A sorrowful Sai!

"There really isn't a single day of peace in this village," the Wood Clone sighed as he flipped through the case reports.

Shikamaru smiled wryly, "Konoha is already comparable in size to a small city-state in the Land of Fire. With such a large population, there's bound to be all sorts of things happening..."

Shinki nodded. "I understand. Have the Anbu keep an eye on it."

Shikamaru nodded and continued his report.

Time flew by and it was noon. Having finished their morning work, the Shadow Clones dispersed.

At the same time, Shinki Xinpai's Shadow Clone arrived at his post.

On the other side, at Ichiraku Ramen.

"Uncle, I'd like a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen."

Shinki entered and greeted him familiarly.

Teuchi wasn't here today; it was his daughter, Ayame, who answered Shinki's question.

"Lord Sixth, please wait a moment, the noodles will be ready soon," Ayame said with a smile.

Shinki casually asked, "Where's Teuchi? Isn't he here today?"

"Dad went fishing today. He's getting old and needs to rest sometimes. According to Dad, he'll retire in a few more years. (•̀⌄•́)" Ayame replied.

The noodles were served quickly. Shinki broke apart his chopsticks, blowing on the noodles as he replied, "I see. Uncle is indeed getting old."

Outside the gate, a bustling crowd thronged; inside, the Shinki quietly ate its noodles.

Soon, after finishing a bowl of noodles and taking a couple of satisfied sips of soup, Shinki prepared to pay.

"No need, Lord Hokage, how could we possibly accept payment from you?" Ayame smiled and stopped Shinki from taking out his money.

Shinki: "Paying for a meal is only right and proper, so just accept it."

Ayame still wouldn't have it, replying with a smile, "Because of your arrival, many admirers have also come to eat at our Ichiraku Ramen, and business has improved many times over. How could I possibly accept your money..."

Upon hearing this, Shinki pondered it carefully, realizing it was just like having a spokesperson...

"Then, Sister Ayame, why don't you hang the picture of Naruto and me eating Ramen on the shop wall? That way, everyone who passes by will know that we like to eat ramen at your shop," Shinki suggested.

Ayame was overjoyed upon hearing this. She had long had this idea, but given Shinki's noble status, she didn't know how to bring it up.

"Is that really okay? Won't that damage your status as Hokage...? Actually, just hanging up Naruto's picture would be fine; he's a big shot now..."

Shinki waved his hand. "It's nothing, it's a small matter."

Ayame nodded. "Alright, we at Ichiraku Ramen don't have much to offer you, but we'll give you 20% of the shop's profits from now on, how about that..."

"No need for that. Running a business isn't easy for you either. Just treat us to noodles for free next time. (σ≧︎▽︎≦︎)σ." Shinki responded with a smile.

Ayame was overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Lord Sixth! (⌯︎¤̴̶̷̀ω¤̴̶̷́)✧︎"

After this little incident, Shinki strolled around the village again and unknowingly arrived at the newly built Shinki Park.

There is a fountain in the middle of the Park. Originally, a sculpture of the Shinki was supposed to be placed on the fountain, but the Shinki rejected it and replaced it with a fish.

Upon arriving at this place, Shinki spotted a familiar face. "Hey! Sai, drawing? How's your recovery going these past few days? O(∩_∩)O"

After calling out to Shinki, I realized that Sai acting strangely today, as if he were shrouded in gloom.

"Lord Sixth..."

Across from him, Sai put down his paintbrush and was about to bow when Shinki stopped him in time. "I already told you to just call me by my name."

"Understood, Lord Sixth." Sai replied mechanically, a stiff smile on his face.

Shinki found Sai's smile a little creepy, "Sai, I remember your smile changed, how come it's back to that fake smile from back then... (ー_ー)!!"

Because the Park was newly built and it was lunchtime, only Sai and Shinki were there.

Just after Shinki finished asking that question, he suddenly turned around and noticed a figure darting past the Park entrance!

Thinking it was probably just some kids playing around, I didn't pay it any mind.

Across from the Shinki, Sai lowered his head, his long bangs obscuring his expression. "Lord Sixth, I also want to laugh from the bottom of my heart, but I can't."

"I am a member of 'Root,' I was trained by Danzo, and I cannot integrate into your Ninja group."

Even in Team 7, I was just a replacement for Sasuke's Defection.

"Someone like me is only useful during wartime; only then will my identity be overlooked. The village is too peaceful now, so peaceful that I feel like everyone in the village is looking at me with needles in their eyes..."

Just as Sai was saying these words, Shinki keenly sensed that the Chakra Breath around him had changed!

Darkness, gloom, and mania!

"Open your eyes!"

Shinki gave a soft shout and activated the Rinnegan he had just absorbed from the Tenseigan!

After that, he clearly saw the mutated Chakra on Sai's body!

In Shinki's eyes, this ball of Chakra was entirely black, enveloping Sai's body, and constantly shifting and pulsating like flames!

The next moment, Sai unfurled the enormous Scroll canvas he carried with him and painted two ferocious beasts. "Super Beast Imitating Drawing!"

The two ferocious beasts in the painting roared and leaped out of the paper, heading towards the Shinki!

"Roar!"

What's going on?

Shinki frowned, grabbed his Chakra Blade, and with a "whoosh!" cleaved the two drawn beasts into Ink!

He asked, puzzled, "A side effect of being controlled by Gengo? Σ( ° △ °|||)"

On the other side, Sai launched his attack while drawing, and simultaneously made an emo statement. "Someone like me is destined to live in the darkness, and will never gain the approval of others."

"I can only be of great use in war; in Era of Peace, I am nothing but a stumbling block. I am only fit to be used as a weapon, only fit to die a violent death on the battlefield..."

While fending off the attacks from the Super Beast Imitating Drawing, Shinki replied, "Sai, don't overthink it."

Even in war, you wouldn't play a significant role. (°ー°)

Sai:∑(✘Д✘๑)

That hurts! _(´ཀ`" ∠)__

"Is that so...?"

Shinki seized the opportunity, clapped his hands together, and used Wood Release Vines to bind Sai. Then the Vines tightened, strangling him unconscious!

Just after Sai lost consciousness, the black Chakra covering Sai disappeared!

"Something's not right!" Shinki's expression suddenly changed as he looked up at the sky!

High in the sky, a pitch-black spatial vortex was greedily absorbing the Chakra released from Sai!

After Shinki noticed it, the spatial vortex rapidly contracted and disappeared with a "whoosh!"

Shinki analyzed, "Space-Time Ninjutsu."

"Someone is hiding behind the door, absorbing black Chakra..."

After thinking for a while, Shinki remembered that Sai was still lying on the ground, so he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take him to the hospital.