Yakushi Nonō's warning

"Uncle Kō..."

Hinata froze when she saw who had arrived, her expression conflicted.

She wanted to stroll around with Yecheng a little longer and talk to him. That alone would have satisfied her.

Yet even that wish could not be fulfilled.

Yecheng chuckled. "Hinata, since someone's here to pick you up, go home. Let's call it a day."

"Mm. Goodbye, Yecheng."

Hyuga Kō quietly watched them say goodbye, then escorted Hinata away.

The Hyuga Clan had strict rules.

Those of noble birth did not associate with commoners.

That was especially true for her, the Hyuga Clan's eldest daughter and future clan head.

If they were merely classmates, that would be fine.

But going beyond that and entering a romantic relationship with Yecheng was something the clan would never permit.

He was a commoner. Unless he became a ninja as outstanding as the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the two of them would never have a future together.

Without turning his head, Hyuga Kō used his Byakugan to look back at Yecheng, hoping to find humiliation and resentment on his face.

Unexpectedly, all he saw was Yecheng looking their way with a faint smile.

Light seemed to shimmer within his azure eyes, extraordinarily uncanny.

More importantly, a chill ran through Hyuga Kō's heart. He felt as though someone had seen right through him, leaving him with no secrets at all!

He had only ever felt this way when facing the clan head's Byakugan!

But when he "looked" at Yecheng again, all he could see was his retreating back.

That intimidating sensation was completely gone.

Hyuga Kō shook his head. Perhaps he had been mistaken.

As Yecheng walked home, he soon remembered who this "Hyuga Kō" was.

He had appeared in the original story, too.

After Pain unleashed Super Shinra Tensei, Naruto was summoned into Konoha's ruins through the Reverse Summoning Technique and fought a fierce battle against him.

When Hinata wanted to go help, it was Hyuga Kō who stopped her, bluntly stating that people of their strength would only get in the way in a battle like that.

As for his attitude...

The Naruto world's current social structure was still in the late stages of feudal society, with capitalism just beginning to emerge.

Yecheng was currently nothing more than a poor commoner whose talent had yet to fully reveal itself, with no backing or connections. The man's attitude could already be considered decent.

But that did not mean Yecheng had taken no offense.

He had a temper, too.

He would simply keep it in check until he had the strength.

"I need to figure out how to make money first."

If he wanted to raise Hinata, that enormous appetite of hers would not be easy to satisfy.

Still, he already had a few plans in mind. Once the time was right in a few days, he could put them into action.

When he reached his front door, Yecheng was surprised to find the lights on inside. Clearly, someone had come over.

It was Yakushi Nonō.

A smile curved Yecheng's lips. Ever since he had come to this world, Yakushi Nonō had been his closest and most trusted family member, as well as his older sister.

He pushed open the door just in time to see her setting a plate of hot food on the table.

"I'm home."

"Yecheng, you're back."

Nonō gave him a warm, loving smile, her long, light brown hair looking even warmer beneath the dim yellow light.

She wore a loose black robe with an apron tied over it, but even so, it could not conceal her slender waist or curvaceous figure.

"Why are you home so late? Have you eaten already?"

"No, I just went out to train for a while."

Yecheng told a little lie, unwilling to let her effort go to waste. He immediately sat down at the table and dug into the meal she had made.

Simply watching him eat soothed Nonō's heart, easing much of her earlier worry.

After dinner.

Yakushi Nonō handed him an envelope. When Yecheng opened it, he found quite a lot of money inside.

He pushed the envelope back and shook his head.

"Director, I've already left the orphanage. I can't keep accepting aid."

Rather than take the money back, Yakushi Nonō put away her smile and warned him with a solemn, earnest expression.

"Take the money. Don't worry, we received funding from above. The orphanage has plenty in its budget now.

"But remember, if anyone asks you to join the Anbu, you must not agree!"

Yecheng's smile remained unchanged when he heard that.

"I understand. In that case, I'll accept it."

Yakushi Nonō took out two more scrolls and placed them in Yecheng's hands.

"These contain the training methods for the Shadow Clone Technique and Chakra Scalpel, along with some insights from my own practice of Medical Ninjutsu. Make sure you study them."

Once she had handed everything over, she smiled as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"I'm off, little Yecheng. There's still a lot waiting for me to handle at the orphanage, so I won't stay the night here.

"Don't get lonely."

Yakushi Nonō adjusted her round glasses. They reflected the white glare of the light, obscuring her expression.

"All right. It's late, so be careful on your way back, Teacher Nonō."

"Don't worry. I'm going."

Yakushi Nonō opened the door and left without lingering.

Yecheng watched her leave with a smile before his expression gradually settled.

This had seemed less like a visit and more like she had come to entrust her affairs to him.

Danzo, you've given me a reason to kill you...

There was no question about it. Having gotten nowhere with him, Danzo must have taken a roundabout approach and gone straight to the orphanage.

His methods could only have involved using the orphanage's funding to threaten Yakushi Nonō into persuading Yecheng to join Root.

She had clearly also considered Yecheng's unusual physical condition and the strong possibility that he had a talent for becoming a ninja. To avoid snuffing out his future potential, she had refused.

Clearly, she also knew what Danzo and Root were like. Refusing his demands would inevitably invite retaliation.

That was why Yakushi Nonō had come to pass everything she had on to Yecheng, making him her successor.

Clenching the scrolls in his hands, Yecheng took several deep breaths before finally managing to calm himself.

He returned to the training room and carefully considered his plans.

In the original story, Yakushi Nonō had been manipulated by Danzo all her life, eventually fighting Kabuto Yakushi and dying at his hands.

Even as she died, she had failed to recognize him as the child she had once loved most.

There was no crueler way to destroy someone in both body and spirit.

And judging by the timeline, the fatal fight between Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonō would take place in just one year!

Yecheng would never allow that to happen to the family member he treasured most!

Besides, Kabuto Yakushi was quite strong and exceptionally talented, a suitable candidate for Ryūchi Cave's perfect Sage Mode. If Yecheng could take the opportunity to win him over, he would certainly become a great asset.

"One year should more or less be enough..."

Yecheng made up his mind. He would change their fates.

One year would be enough for him to save up for several ten-pulls.

As long as he could draw one of those Cursed Techniques with overpowered mechanics, such as Limitless or Idle Transfiguration...

He would definitely be able to save them both!

Strength!

Get stronger!

With that thought, Yecheng opened the scrolls in his hands and began to study.