Konoha: Starting with the Tenseigan and Taking Over Team 7

He had no interest in conquering the world or stirring up trouble. He just wanted a peaceful life of taking it easy: missions when he needed money, women when he had plenty.

That sounded far better than risking his life every day.

Aogetsu Hyuga propped his cheek on one hand, remembering the past. As he watched the crowds on the street, he sighed to himself. "Man, I never saw that coming."

A few months earlier, Kakashi Hatake had tracked Aogetsu down at a tavern, where he was drinking with his arm around a sexy older woman.

Kakashi had asked him to take over Team 7. He believed Aogetsu was strong enough to protect the Fourth's legacy and keep the Nine-Tails, a potential danger, under control.

Naturally, Aogetsu had refused outright.

But he never saw what came next.

Kakashi had been so persistent that he'd even given Aogetsu his treasured copy of Icha Icha Paradise.

Kakashi had pestered Cangyue every day for months, until Aogetsu was numb to it.

Just as Aogetsu had grown fed up and was preparing to travel the nations again, a system called the Master-Disciple Development System had appeared.

The Mentor-Disciple System had initially linked itself to Team 7. He had to become the team's teacher before he could use its functions.

You've got to be kidding me!

I already unlocked the Tenseigan, and now you're telling me there's a system too?

Does the whole damn world want me to whip Team 7 into shape?

In the end, Aogetsu agreed to take over Team 7. He hated troublesome things, but the Mentor-Disciple System offered enough benefits to push his strength even further.

His Tenseigan already gave him an overwhelming advantage in the Ninja World, but the Ōtsutsuki Clan would appear someday.

After all, only invincible strength would let him take it easy in peace.

Six Paths Level Strength and the Third Hokage's Conspiracy

Aogetsu bit into his candied fruit skewer and muttered to himself, "All I want is to kick back and take it easy, but the system wants me to become invincible?"

Attribute Panel, Aogetsu said silently.

Hum. A pale-blue Attribute Panel appeared out of thin air like a projection. No one else could see it; only Aogetsu could.

Attribute Panel.

[Name: Aogetsu Hyuga.]

[Gender: Male.]

[Height: 185 cm.]

[Clan: Hyuga Clan.]

[Dojutsu Power: Tenseigan.]

[Chakra affinities: All attributes, Six Paths Chakra.]

[Chakra reserves: Nine-Tails level.]

[Level: Six Paths threshold.]

[Overall strength assessment: Comparable to Madara Uchiha with both Rinnegan.]

[Master-Disciple Mission: Have every member of Team 7 pass the test. Reward: One beginner's gift package. Time limit: One month.]

[Completing missions grants rewards. Failed missions carry no penalty.]

[If a mission is not completed within the time limit, it will automatically fail. The mission system will enter a one-month cooldown, after which a new mission will be issued.]

"The test must be tomorrow's exercise." Aogetsu tossed the bare skewer over his shoulder, lay back on the roof, and watched the dark-red sunset. He stretched and yawned. "Work hard, you little brats. Your teacher's beginner's gift package depends on you."

Whoosh. A figure appeared beside Aogetsu with a Body Flicker Technique.

"Yo."

Kakashi Hatake wore a Flak Jacket. A black mask covered his face, and his Forehead Protector concealed his left eye, lending him an air of mystery. He raised a hand and greeted Aogetsu with a smile.

With one hand in his pocket and the other holding Icha Icha Paradise, Kakashi looked up from his reading and asked lazily, his eyes as lifeless as ever, "Cangyue, what do you think of Team 7?"

Aogetsu was just as laid-back. He tossed out a few perfunctory words. "Naruto's cheerful, Sasuke's handsome, and Sakura's cute."

"And the truth?" Kakashi asked. He knew Aogetsu had only described their appearances.

Aogetsu chuckled. "The truth? The truth tends to hurt. Naruto's an idiot, Sasuke's a poser, and Sakura's a bitch. But Naruto Uzumaki really is cheerful. That little brat can take a hell of a lot."

