A Vessel's Protective Heart!

Upon seeing the black lines in the photo, Shinki immediately recalled what Amado had told him about the 'Claw Marks'.

"Show this to Amado, he might recognize it," Shinki said.

Shikamaru nodded, took the photo, and left the Hokage's Office.

Finally, Amado identified the black Curse Mark on the outer wall of Konoha as a 'Claw Marks'.

Subsequently, patrol teams in Konoha discovered many more similar Curse Marks around the city walls.

Not long after, Konoha received news from other Ninja Villages...

In the Hokage's Office, Shinki frowned. "This is really troublesome. Code has left his Claw Marks all over the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Is he deliberately trying to distract us?"

Amado: "I already told you, didn't I? Code can move freely within the Claw Marks..."

Shinki nodded. "I know, he used an open strategy. Because of the special nature of the Claw Marks, we knew his intentions, but we had no choice but to comply."

Amado adjusted his glasses, and said thoughtfully, "This doesn't seem like something Code would do..."

Alternate Dimension.

Code asked curiously, "Aren't we going to take the initiative? With our strength, we might be able to wipe out the entire Konoha!"

Ada shook her head. "It's alright. With my abilities, we've gained the upper hand. You leave a few Claw Marks to make them nervous... The rest is just waiting for the right opportunity."

Code: "Then when will I be able to avenge Isshiki...?"

Ada smiled, pursing her lips. "Don't worry, the opportunity is coming soon. (ﾉ∇︎ )"

After saying that, Ada's Clairvoyance clearly spotted Shinki. The usually clear-headed and wise person instantly turned into a lovesick fool. "Shinki is getting more and more handsome and perfect the more I look at him... I really want to have a normal relationship with him...(´つヮ⊂︎)"

Code sighed, glancing at Ada with a complicated expression.

A woman's heart is like a needle at the Seabed.

I always felt that Ada, who was obsessed with the Shinki, was prone to betraying me...

Just as everyone in the room was making plans for themselves, Daemon, who was in Ada's arms, suddenly spoke up, "Old man, where do you think you're going?"

This shout immediately drew everyone's attention. Ada and Code looked up at Old Bagu, who was standing awkwardly in the doorway...

Bagu:Σ( ° △ °|||)

In all his decades of life, he had never hated a child as much as he did today!

"Um, I just went out to use the restroom..." Bagu offered an extremely lame excuse.

Regardless, he didn't want to associate with this group anymore.

A charming and obsessive-compulsive Love-Brain, a problem child, and a freak obsessed with revenge!

I always feel like something bad could happen at any moment when I'm with them!

"Uncle, don't rush off. You're very important to us," Ada said with a smile.

Bagu feels immense pressure!

Konoha Second Orphanage.

At lunchtime, Shūichi ate his food in big mouthfuls, leaving not a single grain of rice.

Seeing this Yakushi Nonō, as usual, smiled and praised the teenager, "Our Shūichi was great today, finishing all the food again. Here's a little red flower for you... ≧∇≦"

The Shūichi student shook his head aloofly. "It's only right to cherish food. After all, in my previous life, it was difficult to even get a full meal."

"Also, Dean, I'm not a child anymore."

Upon hearing this, Yakushi Nonō's eyes showed heartache. "In the director's eyes, you will always be children. Keep the little red flower..."

Inside the room.

On the Shūichi day of the Lunar New Year, he carefully placed the newly earned little red flower in the drawer, and then slowly closed it.

He doesn't know when it started, but he accepted the fact that he had been captured by Konoha and came to like life in Konoha!

There is no constant fighting here, no endless insults and ridicule.

A peaceful and stable life was something he had longed for for many years!

The dean, who treated him like a child, gave him a warmth he had never experienced before!

This wonderful feeling even made him feel a sense of unreality. "Is this really a place I can come to?"

The door to the room was pushed open at that moment, Kabuto Yakushi his head in. "Get ready, it's time to start today's training. You were the one who volunteered to become stronger with the Hokage, so you can't slack off."

Shūichi nodded. "Wait for me a moment."

The open space in the backyard of the Orphanage.

Shūichi, who was practicing the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, asked, "Is this move really effective?"

Dou nodded. "Of course, your master's master used this move to become invincible! I learned it from him. ୧⍢⃝୨"

In the Shūichi high, the image of the Hokage appeared in his mind. "Including the current Sixth Hokage?"

Kabuto looked a little embarrassed. "Uh... He's invincible below the Hokage, but against Hokage, it's a one-for-one trade..."

The Shūichi student asked in surprise, "Really? ⊙▽⊙"

He didn't know how strong his master's master was, but the Sixth Hokage was really strong! Absolutely strong!

Without batting an eye, he nodded. "Really, I'm not lying to you."

"Where is he now?" Shūichi asked curiously.

This really stumped Dou!:(≖╻≖;)

"Let's not talk about that. Anyway, you need to know that he's always been there... after all, the clothes you're wearing were made by him stepping on them."

Shūichi nodded, his expression unchanged, but he felt a growing sense of goodwill towards this clerk he had never met before.

The people of Konoha are indeed very kind!

Thinking of this, Shūichi remembered that Code was still lurking in the shadows, plotting to destroy this paradise, and secretly made up her mind. "I must become stronger! Gain power! Protect this place!"

Evening.

Konohamaru's trio was taking a walk in the Park when they happened to see Shūichi sweating profusely.

"So focused!" Konohamaru exclaimed sincerely.

Not far away, the Shūichi, who was training, also heard Konohamaru's words and turned to look at the three of Konohamaru: "Shall we have a match?"

Although Shūichi liked life in Konoha, he preferred the training methods of the Shell.

There, everyone has to go through intense battles and suffer inhuman torture every day, in order to build their willpower and improve their strength!

Only in battle do people realize their own strength and grow stronger!

Konohamaru was surprised by the newcomer's initiative. "Are you sure?"

"You might not even be able to beat me." Shūichi narrowed his eyes. In his eyes, Konohamaru was a flower grown in a greenhouse, unable to withstand the wind and rain!

A dozen minutes later.

Konoha Fighting Arena.

The battle between Konohamaru and Shūichi is over!

The outcome of the battle was never in doubt; Konohamaru won with an overwhelming advantage!

I was lying on the ground Shūichi, and my face felt burning hot.

He had just made some bold statements before going on stage! The slap in the face came unexpectedly!

At the same time, during this battle, Shūichi realized his dependence on the 'Wedge'!

During the battle, he considered using the 'Karma' Chakra to absorb Konohamaru several times, missing many opportunities to counterattack!

"No, that's not right! What I'm thinking now is exactly what Amado wants to see."

"I absolutely cannot let him succeed! I want him to know that I'm just as strong without the 'wedge'! (ꐦ ಠ 皿ಠ)"