After all, that scheming old bastard Danzo alone had been coveting his position all along.
"I couldn't tell, but they shouldn't be weak." Asuma shook his head. He really couldn't tell.
"I see. Pass down the order: no one is to get into a conflict with them. As for the Hyuga Clan, I'll pay them a visit myself." Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a while, then immediately gave the order.
He still trusted this son of his a great deal. If things really were as he said, then this was indeed an opportunity for Konoha!
Befriend the two of them and have them stay and put down roots in Konoha!
Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi brought Otsutsuki Toneri and Otsutsuki Quxian back to her home.
Otsutsuki Toneri sensed his surroundings. The house wasn't large. It seemed Kurenai Yuhi's financial circumstances could only be described as comfortable.
"Come in. I'll make you something to eat first. It's almost mealtime anyway." Kurenai Yuhi opened the door and smiled at them. Because her father had died in the Third Shinobi World War,
she had begun living independently at a very young age.
"Kurenai, when does Konoha's Ninja Academy let out?" Otsutsuki Toneri nodded, then asked Kurenai Yuhi curiously.
Everything in Konoha was new to him. After all, everything he knew about Konoha came from that manga.
There were many details he didn't know.
"The Ninja Academy? At five thirty in the afternoon. Why, Toneri? Are you interested in it?" Kurenai Yuhi tapped her chin in thought, then asked Otsutsuki Toneri with a smile.
If Otsutsuki Toneri wanted to, she could send him to the Ninja Academy.
After all, he was only seven now.
"No, I was just curious." Otsutsuki Toneri shook his head. He had indeed only asked out of momentary curiosity.
Because there was one memory that remained exceptionally clear in his mind.
Kurenai Yuhi soon finished cooking, and the three ate together. Although the food didn't taste particularly good,
Otsutsuki Toneri was very satisfied. Kurenai Yuhi had genuinely meant well, and he truly was happy.
After the meal, Otsutsuki Toneri let Kurenai Yuhi know he was leaving, then headed out with Otsutsuki Quxian.
There was a place he really wanted to see.
(First update! Please support me in every way! Also, the bonus-update rules have been canceled. I'll definitely make up the three updates I owe... This won't work. If the story goes premium on schedule while the favorites aren't keeping up, I'll have nothing to live on. I write full-time and am counting on the royalties to get through the New Year... But don't worry, and please keep supporting me! Please support me. The numbers really matter. After it goes premium, I'll post ten updates a day for ten days to thank everyone!)
Chapter 17: Naruto Uzumaki and Uchiha Sasuke! Second update
The red clouds on the horizon were enchanting. Otsutsuki Toneri and Otsutsuki Quxian strolled along a path.
It was a path along a small riverbank embankment, and by now almost no one was around.
It was dinnertime, so most people had already gone home to eat.
"Young master, someone was following us from the shadows today." Otsutsuki Quxian followed behind Otsutsuki Toneri and spoke softly to him.
She had noticed it after they entered the village. Someone hidden away kept casting occasional glances at them.
Those gazes had only disappeared after they entered Kurenai Yuhi's home.
"That's normal. This is Konoha, after all. Our identities are unknown right now, so it's perfectly normal for them to send someone to watch us," Otsutsuki Toneri said mildly.
Konoha was the largest shinobi village, after all. The number of people passing through every day remained high, and countless people came here to commission missions.
When strangers entered the village, they naturally needed to be watched for a while to determine whether they posed a threat.
"Young master, shouldn't we go meet the Hyuga Clan?" Otsutsuki Quxian nodded, then asked another puzzled question.
Otsutsuki Toneri had come to Konoha for the Hyuga Clan, so they ought to be visiting the Hyuga compound now.
"Quxian, your eyes draw too much attention. The Hyuga Clan will come to us themselves," Otsutsuki Toneri replied in the same calm tone.
Otsutsuki Quxian possessed the Byakugan. Once the Hyuga Clan learned of this, they would definitely be unable to resist coming to find them.
If nothing else, at the very least, they would need to know just how Otsutsuki Quxian had obtained her Byakugan!
Otsutsuki Quxian nodded, then fell silent.
After the two had walked for a while, Otsutsuki Toneri suddenly stopped, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He had spotted that figure!
