Blast Copper Coins!

The Chunin Ninja Exams were declared over.

This Chunin Ninja Exam had been shorter than previous ones, yet it was the most spectacular in Konoha's history. Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that two people had been promoted to Chunin.

Akihara Kagura, Uchiha Itachi.

Although Uchiha Itachi's defeat at Akihara Kagura's hands left the Uchiha Clan somewhat displeased, Uchiha Shisui had forcefully salvaged their pride by appearing with Susanoo.

Akihara Kagura had no time to care about any of that.

After all, this exam involved work assignments from two people, making it the perfect opportunity for Akihara Kagura to learn more about the reward rules of this worker system.

System Prompt: Work assignment completed: participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams as requested by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Reward: Konoha Style Taijutsu.

Konoha Style Taijutsu (Konoha's basic taijutsu, including foundational taijutsu moves such as Leaf Shadow Dance, Konoha Whirlwind, Konoha Gale, Konoha Rising Wind, Konoha Great Whirlwind, and Konoha Strong Revolving Wind; derived from Hiruzen Sarutobi's mission reward.)

Good grief!

This was a copper-coin drop!

It had actually given him nothing but a pile of taijutsu moves!

Perhaps this work assignment had not been particularly difficult. Hiruzen Sarutobi had not even made any special demands, only asking Akihara Kagura to take part in the Chunin Ninja Exams.

No, that wasn't right...

That old man had sent Akihara Kagura, a Wood Style Ninja, into the exams because he surely wanted him to help suppress Uchiha Itachi. However, thinking like a politician, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not possibly state such intentions outright.

No wonder Shimura Danzō was always criticizing him...

Akihara Kagura could only console himself by thinking that his close-combat skills were rather rudimentary. This at least made up for one of his weaknesses; it would be rather absurd for a Konoha Chunin not to know taijutsu.

With the powerful physical abilities brought by Hashirama Cells, it was like adding another tooth to a tiger...

Compared to that...

His other superior, Shimura Danzō, was no good leader either.

System Prompt: Work assignment completed: participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams as requested by Shimura Danzō and defeat Uchiha Itachi during the exam. Reward: Wind Style: Vacuum Blade.

Wind Style: Vacuum Blade (B-rank Wind Style Ninjutsu. Infuses Wind Style chakra into a kunai to form a sharp blade; derived from Shimura Danzō's mission reward.)

This jutsu reward felt somewhat fake.

Akihara Kagura did not even own a proper kunai.

Following Shimura Danzō's requirements, it would not have been easy for an ordinary Genin to defeat Uchiha Itachi. Akihara Kagura had won purely because Wood Style Ninjutsu was so powerful.

After taking stock of his rewards, Akihara Kagura slowly returned to the Root base, intending to report to the Anbu the next morning.

But then...

Two gatekeepers stopped him.

This time, the two gatekeepers no longer feared Akihara Kagura. Their attitudes were so cold that it was as if he were an outsider trying to break into the Root base.

In truth...

Akihara Kagura really had become an outsider.

"Akihara Kagura, you are no longer one of Root."

The two gatekeepers prevented Akihara Kagura from entering, speaking with blunt frankness. "Lord Danzō has removed you from Root and ordered us not to let you enter or leave the base freely anymore. If you wish to see Lord Danzō, we can report it for you."

That was what they said...

Yet the two gatekeepers had already prepared themselves for Akihara Kagura to force his way in. They had even considered whether he might cause a scene, but they could not disobey Danzo's orders.

In truth, Shimura Danzō had reprimanded every member of Root, believing they had failed to uphold the will of Root and had actually 'flattered' Akihara Kagura some time ago...

Was that flattery?

That had clearly been forced respect!

At the time, Akihara Kagura had invoked Lord Danzō's name, and he had been stronger than them. What else could ordinary Root ninja like them have done? In the end, Lord Danzō no longer favored that brat and even blamed them for those problems.

No matter what...

Root had finally returned to normal.

This time, the two gatekeepers were extremely firm in their attitude toward Akihara Kagura. Even if he caused trouble, they would no longer let that brat through.

"I understand."

This time, Akihara Kagura did nothing. He merely gave the gloomy base a long look before calmly turning and leaving.

Konoha.

The moon in the sky was still bright.

Akihara Kagura raised his head and looked at the moon. The moon of this ninja world was not a real moon either, but an artificial satellite created by human hands.

Akihara Kagura lowered his head and looked down over Konoha's scenery.

There were many people in this village, but none of them were his family. There were many houses here, yet not a single one where he could live.

Akihara Kagura found a bench in a park and lay down on his side, planning to rest there for the night and report to the Anbu tomorrow.

Konoha's night carried a hint of chill. Akihara Kagura hugged his shoulders as his body gradually curled up. People always found a way to get through one night.

In a dark corner.

The Mysterious Masked Man quietly appeared.

The Pitcher Plant Monster slowly emerged from underground as well.

"It seems we won't need to do much..."

The black half of the Pitcher Plant Monster's face revealed a sinister smile. Looking at Akihara Kagura lying on the bench, it spoke with a trace of mockery in its voice. "Is Shimura Danzō always this stupid? He so carelessly threw a Wood Style Ninja who was utterly loyal to him out into the streets?"

"Hmph, everyone in Konoha is an idiot."

The Mysterious Masked Man snorted coldly and continued, "Those fools always think they can control everyone..."

"What do we do now?"

The white half of the Pitcher Plant Monster's face looked somewhat puzzled as it asked curiously, "According to your plan, where would be the best place to dump Aburame Ryoma's corpse?"

"Anywhere will do."

The Mysterious Masked Man did not care in the slightest as he coldly continued, "No one will testify for that brat. He can no longer explain himself clearly..."

"Who would have thought..."

The black half of the Pitcher Plant Monster's face smiled with delight. "Our plan would go so smoothly that we would not even need to put much thought into it..."

"That brat must be desperate, right?"

"He was just abandoned by Shimura Danzō, and now he has to face baseless accusations he cannot defend against. He cannot even find proof of his own innocence..."

"Enough. Begin."

The Mysterious Masked Man did not want to waste more useless time. He gave his order, "Let that brat see just how cruel this false world is!"

As soon as he spoke.

A space-time vortex appeared around the Mysterious Masked Man. His body spun rapidly before vanishing from where he stood.

After seeing the Mysterious Masked Man disappear, the Pitcher Plant Monster slowly sank back into the ground.

The entire park remained quiet.

It was as though those two had never come.

When a little girl with twin buns passed through the park, she noticed a small vagrant on one of the park benches and jumped in fright.

"Huh?"

However, seeing that the other person was only a youngster and did not appear to be much older than her, she calmed down.

"..."

"Though I often pick up weird things around the village, picking up a person is still way too weird!"

The little girl with twin buns scrunched up her face.

In the end, the little girl gave up on the terrifying idea of picking up a person. Instead, she skipped home, fetched a small blanket, and covered the ten-year-old boy with it.

"..."

Akihara Kagura slowly opened his eyes. He reached out to touch the blanket over him and quietly watched the little girl with twin buns walk away.

"Kind people always have good luck."

"It seems my luck was indeed pretty good today."

First update!

Tenten really was such a kind person!

I was only a casual fan of Tenten, but she felt like the only girl among Konoha's Rookie Twelve who did not have a love-struck brain!

Also, the author was a diehard Orochimaru fan, believe me! If you do not believe it, take a look at "Starting as a Behind the Scenes Master from Naruto." I was Orochimaru's biggest fan!