Chapter 24: A Drastic Warning
"Thank you so much, Second Hokage, for your generous donations!"
Watching the endless stream of gifts being collected in the live stream's backend, Ren Arakawa couldn't help but smile. Although many of these forbidden techniques were currently unusable to him, he was still overjoyed. After all, once you've learned them, how far can actually using them be?
To thank Tobirama Senju and to set an example for others, Ren specially granted Tobirama Senju the title of VIP Level 5. He also bestowed upon him some special privileges, such as five daily invitations to the Soul Arena and the authority to mute members in the live stream with a lower VIP level than his for 30 minutes!
Of course, these two privileges weren't inherent to VIP Level 5; they were specially set up by Ren himself. After all, VIP status was just an empty title! It meant absolutely nothing. If it weren't for the sake of better scamming these guys, he wouldn't have bothered with all these fancy features!
[Hashirama Senju: Tobirama, it seems your efforts have paid off. You've become a VIP Level 5 big shot now. From now on, I'll be counting on you for protection!]
[Notification: Hashirama Senju has been successfully muted by Tobirama Senju for 30 minutes!]
[Tobirama Senju: I'll protect you! If it weren't for you, would I be getting led around by the nose by a junior?]
[Uchiha Madara: Tobirama, your brother is only doing this for your own good. You're being utterly heartless.]
[Notification: Uchiha Madara has been successfully muted by Tobirama Senju for 30 minutes!]
[Tobirama Senju: Get lost! I haven't even settled the score with you for stealing my forbidden techniques yet!]
The next second.
[Notification: Uchiha Izuna has been successfully muted by Tobirama Senju for 30 minutes!]
"What the hell? I didn't even say anything, and you're muting me?!" Uchiha Izuna was completely bewildered in the Pure Land.
[Tobirama Senju: You trash Izuna, don't think I'll let you off just because you're keeping quiet!]
[Sakumo Hatake: ...]
[Hyuga Hizashi: ...]
[Yuhi Kurenai: ...]
...
Witnessing Tobirama Senju's instant transformation into a privileged user, the other powerful figures in the live stream silently expressed their reluctance to speak.
Ren Arakawa: "Second Hokage, I understand how you feel right now, but teaching them a lesson is enough. If you abuse your power in the future, I will revoke your privileges."
[Tobirama Senju: I understand. By the way, kid, I've done as you asked. Now it's your turn to help me, right?]
Ren Arakawa: "Sure, I'm in a great mood right now. How do you want me to help you? Dig up your brother's grave?"
[Tobirama Senju: No need for that. Just erase those four characters my brother wrote. I'll teach you how.]
Ren Arakawa: "That's easy!"
No sooner said than done. Ren immediately picked up the Forbidden Scroll he had thrown on the ground earlier. Then, using the method Tobirama Senju taught him, he attached chakra energy to his palm.
In the Naruto world, the paper used for sealing scrolls is specially processed. Ninjas can write on it by channeling chakra energy into their fingers. The same method can be used to erase those words!
With Ren's help, the four characters Hashirama Senju had written on the Forbidden Scroll were quickly wiped away!
However, after erasing those four characters, Ren wrote eight new ones in their place:
—[To practice this skill, one must first sever the root!]
[Tobirama Senju: Damn it! Kid, what are you doing? I only told you to erase it, not to add anything else!]
Ren Arakawa: "Second Hokage, don't be upset. Didn't you say yourself that forbidden techniques are extremely dangerous? I wrote these words to prevent ignorant people from practicing them blindly!"
[Tobirama Senju: Don't try to fool me, kid! If you write these eight characters, people who don't know better will think I've already... you know... done the deed!]
At this moment, Tobirama Senju truly felt like crying. Those four words could be said to be a common concern for all men. It was a bit embarrassing, but they could just turn a blind eye and let it slide. But now, if the younger generation didn't know better, they would think he had already castrated himself to develop these forbidden techniques!
"Alright, that's enough. Not many people will see this scroll anyway." Ren put away the Forbidden Scroll and then returned it to Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto Uzumaki was not in a good mental state at the moment. He sat there with his head bowed, looking utterly dejected. Anyone who didn't know better would think his parents had died all over again.
It was no wonder. After all, no one would feel good knowing they had a monster sealed inside them—a monster feared by the entire village!
"Naruto, don't be too sad. No matter what, I'll always be by your side!" Ren patted Naruto on the shoulder, encouraging him.
Hearing this, Naruto immediately raised his head, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said with emotion, "Thank you, Ren. You are my best and only friend. No matter what happens in the future, I will always stand by your side."
[Minato Namikaze: Sigh~ Naruto has had such a tough time these past few years. It's all my fault for not thinking things through back then.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: Minato, don't blame yourself too much. You had no other choice back then!]
[Minato Namikaze: I just hope this kid won't resent us when he grows up!]