Nepotism Hire

The next day.

Konoha Village streets.

Zhengye began his first official patrol.

Unlike before, when he had followed Shisui, this time, besides Uchiha Dongyou, there was also a Hyuga clansman named Aoba following behind him.

He was also the person the Hyuga Clan had sent to liaise with the Uchiha Clan.

Though he looked only in his twenties, he was steady and reserved, truly carrying himself like a leader.

However, judging from the calluses on his hands and the way he walked, he was probably quite skilled.

Moreover, Zhengye's sharp instincts told him that the man had been watching him the entire time.

Though he did not know the man's intentions, Zhengye did not mind getting acquainted with him.

He had plenty of questions himself.

"Aoba, how many of your clansmen hold positions in Konoha Village, and how many are out on missions?"

After a brief pause, the other man quickly answered, "About half are in the village. The other half are outside."

Zhengye rolled his eyes. "How many people are there in your main family?"

Aoba's gaze flickered. None of Zhengye's questions were secrets, so he answered honestly.

"Thirty-one in total."

Zhengye stroked his chin. That was more than he had expected.

It seemed the Hyuga Clan's rules had changed, or perhaps there had been even more people in the main family before.

But no matter what, Zhengye believed that if each branch of the main family retained only one person, their numbers would only dwindle further.

And the existence of the Caged Bird was destined to bring about the extinction of the Hyuga main family.

Oppression on one side, and an increasingly withered main family on the other.

The branch family's rebellion was inevitable.

Of course, that was only without outside interference.

"It's still early. Let's get a bowl of ramen."

Zhengye had studied the map early that morning. When he looked up, he happened to spot the Ichiraku Ramen shop, famous throughout Konoha—no, more accurately, famous throughout the entire world.

Let's see whether this ramen is really that good.

The three of them walked in and sat down, only to find that someone was already inside.

Zhengye took one look and thought, well, it was an acquaintance.

Kakashi Hatake, with his silver broom-like hair, was wearing an ANBU vest and silently eating ramen.

Kakashi naturally did not possess the ability to eat ramen in an instant, so he had taken off his mask.

Zhengye looked him over from head to toe and could not help curling his lip.

He really is handsome. No wonder he captivated countless girls.

He remembered that this body had been classmates with Kakashi, but Kakashi had graduated ahead of everyone else, so they had not interacted much.

Kakashi's PTSD was still severe. He basically cared about nothing in the outside world.

So even when Naruto was abused, Kakashi had never paid attention to it.

Pathetic Kakashi. Trapped in the past for his entire life, and even now he has no desire to pull himself together.

A disdainful expression appeared on Zhengye's face as he waved his teammates over to sit.

"Uncle Teuchi, three bowls of ramen. I want tonkotsu. What about you two?"

Uchiha Dongyou and Hyuga Aoba nodded their thanks.

"I'll have chashu."

"I'll have miso."

"Oh, isn't this Zhengye? Haven't seen you in a long time."

Teuchi greeted Zhengye familiarly. After putting the noodles on to cook, he expertly prepared the broth base, his movements smooth and practiced, clearly etched into muscle memory.

"Well, the clan's been pretty busy."

"The Police Force's jurisdiction has expanded. Your place is within our area now too. If anything happens, remember to come find me anytime."

Zhengye made casual small talk.

Teuchi looked somewhat surprised, but he still nodded. "I understand, Zhengye."

"Oh, isn't that Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja?"

As though he had only just noticed Kakashi, Zhengye casually greeted him.

The title "Copy Ninja" was one Kakashi had only acquired recently, mainly because of his combat style: directly copying his enemy's ninjutsu in the middle of battle.

This fighting style did not require much thought, since everyone's ninjutsu ended up being the same anyway.

But others did not possess Kakashi's vast ninjutsu reserves, and would quickly be defeated by his extensive experience.

However, while the Uchiha Clan had not yet been wiped out, the title carried a mocking undertone.

Kakashi looked wary as he pulled up his mask. "Uchiha Zhengye, what do you want?"

Zhengye leaned forward and gestured at Kakashi's eyepatch.

"Under that is our Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. Therefore, we Uchiha have the right to take it back at any time. Understand?"

Kakashi's expression changed dramatically as he leaned back slightly. "It was a gift from Obito!"

Mockery filled Zhengye's face.

"Obito and his grandmother were raised on the clan's aid. Every part of his body belonged to the clan first, and only then to himself."

A tremendous pressure radiated from Zhengye as he said in a low voice,

"Not to mention that he's already dead. Even if he were still alive, that eye would still belong to us Uchiha."

Kakashi had already risen to his feet unconsciously. His expression was guarded, but there was also a trace of panic deep in his eyes.

All of Konoha now knew that Zhengye possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan and was vaguely considered a candidate for the next Uchiha Clan head.

Even the Third Hokage was deeply wary of him.

If Zhengye demanded the Sharingan, Kakashi truly did not know how he could protect the eye his best friend had left behind.

Dongyou and Aoba both grew tense.

Just as the atmosphere became taut with hostility, Teuchi brought over the ramen and set it before Zhengye and the other two.

"Your ramen is ready. Please enjoy."

Zhengye turned back, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating without saying another word.

Kakashi stood there stiffly, unsure whether to leave or stay.

But he still gritted his teeth and said, "Clan Head Fugaku agreed to it back then. I also handed over the scroll for Chidori."

After taking his first bite, Zhengye found that the ramen really was quite good.

It was a little salty, but still delicious.

He turned to Kakashi and said,

"You think Chidori alone can be exchanged for a Sharingan?"

Zhengye chuckled softly. "If we wanted ninjutsu, the Uchiha Clan has no idea how many we have stored away. Your Chidori is actually nothing special."

Zhengye was not boasting about that. Including himself, the other lightning-natured clan members had not chosen to use Chidori either.

"You only got to keep that eye because of your teacher, Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage at the time."

"To put it bluntly, you're just a nepotism hire. Understand?"

Kakashi's face alternated between green and white. Having spent so long immersed in his own world, he had never considered such matters.

Now, he felt deeply uncomfortable. "So, Zhengye, what exactly do you want?"

Naturally, Zhengye would not tell him his true purpose. He slurped up some ramen and answered casually,

"Nothing. I'm just insulting you."

Kakashi gritted his teeth, took a step back, snorted, and left the Ichiraku Ramen shop.

His steps, however, were somewhat hurried.

Uchiha Dongyou and Hyuga Aoba did not understand Zhengye's intentions. They merely kept their eyes lowered and continued eating their ramen.

At that moment, Yamanaka Saki's voice suddenly rang out in Zhengye's mind—she was now the Police Force's dedicated communications officer.

"Lord Zhengye, a fight has broken out near the Ichiraku Ramen shop. It happens to be on your patrol route and involves the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so I'm reporting it to you now."

Zhengye took a huge mouthful of ramen and swallowed it whole.

"Aoba, check where the fight is nearby. Dongyou, pay the bill. We've got work."

The two men froze for a moment, then immediately sprang into action.

One activated his Byakugan, while the other took out money.

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhengye headed out of the shop.