Naruto: The Sage Body of Konoha

Inside the room. 

"Heiyan, thanks to you, the Nine-Tails came to me seeking reconciliation. I've sealed Kurama away in a deep slumber—it's no longer a threat." 

Uzumaki Mito said, visibly more relaxed now, as a warm and kind smile returned to her face. 

"In that case, I can rest easy too." 

Heiyan nodded, then said, "No time to lose then. I'll leave right away to bring Kushina Uzumaki to Konoha." 

"There's no need to rush. After all, this is an S-rank escort mission. It would be better to form a team and complete it with trustworthy companions." 

Mito advised Heiyan while informing him, "I've already informed the Third Hokage about this matter. If you need help, just go directly to him." 

"Understood. I got it." 

Heiyan nodded again, then said goodbye to Mito and left the First Hokage's house. 

On the street. 

Heiyan walked quickly while frowning in deep thought. 

For him right now, every second was precious. Madara Uchiha and the Great Toad Sage's death prophecy both loomed over him like blades suspended by a thread, forcing him to constantly strive for improvement. 

Therefore, he had to get Kushina brought to Konoha at top speed, and then head to Shikkotsu Forest to learn [a true Sage Art]— 

[a Sage Art] that would suit him perfectly. 

As for the members of his mission team, he had already decided on his candidates. 

Nowadays, due to rumors labeling him as the "Omen of Misfortune," most ninja in the village generally avoided getting too close to Heiyan, let alone teaming up with him for missions. 

Given this situation, after careful consideration, Heiyan decided to invite Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga to form a three-man squad together. 

He had gifted Fugaku with a Scorch Release scroll and introduced Hiashi to his teacher Might Duy before. Although he never expected anything in return, he had indeed helped both men. 

Therefore, Heiyan wanted to take this opportunity to test their characters—to see whether they would come or not. 

If they didn't come, that was fine too. It would simply mean he had misjudged them, and they would part ways afterward. 

But if they came, then from that day forward, they'd be brothers. 

At this moment, Heiyan heard some noise coming from ahead. 

Looking across the street, he noticed that school was letting out for lunch break, and a large group of children were running out chattering excitedly. 

Among them, one familiar yellow-haired figure stood out. 

"Minato, come here." 

Heiyan's heart stirred slightly as he waved and called out. 

Namikaze Minato heard someone calling his name and turned around, spotting Senior Heiyan. His young face showed surprise. 

After regaining his composure, he hurried over immediately. 

"It seems Minato really has a strong connection with Senior Heiyan." 

"But according to what my elders say at home, Senior Heiyan carries both bad luck himself and brings misfortune to those around him. That means Minato might suffer because of this too, right?" 

The kids whispered amongst themselves—some jealous of Minato, others felt sorry for him. 

Under the watchful eyes of those kids, Minato followed Heiyan out. 

At the hot spring river's three-story house. 

Two figures—one adult and one child—entered the courtyard one after the other, ascended to the second floor, and finally arrived at the study.

"Minato Namikaze, I'm currently handling an S-rank classified mission. Now I'm recruiting you for the team."

Heiyan turned around with a deadpan expression and addressed Minato.

"S-rank mission? What kind of mission?"

Minato looked confused again, just like last time.

"Don't worry. You're not being enlisted as a full member—you're just a reserve."

A smile appeared on Heiyan's face, revealing it was just a bluff.

Then he walked over to the desk, sat down, grabbed some paper and a pen, and spoke to Minato while writing:

"As a reserve member of the team, your task is simple—just run some errands for me by delivering these letters to the others."

He wrote two letters and asked Minato to deliver them to Fugaku and Hiashi Hyuga respectively.

The letters were notifications asking both men to join the team and gather at the village gate at eight in the morning.

"Do you think you can complete this mission?" Heiyan asked.

"Of course."

Minato nodded, took the letters without further questions, and immediately ran out the door.

Watching the boy's retreating figure, Heiyan thought to himself:

I went all the way to Uzugakure to fetch your fiancée. Asking you to run a couple errands isn't too much to ask, right?

...

At the main house territory of the Hyuga clan, inside a room, Hiashi Hyuga stood before a mirror, staring at his reflection.

He had already achieved his goal of becoming a disciple under Might Duy, and after training with him for some time, his skin had become noticeably tanned.

"These long hairs are too inconvenient."

As he muttered those words, Hiashi inspected his waist-length hair and slightly frowned.

Finally making up his mind, he gathered his long hair over his shoulder and pulled out a pair of scissors—"snip!"

