Naruto and Sasuke are doing nothing; Madara and I will set an example.

Page 14

Obito's eyes narrowed slowly: "I finally remember who that guy is. Well, in a sense, he is an old acquaintance, but he's rather uninteresting..."

"Fire Release." Uchiha Yuki, her hands, clad in black half-finger tactical gloves, formed the 'Noon' seal in front of her chest, her black hair moving without wind, her palms clenched in front of her mouth!

"Extinguish the mighty fire!"

"Boom! B ...

Ban's lips curled into a domineering smile: "Yes~ that's the taste~!"

On the school rooftop, a white, curly-faced creature was watching the explosion on the training ground with its unfathomable eyes.

"Oh my god~, that's really good. If only the urge to poop could be this smooth..."

Chapter 20 Goodbye to Ah Fei

As the fire receded, it left behind charred remains of large trees and fan-shaped craters on the ground left by the raging flames.

The children behind him were shocked and screaming.

"My God... the gap between us and her is just too big!"

"The snow seems to be even heavier than during the last class assessment! It's only been half a month!"

"She's definitely going to win again and take first place!"

Sitting in the second row of the crowd, a girl with short blonde hair that was somewhat similar to Samui was sucking on a lollipop.

With her emerald eyes, she glanced at the refined-looking young man with short, neat black hair beside her and said, "Brother, it seems you haven't been able to make a comeback this time either."

"Yes, she lost without any temper. Xue has talent far surpassing mine, and her efforts are no less than mine..." the boy said with an admiring expression.

These siblings, Uchiha Kaze and Uchiha Hana, are Yuki's cousins.

"Hoo." Xue exhaled the lingering burning breath in her throat, released the seal, and placed her right hand on her waist.

She bit her lip, her left hand hanging at her side, clenched into a fist. "Is this all there is to it?"

Under the admiring or envious gazes of her classmates, she turned and walked back to the line, a secret thought churning within her: At this level, I'm nowhere near as good as Dad, let alone Mom! When will I ever be able to help Dad...?

This year! This year, those pests that threaten the ninja world will appear! Dad will be very busy then! I can't leave all the care and protection of Xiaoyue to Mom alone!

I need to become stronger!

Ban's gaze remained fixed on Xue's face until she sat down, then he turned to Chen and said, "That child has such good eyes, unlike the eyes that pampered children of this era should have."

Looking at Xue's petite and delicate figure, Chen said in a complicated tone, "Xue has been quite sensible since she was little. Well, how should I put it, in our hometown's terms, she was born to repay a debt of gratitude."

"Moreover, she is exceptionally intelligent and adept at figuring things out. From the people and things around her, and from some subtle clues, she deduced that I was brewing something big. She subtly and overtly tested me to confirm my suspicions, which put me in a somewhat passive position..."

"Personally, I didn't want my child to get involved, and I even considered keeping it a secret from her... but..."

The massacre of the Uchiha clan in Konoha, and the lessons learned by Itachi and Sasuke, are still fresh in our minds...

Often, adults' self-righteous and arbitrary decisions, in their so-called "good for the child," actually push a child who should be growing up healthily to the point of having a distorted personality.

Not only is Sasuke a role model, but Chen's own real-life experiences are also a living example.

"After much thought, I decided to be open and honest with Xue and let her choose her own path in the future! As parents, all we need to do is support her wholeheartedly."

"I see." Ban nodded deeply, inwardly admiring, "With such a family tradition, it's no wonder they have such a daughter!"

Upon arriving at the Ninja Academy, everyone's attention was focused on Yuki. While Chen felt gratified and proud, he didn't forget his primary purpose.

Introduce them to the important 'family members' whom you are dedicated to protecting.

"The short-haired boy and blonde girl sitting in the third row behind are Kaze and Hana, my nephew and niece. They are also very outstanding, especially Kaze, who has already awakened the Sharingan with three tomoe. He is most skilled in Lightning Release, and his Body Flicker Technique and swordsmanship are also quite superb."

Ban nodded politely and said, "Well, since he's your brother's child, he can't be too bad."

At this moment, Obito joined the discussion: "However, while Lightning Release, Body Flicker Technique, and swordsmanship are Uchiha techniques, I think his mother's background in Kumogakure must also be related, right?"

“That’s right, the child’s swordsmanship was first taught by Samui.”

"By the way," Obito asked with interest, "Samui is from Kumogakure, so why did she agree to come to Angakure?"

