You seem pretty happy, huh?

Yi scratched his head and smiled, his tone casual. "Oh, it wasn't much. I mostly relied on the Sharingan's built-in buff to bluff that guy Zabuza."

Kakashi sighed inwardly again. This kid Yi really had more tricks up his sleeve than he let on. But the mission still had to continue, so Kakashi immediately called to everyone, "Let's keep moving."

Sasuke suddenly rushed over, fists clenched and face flushed red. "Uchiha Yi! Just you wait! I'm definitely going to surpass you!"

Yi raised an eyebrow and curled his lip as he watched Sasuke's retreating back. Surpass me? Come back and say that when you've really become the "Uchiha Sasuke" that certain someone talked about. Right now, you've got a long way to go.

Still, he said nothing more. The foolish kid had his pride. Once he ran headfirst into a wall, he would understand.

Far away, Haku found a secluded spot and stopped with Zabuza. Zabuza had just awakened, his face still showing the exhaustion left by the genjutsu. Haku leaned closer, his voice soft. "Lord Zabuza, are you all right?"

Zabuza sat up, his voice as cold as ice. "I'm fine. We're going back to Gato."

Haku nodded. Although he vaguely sensed that Zabuza wanted to kill Gato, he had long considered himself nothing more than Zabuza's tool and gave it little thought. What he failed to notice, however, was the faint three-tomoe pattern emerging in Zabuza's eyes.

Yi's Illusion Realm could do more than trap people. It had another special ability. Though it fell short of a top-tier genjutsu like Kotoamatsukami, influencing someone's thoughts for a short time was no problem. He had ordered Zabuza to wipe out the Kado Group, then take his own life.

What followed was only natural. Zabuza killed Gato, then slit his own throat. Though shocked and bewildered, Haku followed him in suicide.

Yi saw all of it clearly through Vision Resonance. By then, he, Naruto, and the others had already arrived at Tazuna's home.

The plot continued as it was supposed to, with the sole exception of Naruto's encounter with Haku. Although Kakashi was uninjured, he still arranged training for Naruto and the other two. Tree climbing and Water Walking-neither was left out.

But Yi never expected that Naruto would accidentally loosen the Nine-Tails' seal even without fighting Haku. Kakashi was both alarmed and cautious, while Yi mostly found it interesting.

The moment Naruto went berserk, Yi sensed a subtle ripple of chakra. He secretly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and spotted a trace of unusual chakra on Naruto. It was faint and vanished in a flash, but he caught it nonetheless.

Yi raised an eyebrow and muttered inwardly, Well, well. Interesting. Was that Asura's chakra? Or... that old bastard Six Paths?

The latter seemed more likely. After all, Naruto was only twelve, yet he could already begin to withstand the Nine-Tails' chakra. This tiny release was practically handing Naruto a cheat. It looked far too much like Six Paths' handiwork.

Realizing this, Yi grew a little more wary. Fuck. That old bastard Six Paths has been watching Naruto from the shadows all along. Sasuke's probably no different. Looks like I need to keep some distance from those two.

The rest followed naturally. With the Nine-Tails' seal acting up and Gato mysteriously murdered, Team 7 stayed at Tazuna's home for a few days before returning to Konoha. In front of the Konoha Gate, Naruto grinned without a care in the world. "Yeah! I'm back!"

Kakashi cast a dead-eyed glance toward a certain corner, then turned and went to report to the Third Hokage. Yi went straight home.

In the days that followed, Team 7 continued its routine of assorted odd-job missions. But Yi knew this peace would not last long, because the Chunin Ninja Exams were approaching.

Yi had not expected the Third Hokage to summon him before the Chunin Ninja Exams even began. The Third Hokage sat in his chair, smiling warmly, though he could not hide the sharp gleam in his eyes. "You're quite something, child. Even an old man like me never imagined you were so gifted."

Yi scratched his head and grinned. "Hehe, neither did I. My dad used to say I didn't have much talent and that I'd be better off being an ordinary person."

The Third Hokage paused when Yi mentioned his father. He had known Yi's father well and could see traces of his own teammate, Uchiha Jing, in him. On the Night of the Uchiha Massacre, Danzo had wanted to send Guy away on a mission, but he had personally stepped in and refused. Had Guy left then, Yi would have had to go home, and the Yi before him today probably would not exist.

The Third Hokage blinked, then broke into a smile, his tone considerably more relaxed. "So you still remember a little about your father."

Yi scratched the back of his head and nodded earnestly. "Yeah! I've forgotten a lot of the details, but there's something he said that I've never forgotten."

The Third Hokage immediately grew interested and prompted him, "What was it?"

Yi sat up straight, his voice solemn. "For the things that truly matter, you have to fight to the end, no matter how much it hurts or how hard it gets. Even if it costs you your life, you have to protect them with your own two hands. That way, even after you die, you can leave behind proof that you lived as a man."

After a pause, he added, "Dad heard that from Uncle Guy. He said Uncle Guy was right, and that it was what he believed too."

The Third Hokage did not suspect a thing. He had heard Guy say those words himself, and given the friendship between Guy and Yi's father, it was perfectly natural for him to repeat them.

