Mei

Seeing Shiraishi Yoshijo's surprise, Hiruzen smiled.

"Sakumo is one of the strongest people in Anbu, and he's absolutely trustworthy."

Konoha's White Fang as captain

Shiraishi Yoshijo could feel Hiruzen's sincerity.

"All right, I agree to join Anbu. It's just that my strength..."

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He'd spent the last two years focused on developing Medical Ninjutsu. Aside from his Chakra reserves, he hadn't made much progress in any other area.

With his current strength, joining a squad led by such an elite captain might well turn him into cannon fodder.

The stronger the captain, the more difficult the missions they'd be assigned.

If anything, he'd rather have a weaker captain who wouldn't end up taking them on some impossibly difficult mission.

"Don't worry. I'll personally assign your squad's missions. There won't be any unexpected trouble."

"Besides, you know Medical Ninjutsu. Even if you don't contribute much in a fight, you can still keep the others alive. That's enough."

Shiraishi Yoshijo frowned. Was Hiruzen asking Hatake Sakumo to babysit him?

Hmm.

Being looked down on was unpleasant, but this kind of special treatment...

Hmm. In a word, it felt great.

He really was just a freeloader relying on his clan.

Hiruzen's goal was to win him over and maintain Konoha's balance through him.

At least, that would be the case in the short term.

Once he grew stronger, perhaps Hiruzen would give him more authority, allowing the ninja clans behind him to benefit as well.

As long as he remained loyal to Hiruzen, the Third Hokage would never be stingy with power.

"As for the squad members, I'll give you a place so you can choose someone yourself."

"No need. I'll leave everything to Lord Hokage."

Shiraishi Yoshijo didn't have anyone he could trust without reservation.

He could trust the Takemoto Family. They might even risk their lives to protect him.

But he didn't want to become too entangled with the Takemoto Clan.

After all, favors were the hardest debts to repay. If it came to that, he might not even be able to bring himself to refuse.

Besides, Hiruzen was showing him so much sincerity. If he insisted on choosing someone, he'd just be inviting ridicule.

"I understand. Then report to Anbu in two days."

"As for the hospital, I'll explain the situation to Kaori and reserve you a place on the Medical Team. When you don't have a mission, I hope you'll spend more time there as well."

This outcome clearly satisfied Hiruzen.

Shiraishi Yoshijo was pleased too. He knew he didn't possess the Will of Fire, much less any real loyalty to Hiruzen.

He needed time to grow, and having Konoha's White Fang as his babysitter was practically ideal.

Besides, Anbu was sure to have plenty of Ninjutsu scrolls, and Sealing Techniques as well.

As long as he earned merit, learning those things would be easy.

He was already treating Konoha as a source of nourishment, absorbing everything he could, much like the Butterfly Seed inside him.

He didn't know what the future held, but he would forge his own path.

Hiruzen left.

Hatake Sakumo stayed behind. He removed his mask, revealing his face, and held out his hand to Shiraishi Yoshijo.

"I'm Hatake Sakumo. We'll be teammates from now on. I look forward to working with you."

Shiraishi Yoshijo shook his hand. "I'm Shiraishi Yoshijo. I'll be in your care, Captain."

After Hatake Sakumo left as well, Shiraishi Yoshijo began thinking about what role he should maintain in Anbu.

Because of the malice hidden in his heart, he didn't want to reveal too much about himself.

His Lightning-Water nature, Medical Ninjutsu, Secret Techniques, and Lightning Body Flicker were already known.

He would surely develop other Ninjutsu in the future, but there was no need to show those to anyone.

With that in mind, he decided to visit Butterfly Habitat Valley and raise several more kinds of special Summoning Butterflies.

From now on, he would present himself as a medical ninja who used Secret Techniques. Raising a few more special Summoning Butterflies would help round out that image.

When he arrived at Butterfly Habitat Valley, Lady Mei sat in the main hall, smiling as she watched him.

Shiraishi Yoshijo was at a loss. It wasn't the first time he'd met this woman.

But it was the first time she'd waited for him.

He had no idea how strong she was. In fact, he couldn't see through her at all.

Still, he remembered Shiraishi Eizawa's warning and treated her with respect.

"Lady Mei, I came this time because I'd like to raise a few more kinds of Summoning Butterflies."

"Little one, tell me which ones you want to raise."

"Explosion Butterflies, Spirit-Peering Butterflies, and Seven-Colored Butterflies."

Mei nodded, then took out three lists of materials and handed them to him.

"These are the materials needed to raise those three kinds of Summoning Butterflies. Bring them to me, and I can help you raise them."

