The Most Infuriating Opening Mission in History

The Most Infuriating Opening Mission in History

Just as Shimiya Aoba was reborn and woke up, White Zetsu, who had been secretly monitoring the entire base and every blade of grass nearby, drilled out of the wall and reported everything to Madara.

"Is that so? He's awake? Bring him to me."

After receiving the order, White Zetsu immediately let out a chuckle and sank back into the wall.

The old figure sitting on the stone seat fell into deep thought. He had already conducted every examination on the boy while he was unconscious, even extracting cells for research.

Strangely, no matter how thoroughly he examined and studied him, he couldn't uncover the secret behind the boy's 'resurrection.'

Everything about him was utterly ordinary. Forget special talents like a Kekkei Genkai—even the slightest trace of chakra was nowhere to be found in his body!

As for cell mutation and the like, that was even more absurd...

Having personally transplanted Senju Hashirama's cells and used them to cultivate White Zetsu, Madara certainly lived up to his reputation as an Uchiha scientist. Perhaps he wasn't at the pinnacle of the field, but he was confident that he couldn't possibly make a mistake in such an ordinary examination and judgment.

So, to be safe, he had forcibly used the power of the Sharingan to pry into part of the child's memories.

The answer was still the same: ordinary!

An ordinary child born to ordinary parents in an ordinary village.

His aptitude was equally unremarkable. Although he had yet to become a shinobi, judging by the examination results, he would only ever reach the level of an ordinary Chunin in this life. He probably had little chance of advancing to Jonin.

In the past, Madara wouldn't have spared someone with no talent or potential a second glance. No matter how many Jonin there were, they were nothing more than slightly stronger ants in his eyes. Only Kage Level fighters could pique his interest a little—of course, that referred to the period when he was at the peak of his strength.

And the only person he truly regarded as a lifelong rival was that man...

So where exactly had the problem arisen?

Had White Zetsu deceived him?

That was absolutely impossible!

Was it a miracle?

That was simply too absurd.

Then only two possibilities remained. The first was that, besides White Zetsu, another expert skilled in concealment and medical ninjutsu had secretly meddled in things at the time.

If that was the case, he would have to guard against it going forward.

But... was that possible?

White Zetsu's clones were spread throughout the underground surrounding the entire base. No disturbance could possibly escape White Zetsu's surveillance.

Fine. Even if someone truly possessed the ability to conceal themselves without being detected, the odds of that person also possessing extraordinary medical skills were hardly any higher than the odds of Hashirama suddenly reviving before his eyes.

The second possibility was that some kind of power truly existed within this brat—some power that even he couldn't see or touch.

If that was the case, it might add another layer of insurance to his future plans.

Resurrection...

A glimmer immediately flashed through Madara's eyes. This might be another power that had broken the taboo between life and death, besides Impure World Reincarnation, Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, and Life Reincarnation.

It was just that he had failed to discover it—or perhaps the power had been completely consumed after reviving the child. After all, the more one wished to obtain, the more one naturally had to pay. A resurrection without a price was clearly impossible. In that case, it made sense that he hadn't detected that 'energy that had already dissipated completely.'

Thus, Madara, who had originally intended to kill and dissect the child, suddenly changed his mind. Perhaps this inconspicuous spare piece might bring him an unexpected surprise.

As he pondered, White Zetsu walked in with a little brat following behind him.

The child's clothes were tattered and stained with blood. His dirty little face made it impossible to tell whether he was handsome or ugly, but there seemed to be something unusual in the light shining from his eyes...

The instant he truly saw the living 'elderly Madara,' Shimiya Aoba inevitably widened his eyes.

He swore to the heavens that it had been purely a reflex!

If you ever saw a living two-dimensional character appear before your eyes, you would definitely have the same expression subconsciously!

Although he had already formed some guesses when he saw White Zetsu, that 'distinctive' fellow, he was still utterly astonished when things actually reached this point.

'Elderly Madara' was still alive. What year was it now?

That thought inevitably sprang into Shimiya Aoba's mind. But in the very next moment, something even more shocking happened.

Ding! The system activation mission has been triggered!

Mission Name: The Brat's Counterattack

Mission Description: Pull out at least one 'tube' connected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path from Madara's back.

(Look at this sickly old geezer in front of you. Let's pull out his 'oxygen tube' and send him on his way. From the brat, with a sincerely merciful expression~)

Mission Reward: Official system activation and one mysterious Beginner's Gift Pack!

Mission Failure: The system will immediately self-destruct on the spot. (Don't ask. If you ask, the answer is that I've lived long enough and want to die!)

After hearing the voice suddenly ring out in his mind, Shimiya Aoba's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!

It was true that a cheat ability was essential for any transmigrator, and he had been looking forward to one...

But what the hell was this activation mission?!

It started on hell difficulty right away. What the hell was this?!

And 'The Brat's Counterattack'? Pull out the tubes from Madara's back...

Get lost!

Pulling out one of the tubes from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path on Madara's back was practically the same as taking Madara's life!

Although the mission only required him to pull out at least one, Shimiya Aoba looked at his current skinny arms and legs. Even in the world of Naruto, how could a four-year-old child with no training possibly manage that?

Madara might already be so old he was practically on the verge of death, but killing a little kid like him wouldn't require any effort. One look would probably be enough to finish him off.

Even if Madara ignored him and let him 'play around,' he still didn't have the strength for it...

After all, the tubes extending from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path couldn't possibly be so fragile that an ordinary four-year-old child could snap one with a single tug.

This was really the end of him!

As Shimiya Aoba retracted his bulging eyes and lowered his head to avoid Madara's scrutinizing gaze, he hurriedly questioned the system in his mind. "System, where are you? This mission is completely impossible, isn't it?"

But this time, no voice answered him, as if everything that had happened just now had been an illusion.

Damn it!

Shimiya Aoba cursed inwardly, then carefully reread the penalty for mission failure... It was actually the system self-destructing?

What was going on?

Could it be that if the mission failed, only the system itself would be punished? Could something this good really happen? Was this system broken?

Suddenly!

His expression stiffened, because he abruptly realized that this damn system had probably already fused with him. If the system self-destructed, would he be all right???

This was a true suicidal maniac!

It would drag both of them down at the slightest disagreement!?

The only good news was probably that this damn mission had no time limit. So... he would just have to take things one step at a time. Sigh!

Shimiya Aoba sighed inwardly, then heard a voice beside his ear.

"Brat, what's your name?"

Shimiya Aoba looked up and realized that Madara had spoken after finishing his examination of him.

He didn't have the nerve to defy this big shot from the Hokage World, so he answered in a somewhat trembling voice, "Shimiya... Aoba."

Shimiya?

After thinking it over and confirming that none of the major clans in the shinobi world had the surname Shimiya—and that he had never heard of any powerful figure with that surname—Madara shook his head with a laugh. Hadn't he already confirmed this long ago? Why was he still holding out such wishful hope?

Then his expression turned stern, and he asked a question that made Shimiya Aoba's scalp prickle.

"The first time you saw me, I saw surprise in your eyes. You... know who I am?"

When Shimiya Aoba heard that, cold sweat almost broke out across his body. Damn it, he had been too careless!

If he aroused the other party's suspicion and Madara forcibly searched his memories, discovering the secret that he had transmigrated here, everything would be over!

No!

Stay calm. I have to calm down!