Evil White-Hair

Perhaps because he'd heard Qile's unusual way of addressing him, Tobirama, who had been about to leave, turned his gaze back toward the boy.

At that very moment, a faint trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes.

Tobirama was the person who knew the Uchiha Clan best in the entire Ninja World. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his understanding of the Uchiha surpassed even the clan's own.

Over the years, he had encountered all kinds of Uchiha.

Some clan members were always going on about the Uchiha Clan's glory, as if it were the sole meaning of their lives.

Some were hot-tempered and quick to anger, drawing their blades without hesitation at the slightest disagreement.

Others seemed utterly indifferent to everything in the world.

Only a very few Uchiha were pleasant to deal with.

But he'd never met an Uchiha like Qile before—sharp-tongued and a little... obnoxious.

What was more, just two nights ago, someone had specifically reported the boy's words to him. They'd stirred something deep inside Tobirama.

Still, with Tobirama's temperament, he would never readily admit that a few words from a little brat had moved him.

All these things combined had made Tobirama intensely curious about the Uchiha brat before him, a boy named Qile.

"What, you got a problem with that?" Seeing Tobirama turn and stare at him, Qile showed no fear. Instead, he taunted him again.

After all, there was no way this White-Hair would actually hurt him just because of a few words.

Even if White-Hair made things difficult for him later or gave him a hard time, Qile didn't care in the slightest. The mere fact that he had the Uchiha surname was enough to guarantee that White-Hair would scheme against him sooner or later.

Especially since he was fairly close to Madara Uchiha. In that situation, being given a hard time was almost inevitable.

So, while he was still young and White-Hair hadn't introduced himself yet, Qile could taunt him a few more times to his heart's content.

Once White-Hair had properly introduced himself and the difference in their status became clear, Qile probably wouldn't be able to talk back so recklessly.

"Hmph! An ill-mannered Uchiha," Tobirama shot back, his expression dark.

By now, he'd given up on finding his older brother, who wandered around all day instead of taking care of his duties.

Qile pursed his lips and replied with a hint of mockery, "Oh, you're such a paragon of manners, aren't you? The very model of etiquette." As he spoke, he gave the stern-faced man a strange look from head to toe.

Tobirama didn't react to Qile's openly provocative words or odd stare. He simply folded his arms across his chest and fixed his eyes on the boy, his stern expression warning him not to push his luck.

"I'm Senju..." But before he could finish, he abruptly stopped.

Qile had cut off his introduction.

"Look at that white hair and those red eyes. You don't look like a good person at all!"

The man frowned and immediately tried again. "I hope you won't regret this. I'm Senju..."

But his introduction was interrupted once more. Qile cut in without mercy. "Speaking of red eyes, yours do look a lot like our Uchiha Clan's. But even we Uchiha have to awaken the Sharingan before our eyes turn red."

After being interrupted twice, Tobirama quickly realized that this silver-tongued, incessantly babbling brat knew who he was and was only pretending otherwise.

Since things had come to this, he stopped wasting words. His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze turning sharp, and he spoke at lightning speed. "Tobirama! Senju Tobirama."

That was a zero-frame start!

Hearing Tobirama blurt out his name in an instant completely derailed Qile's train of thought.

"Figures! Whether alive or dead, the Second is a sly one!" Qile muttered, unable to resist making a snide remark.

But the very next moment, the formerly flippant Qile became impeccably well-behaved, his expression changing completely.

He blinked his big, watery eyes, putting on an innocent, adorable face, then spoke softly. "Oh my, so you're the younger brother of the renowned Lord Hokage—Lord Tobirama! What an honor! What are you busy with? Would you like this evil little Uchiha brat to help?"

Watching Qile change faces faster than the pages of a book, even the usually calm and composed Tobirama was at a loss for words.

How had the Uchiha Clan produced a brat so... impossible to describe? Tobirama even began to wonder if the child was really of Uchiha blood.

After all, how could a family with such an oppressive, stifling atmosphere raise someone so shameless?

While Tobirama was deep in thought, Qile was already preparing to sneak off.

"Um... Lord Tobirama, since there's nothing you need me for right now, I'll be off! That pretty red-haired big sister from earlier called me over. She said there was something important she needed me to take care of, so I'd better hurry! See you around!"

As soon as he'd finished speaking, Qile tried to slip away. Unfortunately, Tobirama, who had already grown intensely curious about him, saw right through his little ploy.

Tobirama moved with lightning speed, climbing through the window and casually sweeping out an arm. Like an eagle snatching a chick, he lifted the would-be escapee with ease.

"Red-haired big sister? Hmph! I heard every word you said to my older brother just now! And you're still calling her 'red-haired big sister'? Come on. We're going somewhere quiet to have a proper talk!"

After a while, Mito carried a steaming, fragrant bowl of porridge and carefully pushed open the door.

But when she saw the room was empty, she couldn't help looking puzzled. "Huh? Where is he? Did Hashirama really take him away? A clever little boy who was so sweet and well-behaved, and spoke so nicely, had finally come along, and I was hoping I'd get to chat with him a little longer."

At that moment, one of the maids behind Mito hurried forward. She respectfully took the tray holding the bowl of porridge from Mito and replied softly, "Lady Mito, Lord Tobirama was here just now."

"Oh? Tobirama?" Mito's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, as though she were thinking something over.

But soon, she gently shook her head and said with a relieved smile, "Never mind. Let them be. With Madara's strict training methods, that little one will surely be coming here often anyway."

Mito clearly wasn't worried in the least about Qile, who had just been taken away by Tobirama.

She knew very well that Tobirama had always been quite prejudiced against the Uchiha Clan. Even so, given his principles, he would never harm a child of only three or four.

Most likely, Tobirama had taken the boy away because of those words...

Then again, it made sense. How could a child of only three or four say something like that?

Thinking of this, Mito slowly shook her head twice, as if to clear away those thoughts, then left the room.