Konoha Hospital.Private ward.
Danzo Shimura sat with his remaining eye tightly shut, his face twisted in pain. One hand pressed firmly against his forehead.
Across from him—
The hospital director.
Examination. Treatment.
His injuries weren't severe.
After all—
Shenyue Yuan's strength had matched his own.
They had fought at full power.
Move for move.Counter for counter.
In the end—
A draw.
Both sides exhausted.
But—
Since arriving at the hospital—
Something had been wrong.
A sound.
Echoing inside his head.
Sometimes loud.Sometimes faint.
But always there.
Endless.Relentless.
At first—
Danzo assumed it was genjutsu.
Something Shenyue Yuan had planted on him.
But after multiple checks—
There was no chakra disturbance.
Nothing.
The director frowned.
"…I'm sorry, Danzo-sama."
"There are no signs of injury in your ears."
"No abnormalities."
"This may be neurological tinnitus… or an auditory hallucination caused by combat stress."
"With proper rest, it should gradually fade."
"No."
Danzo shook his head immediately.
Cold. Firm.
"This is not tinnitus."
"Check again."
The director hesitated.
Then asked cautiously,
"…Can you describe what you're hearing?"
"…What did you say?"
Danzo's expression twisted violently.
The sound—
Suddenly surged.
His ears rang with unbearable intensity.
For a moment—
He couldn't hear anything else.
The director repeated the question.
And finally—
Danzo snapped.
"Hakimi monan bei lü dou—! Axi hayaku nai long—!!"
The noise—
Flooded his mind.
Uncontrollable.
Unstoppable.
"…."
The director fell silent.
Then—
Carefully.
"…Hakimi… what does that mean?"
…
…
Hokage Tower.Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alone.
The two advisors had already left.
He leaned back in his chair, slowly turning toward the darkened village outside.
He lit his pipe.
Inhaled deeply.
Then exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
His expression—
Unstable.
Shenyue Yuan's strength…
Had exceeded all expectations.
To fight Danzo to a standstill—
No wonder he was compared to Itachi.
Thankfully—
He had not allowed that boy to attempt an assassination.
Konoha…
Was truly fortunate.
To produce two monsters in the same generation.
The future—
Had successors.
But—
Hiruzen sighed.
Such talent.
Such potential.
And yet—
Neither could truly be used by the village.
Itachi Uchiha.Shenyue Yuan.
Both—
Too extreme.
Itachi could slaughter his entire clan without hesitation.
And Shenyue Yuan…
Hiruzen was certain—
If given the chance—
He would cut down any clan in Konoha without a second thought.
Just as he had done to Danzo.
He possessed the Will of Fire.
He followed orders.
But—
His thinking…
Was abnormal.
This boy—
Could not remain in the village.
"…Has Shenyue Yuan left Konoha yet?"
Hiruzen suddenly stood.
Facing the darkness beyond the window.
The smoke scattered.
An ANBU appeared silently behind him.
Respectful. Motionless.
"Hokage-sama… not yet."
"…Not yet?" Hiruzen frowned.
The ANBU reported calmly,
"He returned home first."
"Took a bath."
"Changed into clean clothes."
"Fed his cat and dog."
"And then…"
"He went to see Kurenai Yuhi."
"He transferred all his assets to her."
Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly.
Even with his protection—
The bounty would not be issued until morning.
And yet—
This was far too careless.
Was he not afraid of Danzo's retaliation?
"…At least he still has sentiment," Hiruzen murmured.
Then asked,
"Is he leaving now?"
The ANBU shook his head.
"No."
"Before I returned…"
"He changed direction."
"Toward the village center."
"…Possibly heading toward the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's residence."
"…WHAT?!"
Hiruzen spun around instantly.
Alarmed.
That boy—
Was he planning to capture Naruto?
Offer him to Akatsuki as proof of loyalty?
That was exactly the kind of thing—
Shenyue Yuan might do.
Without hesitation.
Hiruzen immediately grabbed a crystal ball.
Activated the Telescope Technique.
Moments later—
The image formed.
And he froze.
…
…
Ichiraku Ramen.
Two steaming bowls—
Placed neatly on the counter.
Prepared by Teuchi.
Served by his daughter.
The shop had already closed for the night.
But—
At the sight of someone she admired—
Ayame had woken her father to cook.
Back at the Academy—
The girls were divided into two groups.
One—
Admired Itachi.
Calm. Brilliant. Untouchable.
The other—
Admired Shenyue Yuan.
Equal in strength.
Even more handsome.
And—
With that one irresistible flaw.
Blind.
Which only made him more mysterious.
"Yuan-kun… take your time."
Ayame smiled sweetly.
"If you want more, I'll make it for you."
"Free~"
She quietly added an extra egg to his bowl.
"…."
Teuchi watched silently.
Meanwhile—
Naruto Uzumaki jumped up excitedly.
"Ayame-nee! Me too! I want more too!!"
"Of course, Naruto."
She smiled warmly.
"Extra noodles: 30 ryō."
"Extra egg: 5 ryō."
"…Huh?!"
"Then why does Yuan-senpai get it for free?!"
"Because your Yuan-nii is a ninja."
"Ninjas work very hard every day."
"Then when I become a ninja—"
"Will I get free ramen too?"
"…We'll see."
Ayame chuckled softly.
Then ignored him—
And sat quietly to the side.
Watching Shenyue Yuan.
Even injured—
That face…
Beneath the white bandages—
Perfect.
Mysterious.
Flawless.
Shenyue Yuan said nothing.
He simply ate.
As for his relationship with Naruto—
It began after graduation.
As a genin—
Completing high-level missions alongside Kurenai—
He earned money.
And he spent it.
In his previous life—
He couldn't even afford a restroom in the city.
In this life?
He went all in.
Real estate.
Three houses.Three shops.
All located in central Konoha.
One of those houses—
Directly across from Naruto's home.
Owning property in the village—
Gave him peace of mind.
Of course—
It also left him broke again.
As for ANBU surveillance—
Shenyue Yuan—
A native of Konoha.
Parents killed in war.
A clean background.
No threat.
Living across from Naruto—
Seeing him often—
Greeting him daily—
They gradually became close.
Naruto's only friend in the village.
His trusted…
Yuan-senpai.
After all—
They were both orphans.
They shared the same loneliness.
And Shenyue Yuan—
Was different from the ignorant villagers.
He never looked down on him.
But the real reason their bond deepened?
Simple.
Naruto—
Was rich.