Becoming Tsunade's disciple

Tsunade froze when she heard Qingyun's words, her beautiful eyes widening as she stared at him in disbelief.

She simply could not understand how Qingyun could possibly belong to the Uchiha Clan.

Though the little boy before her seemed cold on the outside, he clearly cared deeply about his friends. Minato Namikaze's attitude toward Qingyun alone showed how well Qingyun usually treated him.

He was even willing to teach Minato Namikaze his own unique Taijutsu. Most people would never casually teach someone else their signature combat techniques.

Once enough people knew about them, others would study those techniques and devise tactics to counter them in the next encounter, defeating—or even killing—their user.

Qingyun was no fool, yet he had done it anyway. That was completely unlike the way members of the Uchiha Clan treated others.

And Qingyun had said he used to be a member of the Uchiha Clan? What about now? Was he no longer one? How was that possible?

Had the Uchiha leadership lost their minds? Would they really expel a genius like Qingyun? Besides, being expelled from a great clan did not mean you could simply live peacefully outside it.

Clans, especially the great ones, placed tremendous importance on their bloodlines. That was all the more true of the Uchiha, a great clan possessing the strongest kekkei genkai in the shinobi world. How could they let Qingyun live safely outside the clan's control?

For a moment, Tsunade could barely process it all. She kept turning Qingyun's words over in her mind.

Meanwhile, Qingyun stood calmly in place, watching her expression shift again and again.

He had told Tsunade who he was precisely because he knew about the thousand-year feud between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan.

As an Uchiha, even leaving the Uchiha Clan could not change the Uchiha blood flowing through his veins.

Even if he did not tell Tsunade now, she would find out when she formally accepted him as her disciple. Better to explain it beforehand.

"Lady Tsunade, it's an honor that you think so highly of me. Unfortunately, our backgrounds are different. You don't need to agonize over it. I've decided..."

Before Qingyun could finish, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived beside Tsunade with Orochimaru and Jiraiya. Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Teacher Iruka, take the students away. Minato Namikaze and Qingyun, stay."

"Yes, Lord Hokage. Everyone except Minato Namikaze and Qingyun, follow me."

Iruka Umino nodded at the order, called out to the students, and led his class out of the Training Ground.

The students looked at Qingyun and Minato Namikaze with envy. They knew that today, important figures would take an interest in the two boys and accept them as disciples.

Uchiha Yungang and Uchiha Yunshan stared at Qingyun, practically coming apart at the seams with jealousy. Yet no matter how jealous they were, they could not change the facts.

"Grandpa Hokage, what brings you here?"

After he and Minato Namikaze bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, Qingyun asked the question with feigned curiosity.

"I came to see you two. These three are my disciples, and I brought them along today to see whether they were interested in taking you on. What did you just say to Tsunade?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi offered a smiling, perfunctory explanation before asking curiously.

From a distance, they had only seen Tsunade walk over to Qingyun. Qingyun had said something to her, and then she had frozen in place, looking at a loss.

Putting on a dejected expression, Qingyun recounted what had just happened.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in understanding. Seeing Qingyun's downcast face, he could not help feeling sorry for him. At such a young age, the boy had already endured all sorts of things no child his age should have to bear.

With a sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked seriously at Tsunade. "Tsunade, I already knew about Qingyun's background. One reason I brought you here is that Qingyun is different from the other Uchiha. He longs for peace, values his comrades, and loves the village just as deeply as we do." He paused, then continued, "The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan have been entangled in a feud for a thousand years. Now, following our teacher's wishes, the Senju Clan has integrated into the village. Only you and Nawaki remain of the clan.

"And Qingyun really was expelled because of the Uchiha's poor management. Some rotten elements within the clan wanted to embezzle his survivor benefits. He now lives in the Forest of Death with Minato Namikaze.

"As your teacher, I hope you can set aside your prejudices and accept Qingyun. Even if you don't take him as your disciple, you should still treat him as you would anyone else.

"This child has suffered far too much."

Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's assessment of him, Qingyun felt his cheeks grow warm. So Hiruzen Sarutobi thinks that highly of me?

Tsunade's eyes flickered at Hiruzen Sarutobi's words. She turned to look once more at Qingyun, whose hair she had ruffled into a disheveled mess. No one knew what she was thinking.

"Tsunade, if you won't take Qingyun, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Orochimaru spoke in a soft, silky voice.

Looking at this Orochimaru, who was completely different from the one in the television series he had watched in his previous life, Qingyun was deeply surprised.

Then he remembered that Orochimaru had apparently only begun extensively modifying his body and researching the Immortality Technique after Nawaki's death. Eventually, he had descended into madness, allowing Danzo to exploit his vulnerability and ultimately leading him down the path of abandoning the village.

Though Orochimaru had a soft, effeminate air about him now, he had not yet completely modified his body. Nor did he have that nasty habit of curling his tongue around whenever he spoke.

Noticing Qingyun looking at him, Orochimaru fixed his yellow eyes on the boy.

A chill crept into Qingyun's heart under Orochimaru's gaze. He hurriedly looked away and discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

When Orochimaru had stared at him just now, Qingyun had felt as though a venomous snake had locked onto him. His whole body had prickled with unease, and he had almost activated his Sharingan to resist it.

"Get lost! I spotted Qingyun first!"

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Tsunade could not help shouting.

"Tsunade, you should know that since Qingyun is an Uchiha, his talent for ninjutsu must also be exceptional. Wouldn't having him study Taijutsu under you be a waste?"

Unwilling to give up on Qingyun, Orochimaru tried to persuade her.

"Hmph. The Senju Clan may be gone, but do you think we don't even have a few ninjutsu scrolls left? I'll teach Qingyun myself. You don't need to worry about him.

"Kid, are you willing to become my disciple?"

Tsunade snorted, then looked at Qingyun with a complicated expression as she asked.

After hearing Tsunade's offer and considering it for a moment, Qingyun bowed respectfully. "Qingyun pays his respects to his big-sister teacher."

The way Qingyun addressed her left Tsunade stunned. Then the corner of her mouth twitched, and finally she could not help laughing as she scolded him. "You little brat. So young, yet so cheeky."

"Hehe, Tsunade's taken a disciple, so now it's my turn. Little Minato, I am your wise and mighty teacher Jiraiya, beloved by all, charming enough to make flowers bloom, handsome and dashing! Come pay your respects to your teacher."

Jiraiya struck a series of exaggerated poses, then planted both hands on his hips and cast a sidelong look at Minato Namikaze as he spoke.

Minato Namikaze gave an awkward laugh and looked at Qingyun, unsure what to do.

Qingyun could not help laughing at Jiraiya's antics. Seeing Minato Namikaze looking at him, he said with a smile, "Minato, since Lord Jiraiya is Grandpa Hokage's disciple, he must be very powerful too. His personality may be a little... well, you know. But as long as he can teach us to become stronger, that's what matters. Everything else is minor. Don't worry about it."

Since Qingyun also encouraged him to become Jiraiya's disciple, Minato Namikaze stopped overthinking it and respectfully performed a disciple's bow.

Seeing that both boys had found teachers, Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his beard and smiled. "Good. Today is a happy day—you've both become disciples. Orochimaru, take them to have a proper feast. Hmm, buy some ingredients and have Qingyun cook. His cooking is better than the restaurants'. Whatever it costs, come to me for reimbursement afterward. I'll join you once I finish my official business. Remember to save some for me."

At first, Qingyun looked delighted, thinking he would get to sample this world's delicacies. But when he heard the rest of Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, he rolled his eyes and hung his head in dismay!