Hiruzen Sarutobi

Qingyun sat down lazily beside Minato Namikaze, his eyes half closed as he watched Uchiha Yungang and his brother support each other and limp toward the infirmary. He said nothing.

Only after a long while did Minato Namikaze recover his senses and ask, "Big brother, do you think they'll hide what happened today?"

"They will. At least for now, they won't reveal the details. They know that once the Uchiha higher-ups learn about my talent, they'll spare no effort to nurture me. Then, having broken their oath, they'll have to face the consequences of angering me. They're smart enough not to put themselves in danger."

Without opening his eyes, Qingyun explained this calmly to Minato Namikaze.

There was something else Qingyun left unsaid, however. He had acted that way because he had sensed a faint, intermittent feeling of being watched. He suspected that the Third Hokage was observing the Ninja Academy through the Telescope Technique.

The reason Qingyun had acted out of character, defeating Uchiha Yungang and his brother with lightning speed before delivering those final words, was to let the Third Hokage know that he did not stand with the Uchiha.

Qingyun's guess was entirely correct. At that moment, inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat upright behind his desk in his Hokage robes, stroking his beard and taking puff after puff from his water pipe.

"What an interesting little fellow. An Uchiha by birth, yet he has no affection for the Uchiha Clan Members at all. He even abandoned the Uchiha name to enroll in the Ninja Academy and lives alone on the outskirts of the Forest of Death."

Earlier, Hiruzen Sarutobi had used the Telescope Technique to observe the Ninja Academy as he routinely did. He had intended to look for promising children with a steadfast Will of Fire, only to discover by chance that Qingyun was concealing considerable strength.

Curious, he had ordered an ANBU operative to investigate Qingyun's background.

Since Qingyun was no one important and the Uchiha had not suppressed information about him, the ANBU operative soon investigated his parents and his entire life from childhood, then reported back to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Smoking his water pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at Qingyun's languid figure in the crystal ball before him and fell into thought.

The ANBU operative knelt on the floor without the slightest impatience, waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi's next instructions.

After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi deactivated the crystal ball and said calmly, "Seal all information concerning Qingyun's background and classify it as top secret. Without my orders, no one is to access his records."

"Yes, sir."

With that acknowledgment, the ANBU operative vanished.

"Little fellow, let's see just how far you can go. I hope you possess a steadfast Will of Fire. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

After the ANBU operative left, Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured to himself.

Naturally, Qingyun knew nothing of Hiruzen Sarutobi's opinion of him. At that moment, delight showed on his face, because the system had just notified him that the quest to make his mark was complete.

Qingyun eagerly claimed his reward. A set of Basic Swordsmanship techniques immediately flowed into his mind and was absorbed by his immense spiritual power.

He closed his eyes and immersed himself in the forms of Basic Swordsmanship.

Basic Swordsmanship was the foundation of every sword art under heaven. No sword art in the world could escape its framework.

The more Qingyun learned, the more extraordinary he found Basic Swordsmanship. He barely restrained the urge to take the Azure Edge Sword out of the system's storage space and try the forms.

Only when afternoon classes began did Qingyun manage to calm his excitement.

As he listened to Iruka Umino speak, Qingyun divided his attention, pretending to follow the lesson intently while continually working through Basic Swordsmanship in his mind.

He lost track of how much time passed. When the dismissal bell finally rang, Qingyun eagerly dragged Minato Namikaze back to his home in the Forest of Death and told him to prepare the ingredients.

Meanwhile, he took out the Azure Edge Sword and drew its three-foot blade, nearly as long as he was tall. Reaching out with his short little arm, he flicked the blade, producing a clear ring.

Qingyun could not help exclaiming, "What a fine sword!"

With the Azure Edge Sword drawn, he began practicing the forms of Basic Swordsmanship.

Before long, Qingyun finished a complete set of Basic Swordsmanship forms. Still wanting more, he sheathed the sword and began preparing dinner.

Although Minato Namikaze wondered where Qingyun had obtained such an oddly shaped Long Sword, he did not ask. Everyone had their own secrets, after all.

