Sacrifice.
That was exactly what it was. Qingyu's perspective on the current situation was fundamentally different from that of the crowd. Guided by the rumors, the villagers believed a new victim had fallen prey to a predator. But Qingyu knew the truth: the man in the river wasn't a victim of an enemy; he was a member of the faction opposing the Third Hokage.
This wasn't a murder. It was a calculated, voluntary sacrifice to tighten the noose around Danzo's neck.
"Time to head back."
Qingyu had no desire to gawk. In events like this, the center of attention was the most dangerous place to be. If he accidentally caught the eye of Nara Tetsu or Yamanaka Yuta, he might be dragged into their next scheme. He walked against the flow of the crowd, a solitary figure moving away from the excitement.
Back in his dormitory, Qingyu relaxed. He wasn't worried about missing out on the details. To him, everyone currently standing by the river was a walking surveillance camera. When he went out tomorrow to "pat a few heads," he would be able to reconstruct the scene from multiple angles, seeing the events more clearly than if he had stood there himself.
Three days later, feeling that the initial heat had died down, Qingyu finally stepped out of his room. He was determined to stay on the periphery of the village's troubles. However, the moment he cleared the doorway, his eyes locked onto an elderly man standing nearby.
The old man was already looking at him.
"Master Yuta!" Qingyu greeted him with immediate, warm enthusiasm, a bright smile on his face as if he were seeing a long-lost mentor.
"Hahaha, Qingyu! I just arrived. I didn't even have a chance to knock before you came out," Yamanaka Yuta laughed. He made his intentions clear—he wasn't there by chance; he was there specifically for Qingyu.
"Is there something I can help you with, Master Yuta?" Qingyu asked, tilting his head in feigned confusion.
"I heard from Captain Eaton that you're on leave. I thought I'd check in on you and perhaps invite you for a cup of tea," Yuta offered.
"Ah, I'm terribly sorry, Master Yuta, but I can't join you for tea," Qingyu declined instantly with a shake of his head. No way, he thought. I'm not getting tangled up with you right now.
Yuta's brow furrowed slightly. "But you're on vacation, aren't you? Surely you have some free time?"
"I am on leave, yes, but this time is mine to manage. Sitting around drinking tea is a bit too slow for my pace," Qingyu waved his hand, dismissing the invitation with his characteristic bluntness.
"I'm not here to ask for a favor this time," Yuta said, smiling.
"Goodbye."
Qingyu didn't waste any more words. He gave a quick wave and walked away, leaving the old man standing there.
"Huh?" Yuta blinked, stunned by the sheer lack of social niceties. He watched Qingyu's retreating back with a sigh. "What an odd fellow..."
Yuta had hoped Qingyu would be a useful tool for their plan, but after seeing his stubborn refusal, he realized he'd have to find another way. While Qingyu was perfect because of his tight lips, the Torture Force wasn't exactly lacking in people who knew how to keep a secret.
Qingyu quickened his pace until he was sure Yuta wasn't following.
That old man is trouble! he thought, pouting. He actually tracked down my dorm. Good thing I bolted.
He felt confident that he had dodged the bullet. These conspirators had a deadline; they couldn't afford to waste time chasing someone who clearly wouldn't cooperate. They would move on to the next candidate soon.
"I hope your future plans don't involve me anymore," Qingyu bottled up his annoyance, his dark eyes shimmering. He didn't want trouble, but he wasn't going to spend his whole life hiding either. He headed straight for the busiest part of the village.
"Yo! Minato!"
He spotted a young man and ran up to him, lightly tapping his head.
[Ding! Memory Reading Successful! Reward: Chakra Increase!]
"What the—?!" The man spun around, annoyed to see a stranger smiling at him.
"So sorry! Got the wrong person!" Qingyu bowed with practiced precision, leaving the man bewildered.
He moved on to the next.
"Yo! Minato!"
He continued his "head-patting" marathon, racking up rewards and reading memories.
"Yo! Minato!" "Yo! Minato!" "Yo! Minato!"
After dozens of repetitions, even Qingyu was starting to feel the physical toll of being "mistaken." Man, acting like an idiot is exhausting...
"That's him!"
A voice, vaguely familiar from earlier that day, caught his ear. Qingyu turned toward the sound. He saw a group of four or five boys. One of them, a yellow-haired boy with bright blue eyes, was staring at him with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
"That's the guy who was looking for you!" another boy pointed at Qingyu. Once he saw the yellow-haired boy nod, the rest of the group scurried off.
"..."
Qingyu's lip twitched as he looked at the boy. If I'm not embarrassed, then the embarrassment belongs to someone else, he chanted internally, reinforcing his mental fortitude.
Then, a huge, genuine smile broke across his face as he waved.
"Yo! Minato!"
This time, he wasn't wrong. The boy standing before him was indeed Namikaze Minato. He had accidentally summoned the real deal.
"Yo! Qingyu!" Minato squinted and gave a bright, identical wave back, perfectly mimicking Qingyu's tone.
Whoosh!
In an instant, dozens of heads turned. Dozens of eyes—most of them belonging to people Qingyu had "mistakenly" patted earlier—locked onto him with looks of utter bewilderment.
They looked at the real Minato, then at their own reflections in shop windows, a giant question mark forming in their minds.
Do we... really look that much like him?