Chen said, "Actually, it wasn't just Samui; her brother Atsi also came along."

Under Obito's watchful gaze, Chen began to speak in detail.

“Samui, as my sister-in-law, knows a little about the plans that Jin and I carried out together in the past. She knows that the plan conflicts with the ideals upheld by the five great ninja villages, and she can also see that staying in Kumogakure with Jin’s child may one day lead to a dilemma, which would be unfavorable to me, and also unfavorable to her and the two children.”

“Samyi, my sister-in-law, the thing I respect most about her is that she is never confused or ambiguous on important matters. She understands the principle that a short pain is worse than a long one.”

"She even helped me persuade her younger brother, Atsui, and the way she bid farewell to Kumogakure was quite wise and dignified!"

"Ninjas are not allowed to become rogue ninjas, but they are allowed to return to the status of legitimate civilians."

"The brother and sister submitted a petition to the Raikage requesting to return to civilian status and promised never to do anything detrimental to Kumogakure for the rest of their lives!"

"After arriving in my Hidden Shadow Village, they did not choose to wear headbands and become ninjas, but stayed as civilians, which can be considered as keeping their promise to their hometown!"

"For me, I never need my younger siblings and their brother to be involved in my plans! The fact that they can stay with me with their children is the best support I can receive!"

"Moreover..." At this point, Chen gripped the barbed wire and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Azii, his strength as a ninja is mediocre, even mediocre, but he has become a winner in life in another sense."

"How to say?"

"More than half of the twelve new recruits that we are 'currently' focusing on developing are contributed by Atsui!"

"Uncle Madara, Obito, do you see those blond kids in the crowd who look exactly alike?"

Madara and Obito looked over and, sure enough, at the very back of the line, they saw seven children with blond bowl cuts who looked exactly alike!

However, they were very young, looking only about six or seven years old. They were there only to observe and learn, and did not participate in the ongoing testing program.

"In the same year that Atsi joined the Dark Shadows, he married a local girl, and the following year, he gave birth to septuplets of boys. Did you see the words tattooed on the shoulders of those children?"

They are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 respectively.

Chen smiled and said, "I can't even remember all the names of these seven little ones. Their nicknames are the numbers on their shoulders: Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, and Seventh Brother."

"Although the seven little ones are still young, their talents have already begun to show. The third brother is good at fire release, the fourth brother is good at water release, the fifth brother is good at lightning release, the sixth brother is good at wind release, and the seventh brother is good at earth release!"

Obito asked, "Then, what about the eldest and second children?"

Chen replied, "The eldest child possesses Yang Release and is naturally strong. He can be nurtured as a taijutsu ninja. The second child possesses Yin Release and has outstanding spiritual energy. He is a good prospect for a genjutsu ninja."

Obito asked, "It's quite lively here. You mentioned twelve new recruits that we're focusing on developing: Yuki, Kaze, Hana, plus these seven little ones, that makes ten in total. Where are the other two?"

"One of them is not here. She is the granddaughter of the Zen Master, named 'Jinghua'. When the Zen Master entrusted her to me, she was still a little girl. Now she is a formal ninja of the Hidden Shadow Village and is traveling."

"Traveling, not carrying out a mission?"

"We are self-sufficient in our own funding and do not need government funding, so we do not need to be sent abroad to perform missions for our livelihood."

"So... what about the last person?"

Chen pointed to the boy on the training ground who had just finished throwing a shuriken!

"Kan-suke, he's also the head of academic affairs at the Dark Ninja Academy, and Yamato's son, who's currently in charge of the assessment records!"

Madara glanced at the middle-aged man who was writing rapidly on the whiteboard and said casually, "Oh, that Wood Release ninja is called Yamato."

"Yes, after he came to Anku, he got married and had children. I named him 'Kansuke.' Kansuke is a promising talent. He was born with Wood Release, and it's a variant of Wood Release."

"A variant of Wood Release?" Now, Madara was truly curious!

"Gan suke, let's proceed with the ninjutsu test!" Yamato looked up, giving him an encouraging look.

Gan Zhu nodded in greeting, took a deep breath, and clasped his hands together in a mudra.

—Wood Release: Demon Bamboo Dance!

Chen said, "Kanju's Wood Release technique creates bamboo that grows wildly and possesses extremely high elasticity and piercing power..."

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!" More than a dozen pillars burst up from the ground, crisscrossing and piercing through a piece of hard granite on the ground, leaving it suspended in the air!