On a platform beside the river below the embankment, not far from them, a small figure sat with his head hanging low.
He wore a blue sweatshirt, with a conspicuous fan emblem on the back, red on top and white below.
He merely sat there quietly, utterly still, an air of loneliness radiating from him.
Just then, Otsutsuki Toneri turned his head straight ahead. A small blond figure was walking toward them, hands in his pockets, staring at his shoes in boredom.
Otsutsuki Toneri's smile couldn't help deepening. He really hadn't expected that, after just happening to remember this scene and coming here for a walk,
he would be lucky enough to encounter these two ahead of time!
Naruto Uzumaki! Uchiha Sasuke!
At that moment, Naruto still had his little head lowered, looking at the ground. No one wanted to play with him, and he had no family either~
That was why he had come out for a walk out of boredom, to ease the loneliness and dejection in his heart.
As though sensing something, Naruto raised his head slightly. What met his eyes were two very beautiful people.
Yes, they really were beautiful~
Noble, pure-white robes, silky white hair, and delicate, snow-white faces. Both of them were so beautiful.
Naruto felt a little envious. So cute, with such fine bearing-they had to be children from a wealthy family.
What a shame, though. He couldn't see the boy's eyes. Why were his eyes closed?
Then Naruto lowered his head slightly again and continued slowly forward. Children from wealthy families like that surely wouldn't want to talk to him, would they?
After all, he was the demon fox they talked about...
Naruto's clear blue eyes dimmed. He really wished someone could keep him company. He was so, so lonely.
But then, as though sensing something again, Naruto stopped and turned his head to look. He saw a black-haired child dressed in blue.
That's Sasuke, right? Tch~ That jerk is acting all brooding again.
Naruto thought this with a pout, yet for some reason, his gaze was drawn involuntarily to that figure.
He suddenly felt that this annoying guy seemed... very lonely too...
Yes, lonely, wasn't he?
The boy sitting on the platform suddenly raised his head too, looking toward Naruto.
That dead last...
Sasuke froze slightly, then turned his head in another direction. A boy with a delicate, adorable face came into view.
What a gentle smile. Just like... him back then...
Looking at the smile on this delicate-featured boy's face, Sasuke couldn't help falling into a slight daze. That smile reminded him of that man.
Time seemed to come to an eerie standstill. Beneath the twilight glow of the setting sun, three boys stood in three different directions.
Toneri looked at Naruto, Naruto looked at Sasuke, and Sasuke looked at Toneri.
The gears of fate finally began turning here. Perhaps their futures had already been decided long ago~
"Naruto Uzumaki~" After a long while, Otsutsuki Toneri looked at Naruto, who was staring blankly at Sasuke, and called out with a gentle smile.
"Huh?" Hearing his voice, Naruto turned back to look at Otsutsuki Toneri in confusion, then glanced around. Only after confirming that there was no one else did he look at Otsutsuki Toneri again.
"Are you talking to me?"
"Yes."
"My name isn't Naruto Uzumaki."
"I know."
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!"
"I know that too."
"Huh?" Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head in confusion, his little face scrunching up as he stared at this clean-looking boy in bewilderment. His little head couldn't quite keep up.
Since he knows my name, why does he still call me Naruto Uzumaki?
And why does he know my name? I don't even know him.
(Please support me in every way!)
Chapter 18: The strongest Naruto and Sasuke! Third update!
Naruto Uzumaki looked at Otsutsuki Toneri in distress, constantly rubbing his hair. But no matter how hard he racked his brains,
he couldn't remember ever meeting this boy anywhere. He was certain that, with this boy's delicate appearance and bearing,
he would never have forgotten him after seeing him once!
"Then why do you call me Naruto Uzumaki?" Naruto Uzumaki looked curiously at Otsutsuki Toneri.
In truth, easygoing as he was, he didn't care about this question, but...
He really wanted to chat with someone. Very much so.
"You'll understand that later. Naruto? Sasuke?" Otsutsuki Toneri shook his head, then addressed Naruto and Sasuke in the same gentle tone.
Naruto Uzumaki, Uchiha Sasuke...
The Rinnegan in his palm silently opened, emitting an eerie scarlet glow. Otsutsuki Toneri wanted to take a good look at Naruto and Sasuke.
These two had accompanied him through the youth he had once lived.
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