"According to an Anbu report, two unconscious genin were found last night at the Inuzuka Clan compound in Konoha. At the same time, White Wolf Maru, the Inuzuka Clan's most important Ninja Dog, had been cruelly shaved. Even worse, the fur on his balls had been plucked clean. When he was found, tiny beads of blood were still seeping from the skin. White Wolf Maru is now in a state of extreme fear and insecurity. The analysis suggests he may be unable to go to the battlefield in three days. In response, Clan Head Inuzuka Ryo, heartbroken over the matter, spent the whole night shouting curses in the street."
BAM!
The deafening slap of a hand against the desk rang through the Hokage's office. The Third Hokage, his eyes bloodshot, pointed at Zhou Duan and Hatake Sakumo and roared furiously:
"Zhou Duan, look at what you've done! I'm letting the other things slide, but did you really think you could do whatever you wanted to White Wolf Maru? And you, Sakumo! As this little brat's adoptive father, not only did you fail to stop him, you even became his accomplice. Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Tch!"
As a shinobi who'd made a mistake and was being interrogated in the Hokage's office, Zhou Duan didn't bow his head and accept criticism with a stern expression like Hatake Sakumo. Instead, he acted like a shameless repeat offender:
"It's just some mutt. He thinks he can do whatever he wants because he's the clan head's dog, and he's gotten so strong he doesn't know his place anymore. He's treated like some kind of precious treasure, too. It's good he got a taste of hardship this time. Better than ending up in a soup pot at the hands of shinobi from another village on the battlefield!"
"Zhou Duan, watch your mouth!"
The Third Hokage roared in exasperation:
"Is that damn dog just some mutt? White Wolf Maru is the Inuzuka Clan's strongest Ninja Dog. Especially when he works with Clan Head Inuzuka Ryo—together, the man and dog can surpass the strength of an Elite Jonin! He's vital as a powerful asset to the village and as the pride of the Inuzuka Clan!"
"The front lines are desperate right now, and we're counting on him to fill a gap. Do you know how much damage you've caused the village? And you, Sakumo..."
The Third Hokage pointed at Hatake Sakumo, his heart aching:
"I know you're about to leave for the most dangerous battlefield. Before you go, you're worried you won't be able to look after Zhou Duan, so you want to leave him something to protect his life and fulfill a wish of his. But what kind of protection is dog hair? Were you going to make him a good-luck charm? You..."
As the Third Hokage roared and Hatake Sakumo took the scolding, Zhou Duan had considered shamelessly denying that he'd been the one to pluck the dog's fur. But seeing his adoptive father stand there and meekly accept his punishment, he gave up on the idea and leisurely flipped through his potion system instead:
"Swiftness Potion
Acquisition Method: Clothes-Bursting Potion successfully developed (formulation and clinical testing complete)
Potion Formula Source: System
Main Ingredients: Mandrake Leaf, Nettle Root, Baiku, Mulberry Swift Vine, Dog Hair
Note: The stronger the Ninja Dog, the more effective its fur. Hair roots from a vital area are best!
Note: This potion formula was provided by the system. The researcher receives no reward upon completing the potion.
Potion Effect: Increases the movement speed of ordinary genin and chunin by 20 to 40 percent.
Side Effects: None
Additional Effects: Depending on other ingredients added by the user, the potion may gain other effects to some extent. Use with caution!
Extreme Recovery Potion
Acquisition Method: Quest Reward
Potion Formula Source: System
Main Ingredients: Purple Cart, Eagle Molt, Flesh Vine, Hemostasis Grass (at least twenty years old), Bone-Setting Vine, Dog Hair
Note: Hemostasis Grass and Bone-Setting Vine must be at least twenty years old; the stronger the Ninja Dog, the more effective its fur. Hair roots from a vital area are best!
Missing Ingredient: Purple Cart"
Potion Effect: An extremely powerful restorative potion. It can even regrow severed limbs, and recovery is very fast.
Potion Drawback: The potion must be taken in advance and wears off after ten minutes. It cannot restore the loss of the head or the entire heart!
"System-made potions really are something, huh? Whether it's boosting a genin's movement speed or the Extreme Recovery Potion, they're both pretty impressive. That makes plucking White Wolf Maru's fur worth it!"
Zhou Duan looked at the system and mused to himself:
"The only problem is that there are too few medicinal ingredients. They're expensive, and there's barely any on the market. I worked my tail off just to scrape together enough for four bottles of Swiftness Potion, and I'm still missing one main ingredient for the Extreme Recovery Potion. And to make that potion more effective, I used all the little 'vital' dog hair I had on it. Now the Swiftness Potion can only increase a genin's movement speed by thirty percent. Damn it, why is White Wolf Maru the only Jonin-level Ninja Dog in the village? I'll be in trouble if I come across another potion formula that needs dog hair..."
Zhou Duan was absorbed in his potions, fretting over them, and didn't notice that the Hokage's office had been quiet for quite some time. Only after the Third Hokage, who'd been glaring at him, looked ready to have his eyes pop out did Zhou Duan finally come to his senses. He even asked considerately:
"Well, Lord Hiruzen, has your throat gone hoarse? Can't shout anymore?"
"..."
Knowing that if he kept arguing with Zhou Duan, he'd end up dying of anger, Hiruzen took a deep breath and forced down his fury:
"Zhou Duan, how do you intend to make amends for this?"
"Make amends?"
Zhou Duan stared wide-eyed in surprise:
"It's just some mutt. What's there to make amends for? We shinobi fight our enemies covered in wounds, and all he lost was some fur. Why's a mutt being so precious about it? Besides, Konoha Hospital has plenty of Hair Growth Potion. I can give him two jin if he wants. And I mean jin—as in a whole lot! As a Ninja Dog serving Konoha, he should be honored!"
Even Hatake Sakumo, who'd known Zhou Duan for years, couldn't help blushing at such a shameless answer. The Third Hokage was so furious he kept pounding the desk in front of him. At last, after calming himself down, the Third Hokage announced coldly:
"Zhou Duan, as a shinobi of Konoha, instead of contributing to the village, you damaged one of its Ninja Dogs to pursue your own unspeakable goals. Considering your past offenses, I should have you locked up in Konoha Prison. But the front lines are desperate, and we're short on manpower, so you'll atone for your crimes by working hard for the village!
"Also, although your classmates have already earned their genin status, some of them still lack the basic knowledge they need to survive on the battlefield. So I'm appointing Zhou Duan as their squad leader, to lead his team in gaining battlefield experience. His teammates will be Tonaiba, Hyuga Hyakusho, and Senju Nawaki!"
"No way!"
Zhou Duan immediately objected:
"Replace Senju Nawaki, that dead-last loser. The others can stay!"
"In your dreams! The most important thing is... Ahem!"
The Third Hokage caught himself in time and forced out a cough. But everyone in the room was sharp; coughing now wasn't going to help. Seeing that, the Third Hokage stopped trying to hide it. Ignoring Zhou Duan's scornful stare, he said firmly:
"You've caused trouble and now you want to run? This is my decision. Don't give me that reluctance. Genin Zhou Duan, get your squad together tomorrow, and report to the supply unit the day after. Now, right now, get out of my sight!"
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