Adolescent Troubles

The next morning.

After breakfast, Sōgetsu cleaned up and prepared to visit the Third Hokage.

"Morning, Brother Sōgetsu."

The moment he stepped out the door, Sōgetsu ran into someone head-on.

Looking down, he saw a child around ten years old, with messy, spiky black hair and goggles that covered half his face.

As a qualified transmigrator, he naturally knew a little about the plot.

This somewhat green and simple-looking child before his eyes was none other than the future greatest villain of the ninja world, a famous devoted romantic in anime, and the man who single-handedly brought about the Fourth Great Ninja War—Uchiha Obito!

"So it's Obito. What brings you to see me so early?" Sōgetsu asked gently, his gaze calm as he raised a hand and ruffled the boy's hair.

Hearing this, Obito blushed and stammered, "Uh... I want to try Wish Fulfillment."

"Oh? My treatment isn't cheap."

Sōgetsu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Even the lowest-tier trial version costs at least fifty thousand ryo. Do you have that much?"

"Of course! Don't underestimate me, Brother Sōgetsu." Obito proudly raised his head and pulled out a handful of large-denomination bills from his pocket. "This is the fifty thousand ryo I earned doing missions!"

"Oh, right. I forgot you're already a genin."

Sōgetsu pinched the bridge of his nose. He had been so busy lately that he had barely paid attention to how the plot was progressing.

Still, the overall course of events would not change. Judging from Uchiha Obito's graduation, the Third Great Ninja War was very close.

"I graduated ages ago, okay, Brother Sōgetsu?" Obito complained with a dark expression. "Don't treat me like a kid!"

"I understand, Obito." Sōgetsu vigorously rubbed the brat's hair and smiled. "But sorry, not right now. I need to visit Lord Hokage first. How about next time?"

[Side Quest: Adolescent Troubles]

[No matter how hard he tried to impress her, Obito could never win the girl's favor. In the end, he decided...]

[Reward: Fate Doll (Blocks fate, allowing its holder to defend against curses, tracking, and searching effects)]

After glancing over the Side Quest description, Sōgetsu had more or less guessed what "wish" Obito wanted fulfilled.

"Oh..." Obito drooped his head, looking a little disappointed.

"Next time, Obito."

Sōgetsu raised a hand and ruffled his hair, then chuckled. "I'll give you a discount. Thirty thousand ryo."

"Thank you, Brother Sōgetsu!"

Hearing that it was twenty thousand ryo cheaper, Obito immediately brightened up again.

Uchiha Sōgetsu walked through Konoha's commercial district with his hands in his pockets.

Having only recently consumed the potion, some of his Spiritual Power was still leaking out. Though he was doing his best to restrain it, he would need time to adapt.

Within his dark, profound eyes seemed to lie bottomless whirlpools, like ripples spreading across a still pond. If not for the special glasses on his nose, any passerby who met his gaze would likely have their mind completely sink into them.

"I still need better control." Sōgetsu rubbed his throbbing brow as his Spiritual Vision swept across the entire street.

Red, yellow, blue—like paints mixed together in a pool of water. Those were the auras of living beings' Ether Bodies, as revealed through Spiritual Vision.

Compared to a Sequence 7 Psychologist, who could only observe the colors of an Ether Body's aura to gauge a living being's mental state, after advancing to Sequence 6, he could perceive the deeper layers of a target's mind.

"Hey, did you hear? That huge news!"

"You mean... Ah, I heard. It's actually true!"

"What a shame... Sigh."

"Tell me about it. Sigh."

The conversation between the two people by the roadside caught his interest.

Uchiha Sōgetsu's eyes shifted slightly, and a deeper force of the mind silently flowed into the two men's brains.

Psychological Suggestion!

The two offered almost no resistance before falling into a blank-minded state.

"Can you tell me what you were talking about?" Sōgetsu asked.

"Hatake Sakumo... committed suicide at home out of guilt."

Uchiha Sōgetsu froze slightly upon hearing the news.

So it was already Konoha Year 44.

There were only four short years left until the Third Great Ninja War.

"The plan must be accelerated."

Sōgetsu's expression turned somewhat subtle. He let out a meaningful chuckle, then dispelled the Psychological Suggestion and quickened his pace toward the Hokage Building.

The Third Great Ninja War was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If he missed this one, the next opportunity would not come for more than a decade. He could not wait that long.

Outside the Hokage Building's office.

"Lord Hokage, this is Uchiha Sōgetsu."

Sōgetsu knocked on the door, then waited respectfully.

"Come in."

A slightly aged voice came from inside.

Sōgetsu pushed open the door and walked in. Besides the Third Hokage, Danzo was unexpectedly there as well, making him frown.

A flash of displeasure passed through him, but he concealed it well.

Even back when he was Sequence 9, he had already been able to control his expressions and emotions perfectly. Not even the Sharingan could detect them.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo." Sōgetsu greeted the two with a gentle expression.

The Third Hokage, seated behind the desk, was currently in his prime. He was not yet as old and weak as he would be more than a decade later, and still possessed the dominance and ambition of the Ninja Hero.

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe and beckoned him over. "Uchiha Sōgetsu, correct? I remember you. During several missions, you refused to abandon your teammates and voluntarily stayed behind to cover their retreat. Your mission completion rate is extremely high, and you are skilled in Medical Ninjutsu as well. You are a rare talent among jonin."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage. It was simply my duty." Sōgetsu smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head, seemingly a little embarrassed.

"Good. You're a good child. No need to be so restrained."

The Third Hokage was even more satisfied with his performance and praised him. "When I look at you, I seem to see Konoha's future. It is precisely because we have young people like you that the First Hokage's Will of Fire has been passed down to this day. I am very gratified."

"Yes, Lord Hokage. I will continue working hard!"

Sōgetsu appeared to have been inspired by his superior. His face flushed faintly, and he could not hide the excitement in his voice. "I will definitely inherit the First Hokage's Will of Fire and protect the village and everyone with my life!"

"Heh, I believe you, Uchiha Sōgetsu."

The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction. "Though you are still young, you can already consider problems from the Hokage's perspective."

"P-Please don't say that, Lord Hokage." Sōgetsu shyly rubbed his nose. "It is only because I often listen to Lord Hokage's teachings and reflect on them."

"Hahahahaha!"

The Third Hokage burst into laughter. That flattery had made him feel exceptionally good.

"Hmph."

Danzo, standing nearby, could not stand it any longer and snorted angrily through his nose.

What Will of Fire bullshit!

What nonsense about often listening to teachings!

Weren't all Uchiha supposed to be arrogant and conceited?

Why was this brat showering him with flattery the moment he arrived? Where was his aloofness? Where was his conceit?

Damn Uchiha Clan brat.

Danzo had already disliked the Uchiha Clan, but now he disliked this brat even more. A deeply hidden malice glimmered in his eyes.

Naturally, Danzo's malice could not escape Sōgetsu's perception.

His Ether Body aura was an incredibly deep black, its surging, intense malice seeming to burn like flames.

Is this old thing sick or something?

When did I ever offend him?

Sōgetsu was rather baffled. He had only met Danzo three times in all these years. Where had this old bastard gotten such enormous malice?

The interrupted Third Hokage was somewhat displeased. He shot Danzo a dissatisfied glance beside him.

However, with an outsider present, the Third Hokage did not say much. After coughing twice, he said, "Uchiha Sōgetsu, I am glad you are willing to join the Anbu. Elephant will take you there later. Familiarize yourself with the place first. We can discuss the rest another time."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Sōgetsu nodded, then left the office.