Dan Katō left the Hokage office building and headed toward the Memorial Stone, his blue hair shimmering faintly in the moonlight.
Longjian needed to visit Orochimaru's Laboratory these next few nights to adjust the compatibility of the Sealing Jutsu Formula on the eyes, so they would not be staying together for the time being.
That meant he was free for these few nights, with plenty of time left to adjust his mindset.
Longjian was exceptionally sensitive to emotions. The slightest hint that something was off with someone else would be noticed and met with an immediate response.
Their brief encounters in the Laboratory had been fine, but they would be spending their days together from now on. He would have to conceal his emotions more carefully.
He stood before the Memorial Stone, his fingertips brushing over a familiar name-Uchiha Ichiro.
His shoulders slumped as he stood there in silence, until the cool stone left a trace of chill on the pads of his fingers.
"Teacher Yilong... that child isn't like you at all."
"Orochimaru has been a bad influence. That child has a sharp tongue, a stubborn streak, and even uses money to win people over. So many mischievous little schemes... raising that child won't be easy. But there's a gentleness there, too. That part is very much like you, Teacher."
He spoke softly, comparing Longjian, trait by trait, with the idealized image of Uchiha Ichiro in his heart.
There's really no comparison. I never saw Teacher Yilong as a child, but I'm sure he must have been the quiet, shy, well-behaved type. He would never have thrown money around to win people over right from the start like Longjian.
Still, Longjian Senju was Longjian Senju, and Uchiha Ichiro was Uchiha Ichiro.
Though he could not help searching for traces