Encountering Danzo

On the first day of the new semester, the lingering warmth of summer still hung in the air.

Qianyu walked to his old seat by the window in the last row and sat down.

The day's classes were utterly unremarkable. Teamwork training, theory lessons that were still all about the Will of Fire—Qianyu had heard so much of it his ears were practically callused, yet he still put on an attentive expression.

By the time the dismissal bell rang, the setting sun had dyed the classroom orange-red.

"Qianyu-kun." Ino turned around from the front row, her ponytail swaying against her shoulder. "Want to walk home together? Mom said she made red bean rice today."

Qianyu hesitated. "I... have something to do today." He pointed at his ninja tool pouch. "I need to get some extra training in."

The smile on Ino's face froze for an instant before blooming again. "Then... see you tomorrow." She waved, then left the classroom with Sakura Haruno.

Qianyu packed his bag alone. The classroom gradually emptied until only the sound of the student on duty wiping the blackboard remained.

By the time he left the school gates, the sky had already darkened halfway. Streetlights came on one by one, casting dim yellow halos. Qianyu turned onto the path leading to the training ground—he really did need extra practice. He had to find somewhere deserted to try out the basic Fire Release techniques from the scroll Fugaku had given him.

The training ground was empty. Qianyu set down his bag, took several shuriken from his ninja tool pouch, and began practicing his throws. Metal blades cut through the air with soft whooshing sounds.

Just as he was about to form hand seals and practice the most basic Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique—

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows at the edge of the training ground.

He leaned on a cane, his right eye and right arm wrapped in bandages. His lone eye gleamed with the sharpness of a hawk's. He wore dark elder's robes, and his gloomy presence radiated an oppressive aura that made people uncomfortable.

Qianyu's heart tightened. That appearance—the Sexy Sun Bro, Konoha's darkness, the leader of Root, an extremist who would stop at nothing to achieve his ends.

He had never met Danzo in person, but the moment he saw that unmistakable getup, he immediately confirmed the man's identity.

Qianyu lowered his hands before he could form the seals, maintaining a guarded stance. He knew why Danzo had come—there was an eighty-percent chance he was after Qianyu because of his face, which looked so much like Madara Uchiha's.

That old schemer was definitely plotting something again.

Danzo slowly approached, the sound of his cane striking the ground unusually clear in the silent training ground.

His lone eye swept over Qianyu, his gaze like a cold blade scraping inch by inch across Qianyu's face, body, and every minute movement.

"Cangshu Qianyu." Danzo spoke in a hoarse voice like sandpaper rubbing together. "Seven years old. A war orphan. A second-year student at the Ninja Academy. Perfect scores in Will of Fire theory." He paused, his tone carrying a trace of amusement. "And... a face strikingly similar to a certain forbidden person."

Qianyu forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, keeping a slightly confused yet wary expression on his face. It was the natural reaction a seven-year-old child should have when facing an unfamiliar high-ranking official. He lowered his head respectfully. "May I ask who you are?"

Danzo seemed somewhat surprised by Qianyu's composure, and a trace of approval flickered through his lone eye. "You may call me Danzo," he said slowly. "I oversee certain... special affairs in Konoha."

"Lord Danzo." Qianyu put on a thoroughly respectful posture. "May I ask what you need from me?"

Danzo took another two steps forward, leaving only three paces between them. "Your talent should not be wasted on those basic courses at the Academy." His voice was low and compelling. "What Konoha needs are truly powerful ninja—tools willing to pay any price for the village. Not... flowers raised in a greenhouse."

Qianyu sneered inwardly. Here it comes, the classic PUA spiel. All that talk about "for the village"—didn't he just want to turn me into his tool?

"Follow me," Danzo continued. "I will give you true power and make you Konoha's sharpest blade. You will receive the finest training, the richest resources, the most—"

"Lord Danzo." Qianyu interrupted him and raised his head, his eyes clear and resolute—deliberately imitating the sincere gaze of those hot-blooded anime protagonists. "I'm only a student. My duty is to learn and grow under my teachers' guidance. Lord Hokage and Iruka-sensei have taught us that Konoha's ninja should serve the village openly and honorably."

Danzo narrowed his lone eye. "Openly and honorably?" He let out a cold laugh. "What Hiruzen teaches you won't keep you alive in this cruel world. Only power—power obtained by any means necessary—can protect Konoha."

"Then I choose to believe in Lord Hokage." Qianyu took half a step back, widening the distance between them. "If there's nothing else, I should go home. I still have class tomorrow."

Danzo stared at him for a full ten seconds. The air seemed to freeze, and even the insects around the training ground fell silent.

"You will regret this," Danzo finally said coldly. "When danger comes, you'll discover that Hiruzen's righteousness and morality cannot protect anything."

He turned around and slowly walked into the shadows with his cane, his figure vanishing as though it had melded into the night.

Qianyu stood where he was, his back already soaked with cold sweat. He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. Danzo had come for him in person. The most troublesome one had set his sights on him.

After packing his things, Qianyu quickly left the training ground. Only after he had gone a long way did he dare look back. The training ground was empty, with only moonlight spilling across the ground in a desolate glow.

