Danzo, King of Self-Destruction

[Reincarnator 001]

[Current Mission: Make Jiraiya despair.]

[Mission Reward: Fixed reward is Scientific Ninjutsu. Bonus Reward Points will be calculated and distributed based on the Reincarnator's performance via Instant Calculation.]

For his first mission, Orochimaru harbored resentment. If his task had been to simply kill Jiraiya, it would likely have been far easier to complete.

Even someone as proud and aloof as him found it hard to imagine what kind of scenario could make a naturally thick-skulled idiot like Jiraiya despair.

"Merely defeating him is far from enough... Even the destruction of his physical body would only reinforce the meaning of his existence, not breed despair within him."

Regarding Jiraiya, Orochimaru understood him as well as he knew the lines on his own palm. Spreading his hand, lowering his head, he could see through it at a glance, without needing to exert much effort.

"If, after defeating him... I then destroy the things he treasures most, the matters he cares about most, the convictions he holds most dear, one by one..."

Orochimaru pondered coldly.

The moment this wicked thought took shape, Wang Yan received three thousand Resource Points.

These points came from the deviation of those favored by fortune, the interaction of the World Will, the distortion of origin, the deflection of the Heavenly Dao, the fluttering wings of a butterfly...

Regardless, Orochimaru couldn't claim a single one of these benefits.

The one being exploited didn't even know they were being exploited.

At this moment.

Land of Fire, Konoha.

In front of Ichiraku Ramen.

"Huh?"

Seeing his empty balance suddenly swell by three thousand Resource Points, Wang Yan almost wanted to say to Orochimaru, "Comrade, you've worked hard."

Through the connection between the Main God and the Reincarnator, Wang Yan could see every thought and idea the other had, savoring every emotional fluctuation.

Orochimaru's performance was far more proactive than Wang Yan had anticipated.

"Now this is an excellent employee—strong subjective initiative! Tremendous potential for cultivation and development!"

Wang Yan sighed with emotion as he looked at the bustling pedestrians on the street, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

His return to Konoha this time had two purposes: first, he planned to temporarily preserve his convenient identity as a Konoha ninja, and second, he intended to at least recruit Naruto and Sasuke, these two protagonists, as Reincarnators.

Originally, he hadn't wanted to waste slots on them, thinking it would be a squandering of resources.

But after receiving a massive influx of Resource Points the moment he recruited Orochimaru, Wang Yan immediately realized his mistake.

People who play important roles in the original destined course of the world line can recoup the investment the moment they're recruited as Reincarnators.

Making a mistake isn't a problem. Admitting it and correcting it.

That's the most important quality of a Main God.

Hokage's Office.

The aged Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, clutched a pipe of tobacco and squinted at Wang Yan.

After a long moment, he spoke with deep regret: "You've already completed this purge mission excellently."

Seeing the old man's demeanor, Wang Yan pursed his lips and muttered inwardly: "Then why are you putting on that look of grief over a fallen youth? So fake..."

"I believe that, given your strength and talent, you shouldn't continue wandering as a mere Chunin! This is not only a waste of your natural gifts but also a desecration of the Will of Fire..."

After a lengthy speech, the Third slapped a file onto the desk.

Wang Yan focused his gaze and saw that it was his own ninja records.

Konoha Chunin Wang Yan: 150 D-Rank missions completed, 420 C-Rank missions, 200 B-Rank missions, 300 A-Rank missions, 31 S-Rank missions.

"Damn... Is this for real?"

Seeing this ninja record, his eyes went wide.

He remembered that when he'd bought the identity with Resource Points, he'd halved Jiraiya's mission count, even taking only a fraction of the S-Rank missions.

Only now, seeing this file, did Wang Yan realize that Jiraiya's reputation as one of the Legendary Sannin was no exaggeration.

Even taking a fraction of the missions he'd completed would be enough to support a Chunin's promotion.

"Sigh... Do people just get more long-winded when they get old? Why not just get to the point?" Wang Yan sighed.

Many people thought the Third Hokage was a kind old man who'd devoted his life to Konoha, an absolute good guy—but Wang Yan didn't see it that way.

The best assessment the Third Hokage could earn was the phrase "birds of a feather flock together."

Did he really not know about the things Danzo did?

Not necessarily!

Still, this couldn't be entirely blamed on the Third.

After all, when Naruto was first drawn, the author intended it as a short story, and the Third Hokage was the final villain in the initial outline. It was only later, when the series exploded in popularity, that the author changed his mind and turned it into a long-running series.

To patch the plot, Shimura Danzō was introduced.

But since this is now a real world where ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, chakra, and fuinjutsu all exist, everyone must bear responsibility for their own actions.

Wang Yan spent 0.1 seconds figuring this out, and his favorability toward the Third Hokage instantly dropped from [Friendly] to [Indifferent], remaining constant.

Seeing Wang Yan's expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, finally stopping his lecturing and grand principles, and began to address the real matter.

Sure enough, it was about Wang Yan's promotion.

This wasn't about securing benefits for a subordinate, but about making him take on more duties, more tasks, and squeezing out more profit.

"Tsk~ Not a bad tactic! Worth learning from! Should I consider dividing Reincarnators into a few ranks later?"

After receiving the Jonin Outfit and New Headband, Wang Yan left the Hokage's Office.

But he hadn't gone far before several ninjas wearing strange animal masks surrounded him.

"Such a thick smell of blood... Every single one of them is steeped in karma, all murderous thugs guilty of heinous crimes. If I take them out, I should get a decent amount of Resource Points, right?"

Despite this sigh with emotion, Wang Yan had no right to condemn these ninjas. After all, when he killed people, he didn't think about legal restraints either, nor was he shackled by morality.

In the end, he himself was a Lawful Evil bastard.

"Anbu? No, no, it should be Root."

Wang Yan rubbed his chin and nodded slightly at the strongest among these animal-masked men. "Danzo wants to see me? Lead the way."

Root's secret base.

Dark, gloomy, damp. This place fit every child's fantasy of a villain's stronghold. Just stepping through the door, a gust of foul, decay-tinged wind rushed at his face.

Wang Yan felt that even the cauldron used by some unwashed, perpetually greasy-haired Potions Master was more comfortable than this hellhole.

An old man in a Japanese kimono, half his body wrapped in bandages, coughed dryly and swept a blade-like gaze over Wang Yan.

"This guy really lives up to the classic high-tier villain routine—if he can act in secret, he never speaks, just strikes from the shadows without a word?"

Wang Yan sensed a faint, laughably weak strand of eerie spiritual power trying to burrow into his brain and tamper with his memories.

"Loyalty. Submission. Danzo is your only master. You will give your life for him!"

Countless faint whispers murmured in his ears, echoed in his heart, as if trying to brainwash him completely through this method.

"Small fry, get lost!"

Wang Yan sneered and shouted, his voice rolling like thunder.

At the same time, his formidable spiritual power violently surged toward Danzo.