Yuan Shi

"Qing Si. My name is Qing Si," Qing Si replied. The chakra that had instinctively begun to accelerate within him gradually calmed down.

Although he had been born into the Kaguya Clan, Qing Si had never interacted with any other Kaguya clansmen apart from his parents since childhood. Moreover, his family had been exiled and received no recognition from the Kaguya Clan. Qing Si had no sense of belonging toward the Kaguya Clan whatsoever. On the contrary, because they did not acknowledge him, he had never considered inheriting the Kaguya surname.

With Otsutsuki blood flowing through his veins, Isshiki Otsutsuki's gift, and his ultimate goal of becoming a complete Otsutsuki, Qing Si would rather inherit the surname of his ancestor Hamura Otsutsuki and the source of his bloodline, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

"Then there's no mistake. It seems Elder Yuan Shi knows you. Come with me. The elder wishes to see you!" After confirming that Qing Si was indeed the person Yuan Shi wanted to meet, Bi extended an invitation.

Sensing no hostility, Qing Si followed Bi toward Yuan Shi's home in confusion, continuously guessing at Yuan Shi's intentions.

As for Yuan Shi, his purpose was merely to look after the descendant of an old friend he had once been close with. At the same time, he wanted to assess Qing Si's potential and current strength. If his talent proved good enough, he could add another fighting force to the village.

However, Genji had only told Qing Si about some of his own experiences. His introduction to the Hidden Mist Village had been rather superficial, and Qing Si's memories from his previous life contained almost no knowledge of the village either. His only two impressions were that a green-clad Konoha genin had utterly wrecked the Hidden Mist Village's signature unit, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and that the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, perfectly matched his tastes.

Genji had originally planned to wait until Qing Si became strong enough to defeat a Jonin before taking him back to the Hidden Mist Village, free from the Kaguya Clan's surveillance. Who could have expected Isshiki's sudden arrival to shatter his plans? Genji had also burned away his life while protecting Qing Si.

Thus, Qing Si had no idea about his family's connection to Elder Yuan Shi.

Soon, Qing Si followed Bi to Yuan Shi's home and saw Yuan Shi reclining peacefully in a chair in the courtyard.

"Elder Yuan Shi, may I ask why you wished to see me? I do not think we know each other," Qing Si said. He did not yet know of his connection to Yuan Shi, but he still showed the proper respect toward this elderly man who was deeply revered by the villagers.

"Child, come here. Closer," Yuan Shi sighed as he propped himself up and sat upright.

"Did that little Genji not tell you any of this? Is he doing well now?" Yuan Shi, already in his fifties, had practically watched Genji grow up. His memory of Genji remained fixed on the man in his twenties, so it was only natural for him to call Genji a little fellow.

Moreover, the southern borderlands of the Land of Water had long been beyond the Hidden Mist's sphere of influence. In recent years, Yuan Shi had also gradually stopped involving himself in many of the Hidden Mist Village's affairs, so he did not know Genji's recent circumstances.

Hearing Yuan Shi mention his father's name in such a nostalgic tone, Qing Si's heart trembled. He recalled the moments he had shared with his father once more. His eyes stung, and sorrow appeared on his face.

"Father has already returned to the Pure Land," Qing Si said in a low voice.

"Is that so?" Yuan Shi's words were filled with melancholy. The next generation he had once held in such high regard had passed away so young.

Knowing that Genji had been injured, Yuan Shi assumed that he had died from his wounds and did not ask further.

"I have not introduced myself yet. I am Yuan Shi, an elder of the Hidden Mist Village. Your father, Kaguya Genji, once served under me. He was also the successor to the title of Kage whom I thought most highly of at the time."

"Your grandfather, Kaguya Sunato, was my friend. Your mother, Kaguya Yukiko, could also be said to have grown up under my watch."

"Elder Yuan Shi!" Upon hearing Yuan Shi's introduction and realizing that everything he said about Qing Si's family matched what his father Genji had told him, Qing Si finally let down the last of his wariness toward the old man before him.

With no relatives left in the world, he unconsciously felt a trace of closeness toward this elder who had been so close to his family.

"There is no need to be so reserved. I watched your father grow up step by step. I was the one who recommended him for the Second Mizukage's Shadow Guard, not to mention your mother and grandfather," Yuan Shi explained with a smile.

"I am nearly sixty years old. That is considered advanced age in the ninja world. Yet I devoted all my energy in this life to the village and never had any descendants. So, given my relationship with your family, if you do not mind, you may call me Grandfather." Although he had yet to test Qing Si's talent, Yuan Shi, childless and nearing sixty, still offered his goodwill when he saw Qing Si's sorrowful face.