The granite block weighed over a thousand pounds, and the bamboo supporting it was pressed down like a fully drawn bow, creaking and cracking, but it never broke!

Madara gave him a compliment that he could be proud of for a lifetime: "Interesting."

Obito didn't comment, but turned to look at Chen. "How did you come up with the idea of ​​specifically bringing Yamato into your village? Someone of your skill level probably wouldn't even consider his Wood Release, right?"

I knew you'd ask.

Chen smiled slightly and said, "Don't underestimate Yamato. His Wood Release 'mechanics' are complete, it's just that the 'stats' are not enough. If there are external means to enhance the 'stats', his combat power should not be underestimated."

"On the battlefield of the Fourth Shinobi World War, he was enveloped by a special White Zetsu and once blocked the Kage's path. Well... you seemed to have already passed out at that time and didn't see that exciting scene."

“A special White Zetsu.” Obito’s eyes flashed intensely. “Could it be…”

“That’s right, that’s the ‘old acquaintance’ I really want you to meet.”

“…” Obito raised his eyes.

"..." Above the eaves of the school building, the figure clad in a black robe simultaneously raised his white, curly face.

Their eyes met across the distance.

Obito's thoughts seemed to be instantly pulled back to that dark underground lair. Back then, he was wrapped in bandages, sitting on a cold stone bed, surrounded by the White Zetsu, enjoying a brief, warm moment of laughter and merriment.

"I never expected to see you again, Afei..."

Chapter 21 Romance

(Tobi was the name of the White Zetsu with the Spiral Face that possessed Obito back then. Also, Obito often referred to himself as Tobi later on, so please don't confuse them.)

"Back then, in order to prevent Tobi from dying when the Infinite Tsukuyomi was lifted, I appeared and froze its time. Yamato, who was enveloped by Tobi, became a witness as a result. Killing him would have been too much, so I froze Yamato as well."

"When the time was right, I thawed Abi and cast Kotoamatsukami on Yamato. Of course, I only changed his 'Will of Fire' to 'Will of Darkness'."

"This matter is no longer important." Obito vanished in a flash, heading straight for Tobi's side.

"Uncle Ban, aren't you going over there?"

Madara shook his head and said, "No, there's no need to join in the fun. I've always treated Tobi as a pawn, just like the other White Zetsu, even though it does have a more complete personality and combat abilities than the other White Zetsu."

The second half of the sentence is Madara's inner monologue: Fortunately, I didn't realize at the time that Tobi actually felt sorry for Obito. Otherwise, I would have dealt with Tobi much earlier, and Obito would be missing a friend he could talk to now.

On the rooftop, Obito and Tobi officially met.

"Long time no see, you're still alive."

"Long time no see, but you're dead."

"How have you been these past years?"

"It's alright, but I still don't understand what the urge to defecate really feels like."

"You're still so frivolous. Haven't you ever studied anything serious?"

"Does watching Yamato poop count?" Afei thought for a moment and asked.

Obito's lips twitched. "You have such a heavy taste..."

"Actually, I wanted to see Xiao Nan poop, but she's so heavily guarded that I've never been able to succeed. How about we ambush her together tonight? You're practically invincible now anyway!"

"I'm sorry, but I really have no interest in excrement, especially that woman's excrement."

Ah Fei shrugged, "Alright then..."

"Tobi." Obito's gaze was more formal than ever before as he looked at the curly face. "Although this isn't the right atmosphere for us to say these words, let me say them just once..."

"Okay, go ahead." Afei's tone seemed much more serious now.

In Obito's dark eyes, now resurrected through Edo Tensei, a long-lost warmth flickered. "It's so good to see you again!"

After a long silence, Afei wrapped his head in vines and spoke in a low voice that was never his: "Then let me say something too, Obito... I'm sorry about what happened back then. I considered you a friend, but I couldn't help you because I couldn't defy the will of the golem that Madara controlled."

A gentle breeze seemed to smooth out some of the wrinkles on his face. "Thank you. It's been a worthwhile trip to hear you say that in person."

Afei held up one finger: "So, you're not going to reconsider my suggestion?"

Obito waved his hand and said, "This, I'm afraid I still can't comply."

On the school field, the grade assessment has ended.

"Onee-chan~ Koji Koji~~! (Big sister~~! Over here~~!)" Xiaoyue waved her little hand excitedly!

"Dad!! Mom!!" Xue'er was overjoyed and almost jumped up on the spot!

"Wow, Xue's parents! This is the first time I've ever met them!"

"I heard they have a very high status in this village!"