Abin's IQ Isn't Ideal

The words in the Will of Fire textbook looked more and more like hypnotic symbols, while Iruka's voice from the podium seemed to be coming through a layer of water.

His mind kept cycling through guesses about what White Zetsu would bring back, while he worried that it might get taken out by some trap—or simply get lost.

When school finally ended, Qianyu politely declined Naruto's Nth invitation to eat ramen and practically ran back to his little house.

Night had just fallen, and the lights inside were off. He had barely shut the door and turned around when he saw a huge white mass writhing on the floor in the middle of the room, spitting out scroll after scroll.

The scrolls varied in color, age, and size. Some still had dirt on them, carrying the scent of ancient dust and the peculiar cold dampness of underground caves.

The contorted White Zetsu emerged fully from the ground and proudly pointed at the small mountain of scrolls. "Look! I'm back! I moved more than half of old man Madara's stash! Some were buried too deep—I'll dig those up next time!"

Qianyu stared at the pile of scrolls, his heart pounding like a drum. He crouched down and carefully picked up the oldest-looking one on top, a large dark scroll with edges reinforced by special metal. Untying the cord, he slowly unrolled it—

He only needed one glance at the title and that familiar handwriting—bold, domineering, and slightly messy.

Book of Seals · Compiled by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju

Then, hands trembling, he picked up several more scrolls beside it.

Space-Time Ninjutsu · Flying Thunder God Technique (Initial Theory and Tobirama's Early Experiment Records, That Evil Tobirama Senju)

Fire Release · Majestic Destroyer Flame (Ultimate Improved Version, with Chakra Burst Techniques)

Fundamentals and Advanced Applications of Sealing Techniques (Selected Uzumaki Clan Legacy, Organized by Madara)

Forbidden Technique · Reanimation (Tobirama's Original Manuscript, That Evil Tobirama Senju)

Complete Wood Release Ninjutsu Collection (From Germinating Seeds to the Descent of the World Tree, Reverse-Engineered and Compiled Based on Battle Records Against Hashirama and Cell Research)

Qianyu: "..."

He felt like the CPU in his brain was about to burn out again. How was this "some techniques"? This was practically copying out the entire family vaults of Konoha and the Uchiha! Especially that copy of the Book of Seals and the original manuscript of Reanimation... Were these things really something you could just take?!

Wild joy, shock, lingering fear, and the absurd feeling of What the hell did I do to deserve this? tangled together, leaving Qianyu speechless.

He suddenly looked up at the contorted White Zetsu beside him, which had tilted its head and was waiting for praise with an expression that plainly said, I did great, right? Praise me already.

The next second, Qianyu did something that even stunned White Zetsu—he lunged forward and hugged that cold, slimy, irregularly shaped white body.

"Thanks! You're my real cheat code!" Qianyu's voice came out muffled, filled with barely restrained excitement and a trace of a choked sob.

Since arriving in this world, the loneliness, fear, and uncertainty that had shadowed him like ghosts seemed to fade considerably at this moment, washed away by this pile of questionable yet incredibly tangible gifts—and by this white creature that was scatterbrained but seemed to be genuinely fulfilling its duty to look after him.

White Zetsu's body froze. It seemed never to have been hugged like this before. A strange warmth spread through its entire body, making even its core tremble faintly. It did not quite understand what this feeling was, but it knew it did not dislike it. It even... kind of liked it.

Several seconds later, Qianyu finally let go and scratched his head a little awkwardly.

Looking into White Zetsu's beady eyes, he suddenly thought of something. "By the way, do you have a name? I can't keep calling you 'White Zetsu' or 'Twisty,' can I?"

White Zetsu paused, then shook its head. "A name? No. Old man Madara just calls us White Zetsu. There's only one special swirly one like me called Afei."

Qianyu frowned and thought seriously. He needed to give this guy—who was both like a guardian and a bad-influence friend—a name... What should it be? It had to roll off the tongue, be distinctive, and suit its temperament...

"Hmm..." His gaze swept over the pile of dangerous scrolls on the floor, then shifted to White Zetsu's expectant eyes. Inspiration suddenly struck.

"You'll be called Abin! How about it?"

"A... bin?" White Zetsu repeated the two syllables, blinking its beady eyes as though performing some complex calculation.

A few seconds later, an unprecedentedly brilliant smile appeared on its contorted face, and its entire body began trembling faintly with strange excitement.

"Abin... Abin! I have a name! My name is Abin!" It waved its arms around, its voice brimming with obvious excitement. "It sounds good! Little Dried Fish picked a great one! It sounds much better than old man Madara's 'White Zetsu'!"

With an excited plop, it sank into the ground, leaving only its voice echoing through the room. "My name is Abin! I have a name now!"

"Wait! Abin!" Qianyu hurriedly called out, pointing to the pile of scrolls. "These things are way too conspicuous! They can't stay here! Help me hide them somewhere absolutely safe, somewhere nobody can ever find! Hurry!"

Abin, already halfway underground, popped back out. It looked at the scrolls and nodded. "Got it! Hiding things is what I'm best at!" It wriggled over, wrapped its body around the pile of scrolls, and slowly sank into the floor. Before vanishing, it added, "We'll celebrate me getting a name when I get back!"

"Hey? Leave that scroll behind."

The room returned to silence, leaving Qianyu alone.

Qianyu walked over, picked it up, and unrolled it: Wood Release · Great Forest Technique. Beside it was Madara's flamboyant note: The trash Hashirama casually uses. I improved it a little, and it's still garbage.

Qianyu: "..."

Even though he had been caught in the blast radius, this was exactly what he needed right now! Besides, if he only kept this one scroll, he would still have room to explain himself if it was discovered.

He clenched the beginner-level garbage scroll tightly in his hand, but his gaze sharpened.

He had thought of a plan that could temporarily free him from the endless trouble caused by looking like that bargain-bin father of his.

But he needed an opportunity.