Qianyu found Hatake Sakumo at the Leaf's outpost in the Land of Grass.
Sakumo approved of Qianyu taking Kakashi as a student.
"So, Qianyu," Sakumo inquired, leaning forward slightly. "Why come to the Land of Grass? From what I hear, things in the Land of Hot Water have stabilized. And Grass… well, it's always been like this. No major battles brewing here. If you're looking for a fight, the skirmishes with Suna ninja in the Land of Rivers are far more frequent, aren't they?"
"I'm not here for battles, Lord Sakumo," Qianyu answered. "I'm here to find something. For the upcoming missions, I'd like you to assign me reconnaissance duties. And… grant me a certain degree of autonomy."
Sakumo's brow furrowed slightly. To find something? He assumed it was some confidential task and didn't press further.
"How much autonomy are we talking about?" he asked instead.
Qianyu thought for a moment. "I'd like the authority to engage independently after I've scouted an Iwa-nin unit and confirmed their numbers. It would also serve as practical training for Kakashi."
"If that's all, I can agree to it," Sakumo said directly. "But hear this, Qianyu: absolutely no heroics. If you encounter a squad of four or more, you retreat immediately. Keep any engagement brief to prevent their reinforcements from arriving. Iwa ninja are cunning and cautious. They rarely fight outnumbered and will withdraw decisively against a strong opponent, only to regroup with nearby forces for an overwhelming counterattack. That's why their positions in Grass are like fortresses—well-manned and solid. Be careful."
"Understood, Lord Sakumo," Qianyu replied with gravity. "I won't put Kakashi or myself in unnecessary danger."
Sakumo nodded. "Good. Then I'll assign you and Kakashi a long-term mission. Iwa has numerous hidden outposts scattered throughout Grass Country. These positions are a significant threat for future operations. As long as they exist, their reinforcements will always be one step ahead of ours. Your task is to investigate, locate these hidden Iwa outposts, and report back to me. You may decide when to commence."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, Lord Sakumo." Qianyu gave a slight bow.
Once outside Sakumo's room, Kakashi immediately pounced. He hadn't forgotten Qianyu's promise about teaching him that miraculous "Total Concentration Breathing" once they reached Grass.
"Teach me now, Qianyu-sensei!" Kakashi urged, practically vibrating with impatience.
Qianyu looked down at the eager boy, a subtle, mysterious smile playing on his lips. "Kakashi. That mask of yours… it's fairly breathable, right?"
Kakashi blinked, confused by the question. "Yeah, it is."
Thirty minutes later.
"Sensei… I can't… breathe!"
Kakashi's mask was now stuffed with several layers of thick cloth. Breathable was no longer in its vocabulary. Just drawing a normal breath felt like a struggle, as if an invisible hand were squeezing his throat.
Qianyu's smile turned decidedly wicked. "Giving up already? You haven't seen anything yet. You'll wear this mask at all times from now on. You don't take it off unless I say so."
"Wha—? Even when sleeping?" Kakashi's voice was muffled horror.
"Of course," Qianyu explained matter-of-factly. "I told you about the breathing technique, didn't I? It forces your blood to absorb a massive amount of oxygen in a short time, enhancing your physical capabilities. At your current level, you're nowhere near capable of drawing in that much oxygen. So step one is building your lung and heart capacity. But you do get breaks…"
Kakashi's visible eye lit up with hope.
"…when you eat or drink," Qianyu finished, his grin widening. "You can take it off for a little while then."
Kakashi deflated completely. "That doesn't count as a break!"
Qianyu ruffled his hair. "Tough. Today, you just get used to it. We start the reconnaissance mission tomorrow. And don't even think about taking it off when I'm not around. If I find out, you'll regret it."
Kakashi shivered involuntarily. "I won't, sensei! I promise!"
"Good. Now go do whatever. I've got things to handle."
As Qianyu turned to leave, a shinobi approached—sent by Sakumo to show him to his quarters. After being led to a small room, Qianyu asked, "Do you have a map of the Land of Grass?"
"Sure, here." The shinobi pulled a rolled map from his pouch and handed it over.
"Thanks." Qianyu took it, stepped into his room, and closed the door.
The shinobi stood outside, mouth slightly agape, utterly baffled.
What the—?!
He'd only meant to show the map, not give it away! Did this guy have no sense of propriety?
Muttering under his breath, the shinobi walked away. Asking for it back felt too petty. It was just a map; he'd get another one.
Inside, Qianyu unfurled the map on a small table. His theory was that Karin's mother hadn't joined Kusagakure yet but was living somewhere within Grass Country. The nation was small, but finding one specific person was still a needle-in-a-haystack task.
Unless you eliminated the obvious places first.
Kusagakure itself was the first to go. Then the established Leaf and Iwa outposts. That narrowed things down considerably. But he wasn't sure if she lived in seclusion or within a community. The search would be a project.
His finger traced across the parchment, marking off areas of low probability.
The next morning, after washing up, Qianyu opened his door to begin the dual mission of training and searching.
He paused. His gaze dropped to the floor.
Kakashi was sprawled there, forehead slick with cold sweat, his skin a sickly pale. Classic oxygen deprivation.
"Sensei…" Kakashi's voice was a weak rasp. "My head is spinning… No strength… Can't breathe… Can I take it off? Just for a minute?"
Qianyu crouched down to his level. His tone was gentle, almost kind, but the words were ice. "No. You don't wait for this feeling to defeat you. You overcome it. No negotiations. We're leaving on the mission now. Get up. Follow me."
Kakashi rolled his visible eye, his spirit groaning.
Demon. He's an absolute demon.
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