He cut his hair short to ear-length.

Then, he removed his traditional Hyuga attire and changed into a green full-body suit.

Looking into the mirror once more,

The elegant, pale-skinned Hyuga heir with flowing long hair was gone. In his place stood a sun-tanned youth in a green full-body suit, sporting ear-length hair.

Time to go train.

Hiashi Hyuga carefully packed away the cut hair and stepped outside.

Unexpectedly, he bumped into his younger twin brother Hizashi at the doorway.

"Brother..."

Stunned, Hizashi gawked at Hiashi with his mouth wide open.

They were twins, nearly identical in both height and appearance — except Hizashi carried the [Caged Bird Seal] (a cursed mark binding branch members).

People often confused the two brothers.

"From today onward, no one will mistake us for each other anymore," Hiashi Hyuga said brightly, patting his younger brother's shoulder. "From now on, you don't need to live in my shadow. Just be yourself."

Without another word, he left, leaving Hizashi standing there dazed.

An hour later,

Two green figures swept through Konoha's streets like [powerful gusts of wind], running tirelessly.

"Did I just see right? Was that Lord Hiashi, the heir of the Hyuga family? And he looks like this now?"

Numerous ninjas stopped to glance back, astonished.

"Why is Lord Hiashi hanging out with Might Duy? Isn't that guy known across the village as a Genin stuck at the bottom of the barrel?"

"I heard Might Duy was promoted to chunin, specifically approved by the Third Hokage. But I guess it's probably because the Hokage felt sorry for him and wanted to show some favor."

"Could it be that Hiashi Hyuga, after being defeated in the Battle of the Valley of the End, has completely changed his personality and is now giving up on himself? Following Might Duy in such meaningless training is just a waste of life."

The other ninja talked behind their backs, treating the master-apprentice duo of Might Duy and Hiashi Hyuga as nothing more than a joke.

Hiashi himself heard all the mocking remarks and suspicions.

If it had been his former self—arrogant and full of pride—he would never have tolerated such humiliation and would have exploded on the spot.

But now, he had learned to calm himself.

His mindset had been tempered.

Might Duy saw all this clearly and became even more satisfied with this eager disciple who had come knocking at his door.

In his opinion, Hiashi's talent was light-years beyond his own. Moreover, the boy was humble and persevering, destined to carry the Eight Gates forward one day.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a kid with blond hair blocked the running route of the master and apprentice.

"Hiashi-sama, this is a letter from Senior Heiyan for you."

Minato Namikaze panted heavily, his face flushed and drenched in sweat from sprinting to catch up with them.

"A letter from Heiyan?"

Upon hearing this, Hiashi took the letter without delay, opening it carefully and reading its contents.

After finishing the letter, he said without hesitation:

"I understand. Please inform Heiyan that I will arrive on time tomorrow."

"Alright."

After receiving the reply, Minato wiped the sweat from his forehead and dashed to his next stop.

"Master..."

Hiashi explained the situation to Might Duy.

"If it's Heiyan calling you, then you definitely should go," Might Duy replied heartily, nodding in agreement with Hiashi's request for leave.

Their training session was temporarily interrupted.

Half an hour later.

Inside the Uchiha clan's woods.

A massive fireball erupted in the trees—BOOM! Flames and smoke shot high into the sky.

Cough cough...

From the smoke came a cough, followed by Fugaku Uchiha dashing out disheveled and soot-covered.

"Mastering a Kekkei Genkai is definitely far more difficult than regular ninjutsu."

Looking at the ruined forest before him, Fugaku couldn't help but sigh.

Recently, he had locked himself away to research Scorch Release. However, lacking the Multi-Clone technique, there was no way he could master a Kekkei Genkai in such a short time like Heiyan did.

At this moment, Fugaku sensed an unfamiliar chakra approaching from behind.

"Who's there?"

He turned sharply, flinging a kunai straight at the incoming figure.

Swoosh!

Remaining calm, Minato quickly sidestepped the flying weapon and raised the letter in his hand, shouting with his youthful voice:

"I'm here delivering a letter from Senior Heiyan!"

Two minutes later.

"Sorry, you didn't get hurt, did you?" Fugaku apologized to Minato.

Minato shook his head and handed over the letter.

"Village Gate Meeting at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, huh…?"

Fugaku Uchiha read the letter's contents, softly repeating the words once before tucking the letter away.

"Thanks for the effort. I promise I'll be there," he said solemnly to Minato.

At that, Minato's face lit up with joy.

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