"Those eyes!!"
Kankuro narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling an intense pressure settle over him.
"C-could that be the Uchiha Clan's exclusive kekkei genkai?"
Temari offered an explanation beside him.
Seeing Qingxue's murderous glare, she wondered whether Qingxue was doing this on purpose.
Just to stab her.
Hadn't she only taken a few extra looks at that guy in white?
Was that really necessary, girl?
"Apologize, or I'm going to hurt you."
Qingxue Uchiha held a silver kunai, her delicate face serious. She didn't look like she was joking.
"Wait, what did I even say? Who am I supposed to apologize to?"
Kankuro clearly still hadn't grasped what exactly was happening.
Wasn't it common knowledge that Konoha's genin were weak?
Was he wrong?
These days, Konoha was famous throughout the Shinobi World for its cowardice.
Ceding territory and paying reparations, sacrificing the Branch Family's head to sue for peace, Orochimaru-one of the Sannin-defecting, Jiraiya leaving, Tsunade leaving Konoha too, the Uchiha Clan being wiped out, and a whole string of other incidents.
All of that had made Konoha look weaker and weaker in the eyes of many countries.
Weak?
The weak got beaten. The weak had no diplomatic leverage.
"Kankuro, apologize. Apologize to that ninja in white," Gaara reminded him then.
This wasn't the time for a conflict.
Kankuro's expression stiffened.
It seemed playing dumb wasn't going to get him out of this.
He approached Yemu reluctantly. "Sorry. I went too far with what I said."
Kankuro looked up, committing Yemu's appearance to memory.
"Hinata, have I gotten even more handsome?"
Yemu casually asked Hinata beside him.
He completely ignored Kankuro.
As for why...
An insect might glare with its tiny eyes at a human blocking its path, never realizing the human didn't even consider it worth noticing.
"Y-Yemu, you've always been handsome." Hinata Hyuga's little face flushed as she spoke softly.
Hearing that from nearby, Temari nodded unconsciously.
The guy really was handsome.
At least, Temari thought Yemu was the most handsome guy she had ever seen.
Especially with that calm, unruffled air of his, which made girls want to get closer without even realizing it.
Safety. Just being near Yemu naturally gave them a sense of security.
"No wonder..."
Yemu Hyuga fell silent for a moment. He glanced at Kankuro and inwardly shuddered.
[Handsome (Purple): Your appearance is blessed by the heavens. You possess powerful natural charm that can even attract members of the same sex.]
Damn it, am I in for some serious trouble?
Don't tell me this guy's fallen for me?
"Qingxue, let's go."
Yemu called to Qingxue Uchiha behind him.
"Hmph."
Qingxue Uchiha gave a cold snort. Since Kankuro had apologized, she tucked the silver kunai at her waist and let the matter drop.
Though his apology had certainly been halfhearted.
Just you wait. I'll deal with you properly later!!
Qingxue Uchiha had three things she would never tolerate.
First, anyone hurting Yemu.
Second, anyone speaking disrespectfully to Yemu.
Third, any woman liking Yemu.
"Damn, those three are no pushovers, huh?"
Temari watched Yemu's retreating back, sounding impressed.
"Hey, stop staring. He's already gone. Seriously, is that guy so good-looking he's got you all dazed?"
Kankuro pouted in annoyance and followed Gaara away.
"You'll get your chance, Kankuro. Don't rush."
Gaara's gaze was impassive.
Sooner or later, they would face each other.
Noon.
Yemu arrived at a noodle shop, lifted the curtain with practiced ease, and called out casually, "Teuchi, we're back."
"Three large bowls of ramen."
"Extra seaweed in one, no scallions in another, and extra noodles in the third."
Teuchi, who was preparing ingredients in the back, heard Yemu's voice. He wiped his hands on his apron and quickly came out.
"Yemu, you're back! Give me a moment. Your food will be ready soon."
Ichiraku Ramen.
Though it was only an ordinary little eatery, it had been there throughout the entire Naruto storyline.
Plenty of people even jokingly called the owner of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop "Teuchi Otsutsuki."
Why?
Just look at how he had been there for several generations in the anime, through all sorts of battles.
Yet he was still perfectly fine, running his ramen stand as usual. How could he not be an Otsutsuki?
Hinata Hyuga lowered her little head.
She looked a little embarrassed.
Every time they came, Yemu ordered extra noodles to make sure she had enough.
It made her feel like a glutton.
Yemu patted Hinata's head beside him, a mischievous look in his eyes. "Eat more. That way, you'll grow up faster."
"Ahem."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qingxue Uchiha, sitting to his left, covered her mouth and coughed lightly. "What, am I not big enough to satisfy you?"
Qingxue Uchiha shifted her gaze slightly, a trace of resentment on her pretty face.
"Let's eat. Food first."
Seeing the ramen arrive, Yemu changed the subject.
He crushed the seaweed in his bowl. He didn't particularly like being interrupted while eating, especially when he was enjoying good food.
Unfortunately, besides Qingxue, there were also some uninvited guests.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!
Three rushes of wind sounded beside Yemu's ears as three ninja wearing Root masks arrived at the entrance to Ichiraku Ramen.
Upon seeing the three ninja...
Teuchi quickly ducked back inside.
As a civilian, he couldn't go sticking his nose into ninja business.
"Yemu, Lord Danzo requests that you join us after the chunin exams."
"Lord Danzo is willing to offer you triple pay, two days off each week, and a promise to make you his successor after one year."
The Root squad captain repeated Danzo's words exactly as instructed.
He was filled with envy and jealousy.
To think Lord Danzo now valued this brat so highly.
Although he probably knew that plenty of those promises were empty.
Still, he was extremely envious.
Two days off each week.
For a Root ninja, that was an incredible luxury.
Because Root ninja had no time to call their own.
"Qingxue, what are you doing?"
"I'm not done eating yet."
Yemu watched as Qingxue Uchiha took the soft-boiled egg he had bitten into from his bowl and put it into her little mouth.
His gaze turned helpless.
Why did this girl love eating things he had already eaten so much?
Did she really like mouth-to-mouth imports that much?
Qingxue Uchiha wiped the egg yolk from her rosy lips with a fingertip, her expression seductive.
"Bastard!!"
Seeing the Root member beside him about to interrupt Yemu's meal again...
The Root squad captain immediately raised a hand to stop him from speaking or moving.
Then he went to the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen of his own accord and quietly waited for Yemu to finish eating.
"Captain, what are you doing? That guy actually ignored Lord Danzo's invitation."
Listening to his subordinate, the Root squad captain wondered to himself.
How did I never notice this guy was a fucking idiot before?
Lord Danzo clearly values Yemu so highly, and you still dare to piss him off?
Do you really have no fear of death?
Or aren't you afraid Yemu might agree to join Root and make your life a living hell afterward?
No, absolutely not. I have to replace this guy once we get back.
Otherwise, he might get me killed someday.
At that moment, the Root squad member had no idea that his own captain had already blacklisted him.
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