Chapter 45: The Legend of the Yellow Flash
Unexpected Visitors
He'd barely returned home when someone came to visit!
Uchiha Kazuki was dressed casually, a towel draped over his damp hair, his skin still flushed from the hot water.
Clearly, he'd just finished bathing and wasn't expecting company.
"Brother Kazuki!!!"
The boisterous voice echoing outside his door was unmistakable—it could only belong to Uchiha Obito.
"That kid never lets me rest for even a moment," Uchiha Kazuki sighed softly, opening the door with genuine surprise flickering in his eyes.
Obito hadn't come alone—he'd brought two others with him.
One of them looked very familiar.
A handsome young man with tousled golden-blond hair, radiating a warm and approachable aura that naturally drew people toward him. This was none other than Konoha's currently most sought-after elite jōnin, a direct disciple of Jiraiya (one of the Legendary Sannin), and the future Fourth Hokage himself—Namikaze Minato.
Also known throughout the shinobi world as: The Yellow Flash of Konoha, The Legend of the Fastest Shinobi Alive.
As for the other visitor... Uchiha Kazuki's analytical gaze fell upon the somewhat shy girl standing partially behind Namikaze Minato.
Nohara Rin—a young woman who perfectly embodied the tragic saying: 'The dead white moonlight is always the brightest.'
The entire story of Naruto, without this woman's tragic fate, would probably be cut in half, he mused silently.
Nohara Rin noticed his observant gaze. Her face flushed slightly pink as she spoke in a soft, polite whisper. "Hello, my name is Nohara Rin. I'm one of Minato-sensei's students."
"It's been too long, Kazuki."
Namikaze Minato greeted him with his characteristically warm and cheerful smile, though a hint of genuine apology crossed his handsome features. "I'm truly sorry—you just returned from a difficult mission, and here we are bothering you already."
"No, not at all. Please, come inside."
Uchiha Kazuki immediately returned the smile with practiced warmth and stepped aside gracefully to make way for his guests.
"Pardon the intrusion~"
The three visitors removed their shoes politely at the entrance and filed inside one by one, seating themselves respectfully around his modest living room.
Uchiha Kazuki prepared three cups of freshly brewed green tea, changed into more appropriate clothing, tidied his appearance properly, and finally sat down across from them with serious attentiveness.
"Minato-san, you wouldn't visit without good reason. What do you need from me?"
The Request
"There is indeed something important I need to ask of you."
Upon hearing the direct question, Namikaze Minato's expression became troubled and conflicted. He hesitated several times before speaking, clearly deeply bothered by whatever matter had brought him here.
Observing the other man's reluctant expression and glancing meaningfully at both Obito and Rin seated beside him, Uchiha Kazuki quickly formed a hypothesis. He picked up his cup of green tea and took a measured sip.
"Let me guess—could this be related to Kakashi? The son of the White Fang and genius of the Hatake clan?"
"You truly are remarkably perceptive, Kazuki."
Namikaze Minato released a deep, weary sigh and met his eyes directly. "We're hoping you might be willing to help that troubled child."
"Please, Kazuki-nii!"
At that moment, Obito performed a perfect dogeza—the traditional gesture of deepest supplication—pressing his forehead firmly against the tatami floor.
"Kakashi is my best friend! I can't stand seeing him so broken and despondent like this!"
"Kazuki-senpai, please help Kakashi," Nohara Rin added earnestly, her voice thick with genuine concern. "He's truly suffering right now. These past days, the villagers won't stop gossiping about what happened to his father. He's locked himself in his room and refuses to come out no matter who calls for him. We're all extremely worried."
Uchiha Kazuki opened his mouth to respond when suddenly, a line of transparent text materialized before his eyes—visible only to him.
[Side Quest: Shattered Beliefs]
[The once-unwavering belief has been completely shattered. Please guide this young man onto the path you believe is correct.]
[Reward: Creeping Hunger
Corresponding Sequence: Hunter Pathway - Sequence 6 Conspirator
Form: Red Leather Gloves
Beyonder Abilities: Significantly enhances the user's natural charisma, making their words highly persuasive and convincing. Additionally allows the user to "steal" one Beyonder ability or ninjutsu technique from any target within a 50-meter radius. The more thorough knowledge the user possesses about the target, the easier it becomes to steal the specific desired ability. Conversely, insufficient knowledge makes the theft increasingly random and dependent on pure chance.
After successful theft, the original target completely loses access to that Beyonder ability or ninjutsu technique and must wait a minimum of 12 hours before natural recovery. The 'Creeping Hunger' wielder can skillfully utilize the stolen ability for approximately 10 minutes maximum.
Negative Effects: While wearing these gloves, there exists a small probability of randomly losing one of your currently equipped items. Additionally, one of your own Beyonder abilities will be temporarily lost for 12 hours—however, only one ability will be lost within any specified timeframe.]
