"So this is Konoha~ I finally made it!" Otsutsuki Toneri could barely contain his smile, and an inexplicable feeling rose in his heart.
Naruto Uzumaki and Uchiha Sasuke, the two men who would become the strongest in the Shinobi World, were right here at this moment!
I wonder how old they are?
Otsutsuki Toneri was very curious. He was seven now, so logically, the two should have been about his age.
But Otsutsuki Toneri could not be certain. The original story had never mentioned his actual age, so he could not make an accurate judgment.
I really ought to meet those two. Having come all this way, aside from that ultimate goal, Otsutsuki Toneri had something else in mind.
The people he most wanted to face were still those two!
Those two at their peak!
Their final battle, with its world-shattering Rasenshuriken and lightning arrow, had left a deep impression on him to this day.
Especially Naruto Uzumaki. That man...
The Byakugan Princess~ This time, she's mine! Otsutsuki Toneri thought to himself. What was his was his!
He would never yield her to anyone! Not even Naruto Uzumaki!
By then, Asuma had finished greeting the two ninja guards and walked over to the somewhat distracted Otsutsuki Toneri.
"All right, you're registered. Let's go in." Asuma smiled at the finely featured boy, a cigarette hanging from his mouth, giving him a somewhat rakish air.
Otsutsuki Toneri tilted his head up and smiled in Asuma's direction, then turned back toward Konoha and uttered a meaningful sentence.
"Yes, I really, really have been looking forward to this place for so long~"
(Eighth update! Please support me in every way! Kisses, my darlings~)
Chapter 15: Interested in Waiting Until I Grow Up? Ninth Update
"Haha~ Konoha's a wonderful place. It won't disappoint you!" Hearing Otsutsuki Toneri's words, Asuma laughed proudly.
He suspected nothing. Otsutsuki Toneri had even said "really" twice to emphasize how much he had looked forward to Konoha.
It truly did make him feel proud as well.
Otsutsuki Toneri smiled at that, then followed Asuma into Konoha.
Konoha, the strongest ninja village in the Land of Fire, was also the strongest ninja village in this world!
It was the most powerful force on this continent. Yes, the most powerful!
Ever since Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju had founded Konoha together, it had been the strongest! And it remained the strongest to this day!
There had already been three full-scale Shinobi World Wars, but even after all three, Konoha still dominated as the strongest ninja village.
That alone said enough.
Konoha simply had too many prodigies. It was the finest cradle for heroes, and since its founding, it had produced far too many figures whose names resounded throughout the Shinobi World.
"It really is bustling~" Listening to all the sounds around him, Otsutsuki Toneri could not help remarking.
The Shinobi World was a deeply chaotic continent, yet Konoha enjoyed peace, prosperity, and harmony. It truly was a paradise.
The Land of Fire was the wealthiest nation on the entire continent. Its financial resources and manpower were far beyond those of other nations, giving Konoha a solid logistical foundation.
Otherwise, Konoha could not have remained standing all this time.
"Haha~ I'm glad you like it, Toneri, but I have to take care of something first. I still need to report on the mission. I'll let Kurenai show you around Konoha."
Asuma laughed proudly again at his words, then spoke apologetically to Otsutsuki Toneri. He needed to report on the mission, and he also needed to tell his father about Otsutsuki Toneri and his companion.
After all, the two children had mysterious backgrounds. Although they were pleasant to get along with, Asuma was not so muddleheaded that he would simply settle them in Konoha.
They still needed to be observed for a while, and discussing it with his father, the Third Hokage, was necessary too.
"All right, Asuma. Go take care of your business." Otsutsuki Toneri smiled understandingly. He knew quite well what Asuma was thinking.
"Honestly, kid, shouldn't you call me big brother Asuma? Never mind. It really is hard to treat you like a child." Asuma shook his head helplessly at being addressed by name by a child of only seven.
It really did feel rather strange, but after talking with Otsutsuki Toneri for so long...
He truly could not regard him as a child. Otsutsuki Toneri was far too mature in temperament.
After saying goodbye, Asuma left.
Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi continued showing Otsutsuki Toneri and his companion around Konoha.
"Kurenai, are you and Asuma lovers?" Seeming to remember something, Otsutsuki Toneri suddenly asked her with a smile.
In the original story, Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma had been lovers, and not long after Shippuden began, Asuma had died in battle.
