Fate's Choice II

After wolfing down the rice balls he had brought, Byakuya finally felt his body recover.

He rested until the sun dipped below the horizon before organizing his ninja tools to head home.

Overexerting one's chakra requires the utmost caution.

In the original story, Uzumaki Naruto learned wind-natured chakra by using the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique; for anyone else, that would be pure suicide.

After cooking a meal of Guobaorou and eating his fill, Byakuya didn't want to do anything else and collapsed onto his bed.

He wondered if "Fate Choice II" would appear once the Fate Grid tasks refreshed after midnight.

Thinking of this, he drifted off to sleep.

He slept soundly.

He opened his eyes before the alarm went off.

He hurriedly pulled up his Fate Grid Panel.

Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success
Time Limit 4 Days: 100-meter sprints (0/50)
Reward: Slight increase in speed

Fate Choice II: Establish a foothold in the Anbu Training Department (Time Limit 30 days)
Reward: Significant increase in chakra quality

A significant increase in the quality of his chakra?!

Does that mean that for the same amount of chakra consumed, his ninjutsu would be more powerful due to the higher quality?

Byakuya pondered, but he couldn't recall any explanation regarding chakra quality from the original story.

Still, it was definitely a good thing.

After all, the reward for the last Fate Choice was the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai.

"Finally waited for you, glad I didn't give up, happiness is so hard to come by, which makes one cherish it all the more~~"

He hummed a tune.

Breakfast was a Tomato and Egg Rice Bowl and a glass of hot milk.

To Byakuya, the food of the ninja world couldn't be called delicious; only these authentic dishes gave him a sense of home when he ate them.

As he finished and prepared for work, Byakuya realized: "What happiness? The missions of Root are so dangerous; one slip-up and it's game over."

Root, also known as the Anbu Training Department, made Fate Choice II perfectly suited to his current situation.

He opened the three heavy doors of the warehouse.

After a boost to his physical strength and another to his vitality, Byakuya felt exceptionally energetic.

He completed ten 100-meter sprints, then filled out the forms as required when a teacher requested ninja tools.

"Your name is Senkaku Byakuya?"

"A pleasure."

They shook hands.

"The previous warehouse keeper was hard of hearing. Whenever I came to request tools for teaching, he'd always shout for ages, wasting time. The Ninja Academy should have replaced him long ago."

"The old staff member was cautious; I am too young and perhaps a bit reckless."

"Haha... Byakuya, you're too modest. Right, there's going to be a Ninja Academy teacher gathering another day, will you come?"

"I'll pass. I'm just a warehouse keeper, not a teacher at the academy. Sorry, I must decline your kind offer."

"No worries, no worries. See, you're too modest. Let's get acquainted, my name is Sarutobi Eiji, and the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is my uncle."

"So you are the esteemed nephew of the Hokage! A pleasure!"

"Nothing else, I'm off to teach."

"Take care."

After seeing off this teacher from the Sarutobi Clan, Byakuya did another ten 100-meter sprints; only the open space in front of the warehouse was long enough for him to dash.

He didn't feel tired in the slightest.

Just as he intended to finish the time-limited Fate task in one go, an unexpected person arrived.

Yuhi Kurenai.

"Student Senkaku Byakuya, so you're working at the Ninja Academy."

"Hello, student Yuhi Kurenai."

"This is the document for the ninja tool request, signed by Vice Principal Hiroya."

He took the document and examined it carefully.

The listed items were all tools that could be used in combat: kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, space-time scrolls, and so on.

The registration of the ninja tool inventory in the warehouse was finally complete.

Byakuya quickly selected the tools Yuhi Kurenai needed and handed them over.

"Was classmate Byakuya sprinting just now?"

"Mm, nothing better to do, just getting some exercise."

Yuhi Kurenai was quite beautiful; even though she hadn't fully matured, one could already see the air of a cool, older sister about her.

"Konoha is in the midst of a great war. Is classmate Byakuya really content to waste his time here?" She counted the tools, confirmed they were correct, and asked.

Her words were quite blunt.

Byakuya smiled politely: "To tell you the truth, my talent is meager. If not for the village's new policy, I might not have even passed the Ninja Academy graduation exam. Being a warehouse manager at the academy now is already a great stroke of luck for me."

Seeing Yuhi Kurenai about to speak again, he continued: "Besides, whether you are killing enemies on the battlefield or I am managing the warehouse at the academy, we are both contributing to Konoha."

Although she felt that what Byakuya said wasn't quite right, the young Yuhi Kurenai couldn't find an angle to refute him, so she simply packed up the tools and took her leave.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

Beyond a minor increase in speed, he also gained a minor increase in perception and a minor increase in reaction time.

Izumi Orange sought him out once, but Byakuya gave her no face, demanding to know if she was trying to harm him. Izumi Orange could only deny it repeatedly, eventually claiming that only she could save him, but Byakuya ignored her entirely and focused on his training.

Even when Izumi Orange tried to flirt and pose during their conversation, it was a pity that Byakuya possessed a "mature" soul and had already experienced enough of such things; he ignored her completely, leaving Izumi Orange to wonder if she lacked charm...

It was also during this period that he perfected Storm Release: Torrential Lightning Flash, becoming increasingly proficient in this ninjutsu developed from Water Release: Water Wave.

As for the Lightning Release: Earth Flash technique, Byakuya could currently only use it in conjunction with Water Release: Water Wave. He would use the water wave first, then unleash the lightning, allowing the water to rapidly conduct the electricity. The only drawback was that it was easy to accidentally injure himself.

Compared to his Storm Release ninjutsu, the difference was like heaven and earth.

He had also learned the Summoning Technique. Without a contract with a summoning beast, he could only use the Space-Time Scroll in the warehouse to store his ninja tools, which would make executing future Root missions much more convenient.

As the countdown for the second Fate Choice ticked away day by day, Byakuya knew in his heart that completing this choice would require him to successfully execute his next Root mission.

The sun was bright today.

Hiroya dared not delay, waiting for Byakuya to arrive for his shift at the warehouse ahead of time.

When he saw the vice-principal squatting in front of the warehouse door counting ants, he asked in surprise: "Principal, what are you doing..."

"Byakuya, come with me."

Hearing the serious tone in his voice, Byakuya knew a new mission had arrived.

They reached Hiroya's office, and he closed the door tightly.

"How is the training for the new ninjutsu coming along?" he asked, seemingly concerned.

Byakuya shook his head: "My aptitude is mediocre; I haven't found a lead yet."

"Oh, that's alright. You are still young, and the future holds infinite possibilities. You will learn it sooner or later. Have you memorized Tobirama's Water Formation Wall?"

"This subordinate has memorized it."

"Return the ninjutsu scroll then; I have to hand it back to the higher-ups."

"Yes."

Byakuya had been carrying such a precious ninjutsu with him; he placed it on the desk, and Hiroya carefully put it away.

"Senkaku Byakuya, this is your second mission as an external operative for the Anbu Training Department." Hiroya solemnly handed him the mission scroll.

"Principal, when do you need me to execute it?"

"From the moment you receive this mission."

"I understand."

"Byakuya..."

"Yes?"

"Take care."

He bowed and said: "Thank you for your concern, Principal."

"Mm, I won't keep you for any more chatting."

"This subordinate takes his leave."

Back at the warehouse, he opened the mission scroll.

Among the Konoha ninjas stationed in the Land of Rivers, there was a spy from Sunagakure in the Land of Wind. Byakuya's mission was to kill the Sunagakure spy named Sanshan Xun without alerting anyone.