"If I were Naruto Uzumaki, I'd probably become a rogue ninja, then... destroy the village. I'd beat the life out of those losers who called me a monster behind my back every day." Aogetsu's faint smile made it impossible to tell whether he meant it.

He genuinely thought Naruto Uzumaki could endure a hell of a lot. Bullied and called a monster every day since childhood, the kid had somehow kept such a positive outlook.

Aogetsu sat up and stroked his chin, pretending to think it over. A moment later, he raised a finger and smiled. "If I did that, the first person I'd kill would be the Third Hokage. That old fox is pretty irritating."

"Uh..." Kakashi fell silent, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He had no idea how to answer. Saying that in the village was dangerous, especially when the Third Hokage could hear their conversation through a Barrier.

Any ordinary ninja who said such a thing in the village would be seized and interrogated by ANBU on the spot. Only Aogetsu dared speak so freely.

After all, Aogetsu was strong.

"The Fourth and his wife hoped the villagers would see Naruto as a hero who sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tails." Aogetsu took out some Dango and ate as he spoke. "But what happened? Those stubborn old fossils in the leadership have always wanted to raise Naruto into a living weapon that fights for the village."

"Naruto's been bullied since he was little and treated like the demon fox that destroyed the village. But how many people were there when the Nine-Tails was sealed?" Aogetsu paused.

He pointed his Dango at Kakashi. "Question: if hardly anyone was present at the Sealing, why does the entire village know Naruto Uzumaki is the Nine-Tails' vessel?"

"..." Kakashi frowned but did not answer. After everything he had been through, he had begun to suspect something himself.

"That's right. Exactly what you're thinking." Aogetsu stood and pointed a finger at Kakashi's chest, the Dango skewer dangling from his mouth.

Hum. Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared with a Body Flicker Technique.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with one hand behind his back and a cigarette in the other, smoking slowly. He smiled as he chided, "Honestly, you brat. That's enough chatting. You've said plenty."

Hiruzen seemed genial, but a warning glinted in his aged eyes.

"Hey, old man. You've lived this long and still haven't learned any manners? Interrupting people makes you look rude." Aogetsu showed no surprise at Hiruzen Sarutobi's appearance. He had sensed Hiruzen watching his conversation with Kakashi from the start.

"Lord Hokage." Kakashi Hatake dropped to one knee. Despite his respectful posture, his eyes remained as lifeless as ever.

"You brat. Your tongue's still as sharp as ever." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag and exhaled a pale cloud of smoke. "Cangyue, I know what you're getting at. But the village is the root, the ninja are its leaves, and the will is its fire."

"The Will of Fire burns on without end. Wherever leaves dance, flames will rise. The fire's light will shine upon the village, and new leaves will sprout once more."

"I did this for the village. Anyone who threatens it is an enemy, whether friend or family. Protecting the village is a Hokage's duty."

"When you look upon the new saplings, you'll understand how important the Will of Fire is someday." Hiruzen Sarutobi turned toward the busy street, a smile creasing his wrinkled face.

"Right. That Will of Fire you mentioned." Aogetsu took a bite of Dango.

Everyone looked at Aogetsu in confusion, unsure where he was going with this.

Aogetsu chewed, swallowed, and continued, "You were the one who spread the news that Naruto was the Nine-Tails' vessel, weren't you?"

"You brat..."

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish, Aogetsu waved a hand and teased, "No need to rush to deny it. We know each other inside out. I even know you're wearing black shorts."

"They're gray," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, anger flashing in his eyes.

Danzo, I'm the Hokage!

"Are they? I'm not interested," Aogetsu said.

"Anyway, once you spread the news and everyone hated Naruto, that Will of Fire you keep talking about would become his only salvation in his darkest days."

"The Will of Fire started from a good place: uniting people who were at odds with each other. But take anything too far and it backfires. You old foxes have lost sight of what matters."

"Is your Will of Fire meant to protect the village itself, or the people living in it?"

"Of course, I'm not interested in your mess. What keeps me here has never been the village. It's the big-breasted women here I can't bear to leave." Aogetsu gestured in front of his chest. He had no interest in what happened to the village; he had always lived however he pleased.

