Seeing Kakashi Again

Although the entry was white, Qian Yun could indeed condense a small amount of Wood Release sage chakra.

He had no problem trying to activate tree spores, but fighting like Hashirama was impossible.

However, like activating a virus, making tree buds grow from an opponent's body was no problem.

The power was far too terrifying, so Qian Yun had no plans to use it for now. Otherwise, it would definitely bring trouble.

He got some more Uzumaki Mito Cells, but they were useless.

If he wanted to strengthen the Adamantine Sealing Chains, it seemed he could only set his sights on Kushina.

But she treated him well, so he could not rush this matter.

A month later.

That day, Qian Yun was about to head over to Danzo's place for night watch when Aburame Shiken suddenly informed him that he had been assigned to participate in the Chunin Exams.

"What? The Chunin Exams?"

Qian Yun looked utterly dumbfounded, as though he had not woken up yet. The dark circles beneath his eyes were as black as a panda's.

"I say, Captain, sir, did you get this wrong?

I'm just a genin who graduated from the academy. No matter how arrogant I am, I know my own limits!

Let's forget about this. I... uh... should go stand night watch instead!"

Qian Yun yawned as he spoke, making the corners of his three teammates' mouths twitch.

This kid had truly been ruined by staying up late. Give it some more time, and he would probably be finished.

"Qian Yun, this is Lord Hokage's order!"

"Hm? So it's an order."

Qian Yun yawned again, then tidied himself up and went home to sleep.

Watching him walk away hunched over, the three of them broke out in another cold sweat.

Yamanaka Kei muttered, "He's still too young, after all. An eleven-year-old's stamina just isn't suited for night watch!"

Nara Hai agreed, "Exactly, exactly. Captain, you're too heartless!"

Aburame Shiken's eyelids twitched in fury. "Who was always saying they didn't want to stand night watch? And who said I had no humanity?

I finally got a newcomer to take over night watch for you, and you two bastards are actually criticizing me!

Starting tonight, the two of you will continue standing night watch until the next newcomer reports in!"

Ah...

Yamanaka Kei and Nara Hai groaned miserably. If they had known, they would not have run their mouths.

Qian Yun went home, originally intending to sleep.

This past month had indeed been agonizing. It felt even more exhausting than fleeing through the desert.

But when he showered and looked in the mirror, he suddenly discovered a black aura around his body.

Qian Yun's hair stood on end in fright, and he immediately checked his body.

Unable to find the cause and seeing that his physical body was fine, he hurriedly examined his soul.

One look nearly scared him out of his wits.

At some unknown point, thick black mist had appeared on his soul, but it was unlike the Evil God's aura.

Thinking back carefully, it seemed to have started when the Hashirama Cells were thrown into the sealed space.

He immediately began reciting Buddhist scriptures. The black mist swiftly drifted away, while the Hashirama Cells in the sealed space also gave off black mist.

Qian Yun felt as though a mountain had been lifted from his body. He felt so comfortable that he wanted to groan.

What shocked Qian Yun was that after the black mist within the Hashirama Cells dispersed, they actually began growing slowly, like blood in a living person's body.

It seemed he had made an incredible discovery.

But the problem was that even if he had obtained unparalleled power, he still could not challenge Konoha's higher-ups.

He still had to lie low.

If those old geezers pinned the label of rogue ninja on him, then even if he did not die, he would lose a layer of skin.

The next day, early morning.

Qian Yun returned to the ninja academy once more, and the first person he ran into was Kakashi Hatake.

After a year apart, this guy's gaze seemed to have become much sharper.

As for height, Qian Yun still seemed to be taller.

"Good morning, Lord Kakashi!"

Qian Yun greeted him with the same politeness as when they first met at the beginning of last year.

"Lord? You are...?"

Kakashi looked utterly confused. He could not connect Qian Yun with that tiny little runt from last year.

"Sorry, sorry. I forgot you were busy, so let me introduce myself again.

I'm Qian Yun, a civilian ninja. You thought highly of me and taught me the Three-Body Technique for the low price of three hundred ryo!

And thanks to the combat techniques you taught me, I survived in the wilderness!

Thank you so much!"

Qian Yun truly was not flattering Kakashi. If Kakashi had not taught him combat techniques in front of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop back then, he would have died on his first day out.

Just as expected, Kakashi's mouth dropped open, and he nearly turned to stone.

Last year, Qian Yun had only reached Kakashi's chest, looking exactly like an undernourished lower-grade student.

But now it was the complete opposite. Standing before Qian Yun, Kakashi looked like a child.

Qian Yun was much taller and more imposing than him, even more robust than an adult.

Especially those muscles all over his body—they looked even more impressive than those of a taijutsu ninja.

"You scared the hell out of me! This is simply unbelievable!

But how on earth did you do it?

Didn't you say back then that you were the same age as me, even a few months younger?"

After recovering from his shock, Kakashi still asked the question in his heart.

Qian Yun grinned widely. "Lord Kakashi, there's a secret I've never told anyone!

Only because you asked will I share it with you!

Actually, out in the wilderness, I ate a..."

"Faster... faster... I'm going to be late... Ah... stupid Kakashi..."

Obito came sprinting over at the worst possible moment, looking utterly exhausted.

Obito slammed on the brakes, and unsurprisingly, he fell down once again.

Sigh!

Qian Yun and Kakashi sighed at the same time. Obito really had not changed at all.

With a kip-up, Obito sprang back to his feet and started shouting again.

"Hey, what's with you two? I'm not late today!

And today is the Chunin Exams, so why are you here at school, Kakashi?"

Kakashi did not answer Obito's question. Instead, he asked, "You know each other?"

"Hmph! Stupid Kakashi, Qian Yun is our classmate, and he's definitely stronger than you!

You only became a chunin, but Qian Yun is now an ANBU member directly under the Hokage!

He's way more impressive than you!"

Kakashi was shocked and even took a step back. This was more terrifying to him than Qian Yun growing a meter taller in a year.

"Hey, hey, Qian Yun, have you stopped growing already?

Didn't you say you'd grow half a foot every month?

Why did you only grow an inch in the month since graduation?

Don't tell me you won't grow anymore from now on?

Hahaha... I'll definitely grow taller than you someday!"

Obito talked so much that Kakashi could not get a word in edgewise. He remained in a state of shock.

As they spoke, Might Guy, Asuma, and the others slowly approached, chatting and laughing.

Every one of them claimed to have gotten stronger and completed some incredible mission or another.

When Might Guy asked Qian Yun about his mission, the group of kids all looked over at once, wanting to know what ANBU ninjas did every day.

"Mm, I've been standing guard the whole time, and now my back and waist ache every day!

No good, I need to find somewhere to sit. I feel like I can barely hold on!"

Uh...

The kids all sighed in disappointment. It seemed ANBU life was not as wonderful as they had imagined.

The group of children entered the classroom, while Obito continued pressing Kakashi about why he was taking the exam.