Shiraishi Yoshijo looked at the long lists of materials and felt a headache coming on. He began to worry about his wallet.

You didn't know how expensive a household was to run until you managed one. Shiraishi Eizawa hadn't let him raise these three kinds of Summoning Butterflies last time.

If he wanted to raise them now, he'd probably have to spend at least half his fortune.

"I understand."

Shiraishi Yoshijo turned to leave.

"Little one, wait. There's something I'd like you to help me with."

Shiraishi Yoshijo turned around and pointed at himself. "Help you?"

"Mm."

Shiraishi Yoshijo fell silent. He wanted to refuse, but he had a feeling that if he did, something bad might happen.

"What would you like me to do, Lady Mei?"

"I can't tell you yet. You're too weak."

Shiraishi Yoshijo breathed a sigh of relief. If it wasn't happening now, it would be easy to deal with. As for being too weak, he pretended not to hear it.

After all, it was true.

"I understand. Once I grow stronger, I'll definitely help you, Lady Mei."

Shiraishi Yoshijo started to leave again, but Mei suddenly appeared in front of him.

He looked back at the bed, now empty, and fell into thought.

What kind of speed was that? He hadn't heard even a whisper of wind, and he had no idea how she'd appeared in front of him.

"Don't rush off. You don't need to look so surprised, either. That was spatial movement. If you want to learn it, I can teach you."

Shiraishi Yoshijo raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"With your current strength, it'll probably take you more than two hundred years to learn."

Shiraishi Yoshijo: "..."

In two hundred years, his bones would have turned to dust.

"Lady Mei, why not just get to the point? I won't refuse if there's anything I can help with."

Mei watched him with a bright smile, saying nothing.

Shiraishi Yoshijo's forehead began to bead with sweat. That strange feeling from their first meeting had returned.

Unfortunately, Shiraishi Eizawa wasn't there to stand in front of him this time.

Mei watched him like that for five minutes.

Suddenly, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You really are special. Can you tell me how you came to have the ability to foresee the future?"

"Foresee the future?" Shiraishi Yoshijo swallowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

This woman was definitely suspicious!

And she definitely wasn't human!

Shiraishi Yoshijo didn't know what kind of ability this was. She'd only had to look at him to see that something was off.

Mind reading?

Probably not. If that were the case, she should have discovered that he came from another world.

Besides, she'd said "foresee the future." To some extent, he did have the ability to foresee the future, but how the hell had she figured that out?

"Don't be afraid. You're the only one who can come here right now. I won't hurt you."

Yeah, right!

"Everyone has secrets. You see, I didn't tell you what I wanted you to help me with, either. I won't pry into your secrets."

"I just think you should trust me a little more. Perhaps you could rely on me the way you rely on your uncle."

"I'd never let you down."

After Mei finished speaking, she was back on the bed. Shiraishi Yoshijo turned to look at her, lost in thought.

Just the way she moved was enough to make him despair. The Flying Thunder God Technique was child's play compared to her.

How strong would he have to become to help someone like her? Kage Level?

No. At least as strong as Uchiha Madara, right?

"Little one, you don't actually think that just saying you'll get stronger will make me believe you're going to, do you?"

"What do you mean, Lady Mei?"

"You should raise a few more Butterfly Seeds. How about starting with all five chakra natures?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo dug at his ear. "What did Lady Mei just say?"

"I never repeat myself."

Mei appeared behind him in an instant, her voice gentle. "The more Butterfly Seeds you raise, the better your Chakra control becomes. And once they mature, they'll give you even more Chakra in return."

"It's the best shortcut to getting stronger. In at most ten years, that Hokage of yours won't stand a chance against you."

Shiraishi Yoshijo's face darkened instantly.

Of course he knew that raising more Butterfly Seeds would make him stronger faster.

But he also knew that the more Butterfly Seeds he raised, the sooner he would die.

Raising one Butterfly Seed had already cost him more than ten years of his lifespan. If he raised several more, he might not live to see twenty.

"Don't joke around, Lady Mei. You know the drawback of Butterfly Seeds—they consume lifespan. Are you trying to kill me?"

"And I don't have enough Chakra to raise a second one right now, let alone all five chakra natures."

Shiraishi Yoshijo's words were cold as a thousand-year-old glacier. He never imagined that his trip to Butterfly Habitat Valley would turn out like this.

Mei suddenly reached out to him. Shiraishi Yoshijo tensed and hurriedly stepped back.

But he'd taken only one step when her hand was already against his chest.

A green light began to glow.

An unprecedented sense of comfort spread through his entire body.