I'm enjoying myself first. Why should I care what happens to anyone else?

"You foul-mouthed brat. I'm leaving Team 7 to you. Your awful personality is hard to read, but I trust your strength."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took another drag and said evenly, "If you threaten the village, I'll do everything I can to stop you."

He was not especially angry. Getting angry with Cangyue would only make him angrier. The brat had a gift for provoking people, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Want to try? Though I'd advise those old bones of yours to enjoy each day you have left." Aogetsu smiled, a hint of danger in his expression. His sky-blue eyes were intimidating.

Kakashi Hatake's heart jolted. "Cangyue..."

He had known Cangyue for so long, yet he still could not tell what was going through his head.

"Relax. I'm only joking." Aogetsu draped an arm over Hiruzen Sarutobi's shoulder and put on a show of respect. "I've always respected my elders and cared for children."

Everyone was speechless.

Aogetsu respected elders and cared for children?

Bullshit!

At fifteen, Aogetsu had burned off Hiruzen Sarutobi's beard. At eighteen, he had bullied several Ninja Academy students until they cried.

That was respect for elders and care for children?

When Aogetsu was in a good mood, fine. When he was in a bad mood, did age matter to him?

And it wasn't just the old and young.

During a mission, Cangyue had even beaten a beautiful woman from another Ninja Village until she sobbed. His explanation? She had been too arrogant!

"Watch your mouth from now on, brat." Hiruzen Sarutobi shot Cangyue an exasperated glare, then turned and left the roof.

Aogetsu looked Kakashi over and smiled. "Now that the nuisance is gone, we can get to that little secret between us."

Kakashi Hatake stared at him. "The way you put that... Should I take it off?"

"Take it off," Aogetsu said.

Kakashi Hatake shyly and reluctantly pulled down his mask.

"Wow." Aogetsu stroked his chin and studied Kakashi carefully before nodding in satisfaction. "My curiosity is finally satisfied."

Before taking over Team 7, he had struck a deal with Kakashi.

He would get to see the face beneath the mask.

Kakashi Hatake put his mask back on and bowed slightly. "I'm counting on you to look after Team 7."

Aogetsu said earnestly, "You've been asking me for so long. I had to do you this favor, didn't I? I only agreed to teach Team 7 because of you."

[No. Master is lying. Master took over Team 7 solely for the system mission reward,] the system said in a woman's voice.

Shut up. If I can get Kakashi to owe me a favor, it might come in handy later, Aogetsu replied silently.

Warmth welled up in Kakashi Hatake's heart. He smiled. "Thank you. I'll remember this favor."

He cared deeply about Naruto Uzumaki's growth. Naruto was the only child left behind by the teacher Kakashi respected most.

"Don't worry. Leave it to me. I'm a man who steps up when it counts. If I can handle women, three little brats who haven't even grown up yet won't be a problem. I'll whip them into shape."

"Enough boring talk. Little Hinata needs me, so I'm off." The moment Aogetsu finished speaking, he vanished completely.

"Oh! Kakashi! To think I'd run into you here! You truly are my one and only best friend! Let's continue our contest!" a hearty voice rang out.

At the sound, the corner of Kakashi Hatake's mouth twitched.

The Hokage's office.

"Aogetsu Hyuga... What a troublesome brat." Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked at a leisurely pace, exhaling pale clouds as he leafed through Aogetsu's intelligence file.

He had searched countless books but found nothing about Aogetsu's gemlike, sky-blue eyes.

The only thing he could confirm was that Aogetsu's unusual eyes were a form of Dojutsu Power evolved from the Byakugan.

The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan had been able to evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan. That alone had posed a potential threat to the village.

What if every Hyuga Clan member's Byakugan could evolve?

What if another Cangyue appeared in the Hyuga Clan?

The one reassuring thing was that the Hyuga Clan was loyal, while most of the Uchiha Clan was extreme.

Of course, the oppression the Uchiha had suffered over the years was also why they had wanted to rebel.

Creak.