said.

In terms of speed alone, he is indeed a little bit lacking.

Take your time.

Minato Namikaze patted him on the shoulder.

"How old are you? I've been training for years."

Minato Namikaze.

If the two were the same age, Minato Namikaze believed he could never catch up with Qingyu.

My current advantage is simply that I am a little older than Qingyu.

Moreover, its only advantage lies in speed.

In other aspects, Minato Namikaze felt that Qingyu had already subtly surpassed him.

The next day at noon.

As soon as Qingyu came out of the Camp Tent, she saw Rin Nohara running towards the Medical Unit, carrying a lunchbox in her hand.

"Qingyu."

Rin Nohara ran up to him and handed him the lunchbox.

"I made some rice balls and fried fish, have a taste."

Thank you, Lin.

Qingyu took the lunchbox, opened it, and glanced inside. The rice balls were neatly rounded, and the fried fish was cooked perfectly, still steaming hot.

He picked up a rice ball and took a bite. The rice was soft and sticky, and the saltiness was just right.

"Tasty."

Rin Nohara smiled upon hearing his words.

"That's good. I was worried it would be too salty."

As soon as she finished speaking, another set of footsteps came from behind Qingyu.

Yūhi Kurenai walked over from the other side of the Camp Tent, also carrying a lunchbox. Her expression froze for a moment when she saw Rin Nohara.

What's Lin doing here?

Could it be that...?

Yūhi Kurenai suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Qingyu."

Yūhi Kurenai walked up to him and placed the lunchbox on the low table next to him.

Her gaze swept over the half-eaten rice ball in Qingyu's hand, then looked at Rin Nohara.

I brought you food too.

A strong sense of crisis suddenly rose in Yūhi Kurenai's heart.

Rin Nohara glanced at the lunchbox in Yūhi Kurenai's hand, then at Qingyu, and her smile froze slightly.

After all, Yūhi Kurenai was one of the first to arrive, which made Rin Nohara feel somewhat guilty.

"Red did it too."

"Um."

Yūhi Kurenai responded and opened the lunchbox, which contained Inari sushi and a few pieces of fried chicken.

Qingyu looked at the two lunchboxes in front of her and the two girls in front of her, and sighed silently in her heart.

It's that time of year again for white photo albums.

Moreover, if Tsunade saw this, her expression probably wouldn't be very pleasant.

Thankfully, Tsunade wasn't there.

Qingyu thought to herself.

Otherwise, if Tsunade gets emotional, she might just do what Sakura did and destroy the house with a single punch.