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One month later. The courtyard of the Qianyu Estate, Konoha.
"Leader… these are the so-called members of the Akatsuki?" Kakuzu's face was grim as he scanned the group before him. For the first time in his life, a tempest of disbelief churned within his typically placid, bean-like eyes. He didn't understand. He was utterly bewildered.
Are you fucking with me?
His gaze silently shifted to Qianyu. He said nothing. But his eyes said everything.
Konan, Yahiko, Nagato, Sasori, Obito, Kakashi, Rin, Yamato… The average age of these brats wasn't even six years old!
Forget 'Akatsuki'. This was a goddamn Akatsuki Elementary School!
The only reason Kakuzu hadn't attacked yet was the simple, unshakeable knowledge that he couldn't beat Qianyu.
"Kakuzu, Kakuzu… You're missing the forest for the trees," Qianyu shook his head, his tone the very picture of exasperated disappointment. "Look at these little ones again. Really look."
"Hm?"
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. He studied the children with renewed focus. And then he saw it.
The chakra swirling within each of them far surpassed that of an average Chunin. More impressively, they showed no fear facing him, a bounty hunter steeped in blood. A few even looked… eager. Like they wanted a piece of him.
"These children…" Kakuzu muttered, a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes.
Qianyu smirked inwardly. That's right. The dream team. Every single one a future monster. He knew Kakuzu's interest would be piqued.
Forget Konan and the others. Take Rin, who looked the least threatening of the bunch. She was a vessel capable of holding a Tailed Beast's chakra. You think an ordinary girl would be placed on a team with Kakashi and Obito?
"If you're really not interested, I won't force you," Qianyu said, waving a hand dismissively. "Plenty of people are lining up to help me babysit—ahem, to lead the Akatsuki."
He gestured vaguely to the side, catching his slip-up a moment too late.
"Oh?"
Kakuzu followed the gesture. Under the eaves of a nearby building, two figures, one tall and one short, were watching them with rapt attention.
"…Very well, Leader," Kakuzu said after a moment's contemplation, his voice low and measured. "I accept the positions of Vice-Leader and Finance Minister of the Akatsuki."
To do good work, one must first sharpen one's tools. Time was the one thing he had in abundance. If he could cultivate this batch of exceptional seedlings… his future earning efficiency would skyrocket.
Besides, as long as he kept working under Qianyu, would money ever be a problem?
"Excellent, Kakuzu. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me." Qianyu nodded, satisfied. He then waved at the kids. "Alright, members of the Akatsuki! Follow your Vice-Leader and go handle your mission. Now scram!"
Once Kakuzu and the horde of children were gone, Qianyu let out a long, relieved sigh.
Those little terrors had gotten more destructive by the day. Best to get them out of Konoha. Let them be someone else's problem.
"Nephew, really! Raising the next generation should be my job!" The two figures from the eaves hurried over. The shorter one, with his stubby legs moving surprisingly fast, reached Qianyu first.
"Ah, Uncle… I'm just worried you'd get a little too enthusiastic and decide to dissect them for research," Qianyu said, eyeing the eager Hiruko with a sigh.
"What about me, Qianyu?" Nawaki ran up, puffing out his chest indignantly. "Are you saying my strength isn't enough to lead them?"
"You?" Qianyu glanced at him, his expression turning dismissive. "With that thick skull of yours? I'd have to explain things three times. I'm afraid you'd ruin them."
Nawaki's face flushed. "Qianyu! What did you say?! Say that again!"
"Oho, getting angry?"
"Qianyu, I… I'll fight you!!"
Nawaki tackled Qianyu to the ground, fists flailing. In the entire ninja world, Nawaki was probably the only one left who would dare throw a punch at Qianyu.
"Ow, ow, ow! Damn it, why are you so hard?!"
"Idiot! I may look like this now, but I'm still a Six Paths body!"
Watching his two nephews roughhouse, Hiruko smiled fondly. He quietly slipped away, heading back to his lab. By his calculations, Orochimaru should have finished skinning the latest test subject. Time for the next round of dissections.
"Hey, Qianyu," Nawaki said after a while, climbing off his friend. He looked thoughtful. "You're still avoiding my sister, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Qianyu admitted with a wry smile. "After… what happened, I still don't know how to face her."
"Come on, it's been a while. I think she's cooled down. You tied me up and I got over it. My sister will too."