"Grandpa Yuan Shi!" Facing Yuan Shi's kind and amiable expression, as well as the close relationship he had with Qing Si's family, Qing Si did not feel much resistance deep down. Having had no family in his previous life and lost all his family in this one, he called out naturally.

Although it seemed somewhat abrupt, he had lacked familial affection in his previous life and had not experienced it for long in this one. At this moment, he truly needed a family member. Not to mention that Yuan Shi was a highly influential elder of the Hidden Mist Village who could provide him with considerable help.

"Good child! Your name is Kaguya Qing Si, correct? From now on, treat this place as your home. Kenbei, go prepare a room for little Qing Si." Yuan Shi spoke to another guard beside him.

"No, Grandpa Yuan Shi. My surname is not Kaguya. There is no Qing Si in the Kaguya Clan now, and even Father and Mother were not recognized by the clan," Qing Si said calmly, though his words were filled with hatred.

"My name is Qing Si Otsutsuki." After calming himself, Qing Si continued.

"Otsutsuki?" Yuan Shi was somewhat puzzled. He did not know this surname and had never heard of it in the ninja world. He merely assumed Qing Si had chosen it for himself because he did not wish to return to the Kaguya Clan.

Qing Si did not explain. The truth about the Otsutsuki Clan was far too terrifying for the current ninja world. Before he had fully grown, it was better not to reveal it.

"Very well." Having filled in the gaps himself, Yuan Shi nodded in acceptance. "Then little Qing Si will live in the Hidden Mist Village under the name Otsutsuki from now on."

"However, until you have grown stronger, your information will be kept confidential!" After giving it some thought, Yuan Shi added another reassurance for Qing Si. He naturally knew how the Kaguya Clan would react if they learned Qing Si was in the Hidden Mist Village. Therefore, Yuan Shi chose to play it safe and conceal Qing Si's information under his authority as an elder.

However, Yuan Shi's actions also meant that, by sheer coincidence, Qing Si's Otsutsuki name remained unknown to everyone except a very small number of people for the time being...!

"Kenbei, take little Qing Si to his room to rest. It is getting late. We can discuss everything else tomorrow," Yuan Shi instructed Kenbei, who had just returned.

"Oh, right. Dismiss your Transformation Technique! You can be completely at ease here with me!" Having confirmed Qing Si's identity and seeing that he did not have the distinctive pair of horns on his forehead, Yuan Shi knew he had used the Transformation Technique.

"Young Master Qing Si, this way, please!" Kenbei led Qing Si to the room prepared for him. "Then I shall take my leave first, Young Master Qing Si. If you need anything, you may call for me at any time."

After entering the room, Qing Si's emotions were still somewhat stirred. He had only gone out for air to ease his frustration because his various plans had made no progress, yet he had somehow gained an elder grandfather who had once been his father's superior. Today's experiences felt a little surreal, but he did not reject having another elder in his life. He had been an orphan in his previous life, and in this life, he had lost his mother in childhood and his father in his youth. Qing Si still longed for familial affection.

The next morning, Qing Si rose early and officially began his life settled in the Hidden Mist Village.

After having breakfast with Yuan Shi, Yuan Shi brought Qing Si and two guards to the backyard. As an elder who could be said to hold the highest status in the Hidden Mist, Yuan Shi's residence was enormous. The backyard had also been specially built for his guards to train in.

"Little Qing Si, you are nine years old now, correct? I can sense that you have quite a bit of chakra in your body, but I do not know how strong you are at present," Yuan Shi asked.

"I can probably fight a Jonin," Qing Si thought for a moment before answering. Qing Si did not know much about the specific power levels of ninja, but after examining Isshiki's memories, he believed he was no weaker than those two Kaguya Clan Jonin.

Hearing Qing Si's answer, Yuan Shi froze. Then a trace of shock appeared on his aged face.

"A nine-year-old Jonin? Even if he can only barely match a Jonin, that is still Jonin-level combat power." Yuan Shi was secretly astonished by Qing Si's talent.

However, Yuan Shi then remembered that Qing Si had grown up in a remote place and might not have an accurate understanding of the Jonin rank.

As an elder, it was not appropriate for him to openly question Qing Si's strength, so he could only have Bi, the guard behind him, test Qing Si's ability.

"Young Master Qing Si, excuse me!" Bi stepped before Qing Si and formed the Seal of Confrontation.