System Reward

"According to Anbu reports, last night at the Konohagakure Inuzuka Clan residence, two unconscious Genin were found. Simultaneously, the Inuzuka Clan's most important ninja dog, White Wolf Maru, was brutally shaved. Even more tragically, the fur on White Wolf Maru's testicles was forcibly plucked out. When discovered, it was still oozing tiny blood beads. Currently, White Wolf Maru is in a state of extreme fear and low self-esteem. It's estimated he may be unable to go to the battlefield in three days. For this reason, the heartbroken Clan Leader Inuzuka Ryo cursed the streets all night long."

"Bang!"

The loud sound of a palm hitting the table echoed throughout the Hokage's office. The Third Hokage, eyes bloodshot, pointed at Zhou Duan and Hatake Sakumo and roared furiously:

"Zhou Duan, look at the mess you've made! I won't pursue anything else, but was White Wolf Maru something you could just abuse? And you, Sakumo, as this brat Zhou Duan's adoptive father, not only did you not stop him, you became an accomplice. Don't you have anything to say about this?"

"Tch!"

As a ninja who had made a mistake, being interrogated in the Hokage's office, Zhou Duan, unlike Hatake Sakumo, didn't lower his head solemnly to accept criticism. Instead, he had the nonchalant air of a repeat offender:

"It's just a damn dog. Relying on being the clan leader's dog, thinking it's strong just because it has some strength, it doesn't know north from south, heaven from earth. Instead, it acts like it's being worshipped every day. It's good it suffered a loss this time, lest it end up in a hot pot cooked by ninjas from other villages on the battlefield!"

"Zhou Duan, watch your words!"

The Third Hokage roared in exasperation:

"That's a damn dog you're talking about? White Wolf Maru is the Inuzuka Clan's strongest ninja dog in terms of combat power. Especially when cooperating with Clan Leader Inuzuka Ryo, one person and one dog can unleash strength surpassing that of an elite Jonin. Whether as a powerful force for the village or as the pride of the Inuzuka Clan, it is extremely important!"

"With the front lines currently in a critical state, we were waiting for it to fill a gap. You caused this, do you know how great the village's loss is? And you, Sakumo..."

The Third Hokage pointed at Hatake Sakumo, heartbroken:

"I know you're about to head to the most dangerous battlefield, and before leaving, you were afraid you wouldn't be able to look after Zhou Duan, wanting to leave him something to save his life and fulfill a wish. But what's with plucking the dog's fur? Are you going to make a protective charm for this kid to save his life? You..."

The Third Hokage was roaring, and Hatake Sakumo was being scolded. Zhou Duan hadn't considered shamelessly denying that he was the one who plucked the dog's fur. But seeing his adoptive father being disciplined so obediently, Zhou Duan gave up that idea. Instead, he leisurely browsed through his potion system:

Swiftness Potion

Obtaining Method: Clothes-Bursting Potion successfully developed (potion formulation and clinical trials completed)

Potion Recipe Origin: System

Main Ingredients: Mandrake Leaf, Nettle Root, Hundred Wither, Mulberry Swift Vine, Dog Hair

Note: The stronger the ninja dog's strength, the better the effect of the dog hair. Hair roots with essential parts are best!

Note: This potion recipe is from the system; the researcher receives no reward upon completion.

Potion Effect: Can increase the movement speed of ordinary Genin and Chunin by twenty to forty percent.

Side Effects: None

Additional Effects: Depending on the materials added by the user, other effects can be added to a certain extent. Please use with caution!

Extreme Recovery Potion

Obtaining Method: Mission Reward

Potion Recipe Origin: System

Main Ingredients: Purple Cart, Eagle Molt, Flesh Vine, Hemostasis Grass (over twenty years old), Bone-Setting Vine, Dog Hair

Note: Hemostasis Grass and Bone-Setting Vine must be over twenty years old; the stronger the ninja dog's strength, the better the effect of the dog hair. Hair roots with essential parts are best!

Missing Ingredients: Purple Cart

Potion Effect: An extremely powerful recovery potion, capable of even regenerating severed limbs, with extremely fast recovery speed.

Potion Drawbacks: The potion must be drunk in advance and becomes ineffective after ten minutes. Cannot recover if the head or entire heart is lost!

"As expected of system-produced potions, whether it's increasing a Genin's movement speed or an extreme recovery potion, these are excellent. It wasn't a waste to pluck White Wolf Maru's fur!" Zhou Duan marveled silently in his heart as he looked at the system:

"The only drawback is that there are too few medicinal ingredients. Not only are they expensive, but they are also scarce in circulation. I worked hard to gather enough for four bottles of Swiftness Potion, and I'm still missing one main ingredient for the Extreme Recovery Potion. Moreover, to enhance the efficacy of the Extreme Recovery Potion, I used the already scarce 'essential' dog hair on it, which resulted in the Swiftness Potion only being able to increase a Genin's movement speed by thirty percent. Damn it, White Wolf Maru is the only Jonin-level ninja dog in the village! I'll be in trouble in the future if I encounter potion recipes that require dog hair..."

While Zhou Duan was anxiously looking at the system's potions, he didn't notice that the Hokage's office had been silent for a long time. It wasn't until the Third Hokage, who had been staring intently at Zhou Duan, nearly popped his eyeballs out that Zhou Duan belatedly realized and asked solicitously:

"Yo, Lord Hiruzen, your throat's too hoarse to keep yelling?"

"..."

Knowing that if he continued to bicker with Zhou Duan, he would eventually be angered to death, Hiruzen took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed his anger:

"Zhou Duan, how do you plan to rectify this situation?"

"Rectify?"

Zhou Duan widened his eyes in surprise:

"It's just a damn dog, why would it need rectifying? We ninjas fight enemies with wounds all over our bodies, it just lost some fur. Why is a damn dog so fussy? Besides, there are plenty of hair-growing potions at the Konoha Hospital. I can get him a couple of pounds if needed. See, I even used a unit of measurement – pounds. He should feel honored to be a ninja dog of Konoha!"

Hearing Zhou Duan's shameless answer, even Hatake Sakumo, who had been with Zhou Duan for several years, couldn't help but blush. The Third Hokage Hiruzen, however, slammed the table in front of him in anger. After a long while, finally calming his rage, the Third Hokage announced in a cold voice:

"Zhou Duan, as a ninja of Konohagakure, instead of contributing to the village, you harmed a village ninja dog for your own unspeakable purposes. Including your past mistakes, you should have been imprisoned in Konoha Prison. However, given the current critical situation on the front lines and the shortage of personnel on the battlefield, you will atone for your crimes by working hard for the village!

Furthermore, although your classmates have successfully obtained Genin status, some Genin still lack basic survival knowledge on the battlefield. Therefore, Zhou Duan is appointed as captain to lead the team in accumulating battlefield experience. The team members are Tonaiba, Hyuga Hyakusho, and Senju Nawaki!"

"I refuse!"

Zhou Duan immediately protested:

"Replace Senju Nawaki, that dead last. Keep the others!"

"Dream on. The most important thing is... cough!"

The Third Hokage stopped himself in time, forcefully coughing. But in the room were people who were astute as foxes; the cough was useless now. Seeing this, the Third Hokage no longer bothered to conceal it. Enduring Zhou Duan's look of disdain, he said forcefully:

"You committed a crime and still want to run? This is my decision. Stop being reluctant. Genin Zhou Duan, integrate your team tomorrow, and report to the logistics team the day after. Now, get out immediately!"