Operation: Capture White Zetsu

Thinking about having a detached house to live in wasn't bad; it was far better than where he had been staying before. Qiuyang comforted himself as he continued to walk through the streets of Konoha, following his memories.

As he walked forward, he was constantly greeted by the genin and chunin who were helping the villagers with the reconstruction:

"It's Lord Qiuyang."

"Lord Qiuyang."

At first, Qiuyang shyly and happily greeted them back, but after being called "Lord" over and over, he felt embarrassed and turned toward a less crowded path.

It seems being a celebrity isn't easy either!

Qiuyang exhaled and thought to himself. He hadn't walked for more than a few minutes when a kunai flew out from the side and embedded itself in the path ahead of him.

After turning around to see who it was, Qiuyang smiled:

"Sasuke, don't you think this way of saying hello is a bit impolite?"

Sasuke didn't respond. He narrowed his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, the tomoe spinning wildly within them. He observed Qiuyang silently for a long while before speaking in disbelief:

"You really are a member of the Uchiha Clan. Back then... how did you survive that night?"

He had always believed that he, Sasuke Uchiha, was the only one left from that night.

Ever since Hiashi returned and spread the news that Jiraiya had an Uchiha genius as a student, Sasuke had been doubting the authenticity of the information.

He once thought that someone must have stolen the Sharingan from the deceased members of the Uchiha Clan.

After bringing Naruto and Sakura back to the village following their battle with Gaara, and hearing the news of this person's return, Sasuke had been searching for information about him.

But his observations and intuition now told him that there was no doubt this was a member of the Uchiha Clan.

"Yes, a lot of things happened, but I am indeed a member of the Uchiha Clan, just like you."

Except for the fact that my soul isn't.

"If you need anything in the future, you can come find me."

Having confirmed with his eyes that they were of the same clan, Sasuke left those words behind and walked away, hands in his pockets, looking as arrogant as ever.

Qiuyang knew all too well what Sasuke's incredibly prideful attitude was like at this moment, so he didn't mind. He turned and continued walking, only to run into the blond—Naruto—head-on.

"Hey, are you the Black Flash of Konoha everyone is talking about? The other student Pervy Sage took in?"

Just as Qiuyang was about to answer that he was, Naruto continued:

"Then that makes you my senior. You might be stronger than me now, but I will definitely surpass you in the future and become the Hokage everyone respects, you jerk."

"..."

I never said I wanted to steal your Hokage throne!

Qiuyang's mouth twitched in silence.

First, he witnessed Sasuke's cool arrogance, and now he heard Naruto's chuunibyou-filled declaration. Qiuyang, who had originally wanted to get on good terms with the main cast, decided to hold off for now.

Forget it, they are all still just children.

Especially Naruto; let's wait until Jiraiya takes him out for three years of training and he comes back a bit more mature!

So, Qiuyang kept a straight face and said to Naruto, who was clenching his fists and speaking loudly:

"Oh, I won't give up on becoming Hokage either. You better be prepared, Naruto."

"Ahhh, kuso-yaro (jerk), you better be prepared! Both you and Sasuke will be stepped under my feet."

Qiuyang was about to continue teasing the chuunibyou blond youth when he suddenly heard an incredibly shy "um-ah."

He raised a hand to stop Naruto's head, which was leaning in closer, and looked to the side. He happened to see a pair of white eyes peering at them before hiding back behind a corner.

Well, another member of the Konoha 12. No need to guess, it had to be the future princess, Hinata, and what's more...

Qiuyang's mouth curled into an inscrutable smile. He let go of his hand, dodged Naruto's headbutt, and instantly appeared around the corner where the princess was hiding.

His eyes met those of Hinata, who had peeked out again with a blushing face. She was so startled that she stumbled and fell to the ground, her chest heaving...

Clearly, she had been badly frightened. Qiuyang amusedly reached out a hand to help the princess up:

"Hey, where is your sister, Hanabi Hyuga?"

"I... I am here."

Huh?

Qiuyang leaned forward to look, and sure enough, he saw Hanabi Hyuga standing prettily on the other side of the corner. Her white eyes met Qiuyang's for a few seconds before she looked away.

Her shyness was not much different from Hinata's.

"Hey, Black Flash of Konoha, did you trip Hinata on purpose? Don't think that just because you're my senior you can bully people without consequence!"

Naruto, who had been teased by Qiuyang and ended up face-planting, had run over by now. Seeing Hinata on the ground, his anger flared even higher.

Hinata wanted to explain, but the shyness that took over her heart upon seeing Naruto made her voice as small as a mosquito's:

"No... that's not it, Naruto-kun. It was my fault for being careless..."

"Don't be afraid, Hinata. If he dares to bully you again, I'll punch him flying."

Well, Naruto's unconscious words of comfort left the stuttering Hinata unable to say another word, her face buried so low it was almost in the dirt.

Qiuyang, who had been struggling with whether to ask Hinata or Hanabi for help, made his decision in that very moment.

As the daughter of a wealthy and prestigious family, the future Princess of Konoha had fallen for the troublemaking blond Naruto at a young age; the mere story of it suggested she wasn't exactly the most level-headed person.

By comparison, the silent and well-behaved Hanabi was much more to his liking. Ignoring Naruto and Hinata, Qiuyang rubbed his forehead and spoke gently to the young girl:

"Let's go, Hanabi. I need your help with something."

"Mm!"

The speed of her agreement was so fast that Qiuyang almost thought he had misheard, but upon seeing the smile that bloomed on Hanabi's face as she looked up, he knew he hadn't.

"I'll treat you to some candy when we're done."

"..."

The reason Hanabi Hyuga agreed so readily was entirely due to what her father had told her after returning home yesterday.

"Hanabi, Neji from the branch family has already mastered Rotation and the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, yet you and your sister are still... sigh. When you have free time, go ask Qiuyang for guidance more often."

Hanabi had nodded in innocent agreement, not understanding why her father was suddenly so melancholy, only remembering that she needed to seek guidance from Brother Qiuyang.

Therefore, when Qiuyang asked for her help, she agreed simply because she thought it was a good opportunity to seek that guidance, even if she didn't know exactly what to ask about.

She just followed silently behind him, and then... they arrived at the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen.

"It's still early, how about I treat little Hanabi to a bowl of ramen? This place is quite famous."

Qiuyang said with a hint of exaggeration. While it was indeed early, the more important reason was to get a look at the legendary Otsutsuki Ichiraku.

"I'm not a little kid."

"Look at you, such a tiny thing, how are you not a kid? Come on in."

"..."

A strange feeling flickered in Hanabi's heart. Ever since she could remember, her father had told her that she was already an adult and had to shoulder the responsibility of inheriting the Uchiha Clan.

Now, being treated like a child and hearing such playful words... it felt quite comfortable, a sensation of being pampered.

Thus, Hanabi did not refuse. She stepped into the Ichiraku Ramen shop and, under Qiuyang's strong recommendation, chose a bowl of seafood ramen that looked rather cute.

In any case, this mission was... something her father had entrusted to her, and all she was doing was following orders.

By the time they were full and satisfied, the sky had already dimmed.

Qiuyang brought Hanabi along and snuck into the old site of the Uchiha Clan.

Come on, Obito!

You must have left a scout like a White Zetsu here, right!

I'll choose that as the item to trade with Snake Auntie.