Seeing Qingyun preparing dinner, Minato Namikaze immediately stepped forward to help.

Soon, a lavish dinner was ready. Just as the two were about to eat, an old man in Hokage robes slowly approached from the distance. It was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"G-Grandpa Hokage?"

Minato Namikaze rubbed his eyes. Once he confirmed that the approaching figure really was the Third Hokage, he cried out in delight.

"Greetings, Lord Hokage."

Qingyun looked at the Third Hokage in confusion, unsure why he had come here at this hour. That did not stop him from putting on a respectful air and bowing to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hehe, little Minato, little Qingyun, why are you living out here?"

With a kindly expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Minato Namikaze and Qingyun on the head and asked with a smile.

"I left my clan and had nowhere to go, so I'm staying here for now. Minato and I hit it off right away. He was worried I'd be lonely on my own, so he moved here to keep me company."

Qingyun explained without being either servile or arrogant.

A sharp gleam flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes before fading. Feigning ignorance, he asked, "You left your clan? Little Qingyun, were you born into one of the great clans?"

Qingyun grumbled inwardly, but answered without hesitation, "I used to be an Uchiha. I was bullied from childhood and never felt the slightest familial affection within the clan. A few days ago, I wanted to sign up for the Ninja Academy entrance examination, but those Clan Members threatened to make me leave the clan if I did. With no other choice, that was what I had to do."

He recounted his background with a mixture of truth and lies, even squeezing out a few crocodile tears.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew Qingyun's history, hearing it from Qingyun himself still stirred some sympathy in him.

The sight of Qingyun's tears softened Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart a little more. His doubts were not entirely dispelled, however, and he continued, "Then why are you so determined to enter the Ninja Academy, little Qingyun?"

"Because I want to grow stronger. I want to protect myself and the companions around me. To do all that, I need strength. The Ninja Academy can help me achieve that goal, which is why I want to study there."

Qingyun delivered the explanation he had prepared long ago.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at Qingyun. Seeing that he answered without the slightest hesitation or any change in his gaze, Hiruzen felt somewhat reassured.

"So that's how it is. I heard your dream is to stay alive. Why? Don't you want to become Hokage? You'd be the village's highest leader, with even more people to protect you!"

Qingyun scratched his head and said, "Minato's dream is to become Hokage, and he's my little brother. How could a big brother compete with his little brother? So I'm not interested. Hehe!"

Qingyun's words stunned Hiruzen Sarutobi for a moment before he burst into laughter. His wariness toward Qingyun faded further, and he continued, "Then what would you do if the Uchiha wanted you to return to the clan someday?"

"Lord Hokage, my heart is small. It only has room for people who care about me. I no longer have any ties to the Uchiha, so why would I go back? They never gave me the slightest warmth. Even though I haven't known Minato for long, I've felt genuine care from him.

"From now on, there is only Qingyun of Konoha, not Qingyun of the Uchiha."

Qingyun spoke with a sincere expression.

After hearing Qingyun's answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction. "Good boy. From now on, just call me Grandpa Hokage. If you ever need help, tell Grandpa. If I can help, I certainly will. You two have learned to cook for yourselves at such a young age? Could Grandpa have some too?"

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had set aside his doubts for the time being, Qingyun inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. At his request, Qingyun rolled his eyes, then put on a delighted expression and invited him to join them for dinner.

Once he had their permission, Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed two chicken drumsticks and began gnawing on them, getting grease all around his mouth. Who would have thought these two children could cook so well at their age? Truly impressive.

After a long while, they finished their meal. Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his belly and took his leave with a gratified expression.

Before leaving, he pressed a handful of banknotes into Qingyun's hands. Qingyun initially refused, but Hiruzen Sarutobi made accepting them an order, leaving him no choice but to take them.

Qingyun knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was trying to win him over, but that suited him perfectly. With Hiruzen Sarutobi courting his loyalty, he would have far fewer troubles in the future.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi left, Qingyun drew the Azure Edge Sword and continued practicing Basic Swordsmanship.

Only late into the night did he stop practicing, sit cross-legged in meditation, and cultivate his Internal Arts.