Qian Nai and Yagura's Visit

Lying back on the bed and staring at the ceiling, Qing Si kept mulling over the information he had just received. His thoughts continued to branch out as he refined his plans for what came next.

If nothing unexpected happened, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan or bloodline would definitely have a positive effect on him.

Qing Si would not, nor did he want to, hunt down the Hyuga Clan, who could be considered distant relatives. Nor did he intend to replace his own eyes with a pair of Byakugan that did not belong to him in order to accelerate his bloodline's evolution. However, extracting some ocular power from the Byakugan or blood from the Hyuga Clan and finding a way to absorb and fuse it was still possible.

But his priority was still to slowly absorb the gift Isshiki had left behind before considering anything else. Moreover, Qing Si could sense that his own eye technique was constantly taking shape. Perhaps he could awaken an eye technique of his own without relying on external help.

Time passed quickly as Qing Si continued thinking.

The next day, after Qing Si got up and had breakfast with Yuan Shi, Qian Nai and Yagura came to visit him at his home.

When the three of them had chatted during their previous mission in the capital, they had exchanged their village addresses. Bored out of his mind at home, Yagura had dragged Qian Nai along to visit Qing Si.

Qing Si had never told them about his family's specific circumstances. They only knew that, like them, he had lost both parents. Since they had never heard of the Otsutsuki surname in the village, they assumed Qing Si was the last orphan of some minor clan who had inherited its entire estate.

Though Yuan Shi was an elder, he had kept a rather low profile in recent years. Qian Nai and Yagura, neither of whom were important enough, did not know that the address Qing Si had given them was Elder Yuan Shi's residence.

As Kenbei, the butler, led them inside, the two of them marveled nonstop at the sheer size of Qing Si's home. Only when they reached the living room did they see Qing Si, who had already learned of their arrival and was waiting for them, along with Yuan Shi, who also wanted to meet his grandson's friends.

"Holy shit!" The moment they entered the living room, the two of them looked up and saw Yuan Shi smiling warmly at them.

Why is Elder Yuan Shi at Qing Si's house?!

They hurriedly came to their senses and respectfully bowed to Yuan Shi.

"Lord Yuan Shi!"

"Hehe, come, sit." Yuan Shi nodded and gestured for them to take their seats.

Qian Nai and Yagura could not help looking at Qing Si. They desperately needed an explanation from him.

"Grandpa Yuan Shi, let me introduce them. This is Sister Qian Nai, a member of the Hozuki Clan. And this is little brother Yagura, from the Karatachi Clan," Qing Si said, understanding what they meant.

"Brother Qing Si, how come you never told us that you and Elder Yuan Shi were family?!" Once they learned of Yuan Shi's relationship with Qing Si, the two immediately relaxed. Yagura could not help complaining.

Qing Si smiled awkwardly and did not answer.

"So, children from the Hozuki and Karatachi families! Little Qing Si has made some fine friends." Yuan Shi voiced his approval. Though he had long known their detailed information, Qing Si had entered the ANBU through his arrangements.

"Go on, little Qing Si. Take your friends around for a look. You needn't stay here and keep this old man company," Yuan Shi said, turning to Qing Si.

"Okay, Grandpa. Then we'll take our leave." With that, Qing Si stood and led his two companions out of the living room.

Qing Si took the two on a stroll through his family's courtyard, introducing the household to them as they walked.

"I really never expected this, little brother Qing Si. You've been hiding yourself too well. You kept the fact that Elder Yuan Shi is your grandfather under wraps so tightly! No wonder you're so strong at such a young age. Elder Yuan Shi truly is one of the village's original founders," Qian Nai said.

"I wasn't deliberately hiding it. You just never asked me. Besides, Grandpa Yuan Shi isn't my biological grandfather. You could say I was adopted." Knowing they had misunderstood, Qing Si explained with an awkward smile.

Before they knew it, they had reached the backyard. Staring at the enormous training ground, Qian Nai and Yagura were utterly dumbfounded.

Their respective clans also had training grounds like this, but the facilities shared by their entire clans were not even as large as Qing Si's family training ground.

"Brother Qing Si, let's have a match. We've never sparred with each other before!" Yagura suddenly said excitedly, challenging Qing Si.

"But you're already a Jonin, so Sister Qian Nai and I will team up against you!" Yagura added.

Qing Si froze for a moment, then nodded, agreeing to Yagura's request for a spar.

The moment Yagura saw Qing Si agree, he said nothing more. He grabbed the Coral Staff from his back and swung it at Qing Si.

"Kid, that's not playing fair!" Qing Si complained as he dodged in exasperation.

"Hehe, you don't get it, Brother Qing Si. We're ninja. From the moment you agreed, our fight started! Would enemies on the battlefield wait for you to get ready?" Yagura argued.

"Yagura, you little brat! I think you're asking for another beating." Qing Si was so amused by Yagura's sophistry that he laughed. Of course he understood Yagura's reasoning. He was no longer a rookie ninja who knew nothing and had no combat experience.

But this was only a spar between friends, and Yagura had actually launched a sneak attack without playing fair.

Dead Bone Pulse: Dance of the Larch!

The sudden outbreak of battle left Qing Si no time to take off his shirt. Pale bone spikes burst through the fabric from his chest and back, rapidly growing outward. Qing Si turned and met Yagura's incoming Coral Staff with his back.

He caught the weapon Yagura had swung at him with his bones, then twisted sideways and launched a flying kick at Yagura's abdomen.