Yi spoke again, a hint of pride in his voice. "Dad also told me there was something Lord Fourth said that he admired most."

The Third Hokage's eyes lit up, and he pressed, "Something the Fourth said? What was it?"

Yi's voice rang clear. "The shadow of fire will illuminate the village. That is the reason the Hokage exists."

The Third Hokage froze, warmth welling up inside him. He could tell that the boy was not lying. Every emotion was genuine. What a good child.

But no one knew that Yi was sweating inwardly at that very moment.

The instant he entered the Hokage's office, he had felt no fewer than ten gazes bearing down on him. As soon as he saw the Third Hokage, he sensed a trace of inscrutable suspicion hidden in his eyes.

He had not panicked. Instead, he secretly hypnotized himself, even using his ability to briefly create a false personality. He used the Will of Fire as a cover, all to bluff his way through.

He had no desire to be driven out just after returning. Unless there was absolutely no alternative, he could not leave Konoha.

When most of the suspicion faded from the Third Hokage's eyes and only two or three ordinary watchful gazes remained, Yi knew he had succeeded.

The Third Hokage had no idea that a twelve-year-old brat had completely fooled him.

After a while, the Third Hokage looked up at Yi, his tone serious. "Then tell me, child. What does the village mean to you?"

Yi's eyes brightened, and he immediately sat up straight. "The village is one big family! Uncle Guy, Rock Lee, Naruto, and everyone else-we're all family."

Recalling his father's words, he added, "Dad said that we Uchiha are a big clan, but compared to the whole village, the village is the biggest family of all. Dad was willing to risk his life for the village, and so am I!"

At that moment, Yi seemed cloaked in righteousness, the very image of a model future Hokage candidate.

The Third Hokage smiled from ear to ear, praising him repeatedly. "Good child. Good child!"

Then he abruptly changed the subject. "Have you ever thought about becoming Hokage?"

Without even thinking, Yi shook his head. "No!"

The Third Hokage was taken aback and pressed, "Huh? You don't want to be Hokage? Why not?"

Yi curled his lip, his tone full of distaste. "What's there to ask? Being Hokage means sitting here every day like you, Grandpa Third, dealing with a mountain of messy paperwork. I'd be bored to death!"

"You barely get any time to go out training or wander around. Isn't that just like being in prison? Only an idiot like Naruto would dream about it every day. I'm not looking to make myself miserable!"

The Third Hokage opened his mouth, but for a long time, no words came out.

Only after quite a while did he ask, "Then don't you want to earn the recognition of the whole village, like Naruto?"

Yi shook his head. "I do, but becoming Hokage doesn't get you everyone's recognition. It's the person everyone recognizes who gets to become Hokage. Besides, being recognized doesn't mean you have to become Hokage!"

The Third Hokage was completely at a loss.

After struggling for some time, the Third Hokage asked again, "Then is there anything you want to accomplish?"

Yi's eyes instantly shone, his tone as determined as if he were heading out on a mission. "Yes! Of course there is! I want to marry Hinata! I want Hinata to be my wife!"

The Third Hokage froze at those words. It took him a long moment to recover. This was exactly like Naruto shouting that he wanted to become Hokage!

His head was throbbing, and he did not even know how he managed to see Yi out.

Only some time later did he speak toward the corner. "What do you think?"

A figure stepped out of the shadows. It was Kakashi.

Kakashi scratched the back of his head, looking helpless. "What else can I think? We've got another Naruto-level headache on our hands."

The Hyuga Main Family's heir, and Uchiha Yi is an Uchiha himself. This... forget it. I'll leave this brain-twister for the old Hokage to worry about!

One look at Kakashi's utterly unconcerned expression told the Third Hokage he had asked the wrong person. This meeting with Uchiha Yi had convinced him that the boy was genuinely impressive, but now there was a problem: his ambition was absurdly off course! He actually wanted to marry Hinata? With this landing in his lap, it was a real hot potato! Enough. I'm not thinking about it. This blasted problem takes too much brainpower.

At Ichiraku Ramen, Uchiha Yi slurped his noodles and could not help recalling the conversation in the Hokage's office, inwardly delighted. Although he had meant every word, he was certain the old Third Hokage was tearing his hair out with a headache right now. Hehe. That's what you get for testing me earlier. If I didn't give you a little trouble, I'd really be letting you down.

"Yi, you seem pretty happy, huh?"

Hinata's voice was soft-the very same Hinata he had just confidently declared he would marry in front of the Third Hokage.

He had also specifically told Hinata not to call him "Yi-kun," only "Yi." It had taken her three years to work up the courage to say it smoothly, and even then, her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's hum.

After leaving the Hokage's office, he had run into Hinata, who had just finished a mission. Kiba and Shino were there too, so they naturally ended up at Ichiraku Ramen together. At some point, this place had become the regular gathering spot for their whole bunch. Uchiha Yi could not say when, either. Maybe Naruto had rubbed off on them? Still, to be honest, Ichiraku Ramen really was incredible. He had been eating here for years and had never gotten the least bit tired of it.