Time passed like a fleeting shadow.
In the blink of an eye, another day had gone by, and the lively atmosphere of Konoha continued unabated.
In the Uchiha clan district, within an ordinary house, Qingming slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was filled with confusion, and he appeared dazed. His mind was clouded, and his consciousness felt unclear.
Nearly twenty hours of uninterrupted sleep hadn't washed away the fatigue he carried. Instead, it seemed to have triggered something, as if unlocking a floodgate. The exhaustion accumulated over the past two years seemed to pour out all at once, leaving him feeling drained and powerless.
Qingming lay motionless on the bed, his gaze fixed on the sliver of sunset visible through the window. He lacked the energy or desire to move.
Time trickled by second by second.
Eventually, a faint rumbling sound broke the silence.
Rubbing his stomach, Qingming felt a wave of hunger rise within him.
Having returned to the village that morning and gone nearly twenty hours without food, it was no wonder he felt this way.
He struggled to sit up, initially planning to grab a few military ration pills to tide himself over.
But just as his hand reached toward his ninja tool pouch, he stopped abruptly.
Now that he was back in the village, relying on ration pills felt like he was shortchanging himself.
As the tantalizing aroma of food wafted faintly from outside, Qingming deliberated for a moment before deciding to venture out and treat himself to a proper meal.
"Alright!"
With a low shout, Qingming flipped out of bed with a nimble motion and landed steadily on the floor.
Crack, crack, crack!
He stretched his body, eliciting a series of satisfying pops from his joints.
Feeling somewhat more alert, he walked into the washroom and splashed his face with cold water.
Immediately, a refreshing sensation washed over him, dispelling some of his lingering grogginess.
Returning to his bedroom, Qingming picked up his ninja tool pouch, inspecting its contents carefully. Once he confirmed everything was in order, he secured it to his waist.
While Konoha was relatively safe, habits forged through over two years on the battlefield made it second nature for Qingming to carry enough tools and supplies for a potential fight.
Locking the door behind him, Qingming left the Uchiha district and made his way toward Konoha's bustling commercial area.
This district was directly across from the Hokage building and teemed with various shops and restaurants. Food stalls lined both sides of the street, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
Qingming had yet to decide on a specific place to eat, but he couldn't resist indulging in snacks from the street vendors as he strolled along.
The lively scene reminded him of strolling through food markets in his previous life.
Every now and then, he caught sight of fellow shinobi passing by.
Some, like him, were fully equipped with their ninja pouches, remaining ever vigilant even in leisure.
Others had shed their ninja gear entirely, blending in with civilians as they walked alongside family members.
Still others gathered in groups, seemingly celebrating something.
Each person's demeanor told a different story.
Qingming's gaze drifted across these individuals before settling on a barbecue restaurant in the distance.
Even from afar, the aroma wafting from the establishment was irresistible. He resolved to enjoy a hearty meal there tonight.
However, just as Qingming was about to enter the restaurant, a strange sensation gripped him.
It was as if someone was watching him.
Instantly, Qingming's instincts heightened to their sharpest edge. Any trace of relaxation or leisure vanished, replaced by an acute awareness of his surroundings.
He didn't immediately search for the source of the gaze. Instead, he walked into the restaurant casually, as if unaware of anything amiss.
He called over a waiter, ordered his meal, and waited patiently.
Only then did he discreetly survey his surroundings.
The restaurant was filled with ninjas and civilians alike, but none seemed to be paying him particular attention. If someone's gaze lingered on him momentarily, it was likely due to the distinctive Uchiha crest on his clothing rather than any malicious intent.
In short, Qingming didn't notice anything overtly unusual among the diners.
If the person watching him wasn't inside, then they had to be outside.
"Who could it be? A spy from another village? A bounty hunter looking to cash in on the black market? Someone from the ANBU? Or perhaps one of Danzo's operatives?"
Qingming's thoughts raced as his gaze shifted toward the bustling streets beyond the restaurant.
Unfortunately, the sensation of being watched had only lasted for a brief moment. Although it carried a hint of malice, it had disappeared too quickly for him to pinpoint its source.
Still, Qingming couldn't shake the feeling that the culprit might be one of Danzo's people.
After all, in Konoha, spies or bounty hunters wouldn't dare act so brazenly. Only Danzo's subordinates in the Root division would operate with such audacity.
Moreover, among those who bore animosity toward him in the village, Danzo was undoubtedly at the top of the list.
While Qingming had been plotting ways to eliminate Danzo, it wasn't far-fetched to think Danzo was scheming against him in turn.
The timing of this encounter—his very first day back in the village—was particularly irksome.
The fleeting thought of relaxing for a few days before diving back into action evaporated. In its place, a renewed sense of urgency took hold.
Regardless of who was watching him, Qingming resolved to deal with Danzo as soon as possible.
Procrastinating would only invite further complications, and Qingming had no intention of giving Danzo any additional advantages.
In truth, Qingming's decision was influenced by more than just his disdain for Danzo. Many of his advanced jutsu were on the brink of reaching their peak. Once mastered, his next step would involve learning the Uchiha clan's secret techniques or gaining access to Konoha's forbidden scrolls.
However, obtaining permission to view the scrolls would require the Hokage's explicit approval—an unlikely prospect given the strained relationship between the Uchiha clan and the rest of the village.
Even if the Hokage reluctantly allowed it, the number of jutsu Qingming could learn would likely be limited.
But if he could seize the resources Danzo had hoarded over the years—including stolen jutsu from the forbidden scrolls and the Root's own collection—he could bypass these restrictions entirely.
As tempting as the idea of directly stealing the forbidden scroll was, Qingming dismissed it as nearly impossible.
Unlike the improbable scenario with Naruto—where the theft seemed almost orchestrated—an actual heist would face insurmountable obstacles.
Lost in thought, Qingming barely noticed the waiter placing a sizzling barbecue setup in front of him.
As the aroma of grilling meat filled the air, Qingming began cooking his meal, all the while strategizing his next move.
If his watcher truly was one of Danzo's operatives, there was little chance they would simply abandon their surveillance.
Letting them tail him would compromise his plans for training or tracking Danzo.
Yet taking decisive action risked alerting Danzo to his intentions.
Caught between these two options, Qingming remained undecided.
For now, all he could do was bide his time, cook his meal, and ponder his next steps.
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