Cloud Village's secret agent, Cayue, looked miserable as he stood inside the hotel room reserved for their diplomatic envoys. His voice was low, tense.
"There are Leaf ninjas everywhere… Anbu, Root, and even Uchiha patrols," Cayue whispered.
He shook his head in frustration.
Because Cayue didn't enter the village as part of the official diplomatic team, his presence had immediately raised suspicion. The moment he stepped into the hotel where the Cloud delegation was staying—
he was surrounded by surveillance.
He could feel several pairs of sharp Uchiha eyes watching from the shadows. Anbu masks glinted faintly in the darkness. Root operatives sat hidden under layers of suppression seals.
Even without turning around, Cayue knew:
He was being watched from every angle.
By multiple groups.
Some even overlapping each other.
It would be nearly impossible to move freely.
Shi rubbed his chin, digesting the news.
"It seems," he muttered, "we can't act in the next few days. The Uchiha clan complicates everything. Our only chance will be at the very end."
---
Meanwhile… in the forest outside Konoha
"9998… 9999… 10,000!"
Uchiha Souji exhaled deeply and slid his sword—the legendary Third-Generation Ghost-Blade—back into its sheath. The training session had heated his muscles until they felt like molten steel.
A sudden chime rang inside his mind.
[Ding~ Congratulations, Host. You have unlocked the qualification for Conqueror's Haki!]
Souji blinked.
"…Huh?"
Qualification?
Not the actual power?
His expression went blank.
"Oh, great. It's that thing from that pirate anime… the Haki that makes people faint just by staring at them. The one that can get people pregnant by eye contact," he muttered sarcastically.
He remembered clearly:
Months ago, his system gave him useless items like auntie's sanitary towels, which he was saving "for his future daughter-in-law."
Now the system finally delivered something practical?
Excited, Souji turned his gaze toward a rabbit not far away—the rabbit that had been watching him train for days like it was watching live entertainment.
The rabbit blinked lazily.
Souji smirked.
Perfect target.
He lowered his stance and unleashed a fierce glare.
"KNEEL!!"
A dramatic gust blew across the clearing.
A few crows flapped their wings in surprise.
…And the rabbit simply looked up in mild confusion.
It checked left. Checked right.
Found nothing dangerous.
Then looked at Souji with the expression of someone watching an idiot.
After that, it calmly returned to grazing.
Souji froze.
"…What kind of trash Conqueror's Haki is this!? Should I return it for a refund!?"
He opened his system again and read the description carefully.
It wasn't Conqueror's Haki.
It was "qualification for Conqueror's Haki."
Meaning:
He couldn't use it at all yet.
Souji facepalmed so hard the forest echoed.
"What garbage! Even random noble families in cultivation stories have 'great emperor qualifications,' but it doesn't make them powerful! Why is my system such a scam?!"
He sighed.
Forget it.
At this point, he had learned not to expect much from his system.
He scratched his head and sheathed his blade.
Maybe today… he deserved a reward.
Ichiraku ramen.
Cheap, filling, comforting.
Yes.
But before leaving, Souji turned to look at the rabbit.
He flashed behind it with a Body Flicker.
Grabbed it by the scruff.
Twist.
Crack.
The rabbit died instantly.
Souji nodded like a strict teacher.
"A rabbit that can't even respond to a death stare won't survive in the wild. Today you eat grass; tomorrow you eat people. I'm doing natural selection a favor."
He slung the rabbit over his shoulder, satisfied with his "justice."
"Perfect. This will buy me a bowl of ramen."
---
Back in Konoha: Main Street
Uchiha Souji walked down the street with the dead rabbit in hand. Villagers greeted him with admiration and gratitude.
Women waved.
Elderly bowed.
Kids pointed with sparkling eyes.
Souji's heart twisted painfully.
Damn it, this is all your fault, Mizuki!
If not for you, I wouldn't be treated like some saint carrying meat on a stick!
Still, he forced a polite smile.
He nodded at everyone like a respectable boy from the Uchiha clan.
Inside, he wanted to slap himself twice.
Being forced to smile constantly was torture.
By the time he reached Ichiraku, his face felt paralyzed.
He dropped the rabbit on the counter.
"Hey, Uncle Teuchi, can this get me a bowl of ramen?"
Teuchi's eyes lit up like festival lanterns.
"Master Souji! You're too kind! Bringing such ingredients for my humble shop—there's no need to take care of me like this!"
Souji's eyebrow twitched violently.
Care of you!? It's because the yakiniku place wouldn't accept such a small animal!!
Teuchi's misunderstanding was deep and sincere.
He thought Souji was supporting a small business.
He smiled warmly.
"Master Souji, I'll prepare a luxurious Ichiraku ramen for you right away!"
Souji froze.
He wanted to say:
"No, just a normal bowl…"
But the word "luxurious" hit his soul.
He swallowed.
He surrendered.
"…Thank you."
Because luxurious Ichiraku ramen was no joke.
At that moment, someone caught Souji's eye.
Sitting at the counter beside him was a man with bright yellow hair, a Cloud Village flak jacket, and a Cloud forehead protector.
A Cloud ninja.
Right next to him.
Souji narrowed his eyes.
This… smelled like trouble.
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