Sun Slash, You Will Regret This

At the end of the corridor in the Hokage Building, the center of supreme power in Konoha.

The door to the Third Hokage's office was kicked open. The wooden door let out a dull, heavy thud as it slammed against the wall, shaking loose fine dust from the door frame.

Inside the office, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood before the window with his back to the door, a wisp of smoke curling from the pipe in his hand. He did not turn around, as if he had long anticipated this moment.

Shimura Danzō stepped over the threshold, his cane tapping against the wooden floor. His body was wrapped in bandages that extended from his jaw to his right eye, obscuring most of his face.

His exposed left eye was sunken deep into its socket, the pupil a murky, dark brown—like a pool of stagnant water or a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. It held no warmth, no fluctuation, only a heavy, chilling sense of oppression that made one's spine crawl.

His attire was dominated by dark gray and black, the loose robes draping over his gaunt frame like a walking skeleton.

The area where his right arm should have been was tightly concealed by fabric, but judging by the vague outline beneath the bandages, that limb no longer belonged to a normal human.

His entire presence carried a profound, bone-deep gloom.

"Hiruzen, that fool Choza is acting out of his mind—are you doing the same?"

His voice was hoarse and low, like rusted iron dragging across rough stone, dripping with frustration.

"That child might be a spy from another village. Yet you let him enter the village just like that, without imposing any surveillance measures."

"Do you realize the consequences this could have?"

"What if he is a spy?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen finally turned around. There was no anger on his aged face. He glanced at the kicked-open door, then at Danzō standing before the desk, and spoke slowly:

"He is just a small child; what kind of trouble could he possibly cause?"

"Besides, Akimichi Choza has already given me his word."

"He is the head of the Butterfly Clan, and he is staking his entire political career on that guarantee."

"The child has a kind heart. Even if he is from another village, not all outsiders are the same. The boy is still young and can be nurtured by the Will of Fire. The Will of Fire does not reject those who are willing to join Konoha."

"That is what it means for the Will of Fire to be passed down and flourish."

"Those who are not of our kin will always have different intentions."

Danzō snapped, "He has even come into contact with Hyuga Hinata. If he harbors ill intent, do you have any idea how much damage he could cause our village?"

"Enough. Say no more; I have already made my decision regarding this matter."

"Hiruzen, you will regret this."

"Danzō, I am the Hokage."

Akimichi Denji listened as the footsteps faded into the distance and closed the door.

He had gained much today; not only did he understand the intentions of this convenient father figure, but he had also acquired the Akimichi Clan Chakra Refinement Technique.

The good news was that Akimichi Choza truly felt indebted to him, and would try his best to satisfy most of his requests.

This was evident from the generous supply of meat he provided.

The reason he had been placed in a remote part of the clan compound was due to some lingering resistance within the clan.

According to Choza, he would soon be able to move into the heart of the compound to live with him.

But none of that was the most critical point; the most important thing was the Akimichi Clan Chakra Refinement Technique.

Denji looked toward his panel.

After finishing dinner, the panel had changed, but because Akimichi Choza had been by his side the entire time, he hadn't been able to observe it closely.

[Naruto Wish Achievement System]

[Name: Akimichi Denji]

[Wish Fulfilled: I Too May Go]

[Physique: 6]

[Spirit: 20]

[Chakra: 0]

[Ninjutsu: Akimichi Clan Chakra Refinement Technique (Not Yet Initiated)]

[Description: A unique refinement technique of the Akimichi Clan, usable only by those with Akimichi blood. When satiated, chakra refinement speed +30%.]

[Skills: None]

[Energy: 100]

[Wish Points: 1]

The ninjutsu section now included the Akimichi Clan Chakra Refinement Technique—the fruit of tonight's labor.

It was displayed as "Not Yet Initiated," which was to be expected.

By eating three meals a day, he could gain 3 energy points daily.

According to his deductions, this was the system intercepting energy beyond his normal consumption.

That was why he had been eating like a madman.

Today, it had finally reached exactly 100.

He had an inexplicable feeling that this 100 energy was ready to be used.

He tried adding the 100 energy to the newly appeared ninjutsu.

It didn't work.

He then focused his thoughts on the physique column, and suddenly, Denji felt a surge of heat flow into his body, leaving him feeling bloated, as if he were undergoing a Pokémon Mega Evolution.

His height shot up a notch, and he felt his clothes become tight and ill-fitting.

Akimichi Denji fixed his gaze on the screen.

[Physique: 6 -> 7]

It seemed it could only be added to physique, and perhaps spirit.

Denji had a hunch.

Furthermore, his digestion would be a bit faster.

He had a premonition that tomorrow it wouldn't just be +3.

The amount of energy he could absorb each day might increase.

His stomach suddenly growled.

What about Wish Points?

He tried adding the Wish Points to physique and spirit, but there was no reaction.

He moved toward the ninjutsu column, Akimichi Clan Chakra Refinement Technique.

He felt a sudden influx of memories in his mind.

A vast amount of knowledge regarding the [Akimichi Clan Chakra Refinement Technique] flooded his brain, making it feel swollen.

Denji felt as if he had achieved enlightenment.

With a single thought, a wisp of warmth rose from his abdomen.

It was like someone lighting a candle in a dark room.

That wisp of warmth was thin and light, cautiously wandering through his body, starting from his abdomen and flowing slowly toward his limbs along some invisible meridian path.

There was no sound, no light.

But Denji "saw" it.

He raised his hand, and formless energy gathered; it was the hum of 130 trillion cells awakening simultaneously.

That was his, the first wisp of chakra.

Not bad; to be able to gather the first wisp of chakra so quickly, I truly am gifted.

Of course, aside from talent, it was also inseparable from my hard work and sweat.

Looking at the panel, it had already changed.

[Ninjutsu: Akimichi Clan Chakra Refinement Technique (Proficient)]

[Proficient Effect: No hand seals required]

[Wish Points: 0]

Akimichi Denji felt his future was bright. As he daydreamed, his stomach suddenly let out a gurgling sound—he was hungry.

He returned to the kitchen and began to cook.

The next day, at the Ninja Academy, the sun was bright and the autumn day was perfect.

Naruto walked down the street, ignoring the usual insults of "demon fox," and entered the Ninja Academy.

He was very anxious. School had been open for a month, but his progress in chakra refinement was still extremely slow. For some reason, he always felt an abnormal restlessness within his body, making it very difficult to extract chakra.

Others had already succeeded in extraction, but his own progress was poor, and he always felt his chakra reserves were very small.

Fortunately, his taijutsu was still decent. Thinking of his hard training yesterday, Naruto suddenly felt full of confidence.

Though he was still at the bottom of the class.

He noticed the class bell ring, and Iruka brought in a new face.

"Everyone, settle down. This is a new student who has just transferred in. Please, give us a brief introduction."