Are You Looking for Me?
Chen Xing smiled and nodded.
"How have things been these past few days?"
He had secluded himself for several days to study Flying Thunder God techniques and had rarely left his room.
"There hasn't been anything major," Tiantian said with a smile as she wiped the sweat from Hanabi's forehead. "But yesterday, Jiraiya-sama returned to the village with Naruto. I heard the inauguration ceremony for the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade-sama, will be held soon."
"The inauguration ceremony?" Chen Xing raised an eyebrow.
---
After leaving the Hyūga residence, Chen Xing bought some fruit and headed toward Konoha Hospital.
Because of his status as the Fourth Celestial Shadow, no one stopped him. Under ANBU escort, he quickly arrived at Kakashi's hospital room.
As soon as he entered, he noticed two familiar figures.
"I didn't expect the two of you to be here."
Placing the fruit basket on the table, Chen Xing looked at Tsunade and Shizune.
"So you're the Fourth Celestial Shadow?" Tsunade examined him with surprise. "You're younger than I expected."
"And you're younger than the legends make you sound," Chen Xing replied with a smile.
Tsunade snorted but didn't argue.
Walking to Kakashi's bedside, Chen Xing glanced at the bandages covering his left eye.
"How's the injury?"
"It's manageable," Kakashi answered quietly. "But I never expected my Sharingan to be taken so easily."
The loss of Obito's eye clearly weighed heavily on him.
Shizune frowned.
"We've gathered information on Akatsuki, but we've never heard of a masked member with space-time ninjutsu."
"It's not a ninjutsu," Chen Xing said calmly. "It's the power of a Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Mangekyō Sharingan?" Tsunade frowned.
Chen Xing nodded.
"I have a guess about the masked man's identity."
Kakashi immediately looked up.
"Who is he?"
Chen Xing met his gaze.
"Kakashi, the eye that was taken from you forms a pair with the masked man's eye. That's why he specifically came for your Sharingan."
The room fell silent.
Tsunade and Shizune exchanged shocked looks.
"If that's true..." Tsunade said slowly, "...then are you suggesting that masked man is Uchiha Obito?"
Kakashi's expression froze.
"That's impossible."
His voice was low.
"I saw Obito crushed beneath the boulder during the Kannabi Bridge mission."
Chen Xing shook his head.
"The connection between your Sharingan and his is unmistakable. Whether you choose to believe it is another matter."
Kakashi fell silent.
---
After leaving Konoha Hospital, Chen Xing walked through several quiet streets before arriving at a small two-story house.
On the second-floor balcony stood Kurenai Yuhi, watering several potted flowers.
Hearing footsteps, she turned around.
A smile immediately appeared on her face.
"You're finally here."
Chen Xing leapt onto the balcony and gently wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Kurenai, you've become even more beautiful."
Kurenai rolled her eyes.
"You disappeared for days without even visiting me. I thought you'd forgotten about me."
"Impossible."
Chen Xing smiled.
"I've been training the entire time."
The trace of complaint in Kurenai's eyes quickly faded.
She leaned lightly against him.
"When are you returning to Celestial Village?"
"In a few days."
---
Several days later, Chen Xing distributed the crystal necklaces he had created using Flying Thunder God formulas.
One was given to Kurenai.
Another was given to Hinata and Hanabi.
After making all the necessary preparations, Chen Xing finally left Konoha.
---Recovery Operation
The Land of Wind.
Sunagakure.
Chen Xing's figure appeared outside the village gates.
The next phase of his plans was about to begin.