The village of Konoha was as lively as ever, bustling with people and vibrant with peace.
Amidst the crowd, three figures emerged from the Senju clan's residence—Mochizuki Hui, Uzumaki Mina, and Tsunade.
"Alright, let's go. I'll show you around Konoha today," Hui said, smiling.
Uzumaki Mina's eyes sparkled with excitement. Since her arrival, she had eagerly awaited a chance to explore Konoha, her new home. Now, after meeting with Tobirama Senju and Uzumaki Mito, she was bursting with anticipation.
Tsunade, however, couldn't shake a slight discomfort upon seeing Mina's admiration for Hui. The look of reverence Mina gave him stirred something instinctive, something competitive.
"Sure! I've been waiting for this!" Mina said happily, her natural excitement making her appear even younger than her seventeen years, with no trace of the gravity usually expected of a clan head.
"We haven't been out in a while either," Tsunade said with a grin, linking her arm with Hui's as she spoke. "I want grilled chicken!"
"Alright, alright, we'll get some," Hui chuckled, playfully ruffling her hair as they strolled down the main street of Konoha.
As they wandered deeper into the heart of the village, the streets began to fill with people. Each step they took seemed to attract even more attention.
The three of them together were quite the sight, after all.
"Ah!" A sudden shriek from a teenage girl nearby interrupted the hum of the crowd, pulling all eyes in Hui's direction. He turned, slightly confused, to see what the commotion was about.
"It's him! Mochizuki Hui—Konoha's Ghost, Light!" the girl cried, eyes wide with disbelief. Her shout sparked a ripple of recognition among the crowd.
"Mochizuki Hui! Is it really him?"
"Konoha's Light! He's back!"
"Where? Where's Hui?" More voices joined the rising chorus as heads turned, and a growing wave of people surged toward them.
It wasn't long before Hui was completely surrounded by a throng of villagers, each eagerly clamoring for his attention.
"Hui, is it true that you defeated three Kage-level shinobi by yourself?"
"Hui, I adore you!"
"Hey, Hui, you were amazing out there!"
"Would you like some dumplings, Hui? They're delicious!"
"I made this for you, Hui, please take it!"
Offers of food, gifts, and admiring words flooded toward him. Everyone wanted a piece of the village hero.
After the events in the Land of Whirlpools, Hui's legend had spread throughout the shinobi world, and Konoha was no exception. The people of Konoha had grown up with Hui's story, watching him rise from a young prodigy to the symbol of hope for their village.
Hui's accomplishments made him a hero to the citizens, an idol to the young, and a role model to all. His return to Konoha stirred the entire street into a frenzy.
Hui couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, feeling both gratitude and the weight of their high expectations.
"Wow, Hui! You're super popular here!" Mina said in awe, her eyes full of admiration.
"Of course he is!" Tsunade said proudly, holding Hui's arm just a bit tighter, as if silently stating her claim.
News of Hui's return spread like wildfire, and soon even more villagers—especially the younger shinobi and children—were running to join the crowd.
The scene quickly escalated, drawing the attention of Konoha's security, the Uchiha Police Force.
When the Uchiha officers arrived, they attempted to disperse the crowd, but their efforts only seemed to add to the confusion.
"Enough! Clear the way or I'll have to take action!" one officer shouted sternly, looking ready to force people back.
"Yeren!" Another officer quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him from going too far. But some of the villagers noticed and began to mutter.
"See? The Uchiha clan—they're just like people say!" one person whispered, stirring the officer's irritation further. He took a step forward, but the senior officer held him back firmly.
Hui watched the scene thoughtfully, noting the tension with the Uchiha.
The police force's irritation with the villagers, coupled with the villagers' suspicion toward them, painted a picture he couldn't ignore. He realized it was time to address these tensions soon.
Seeing the swelling crowd and knowing they couldn't stay here much longer, Hui spoke up, urging everyone to disperse and quickly guiding Tsunade and Mina away.
"I'm sorry, Mina. I'd hoped to show you around, but things got out of hand."
"Don't worry about it, Hui. It just shows how much everyone appreciates you!" Mina smiled warmly. "And I can always explore on my own."
"I can show you around, Mina," Tsunade interjected. "Hui can stay here."
"Yes, please!" Mina replied instantly, her eyes lighting up. She had really wanted to see more of the village, so Tsunade's offer was perfect.
"Alright, you two go ahead. I actually need to speak with Tobirama about a few things anyway," Hui said, smiling as he watched them go.
The incident with the Uchiha clan was still fresh on his mind, and he'd come to a decision—he needed to learn more about Konoha's major clans, especially the Uchiha.
Since joining the village, Hui had always felt somewhat distanced from the other clans. Besides the Senju, he had little contact with them.
Even clans allied with the Hokage, like the Sarutobi, the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi, remained somewhat isolated. Yet Hui understood that if Konoha was to grow stronger, the village's clans would need to unify and support one another.
Above all, Hui was deeply aware of the importance of understanding the Uchiha.
A clan with powerful bloodline abilities and a somewhat complex relationship with the village, the Uchiha held an influence that could shape Konoha's future in unpredictable ways.
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