Chapter 19: Hiruzen, You Will Regret This
"Do you have a suspect?" Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe and asked in a deep voice.
Danzo said in a low voice, "I did suspect you. But then I thought, you always bask in the sunlight, so you would never do such a thing."
"Then there is only one possibility."
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly pressed, "Who?"
Danzo sat back down, his face grim as he said, "Do you still remember the person who controlled the Nine-Tailed to attack Konoha back then?"
"It's him?" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly understood.
Danzo said in a deep voice, "To possess that level of Body Flicker, besides the deceased Nidaime(2nd)-sama and the Fourth, and the Fourth Raikage of the Cloud Ninja Village, no one else could do it. Not even Shisui. Only that Uchiha scoundrel who controlled the Nine-Tailed could do it."
The last words 'Uchiha scoundrel' were uttered by Danzo with particular heaviness.
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "I understand. But the Village has just stabilized, so let's stop here. You don't need to interfere anymore; I will send someone to investigate this matter."
Danzo said, "Is it Uchiha Itachi again? He was the last person to see Uchiha Shisui. Shisui's left eye was very likely entrusted to him, but he did not mention this to you. Uchiha Itachi is no longer trustworthy."
"No, it's not him." As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that he had sent Fujiwara Chiye to act as an undercover agent.
"Foolish!" Danzo roared, "Hiruzen, how do you know that boy won't be bribed by the Uchiha Clan in turn?"
"What if he leaks our intelligence to the Uchiha Clan?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Danzo, you are too suspicious. Qianye is Fujiwara's child. His parents sacrificed themselves to protect the Village, and he has inherited their will, determined to protect the Village, to protect Konoha. He is just a civilian, not the Uchiha you are wary of."
"That's hard to say. As long as he marries a girl from the Uchiha Clan, he will be a member of the Uchiha Clan. Why don't I…" Danzo made a sinister throat-slitting gesture.
"Enough, Danzo, I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and slammed the table, sharply reprimanding him.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this."
Danzo gritted his teeth, slammed the table, and stormed out, his resolve to become Hokage growing even stronger.
The next day, Qianye arrived at the training ground on time, as agreed with Kurenai Yuhi.
Every team has a breaking-in period in the initial stages of formation, so there were no missions for the first three days.
During this time, the Jonin leader needed to understand each team member's strength to arrange tactics, and also provide appropriate guidance in Ninjutsu.
Akizuki Airi and Akimichi Ponc both had family backing, so Kurenai Yuhi didn't need to worry about their Ninjutsu.
After confirming they had no Genjutsu talent, she simply gave them some brief guidance on their training progress and sent them off to train.
When it was Qianye's turn, she formed a hand seal and cast Genjutsu: Three Illusory Cherry Blossoms on Qianye.
"Qianye, you have good Genjutsu talent. This is Genjutsu: Three Illusory Cherry Blossoms, which can make enemies see flower petals, thereby confusing them, allowing for a surprise attack. If mastered to a high level, it can even control petals to cover the enemy, restricting their movement, and perhaps even suffocating them."
"Its hand seals and casting principle are…"
As she spoke, Kurenai Yuhi's figure suddenly transformed into petals and dispersed in Qianye's eyes.
"Did you understand?" Kurenai Yuhi's voice echoed in Qianye's ears, the petals re-condensed, and her graceful figure reappeared before Qianye.
Qianye nodded. For him, who had devoured Shisui's bloodline and possessed Mirror Flower Water Moon, his Genjutsu talent was directly maxed out.
Following Kurenai Yuhi's instructions, he quickly formed hand seals.
Instantly, his entire body transformed into petals and vanished from Kurenai Yuhi's sight.
"This… this is…" Surrounded by a sea of cherry blossoms, Kurenai Yuhi was horrified and speechless, looking at everything before her in disbelief, her eyes sparkling with excitement and thrill.
"Sensei Kurenai, does this mean I've learned it?" Qianye's voice echoed from all directions, as if every petal was his true body, making it impossible to discern his actual location.
The petals quickly condensed, and Qianye's figure reappeared.
At this moment, Kurenai Yuhi seemed to see the figure of his father, Shinku Yuhi, in Qianye.
Her gaze instantly became blank.
It wasn't until Qianye reminded her that she recovered, exclaiming, "You truly are astonishing! Qianye, in the future, you will definitely surpass me… No… You will definitely become a Genjutsu Ninja who surpasses the Uchiha Clan."
Qianye smiled calmly, not denying it.
Half a year passed in a blink of an eye, and the new Chunin Exams were approaching.
Qianye was almost twelve years old and had completed many missions, big and small, with Kurenai Yuhi.
During this time, he encountered various types of opponents, including even a Jonin, all of whom were dealt with by Qianye's exquisite Genjutsu.
Due to his high mission completion rate, Qianye quickly gained a reputation among the Wood Leaf Ninja.
Konoha, Hokage Office.
As with the previous exam, the team leaders gradually arrived to recommend their students to the Konoha F4 for the Chunin Exams.
Kurenai Yuhi was naturally among them.
When it was Kurenai Yuhi's turn, she respectfully presented the profiles of Qianye and the other two, "Hokage-sama, both Advisors, Danzo-sama, these are the candidates I recommend for the Chunin Exams."
Hiruzen Sarutobi symbolically glanced at Akizuki Airi and Akimichi Ponc's profiles, then handed them to Danzo and the other two. As he looked at Qianye's profile, he said, "Yuhi, I heard that child Qianye has been very active in missions recently."
"Yes, Hokage-sama, he is a true Genjutsu genius. He also has excellent talent in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. There is nothing more I can teach him," Kurenai Yuhi replied respectfully.
Upon hearing this, not only Hiruzen Sarutobi, but also the other three members of the Konoha F4, and the team leaders present, couldn't help but look over.
The vast Hokage Office suddenly became deathly silent.
Kurenai Yuhi's evaluation of Qianye was very high, reaching an indescribable level.
It was almost as if she was saying Qianye already possessed the strength of a Jonin.
The last time such a situation occurred was with Uchiha Itachi.
Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with an uncertain expression. After a long silence, he was the first to speak, breaking the quiet atmosphere, "Jonin Kurenai Yuhi, am I to understand that Qianye already possesses the strength of a Jonin, perhaps even surpassing you?"
"Yes, Danzo-sama," Kurenai Yuhi replied noncommittally.
Only those who had spent time with Qianye could understand his terrifying Ninja talent.
Although they had only been together for just over half a year, Qianye's strength had been growing at a visible rate almost every time.
By now, Qianye had learned all her Genjutsu, and had surpassed her in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu as well.
She truly had nothing more to teach him.
Perhaps this was what people referred to as a genius.
PS: First update