He had dark hair and a thin, almost malnourished frame.
"It's nothing like the rumored Kumogakure…"Shizune silently observed.
From what she knew, Cloud Village shinobi were typically towering figures, with bulging muscles and arms thicker than an average person's thigh—not to mention their trademark wide, sausage-like lips.
"Will he look like that when he grows up…?"She stared curiously.
But Qingsi's lips were thin, even delicate. He didn't resemble the usual Cloud stereotype at all.
"Flashlight."Tsunade's voice snapped her from her thoughts.
"Ah—yes!"Shizune jolted, quickly pulling a small tool from her ninja pouch and handing it to Tsunade.
As she looked up, she met Qingsi's gaze—he was smiling at her.
Her heart skipped a beat. Flustered, she quickly averted her eyes.
He'd clearly caught her staring—and she realized how rude that must've seemed.
"You're a rare Uchiha… one who actually smiles."Tsunade raised a brow.
Definitely someone raised outside the village, she thought.The Uchihas she knew were always cold, aloof, and prideful. Nothing like this one.
Truthfully, if this case hadn't stirred up so much attention, the Hokage would never have forced her to come.
She hated being around blood—hemophobia was not something a medical ninja could afford. And yet here she was.
"That's because your eyes are so beautiful, Lady Tsunade,"Qingsi said gently."They look like they hold stars."
"Oh?"Tsunade's fingers subtly clenched.
If this Uchiha dared to flirt with her, she'd teach him a lesson with her fists. Not everyone could joke with her and walk away unscathed.
"When you were examining me earlier, I noticed the focus and dedication in your gaze.Even though you're someone of great status, you treated me—an ordinary Uchiha—with such care."
Qingsi paused briefly, then added:
"I've read many storybooks. You must be the famous doctor they write about—the one who saves lives with her unmatched skills."
"Tsunade is one of the Legendary Sannin,"Mikoto chimed in from nearby, chuckling."She's Konoha's greatest medical ninja. Of course she's a famous doctor."
Mikoto found Qingsi's youthful sincerity both amusing and endearing.
Tsunade relaxed her grip.So it wasn't a flirt—it was flattery of her medical skills.Smart kid.
"If I could ever learn medical ninjutsu, I'd want to help others too. I hope I can become someone like you, Tsunade-sama."
"Medical ninjas need Yang-element chakra. Without it, it's impossible,"Tsunade replied flatly as she stood."I'll review some information once I'm back. Another top medical ninja—Yakushi Nono—will come to assess you later."
Without another word, she turned and walked out.Shizune followed closely behind her.
"Qingsi, you should rest well. We'll arrange your enrollment soon,"Mikoto said kindly before leaving too.
Just like that, the once-busy room emptied. Qingsi was left alone.
"Well… I'm no lucky Uzumaki Naruto,"he muttered with a small smile.
Naruto had managed to convince even Tsunade—who had fled her responsibilities for years—to return and become Hokage.
Tsunade's disinterest today hadn't surprised him.
If she had been more curious, she might've tested his chakra nature right then. With her skills, she could determine it in an instant.
But she didn't.
After all, he was an Uchiha. That fact alone put a ceiling over his potential—at least in her eyes.
Still, Qingsi wasn't discouraged.
"Yakushi Nono… she might be the key."
Tsunade mentioned that Nono would come next.Qingsi knew her reputation well: future director of an orphanage, and someone who'd even joined ROOT to protect her children.
Everyone had their own desires—some lusted for power, others craved peace.Nono's desire? Protecting children.
The Next Day – Ninja Academy
"This is our new student, Uchiha Seiji,"the Chunin instructor announced.
Qingsi walked to the blackboard, picked up a piece of white chalk, and wrote his name with smooth strokes.
From the front row, he could see familiar faces—Obito, Kakashi, Rin, Shiranui Genma...
"That handwriting is beautiful,"Nohara Rin said, genuinely impressed.
"Hey, Rin,"Obito whispered, leaning toward her,"I heard that guy's from the Land of Lightning…"
The people of the Land of Lightning are all meatheads, he thought.Don't be fooled by his face.
"Please take care of me,"Qingsi gave a gentle smile and sat in the back row, next to the window—his assigned seat.
"Alright, let's begin today's lesson,"the instructor said, coughing slightly before starting.
Despite recent tensions, most teachers still favored Uchiha students.Not out of admiration—but because they made teaching easier.
Under normal procedures, new students underwent a basic entrance test—chakra capacity, chakra control, and simple illusions or ninjutsu.But clan students like Qingsi usually had extra training at home and could keep up just fine.
Break Time
"I heard you're from the Land of Lightning, Qingsi-san?"Nohara Rin approached his desk, her tone friendly.
"Yes."
"It must've been very different there. Are you able to follow the curriculum here? Being a transfer student and all..."
Rin's questions were natural. After all, no student could leave the village until graduation and earning a forehead protector.Only special ninjas were exempt from this rule.
"Well… I'll do my best."Qingsi gently closed his book, opened another, then raised his eyes slightly.
"Rin… could you teach me Konoha's ninjutsu?"