Who's More Miserable

The Hokage's son, already over twenty years old, was going to apprentice himself to a mere fifteen-year-old youth?

Preposterous!

His own father was the "Ninjutsu Professor"—what technique didn't he know? What theory didn't he understand? What was Asuma's behavior if not abandoning the near for the far? What was it if not making him, Hiruzen Sarutobi, lose face?!

"If you can't give me a reasonable explanation, I'll break your legs today!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at his son with frustration.

"Old man."

Asuma's expression was calm; he'd long known his father would react like this. Wasn't he just annoyed that Asuma hadn't come to him for advice?

He said calmly, "I want to become a Kage-level expert. Can you teach me that?"

"How could I not? I am—what?! Did you say Kage-level?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's breath caught. He stared incredulously at Uchiha Siming, realization dawning: "You mean Siming can help you become a Kage-level expert? How is that possible?"

"He's not even a Kage-level himself—how could he possibly help you?"

If Uchiha Siming were a Kage-level expert.

He would have recruited him long ago. Why wait until now?

In his view, Uchiha Siming, who hadn't even awakened his Sharingan at fifteen, would at most become an Elite Jonin in his lifetime—far inferior to Uchiha Shisui and Itachi.

"You're wrong, old man!"

Asuma's expression turned serious: "Big Brother's strength is beyond what you can measure!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "???"

Wait, isn't the subject of that sentence wrong?

He.

The Third Hokage, the Ninjutsu Professor, the longest-serving Hokage in Konoha's history—couldn't measure a mere Uchiha who hadn't even opened his eyes?

"Blasphemy against heaven!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened: "Asuma, are you trying to piss me—"

But before he could finish, Asuma cut him off without mercy: "Old man, Big Brother knows Sage Mode!"

Then.

Uchiha Siming arrived: "Rrraah! Sage Mode!"

"Siming, from today you're in the Anbu!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, instantly changing his tune.

"No way!"

"Old man, what are you saying? My Big Brother should at least be a captain, if not a commander!"

Asuma's face was full of indignation.

"A Kage-level expert in the Anbu? What kind of strength does my Big Brother have? What kind of status does my Big Brother hold?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face stiffened.

Wait.

Commander?

Commander is my damn position!

If Uchiha Siming became commander, would he have to hand over the Hokage seat to him too?

"Then captain."

He took another deep breath, staring at Siming's Sage Mode in shock. In his youth, he had also tried to learn Sage Mode, but he had no talent for it. This thing first required talent, second required time.

If you had no talent and just ground away.

At best, you'd end up with a half-baked version like Jiraiya.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face crinkled into a smile: "Siming, I always knew you had the caliber to achieve great things!"

"Third Hokage-sama!"

At his age, still grinning like an old chrysanthemum—Uchiha Siming looked at him with disdain, frowning: "Please address me by my title during work. I am now Anbu Captain."

"Captain Siming."

Hiruzen Sarutobi followed suit without hesitation: "My son is in your hands. If you can teach him Sage Mode, I'll do anything you ask!"

If he learned Sage Mode.

Asuma would become a Kage-level expert, and his Hiruzen Sarutobi bloodline would continue its glory for decades more!

Anything?

Siming frowned. That phrase felt oddly familiar, like he'd heard it somewhere before.

In the past, Siming always thought relying on connections was bad—those people who did were practically unforgivable.

They snatched up all the good job opportunities.

Now Siming understood: it wasn't that they deserved to die, but that he himself wasn't the one with connections. Relying on connections was absolutely amazing—showing up to work never, still drawing a salary for doing nothing!

"Leave the Third Hokage to me, you can rest assured. I'll definitely teach Asuma like he's my own son."

Uchiha Siming waved a hand casually: "Alright, if there's nothing else, I'm off. Just remember to send my Anbu salary on time from now on."

"Sure thing, no problem!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed repeatedly, without the slightest dissatisfaction.

He couldn't help shaking his head. He never expected to have misjudged things. Before, he only thought Siming was an ordinary Jonin, and recruiting him was better than nothing. But now it seemed this was the most profitable deal he'd ever made!

What Uchiha Shisui, what Uchiha Itachi.

No matter how loyal they were, no matter how strong.

Could they compare to having his own son become a Kage-level expert reliable?

"Didn't lift a finger, and someone comes rushing to hand over money. Why wasn't there anything this good in my past life?"

In his past life.

He remembered coding programs with overtime every day, only for the credit to never be his. Instead, his boss got the promotion and raise. Absolutely infuriating!

"Damn it, if I could transmigrate back, I'd have to hit him with a Tsukuyomi and make him work 997 for a hundred years—a hundred years!"

The days of being a beast of burden in his past life were too suffocating.

So much so that even years after transmigrating, Uchiha Siming was filled with resentment whenever he thought about it.

At that moment, passing by the Training Ground, a white-eyed boy in pure white robes was training hard with his fists. Even though he was drenched in sweat, he showed no sign of stopping. Every punch seemed to use all his strength, but his eyes were profoundly gloomy.

It was as if he wasn't punching.

But trying to shatter the shackles on his body!

"Hey, kid, that's useless."

Uchiha Siming smiled and offered a reminder.

"You're too young. Even if you want to train, you have to take it step by step."

"None of your business!"

The white-eyed boy didn't even turn his head. His movements didn't stop at all; instead, they grew heavier, and he viciously smashed the wooden dummy in front of him to pieces!

Quite the temper.

Uchiha Siming raised an eyebrow and said calmly:

"Forcing yourself to train might increase your strength, but it'll also leave hidden injuries. Be careful—you might not even become a Chunin."

White-eyed boy: "······"

He stopped moving, his gaze blank.

Looking at the strange Uchiha who had suddenly appeared before him, he wondered if the other was lying. If he really couldn't become a Chunin, the cost would be too great.

Therefore.

His expression was conflicted and wooden, staring blankly at Uchiha Siming.

"Neji, as a genius, you've already worked very hard. But don't be too hard on yourself. Your future is still long."

Uchiha Siming shrugged.

From Neji's reaction, he felt his image in the boy's eyes probably wasn't great.

But these words seemed to touch a nerve.

"What do you know! What future, what past—none of it means anything to me!"

Hyuga Neji roared in anger, his eyes bloodshot, veins spreading like a spiderweb, as if they had trapped his entire life.

His father was forced to death.

He himself was branded with the Caged Bird Seal, even his life in the hands of the Main Family.

In all of Konoha, only the Hyuga Clan had such a disgusting system!

"Of course I know."

Uchiha Siming said very calmly: "Your parents died. So did mine. They died when I was five."

There were countless lights in the ten thousand homes, but not a single one had ever been his.

"What?"

Hyuga Neji was stunned. He looked at Uchiha Siming with a gaze that grew more complex and sympathetic. Was he... someone equally unfortunate?

A trace of apology appeared on his face: "Sorry, I, I didn't know."

"It's fine."

Uchiha Siming waved his hand dismissively: "Actually, I was lying to you just now too."

"?!"

Hyuga Neji immediately lifted his head, fury in his eyes. How could anyone be so vile, casually toying with someone else's feelings!

"Actually, they died right after I was born. I never even got to see them."

Uchiha Siming grinned: "So, doesn't that make me even more pitiful?"