Seventh Squad Assembles

"I don't know who that person was, but the Sound Ninja are extremely mysterious. We still have no idea who is managing them," Shikaku said with a grave expression.

"However, it seems he has already left. We should return to the village as soon as possible to investigate this further," Guy added from the side. The others agreed, and they departed from the area.

Has he already become this strong? That lightning-fast kunai, the way he vanished in an instant... Flying Thunder God... what was that... Neji watched Yin Xiang Bofeng's retreating back with a heavy look. This person was the same age as him; he had always been called a genius, but if this person was so much stronger than him, then he...

After Yin Xiang and the others left, a figure emerged from behind a tree. He tore off a layer of human skin from his face, blood trickling down his cheek. Looking at the charred marks on the skin mask, he extended a long, serpentine tongue to lick the blood clean from his face.

"Minato's adopted son, how interesting." This person was none other than Orochimaru. Seeing Yin Xiang, he thought of how the boy was Minato's adopted son. Thinking of Minato reminded him of how Minato had snatched the position of Hokage from him. But since Minato was already dead, his murderous intent shifted toward Yin Xiang. Yin Xiang had sensed that fleeting burst of killing intent.

It was precisely because he had sensed that momentary killing intent that Yin Xiang had thrown the Lightning Style Kunai, wounding Orochimaru.

"The Chunin Exams... I'll have to pay special attention to this brat." A smile curled the corners of Orochimaru's mouth.

Yin Xiang and the others soon returned to the gates of Konoha.

"I will report what happened outside to the Third Hokage," Guy said, then took his Team 3 members and left. Tenten waved at Yin Xiang as they went.

Yin Xiang smiled and waved back at Tenten.

That person's reactions were incredibly fast. He was able to dodge the combined attack of the Flying Thunder God and the Rasengan. His strength is at least that of an elite Jonin. For someone like that to appear around Konoha... Yin Xiang still did not realize that the person was Orochimaru; he simply assumed he was an elite Jonin among the Sound Ninja who had come to gather intelligence.

"He was likely here to scout for information. The Anbu will be sent to investigate specifically later," Shikaku said to Yin Xiang. "However, your ability to make an elite Jonin suffer a loss is quite impressive."

"It was only because I caught him off guard. Even then, I couldn't actually hurt him. If it were a head-on confrontation, I fear I would have been killed by him in an instant."

"Neither arrogant nor rash. Very good," Shikaku nodded in satisfaction.

"It's getting dark, so let's meet again tomorrow, Shikaku-sensei." Yin Xiang looked at the sky and said. Shikaku nodded, and the two parted ways.

Yin Xiang walked through the streets of Konoha, stopped by Ichiraku Ramen for a bowl, and then walked alone to the lakeside, sitting down to watch the water.

The surface of the lake rippled gently, and Yin Xiang's heart was also slowly undulating. Since arriving in this world for no apparent reason, things had gone relatively smoothly. With his current strength, he could fight if he could win and run if he couldn't; he was already capable of living a peaceful life.

But he was still too young, and he had to shoulder the mission of protecting Naruto. Yet, to protect Naruto, he would have to deal with Naruto's enemies—the Akatsuki, the Otsutsuki Clan. To face such people, his current strength was completely insufficient. He had to become stronger.

But if he did that, his peaceful life would be ruined.

"I still don't even know how I came to this world. What's the point of living in a daze here?" Yin Xiang tossed a stone into the water, and it sank straight to the bottom.

"Who are you?" A voice came from behind Yin Xiang.

Yin Xiang turned around to see Sasuke Uchiha. Yin Xiang stood up from the ground. "Yin Xiang," he said to Sasuke. "You're Sasuke Uchiha, right?"

"Yin Xiang?" Sasuke frowned, as if he had heard the name before. "Yin Xiang Bofeng... I remember now."

"Yeah," Yin Xiang nodded.

"This is my spot. Leave," Sasuke said directly to Yin Xiang, implying that Yin Xiang was occupying his territory.

"Is that so?" Yin Xiang just smiled at this and walked up to Sasuke. "You're not like him at all." After saying this confusing remark, Yin Xiang left, leaving behind a puzzled Sasuke. What does he mean, not like him at all...

Not like Naruto at all. Asura, Indra reincarnates, huh. Yin Xiang shook his head, returned home, tidied up, and went to sleep.

After that, he continued with his boring missions until the day Naruto was assigned to a team. Yin Xiang and Shikaku arrived at Training Ground No. 3 as usual. After a simple breakfast, Yin Xiang brought an apple along to the meeting, though today there were a few more people present.

Yin Xiang and Shikaku approached from different directions to find three people already sitting in the clearing. Yin Xiang looked over and saw Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. It seemed today was the day they were assigned.

"Eh? Yin Xiang! Why are you here!" Naruto jumped up from the ground the moment he saw Yin Xiang and ran over to him.

"I always meet here," Yin Xiang said as he walked. "Are you guys... assigned to a team?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yeah! Kakashi-sensei told us to be here at seven and didn't even let us eat, but he still hasn't shown up!" Naruto said, clutching his stomach, which let out a loud, cooperative growl.

"You haven't eaten? I only have this, you can have it." Yin Xiang took the apple he had brought along that morning out of his pocket, not expecting it to be used for Naruto.

"Gah? Awesome! Finally, something to eat!" Naruto didn't stand on ceremony, taking the apple from Yin Xiang's hand and digging in. Seeing Naruto like this, Yin Xiang smiled. By now, the two had reached Sasuke and the others.

"Isn't that... that Yin Xiang guy? Naruto, you know him?" Sakura asked Naruto when she saw Yin Xiang approach. Although she had seen Yin Xiang from a distance on the street before, seeing him up close now, she realized just how handsome he was.

"Yeah, I've known him for a while." Naruto was too busy eating to answer, so Yin Xiang replied for him, flashing a smile at Sakura.

Sakura was so smitten by Yin Xiang's smile that her fangirl side took over, and she started giggling foolishly.

"Alright, Yin Xiang, let's go do our mission," Shikaku said to Yin Xiang. Yin Xiang nodded. "Naruto, I'm heading out. You guys be careful with Kakashi-nii."

Naruto nodded while chewing the apple, and quickly finished it off. "See ya!" Naruto called out to Yin Xiang's retreating back.

Yin Xiang waved his hand without turning around.