Naruto: Imitation Ninja

While Xing Liu and Xia-chan were enjoying their drinks and snacks, they overheard the lively conversations of nearby villagers. The topics ranged from trivial gossip—like the neighbor's dog giving birth to another litter or rumors of the village beauty being unfaithful—to something far more intriguing.

Apparently, a new figure had emerged in Konoha, someone called "Lord Shadow."

"What is this all about?" Xing Liu thought to himself. For someone who frequently entered and left the Hokage's office, how had he not heard a shred of intelligence about this "Lord Shadow"?

"Did you hear? Aside from the Fourth Hokage, Lord Flash, there's also someone called Lord Shadow secretly protecting Konoha."

"Huh? Where did you hear that?"

"You don't even need to dig for information like this. Anyone in Konoha could tell you the same thing."

"Then tell me, who exactly is this 'Lord Shadow'? Why does he get a title similar to the Hokage?"

"Well, the title wasn't something Lord Shadow spread himself. No one knows when it started, but it suddenly became widespread in the village."

"In fact, I bet even Lord Shadow himself doesn't know about it."

"Now that you mention it, someone told me this Lord Shadow might actually be the Hokage's younger brother! But I don't know if that's true."

"Ah, who cares if it's true or not? Isn't it a good thing to have another bigshot like the Hokage protecting us? Besides, I heard a neighboring village was recently attacked."

"Exactly! Now that we have both a visible and a hidden protector, we're even safer."

"Right, it's something worth celebrating."

Xia-chan chuckled at the conversation, but Xing Liu was fuming internally: Damn you, Minato! You've set me up again!

Leaving aside the absurd title of "Lord Shadow," how could he not be the Hokage's younger brother? Who else fit that description?

If Minato hadn't orchestrated this, there's no way such rumors could've spread so quickly across the entire village. At most, one or two intelligence agents might've caught wind of it.

Now everything made sense—Kushina's suspicious behavior last night wasn't a coincidence. Those two had clearly planned this trap for him!

"Big brother, why is your face suddenly so red? Are you feeling hot?" Xia-chan asked, pulling out the fan Xing Liu had made earlier and waving it at him.

"I'm not hot…"

There was no way he could admit that he was fuming because of Minato and Kushina's schemes. If Xia-chan found out, she'd laugh at him for sure.

Just then, the waitress arrived with their order.

"Here's your food and drinks," she said, placing everything on the table.

"Big brother, what's that in your hand?" Xia-chan asked, eyeing the skewers.

"Oh? Haven't you tried barbecue before? This stuff, paired with beer, is one of the ultimate summer combos!" Xing Liu said, downing a large gulp of beer.

"Ahh! Beer and barbecue—truly a match made in heaven!" he declared, taking a bite of the skewer in one hand and a sip of beer in the other, much to Xia-chan's astonishment.

"Big brother… it's daytime, and you're drinking? Aren't we supposed to be exploring later?"

"Relax! This little bit of beer won't faze me. We'll still conquer Konoha's streets afterward!"

Half an hour later, the table was piled with empty cups and skewers, and Xing Liu—who had boasted about his tolerance—was passed out on the table.

"You said we'd conquer the streets, but now you're out cold?" Xia-chan sighed, rubbing her temples in exasperation. She eventually had to enlist the help of the restaurant staff to drag him home.

---

Xing Liu woke up groggily, clutching his throbbing head.

"Where am I? Wasn't I drinking with Xia-chan at the tavern? How did I end up here?"

Surveying his surroundings, he realized he was lying in a familiar bed.

Wait… bed?!

Carefully lifting the blanket, he discovered his clothes were missing!

Had he been "picked up" by someone?! Impossible! This wasn't his original world, and Xia-chan had been with him.

Where was Xia-chan? How could she have disappeared?

As Xing Liu's imagination ran wild, the room's door suddenly opened, flooding it with light. He shielded his eyes with his hand.

"Well, well, the drunkard finally wakes up," came a teasing voice from the doorway.

Still shielding his eyes, Xing Liu couldn't make out who it was, but he could tell the person bore no hostility toward him.

"Excuse me, ma'am, could you tell me where the girl who was with me went?" he asked cautiously.

"What?!"

The woman's tone shifted to one of surprise before breaking into laughter. "Why are you so eager to find her? Got some unfinished business?" she teased.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR GUYS!

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