At the same time, in the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe between his teeth. The crystal ball before him reflected the training ground. Through the curling smoke, the Third Hokage's eyes narrowed slightly.

"A child who could write the words, 'A single spark can start a prairie fire'..." he murmured, the ember in his pipe flickering unsteadily. "With thoughts already this mature, how could he possibly listen to Danzo's nonsense?"

He waved a hand, and the image in the crystal ball dispersed, returning it to the appearance of an ordinary crystal ball.

"Still..." The Third Hokage looked out the window toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, his expression complicated. "A storm is coming."

Over the following days, the atmosphere on Konoha's streets became subtly tense.

There were more ANBU than usual. Wearing uniform outfits and masks, they patrolled rooftops, alleyways, and the outskirts of training grounds like ghosts. Their movements were concealed, but to ninja with keen senses, the feeling of being watched was unmistakable.

Ino still came to find Qianyu every day. Sometimes she shared her lunch with him, sometimes they discussed class material, and sometimes they simply walked together for a while. Her smile remained as bright as ever, but Qianyu could sense a trace of unease deep in her eyes—she had noticed the change in the village's atmosphere as well.

That afternoon, the Ninja Academy suddenly announced an impromptu exam.

"A comprehensive theory test." Iruka stood at the podium with a serious expression. "The questions cover everything from last semester, including Will of Fire theory. No one is permitted to leave the classroom before the exam is over."

A chorus of wails rose from the classroom.

But Qianyu's heart sank.

An impromptu exam? No one allowed to leave the classroom? More ANBU on the streets?

His gaze instinctively shifted to Sasuke in the front row. The black-haired boy was lowering his head as he arranged his stationery, the lines of his profile taut as though he was displeased by the sudden exam.

The night of the Uchiha massacre. In the original story, it was on a night like this that Itachi slaughtered the entire clan, leaving only Sasuke alive. The Third Hokage and Danzo had tacitly allowed it—or rather, it had been part of their plan.

Qianyu's hand slowly clenched beneath his desk. He knew what would happen tonight, but there was nothing he could do.

The test papers were handed out. Qianyu filled in the answers mechanically, but his mind raced at high speed.

Second by second, time passed. The sky outside gradually darkened, and the classroom lights came on. Iruka stood at the podium supervising, while the occasional student raised a hand to ask a question.

Qianyu looked up at the clock at the front of the classroom—7:40.

According to the original story, the massacre would probably happen tonight. When Sasuke went home after school, he would see corpses strewn everywhere, and finally meet his brother...

His gaze fell on Sasuke's back again. The boy was focused on answering the questions, completely unaware that in a few hours, his world would collapse completely.

Just as Qianyu was nearly giving up on doing anything, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

The Uchiha clan's bloodline limit—the legacy Madara Uchiha had left him. If... if he could get hold of a few pairs of Sharingan in advance, they would be valuable resources, whether for research or as backups.

But how could he get them? He was stuck in the classroom right now and couldn't split himself in two.

Wait... Abin.

Qianyu's heart suddenly skipped a beat. White Zetsu Abin had the Mayfly Technique and could move freely underground, so infiltrating the Uchiha Clan Compound shouldn't be a problem. Besides, given Abin's personality, it would definitely be happy to do something like this.

The question was, how could he contact Abin? He was in the classroom, surrounded by people...

Qianyu looked at the test paper, then at the clock at the front of the classroom. 7:55.

He raised his hand. "Iruka-sensei, I need to use the restroom."

Iruka frowned. "During an exam..."

"I really have to go." Qianyu put on just the right look of embarrassment. "Maybe something I ate at noon didn't agree with me..."

Iruka hesitated, glanced at the other students in the classroom, and finally nodded. "Go quickly and come right back."

Qianyu got up and hurried out of the classroom under Naruto's curious gaze and Sasuke's indifferent glance. The hallway was empty, with only the low murmur of teachers talking coming from the distant office.

He quickly headed for the restroom at the end of the hallway. After pushing the door open and confirming that no one was inside, Qianyu lowered his voice. "Abin."

One second, two seconds, three seconds... There was no response.

"Abin!" Qianyu raised his voice slightly, an edge of urgency in it.

The floor rippled faintly, and a white head poked out from the corner of the wall. Its beady eyes blinked. "Little dried fish? Sneaking out in the middle of an exam—doesn't sound like something a good student would do."

Qianyu let out a breath of relief and spoke quickly. "No time for jokes. Listen, I need you to use the Mayfly Technique and infiltrate the Uchiha Clan Compound immediately."

Abin's beady eyes shifted. "The Uchiha Clan Compound? Now? Why?"

"Don't ask why." Qianyu spoke at a breakneck pace. "Once you're inside, take advantage of the chaos... and swipe two pairs of three-tomoe Sharingan."

"Take advantage of the chaos?" Abin tilted its head, seeming to sense something. "Will the Uchiha Clan Compound be in chaos tonight?"

Qianyu did not answer. He merely urged, "Go! Remember, three-tomoe ones, intact eyes. Don't let anyone spot you, especially be careful of a man with long hair and tear troughs beneath his eyes. That's Itachi Uchiha. Also, if you see other White Zetsu... don't greet them. Avoid them directly."