Farewell, Super Old Lady White Zetsu

Hokage's Office.

The thick smoke in the room gradually dispersed.

"Uchiha Chi..."

The image in the Crystal Ball froze on the Naka River, where only Nohara Rin remained, while Sarutobi Hiruzen had already lowered his head to read the files.

These were materials his subordinate had just gathered according to his instructions, all concerning Uchiha Chi.

Name: Uchiha Chi.

Age: 14.

Reserved and withdrawn by nature, but kind-hearted. He often helped old ladies cross the road in the clan compound.

His ninja talent had been rated below average, but he had passed every assessment well enough. It was clear that he worked hard at training in private.

In last week's Ninja Academy graduation examination, Uchiha Chi had graduated successfully. Yūhi Kurenai, Might Guy, Nohara Rin, and others had graduated in the same class.

Incidentally, Sarutobi Asuma had been among them as well.

Thinking of his youngest son, who secretly smoked and thought no one had noticed, then comparing him to Uchiha Chi in the report, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not help sincerely praising, "He truly is a good child."

Though his talent was ordinary, he worked diligently. Though he was withdrawn, he was kind at heart. Even if his heart had been shattered, he still would not do anything to hurt others.

Such a person's potential might not be high, but precisely because their aptitude was ordinary and they received no attention from their clan, they would crave the recognition of others all the more.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was more than willing to offer them a little care and help. That way, they would feel the warmth of the Will of Fire, then dedicate themselves to the village one after another...

Sarutobi Hiruzen set the files on the desk and turned to the Hokage Assistant beside him with a genial smile.

"Danzo, what do you think?"

"Humph!"

Danzo stepped forward, picked up the files, and gave them a quick scan. Then he snorted coldly and declared, "I don't believe it. This is all an act!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head with a faint smile. "He's barely a teenager. How could he possibly be so calculating?"

From what they had just seen in the Crystal Ball, it was clear that Uchiha Chi matched the report's description—a youth with a delicate and sensitive heart.

Shimura Danzō, however, shook his head firmly.

"That Uchiha Izuna whom Teacher Tobirama often mentioned also became his rival at this age!"

"You need to face reality, Hiruzen. The Uchiha are born evil!"

"..." Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily speechless. He sighed helplessly. "Danzo, you're still too extreme. Not every Uchiha is Uchiha Izuna."

"Enough, Danzo." Seeing that Danzo still wanted to say something, Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand, ending the discussion.

"The Ninja Squads will be assigned in a few days. Whether it's real or fake, we'll be able to reach a conclusion from his performance."

"Do as you please!"

Seeing his recruitment plan fall through, Shimura Danzō gave a cold snort and vanished through the Hidden Door without looking back.

Staring at the pitch-black passage, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a helpless drag from his pipe.

Why had he inherited his teacher's wisdom, while Danzo had inherited only his teacher's prejudice?

After leaving the Naka River, Uchiha Chi did not immediately return to the clan compound.

He actually found an empty spot and used the Onion hidden in his pocket to fake a cry.

When the system gave no further notifications, Uchiha Chi confirmed that the Third Hokage was no longer watching him. Only then did he finally relax.

He wondered whether the audience had enjoyed his added scene.

As he walked toward the clan compound, he opened the system to check the messages he had not had time to read clearly earlier.

[Detected guilt from Nohara Rin!]

[Obtained 20 points, and Defense increased by 4%!]

Uchiha Chi nodded slowly. After putting it into practice, he had more or less figured out the system's rules.

First was the relationship between emotional types and rewards.

It was actually easy to understand. So-called offense and defense as one meant that collecting negative emotions improved his offense, while collecting positive emotions improved his defense.

These buffs were percentage-based increases, which meant they would not become useless as he grew stronger. Instead, they would grow alongside him.

And moreover...

Uchiha Chi shifted his gaze to the next message.

[As the target's emotional fluctuation has exceeded the standard this time, the host has received an additional reward: Medical Ninjutsu Talent (Nohara Rin Version)]

[Medical Ninjutsu Talent (Nohara Rin Version): Your learning efficiency for Medical Ninjutsu increases by 30%]

Although he could tell that Nohara Rin had looked like she was about to fall apart by the end, he truly had not expected such a pleasant surprise.

As long as the target's emotional fluctuations exceeded the standard, he would receive an additional reward!

Uchiha Chi made up his mind. In the future, he would develop his targets as thoroughly as possible and squeeze extra rewards out of them.

After steadying himself, Uchiha Chi continued reading.

[Detected appreciation from Sarutobi Hiruzen!]

[Obtained 15 points, and Defense increased by 3%]

[Detected dissatisfaction from Shimura Danzō!]

[Obtained 10 points, and Damage Increase increased by 2%]

The first one was fine. Uchiha Chi had been very satisfied with his performance, and he believed the Third Hokage had enjoyed the show as well.

But...

What was Shimura Danzō's problem?

Uchiha Chi did not understand. His performance had been so outstanding, so why did Danzo still have a problem with it?

A hater, huh?

Uchiha Chi silently labeled Shimura Danzō, Konoha's Pot Kage, as a black-hearted fan.

Lost in thought as he walked, he returned to the clan compound a few minutes later.

Children played noisily in the park nearby, while the adults watching them sat at the entrance of the general store and chatted.

Guard Members who worked outside the clan compound also returned one after another, blending into the crowd...

"Hm?"

Among the clan members coming and going, Uchiha Chi caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was none other than the old ladies unique to the clan compound, whom he had not seen lately.

Uchiha Chi's eyes shifted. During the time he had been trying to trigger the system, he had done nothing every day besides eat, sleep, and go out to help old ladies cross the road.

Yet after he had helped them for a while, those old ladies had vanished. It was as if they were deliberately avoiding him—no matter how he searched, he could not find them.

At first, he had thought he was overthinking it. But this time, the moment he returned, he ran into an old lady. It felt as though she had only appeared because he had been away...

Uchiha Chi roughly guessed who this was.

The tool Uchiha Madara had sent out to monitor the Ninja World—White Zetsu.

Looking at the White Zetsu Avatar before him, hunched over as it walked yet not even slightly out of breath, Uchiha Chi's expression gradually turned strange.

He had been helping people for so long without triggering any rewards. It turned out it was not because of anything else—the old ladies were not human at all...

Though his actions had indeed interfered with the White Zetsus' mission to monitor the clan compound, so from that perspective, the White Zetsus truly had no reason to feel grateful to him...

At the same time, sensing someone's gaze lingering on it, the hunched White Zetsu slightly turned its head to look over.

Uchiha Chi expressionlessly said, "..."

White Zetsu was equally expressionless. "..."

One human and one Zetsu stared at each other across the crowd in silence for a long time.

Until, at a certain moment—

[Detected irritation from White Zetsu!]

[Obtained 15 points, and Damage Increase increased by 3%!]

Uchiha Chi flashed a bright, sunny smile and jogged toward White Zetsu.

Seeing this, White Zetsu immediately dropped the act and bolted!