"I understand this is an incredibly difficult position to put you in," Namikaze Minato continued, misinterpreting Kazuki's thoughtful silence. His apologetic expression deepened considerably, as though he'd reached a difficult decision. "The White Fang incident involves tremendously complicated political factors. But if you're willing to help us with this, I promise I will grant you one request—anything within my power that doesn't violate my principles as a shinobi."
A strange, calculating glint flashed briefly behind Uchiha Kazuki's glasses.
Unexpectedly, his momentary silence had been misunderstood by Namikaze Minato as reluctance to become involved in the White Fang's controversial affairs at such a politically sensitive time.
However, this misunderstanding actually worked perfectly in his favor.
Agreement
"You're really putting me in quite the difficult position here, Minato."
Uchiha Kazuki feigned a mild headache and sighed with apparent reluctance. "However... since it's you asking, I can't possibly refuse."
"Does that mean—?!" Obito looked up excitedly, hope blazing in his dark eyes.
"Yes, I agree to help."
Uchiha Kazuki nodded with a gentle, reassuring smile. "We're all shinobi of the same village, after all. Besides, White Fang-senpai has always treated me with great kindness and respect—I couldn't possibly ignore his son's suffering now."
"Thank you so much, Kazuki."
Namikaze Minato's expression radiated genuine gratitude and relief.
"There's no need for thanks." Uchiha Kazuki smiled warmly while politely declining the praise. "However, I only just returned from my mission today and I'm honestly exhausted. Would it be acceptable if I visited Kakashi tomorrow instead?"
"Of course, there's absolutely no rush whatsoever."
Namikaze Minato wasn't particularly hurried either, his gentle smile never wavering. "We apologize for the intrusion. In that case, we'll take our leave now."
"Goodbye, Kazuki-senpai~"
"See you later, Kazuki-nii-san!"
Tsunade's Summons
After seeing his guests out properly, Kazuki hadn't even managed to sit down and relax before receiving an urgent message delivered by courier.
The letter was brief and direct, instructing him to come immediately to a specific tavern on a particular street—there was something important to discuss.
"I'm clearly just destined to never rest," Uchiha Kazuki muttered helplessly, having no choice but to change his clothes once again and head out into the village.
Following the address written in the letter, he located the tavern without difficulty. Business was surprisingly terrible even during broad daylight—only Tsunade sat alone in a shadowy corner booth, drinking in heavy silence.
"Lady Tsunade, what brings you here?"
Uchiha Kazuki approached her table, sat down in the seat directly across from her, and subtly activated his Spirit Vision ability.
He immediately perceived a thick gray aura of sorrow and melancholy shrouding her spiritual form, mixed with smaller traces of red anger and deep black despair swirling beneath the surface.
Her terrible mood is clearly connected to whatever happened with the Third Hokage earlier, Uchiha Kazuki quickly deduced. He reached across the table and firmly confiscated the sake bottle before she could pour another drink.
"Lady Tsunade, alcohol hits much harder when you're already in a bad emotional state. I really don't want to witness you demolishing this entire establishment again."
Change and Constancy
"Hey, kid... why do people change so much over time?"
Tsunade's eyes appeared slightly glazed and unfocused, her cheeks flushed a deep red like ripened apples, radiating an intoxicating mature charm despite her melancholy state.
"Environment. Experience. Desires. Emotions."
Uchiha Kazuki looked up at her steadily, speaking with practiced calm. "As time inevitably passes, countless different factors can fundamentally change a person's nature. Very few people manage to stay on the same consistent path from beginning to end throughout their entire lives."
"I just... I can't understand why things turned out this way."
Tsunade laughed with bitter self-deprecation, leaning back heavily in her chair. She raised one hand to shield her eyes from view as she murmured softly.
"My grandfather's original vision and intention for this village wasn't anything like this current reality. Whether it's Jiraiya, Orochimaru, or even my own teacher... it feels like absolutely everything has changed around me. Only I remain foolishly stuck in the same place, clinging to the same ideals like an idiot."
She lowered her hand slightly, revealing reddened eyes that glistened with unshed tears.
"Hey, kid... tell me honestly. Was I really wrong all along?"
Hearing the vulnerability and genuine pain in Tsunade's normally strong voice, Uchiha Kazuki shook his head slowly.
"Many things in this world aren't simply about objective right or wrong. If you truly believe something is right in your heart, then you should continue to pursue it with conviction."
"Ha... you actually do know how to comfort people properly."
Tsunade smiled despite herself, subtly wiping at her eyes which remained slightly red and swollen from suppressed emotion. She bit her lower lip gently, gazing at the young man before her with an almost dreamlike, hazy expression.
"What about you, then? Will you eventually change too?"
Uchiha Kazuki paused for just a moment, then pushed up the black-rimmed glasses on his nose with one slender finger in his characteristic gesture.
In the dimly lit atmosphere of the quiet tavern, he pressed his thin lips together briefly before they curved into a subtle, confident smile. His gaze remained perfectly calm and serene—like the undisturbed surface of a bottomless pool reflecting starlight.
"No. I won't change, Lady Tsunade."
"It was true before, and it will remain true in the future."
"I am simply... who I am."
[End of Chapter 45]
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