Konoha Hospital. Quiet.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had just promised Qianyu a new home in the village center after his discharge. No more living on the fringes.
Now, an awkward silence hung in the room.
Hiruzen didn't speak. Qianyu had nothing to say to him, either.
He was waiting.
He didn't buy it. The Hokage visiting him personally? Just to show goodwill? No way.
There had to be something Hiruzen wanted. Otherwise, he'd have just summoned Qianyu to the Hokage Tower after discharge.
And there was only one thing on Qianyu worth the Hokage's personal attention.
His Thunder Breathing.
The power that had ripped through the training grounds spoke for itself.
"Qianyu," Hiruzen began, voice calm. "The destruction in the woods. That was your doing, correct?"
There it was. The real reason for the visit.
Qianyu put on a mask of contrition. "My deepest apologies, Lord Hokage. My training caused damage to the village. And… thank you. For saving me from the flames that day."
Hiruzen waved a hand. "Think nothing of it. Protecting any Konoha shinobi is my duty. However…" He leaned forward slightly. "What kind of jutsu were you practicing? To cause such devastation… and inflict such severe backlash on your own body. Had we not found you when we did…"
Qianyu offered a bitter smile. He launched into the story. "Lord Hokage, as you know, my parents lived in other villages for years. Once, my father saved a shinobi. His hitai-ate… it had three clouds. Slashed through the middle."
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. A Kumo missing-nin.
Qianyu continued, weaving the lie. "The man was mortally wounded. My parents could only keep him alive for half a month. In gratitude, and so his technique wouldn't be lost, he taught it to them. My father couldn't use Lightning Release, so he couldn't learn it. But my mother did. I was too young to train properly then, but she made me memorize everything. The technique requires mastery of both shape and nature transformation of Lightning chakra. Ever since I learned to mold chakra, I've been practicing the methods they taught me. A few months ago, I finally grasped both transformations. I've been trying to execute the complete technique since. A few days ago… I succeeded. And then I burned out."
Hiruzen's composure cracked for a split second. Astonishment.
This boy mastered Lightning shape and nature transformation at his age?
A prodigy. An undeniable one.
Had Hiruzen known earlier, Qianyu would have been on a watchlist regardless of the incident. True power was rare. With this talent, Qianyu's future could place him among the village's elites.
After a moment of contemplation, Hiruzen asked, "And the name of this technique?"
"Thunder Breathing Sword Forms," Qianyu answered immediately. Then, he took the initiative. "Lord Hokage. I wish to contribute this technique to Konoha."
Hiruzen's eyebrow rose. "Oh? Why? This is your parents' legacy. Are you certain?"
Qianyu's voice was earnest, perfectly crafted. "I said I want to become Konoha's shinobi. Everything I have belongs to the village. My parents may have left, but they never stopped seeing themselves as part of the Leaf. If they knew I offered Thunder Breathing to Konoha… I believe their spirits would be proud."
Hiruzen nodded, deep satisfaction settling in his expression. "Qianyu, such conviction is commendable. You have suffered, yet you perfectly embody the Will of Fire. Konoha will not forget this. The jutsu can wait until you have fully recovered and rested. It's getting late; I should let you rest. Heal well. A strong body is the foundation of stronger training."
Content, the Hokage took his leave.
Silence reclaimed the room.
Qianyu's eyes darkened.
Did he actually want to hand over Thunder Breathing?
He'd have to be an idiot. But he was in no position to refuse. A guest on someone else's land. Choices were a luxury he couldn't afford.
Still… even if Konoha's Lightning users learned the forms, they'd never grasp the essence. Thunder Breathing's true power lay in the synchronization of breath and chakra. Without the proper breathing, its potency would be crippled.
This meeting had clarified Hiruzen Sarutobi for him. Power and profit. That's what he respected. Show strength, offer value, and things got easier. Have nothing? You were invisible. The kindness, the grandfatherly warmth—all a facade.
Qianyu took a slow, deep breath.
After handing over Thunder Breathing, life should get easier. The news of the Hokage's personal visit would spread. That signal alone would curb the public insults from the village idiots. They'd mind their tongues for the Hokage's sake.
Now, he had to play the part. The genius. Build his weight within the village. Layer his importance. All to ensure a future where he, and Kushina, couldn't be so easily cornered.
Exhaustion, deeper than physical pain, pulled at him. He lay back. Soon, he was asleep again.
The next day, he woke. His body ached, a dull protest in every muscle, but he could walk.
He discharged himself from the hospital, intending to head back to his old shack, pack his meager belongings, and wait for the promised relocation.
He'd barely stepped outside when a shinobi materialized before him.
"Follow me."
No explanation. Qianyu followed.
They stopped before a house one street over from the Academy.
"The Hokage prepared this for you. His orders: report to the Hokage Tower once you've recovered." The shinobi thrust a key into Qianyu's hand. Then, in a shunshin flicker, he was gone.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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