Nawaki threw an arm around Qianyu's shoulders, his tone suddenly serious. "You're my brother. And she thinks of you as family. You're gonna have to deal with her eventually. You can't hide forever."
Qianyu: "..."
It wasn't just about the tentacles. The visual impact of that scene had been… intense. In a moment of impulse, he'd done a lot of things. A lot of things he couldn't talk about.
"Anyway, it's not that simple. Explaining it to a blockhead like you is pointless. Just… don't worry about it," Qianyu grumbled.
He was practically a demigod now, that much was true. He could pick a fight with anyone in the ninja world and win. He could probably slap the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the man would praise his 'artistic flair' before offering him his concubines.
But in front of people like Tsunade and Nawaki… he was still just Qianyu. Their bond wouldn't change, no matter how wide the gap in power or status grew.
"Yeah… it's definitely not simple," Nawaki murmured, a trace of melancholy flashing in his eyes as he watched his troubled friend.
On one side was his sister. On the other, his brother. No matter what he thought, the best he could do was play dumb. They had to figure this out themselves.
…
"Man… With the rugrats gone, this thousand-square-meter estate feels way too quiet."
That afternoon, bored out of his mind, Qianyu decided to take a walk. He'd barely stepped out the gate when he ran into a familiar face.
"Just the guy I was looking for, Qianyu!"
Uchiha Nami dropped from the roof beam, landing in a flashy flip right in front of Qianyu, a grin on his face.
Thanks to Qianyu, no nation dared challenge the Land of Fire anymore. Nami had naturally returned to the village, resuming his post as a squad leader in the Police Force.
And as everyone knew, during work hours, the Fourth Hokage would never be in his office. The best place to find him was right outside his house.
"What's up, Nami?" Qianyu was puzzled. Village business went to Minato and the others. Why come to him, the Hokage?
"It's like this. Two weirdos showed up in the village. One tall, one short. Claim they're street performers, but something about them feels off."
Nami's grin widened. "My main body's still on patrol duty. You said you were bored, right? How about you do me a solid and check these two out?"
Ever since learning Qianyu was 'one of them', Nami had treated him like a brother. He'd drop by for drinks, casually probe for news about Mikoto… They'd grown close.
Truthfully, Nami wasn't sure if the strangers were actually suspicious. He just figured Qianyu had nothing better to do. Consider it a bit of entertainment.
"Well, well. A lowly Police Force squad leader, ordering around the Hokage," Qianyu chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine. I'll go check on your 'suspicious characters'."
He was genuinely bored. These days, his schedule consisted of 'sparring' with Karin, Nonō, or Yamanaka Ryoka—sometimes individually, sometimes in more… enthusiastic group sessions. Beyond that, he had no idea what to do with himself.
Ever since he'd ascended to Six Paths-level power, the once-ferocious Cloud ninjas had become downright peaceful. The world was terrifyingly calm. And boring.
Now, Qianyu truly understood the phrase, 'It's lonely at the top.'
…
West side of Konoha. Two figures moved furtively, avoiding the main thoroughfares, sticking to the narrow, deserted back alleys.
One was tall, dressed in a formal suit and a hat. Sharp black hair covered his left eye, leaving only a single dark orb visible. Mysterious.
The other was a shorter, blond boy. His eyes were a clear, watery blue. Whisker-like marks adorned his cheeks.
These were undoubtedly the "two suspicious characters" Nami had mentioned. They'd put on a street performance act whenever patrolling ninjas passed by, only relaxing once they were alone.
"Seriously… We finally make it to the past, and we have to skulk around like this?" the blond boy complained, hands behind his head.
"This isn't simply the past," the suited man said, his expression grave as he glanced at his companion. "Remember? The fourth face on the Hokage Monument. It wasn't Minato Namikaze. This is not the Konoha we know."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Perhaps… we have arrived in a past that exists within a parallel world. A world similar to, but not the same as, our own."
Just like the world of the Limited Tsukuyomi that Naruto and Sakura once entered, he added silently to himself.
"Tsk, tsk. Well, isn't this getting interesting."
Behind them, a figure materialized from the shadows. Qianyu stared at the pair, a long-forgotten thrill of excitement coursing through him.
Who did he see?
Sasuke Uchiha. And Boruto Uzumaki.
Two people who should be utterly, completely impossible to find here and now.
Qianyu's curiosity was ablaze. He couldn't wait to unravel this mystery.
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