The Unexpected One Left Behind (First Update)

A fine drizzle fell. At the Fourth Hokage’s funeral, Xu Yue silently offered a flower as well.

Looking at the names engraved on the Memorial Stone, Xu Yue’s expression was heavy, but his eyes were icy cold.

What a pity, Minato. I almost could have considered you a friend…

After setting down the flower, Xu Yue looked up at the misty rain and covered his mouth as he coughed dryly a few times.

Even with a high-level Sage Body, using senjutsu beyond his limits twice in succession was not something he could recover from quickly. He needed to recuperate slowly.

Fortunately, Obito should need time to recover as well. Judging by the timing, there was still time.

He was now the strongest person in Root aside from Danzo. That man should not pass up the chance to make use of him, right? After dragging things out until now, with the position of Hokage still undecided, Danzo should turn his attention here…

Mm, time to return to the hospital and recuperate properly. This drizzle was making him feel like he was about to grow mold.

As he stretched his body, his bones crackled with a teeth-gritting sound, and Xu Yue returned to his hospital room.

He honestly lay in bed and let his high-level Sage Body recover on its own…

Thanks to the high-level Sage Body, Xu Yue did not need much time to recover from his injuries.

Yet in just these few days, quite a few people Xu Yue knew and did not know came to visit him in Konoha.

Many of them thanked Xu Yue for stopping the Nine-Tails’ rampage. Though the private hospital room was spacious enough, it was crammed full of flower baskets and fruit…

"I’m saying, Kakashi, everyone else came before you, yet you were the last to arrive. Being late would have been one thing, but you didn’t even bring a get-well gift. What, were you planning to offer yourself instead? Sorry, I refuse."

Looking at Kakashi, who had been healed by the not-yet-born Naruto and had changed from the cold Kakashi into the future laid-back Kakashi, Xu Yue leaned against his pillow and teased him.

But even though he had become the laid-back Kakashi, the Fourth Hokage’s death had still dealt him a severe blow.

Kakashi merely rolled his eyes at Xu Yue, then casually sat on the edge of his bed.

"Of the old Team Minato, only you and I are left now. I don’t want anything to happen to you too. Recuperate properly. Here, this is for you."

As he spoke, Kakashi tossed over a yellow-covered novel. Xu Yue did not know what to say. This was supposed to help him recuperate properly? Giving him something like this?

Mm, Jiraiya’s new book. That guy would be heartbroken when he heard the news too…

"There have been some unpleasant rumors in the village lately. Don’t take them to heart, though I suppose someone with your personality wouldn’t."

Having delivered the gift, Kakashi seemed to have come specifically to remind him of that. Not wanting to leave behind any more regrets, he waved and headed for the door.

More unpleasant rumors?

Of course. Quite a few people had seen the Sharingan reflected in the Nine-Tails’ eyes. This had been one of the major reasons that drove the Uchiha Clan toward rebellion.

And Xu Yue’s appearance had earned him a massive wave of goodwill, granting him an incredibly frightening boost in prestige.

That guy who loved pulling strings behind the scenes was probably getting restless again.

Danzo was strong, and his methods were formidable, but he was too petty in the way he handled matters. All he knew was how to use such lowly tricks.

Let him be. For the sake of his later goals, Xu Yue should not fall out with him completely just yet.

However, just after Kakashi left, the door to the hospital room was pushed open again, and a seductive figure entered.

Xu Yue’s pupils contracted slightly when he saw who it was.

Bao Ji!

The Promotion Mission had ended long ago. Cultivation in this Mission Space had already stopped, and Chakra could no longer be extracted. Yet this woman had actually chosen to stay here?

Moreover, although Reincarnation Points were worthless to him, delaying a mission required Reincarnation Points earned during that very mission. Even though the Promotion Mission had given them an entire year to earn points…

To remain until now, she should have nearly drained all the Reincarnation Points she had earned!

As a Reincarnator, she would never take such a risk without greater benefits.

The thought flashed through Xu Yue’s mind, but his expression did not change. He merely showed a hint of confusion, as though the person before him looked familiar, yet he could not remember her.

"How awful, Lord Uchiha Yue. How could you have forgotten me? Do you remember Tsukishiro Jubei from the Sunagakure battlefield? I was the one who came to find you back then. Later, your friend even wanted to introduce me into the Anbu, but I had a mission at the time, so I only had several other friends join instead…"

Bao Ji showed no restraint. With a faintly resentful tone and a fragrant breeze, she walked directly up to Xu Yue and spoke to him with a mixture of grievance and smiles.

Seeing a trace of infatuation flash through "Uchiha Yue’s" eyes and a slight flush appear on his face, Bao Ji’s eyes filled with smug satisfaction.

That’s more like it. How could a young man just beginning to understand love possibly resist my charm? Even if you’re a ninja, you’re no exception!

I spent quite a bit of effort back then establishing even the slightest connection with you. I have to hold on tight.

Originally, Bao Ji had chosen to delay her return so she could accompany the newly hooked rich fool on high-difficulty missions, mainly in the Land of Water.

After finishing a hidden mission there, they still had some time left. The rich fool, utterly bewitched by her, had eagerly told her that Konoha was about to reach the time of the Nine-Tails’ attack.

Only Japan could obtain such precise intelligence regarding timing.

Naturally, they had to come over and try their luck.

Yet when they returned, the Nine-Tails’ attack had just about ended, and they immediately heard about Uchiha Yue’s overwhelming display of power!

As for this information, even that man, one of Japan’s greatest geniuses, had been completely baffled. He had no intelligence whatsoever on Uchiha Yue.

Only after Bao Ji explained the entire chain of events did he learn that she had even the slightest connection to such a powerful figure, causing him to take the matter far more seriously.

That was why they had come here to try their luck!

It was also fortunate that Uchiha Yue had been injured and hospitalized. Otherwise, she would not have had a chance to get close to him.

Fortunately, hospital visits were open, and she had a legitimate identity. More importantly, she had met him once before.

She had used every enhancement item she possessed, all to draw their relationship a little closer. Perhaps she could receive some missions to build goodwill, or even gain benefits directly…

While countless thoughts ran through Bao Ji’s mind,

Xu Yue had also roughly judged why Bao Ji had appeared at this time.

She was only a Chunin. Even if she had truly received a mission substantial enough to make up for the cost of delaying her return, she could not possibly complete it alone.

Was it the Reincarnator from Japan behind her?

It seemed their mission had been completed, and they had come over just in time to explore the Nine-Tails incident. Then they heard the rumors about him and wanted to use the connection between them to test the waters?

Mm, what had that intelligence said before? Shogunate Gate mainly operated in the Land of Water and the Land of Fire. He had never encountered them before, so they should have completed their mission in the Land of Water.

He could first see what they had obtained.

With that thought, Xu Yue took Bao Ji’s hand and said in a hoarse voice,

"Then that truly was my mistake. How could I forget such a beautiful young lady?"

Xu Yue’s words made Bao Ji’s eyes light up instead. There was a chance!

What she feared most was not an extreme reaction from him, but indifference!

It seemed not every ninja could withstand her test.

"With Lord Uchiha Yue’s physique, you must be getting restless after staying in the hospital for so long…"

I said three updates, so there will be three updates. The first two will be posted together; the third will come a little later.