Kurenai Yuhi had been left pregnant and alone. It was truly saddening.
"Lovers? No. Asuma certainly is a good person, but..." Kurenai Yuhi paused at the question, then shook her head, a thoughtful look appearing in her red eyes.
She certainly did not dislike Asuma, and Asuma did seem interested in her, but...
She did not like men who smoked!
Asuma was an absolute chimney, and that really displeased her!
"Is that so? Interested in waiting until I grow up? You're very pretty, Kurenai. You could consider me." Otsutsuki Toneri immediately understood. That made sense; there were probably still several years before the story began.
It was normal that the two were not together yet.
Come to think of it, Otsutsuki Toneri was quite fond of Kurenai Yuhi. She was very pretty, and she had a nice personality too.
Most importantly, she was faithful!
After her boyfriend died in battle, she had been willing to give birth to their child without any formal status and raise the child alone!
It was moving and worthy of admiration!
"Pfft~ You're so little, and you're already thinking about that? By the time you grow up, I'll be old." Kurenai Yuhi paused, then could not help bursting into laughter.
Looking at the finely featured child of only seven, Kurenai Yuhi teased him. She did not take Otsutsuki Toneri's words to heart at all.
After all, just as she had said, she was already twenty-one. By the time Otsutsuki Toneri grew up, she would already be thirty.
"Just take it as a joke. Could you take me up to Hokage Rock for a look?" Otsutsuki Toneri was not surprised by Kurenai Yuhi's reaction and moved past the subject.
He was too young now. Saying something like that would only make people laugh; no one would take it to heart.
But he was in no hurry. He would grow up in just a few years anyway.
After strolling around for quite a while, the three finally decided to call it a day, and Kurenai Yuhi prepared to take the two back to her home.
The two had nowhere to stay at present, and she happened to have spare rooms at home.
Kurenai Yuhi was quite fond of Otsutsuki Toneri. This polite, finely featured child really was very likable.
He was so much better than those little brats!
(Ninth update! Please support me in every way!)
Chapter 16: Are You Kidding Me? First Update!
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office inside the Hokage Building, Asuma stood before the desk of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"You're saying that a little girl barely over ten made you feel she was impossible to resist with nothing more than the aura and pressure spilling out when she attacked?"
Holding a pipe, the short-statured Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled what his son had just told him and questioned him with a solemn expression.
He knew this son of his all too well. Although his talent could only be considered above average, he was fairly dedicated to his training.
His strength was indeed not weak now, but what had he just said?
A little girl barely over ten had filled him with dread through just a little pressure?
If this fellow were not his own son, and if he did not know his character fairly well, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have wanted to fling his old pipe in his face and tell him to get out!
Are you kidding me?
Even his own pressure was only at that level now. Was Asuma saying that a girl barely over ten was as strong as he was?
Utter fantasy!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Even his three disciples, the White Fang, and the most outstanding of them, Minato Namikaze, had talents nowhere near that level!
"Yes, Father. Absolutely! That girl was terrifyingly strong!" Asuma dropped his usual lackadaisical manner and spoke with utmost seriousness.
There was no mistake. He could never misremember that pressure, which had almost robbed him of the will to resist.
He felt it was not merely a difference in strength, but a difference in racial rank-the fear a lower life-form felt before a higher one!
Although Asuma very much did not want to admit it, he had indeed vaguely experienced a trace of that impression at the time!
Click, click!
Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his head and smoked. It was a habit of his when thinking through a problem.
Asuma simply stood quietly, waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders.
"She possesses the Byakugan, correct?" After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly asked.
"Yes, Father." Asuma paused, then answered.
"But the other child is blind... A coincidence? Are you certain that boy is truly blind?" Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured doubtfully. He felt he had vaguely grasped something, but that flash of insight vanished in an instant.
Then Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at Asuma again and asked gravely.
"That should be right. He keeps his eyes closed all the time, but his sensory abilities should be exceptional." Asuma thought back, then shook his head and answered.
Otsutsuki Toneri should indeed have been blind. The habit of finding his way without using his eyes was not something developed overnight.
"Exceptional sensory abilities... Then he can't be an ordinary child. How strong is he?" Hiruzen Sarutobi took another puff as he analyzed the situation. His strength might not match that of the other Hokage.
But his intellect ranked among the very best. The fact that he had held the position of Hokage for decades made that clear.
Before you continue