Waving Goodbye to He Ye's Friend
Yuichi turned away, heading in the direction of Kazuya's house.
After just a single meal, he had managed to figure out something that had long been troubling him.
An unexpected gain.
Yuichi smiled faintly to himself as he walked.
Up ahead, a familiar face appeared.
It was Uchiha Sasuke. Having just returned from an A-rank mission, Sasuke had grown significantly.
Even at a glance, Yuichi could sense the change in his aura—his presence carried a sharper edge.
Indeed, this was the growth rate expected of Indra's reincarnation. Impressive… yet frustrating.
As they passed each other, Sasuke suddenly stopped, turning back to look at Yuichi—who now wore Kazuya's guise.
"Isn't he that guy's Jōnin instructor…?"
Sensing Sasuke's eyes on him, Yuichi simply lifted his head and looked toward the sky.
"Better have a Wood Style clone handle things. I'll need to be cautious if this kid decides to make trouble. The Chūnin Exams are the perfect stage to make a name for myself."
Strength. Timing. Reputation.
He had the strength. The timing was right.
What he still lacked… was reputation.
And for that, the carefully crafted persona must never falter.
Yuichi rounded a corner, his figure slowly fading into the distance.
Sasuke, however, lingered where he stood, watching him leave.
Something about that man felt… off. Strange.
But in the end, he couldn't quite place what it was.
The sun dipped lower. Another day slipped away.
And in the blink of an eye—the Chūnin Exams began.
The Third Hokage sat with the list of participants in his hands.
"Nagano Yuichi, Tsuchiya Ryota, Takaoka Daisuke…"
Of course, Hiruzen knew exactly how strong Yuichi was. Stronger, in fact, than most Jōnin.
But what he hadn't expected was that Yuichi's temporary team would include two of the most skilled candidates in the exam.
This was no coincidence. It was Yuichi's design.
"I already warned that man… The Chūnin Exams are not the place to make his move. Hokage is still me."
Deep within Root, Danzo stared at the examination roster handed to him, an unshakable weight pressing against his chest.
Meanwhile, the Third set the list down and sighed softly. This was not the time for internal strife.
Ninja from every land were already gathering in Konoha. If news spread of discord among the village's leadership, the consequences would be dire.
For now, Yuichi's masquerade as Kazuya was tolerated.
As punishment, Kazuya was simply stationed at the village gates.
At Konoha's entrance, Yuichi stood beneath the blazing sun, his face lined with irritation.
"So this is how they try to suppress me, huh…"
A Jōnin approached. He was from the Zhongshan clan.
Without a word, he tossed Yuichi a scroll and walked off with a faint smile.
"Inspection duty. You're up. Go patrol Konoha."
Yuichi caught the scroll, and his lips curved ever so slightly.
"A tour around the village? Just what I wanted."
A familiar interface lit up before his eyes.
[Daily Selection Activated]
Please choose:
Accept the mission to patrol Konoha → Reward: Fire Style — Dust Concealment Technique
Refuse the mission → Reward: Earth Style — Underworld Tremor
Refusal wasn't an option.
Congratulations! Host has acquired Fire Style — Dust Concealment Technique.
The jutsu expelled scorching ash to obscure the user's movements, masking their position while searing enemies within its range.
A versatile tool—concealment and offense in one.
And that wasn't all.
Just yesterday, after returning to Konoha, Yuichi's daily choice had rewarded him with another Fire Style jutsu: Great Fire Annihilation.
Though technically a B-rank ninjutsu, in the hands of someone with overwhelming chakra reserves, its destructive force was monstrous. Lord Madara had once demonstrated its ability to engulf entire armies.
"Patrolling will be useful. I can use Shadow Clones to grind proficiency. One clone vanishes, I'll be sent out again. Six or seven patrols in a single day… more than enough to master both new jutsu."
Outwardly, it looked as though Yuichi had been demoted—targeted by the Third Hokage, doomed to a dull future.
But inwardly, Yuichi was content.
Meanwhile, in Classroom 301 at the Academy.
Yuichi entered early with his new teammates, a bright, handsome smile on his face, warm as spring sunlight.
It was impossible not to notice him.
One by one, Konoha's Genin greeted him warmly. None lingered long—just a few words here, a casual nod there—but the effect was undeniable.
Other villages' Genin began whispering amongst themselves.
That boy… the harmless-looking rookie. Why did it seem like half of Konoha already knew him?
Of course, most of Konoha's Genin were from civilian families, so the bonds between them were naturally close.
But Yuichi? He had tutored dozens—thirty, maybe forty—helping them refine their training, offering advice, sharing techniques.
For the average civilian-born Genin, he was not just a peer—he was a mentor.
Even the parents of many knew his name. Their children had improved thanks to Yuichi's help.
To others, he seemed effortlessly sociable, a rising star blessed with both talent and connections.
But behind that sunny mask, Yuichi's Wood Style clones complained quietly.
"So this is how the main body lives every day? Keeping up this façade all the time… it's exhausting."
At the back of the room, familiar faces gathered: Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, Shikamaru, Chōji, Kiba, Hinata, Shino.
And, of course, Yuichi—though he remained busy chatting with other Genin further up.
Then Yakushi Kabuto arrived, slipping into the crowd just as Ino and Sakura's bickering reached its peak.
He produced his infamous ninja profile cards, casually revealing information on Rock Lee and Gaara for Sasuke's benefit.
When he was done, he tucked the cards away, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"As rookies, you all look a little tense. Compared to you, that one over there seems much more at ease."
Kabuto's gaze drifted to Yuichi in the crowd.
Sasuke followed his eyes.
"It's him!"
"You know him?" Naruto asked.
"Yes," Sasuke muttered, fists tightening. "But I didn't expect him to be here… taking the Genin exam."
His words immediately drew the attention of the others.
"Oh~ he's pretty good-looking," Ino said, eyeing Yuichi. "And way too relaxed to be some rookie Genin. If Kabuto hadn't said anything, I'd have thought he was a veteran."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, speaking lightly. "He's a child left behind by refugee families. Konoha took him in. He's popular, very talented, and from what I've heard, has even been received personally by the Third Hokage."
At that, Yuichi's smile didn't falter—but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"A refugee's child…? That doesn't line up with the body's memories…"