Immortal Arts

The two walked at a leisurely pace to the barbecue restaurant. With most of the ninjas from Konoha away at the front lines, the restaurant's business was desolate, lacking its primary customer base.

During the meal, Izumi Orange seemed to have something else on her mind, but when the words reached her lips, they turned into brainwashing Byakuya to remain loyal to Hiroya.

"Student Byakuya, it's getting late. Oh, that's right, I've already settled the bill."

Izumi Orange, who had used the excuse of going to the restroom to pay, smiled warmly. "I know what you want to say, but it was indeed you who invited me, and I paid—it's only reasonable. When your salary comes in, it will be your turn to pay."

Byakuya offered an apologetic smile and exchanged a few polite pleasantries before the two walked home under the moonlight.

It seems Teacher Izumi Orange is also a person with secrets. I wonder what she really wanted to tell me.

After his sensory perception had improved, how could he fail to notice the anomaly in the depths of her eyes?

However, his top priority remained strengthening his own power.

With the Third Shinobi World War currently raging, the world outside the village was engulfed in flames, while the village itself was rife with deceit. Without strength, he would only be reduced to a pawn discarded at will by the big players.

The way of the survivor is infinitely profound; one must not stand out like a tree in a forest, nor should one become a fish waiting to be slaughtered on a chopping block. By showing just enough value to be slightly better than a dead-last, one could secure enough space to maneuver freely.

Just as Hiroya had said, time flies like a white horse passing a crack. Seven days—a week—slipped away like sand through his fingers. When Byakuya stood before Hiroya's office door, he realized with hindsight that he had become much stronger than he was seven days ago.

His body was indeed that of a youth, but his soul was mature. He could restrain his youthful, mischievous nature and endure the loneliness of cultivation, study, and even the tedious development of new ninjutsu.

In a sense, Byakuya was also a genius.

Moreover, completing the time-limited tasks issued by his Fate Grid felt like constantly accumulating experience points. Now, he was only one step away from crossing the threshold into a new realm.

The threshold blocking his path was—actual combat experience.

The way of the survivor without combat experience is like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water; it shatters at a single touch. Yet, he had to remain steady and calculated, step by step, without seeking his own death.

"Byakuya, please, come in."

"Pardon the intrusion, Principal."

Hiroya sized up Byakuya, who seemed to have grown taller, and asked, "How is your ninjutsu training coming along?"

"I have not failed your expectations, Principal. I have made some progress."

"Good. Demonstrate the Shadow Clone Technique."

Byakuya pressed his index and middle fingers together, crossing his hands into a cross sign.

"Shadow Clone Technique."

Suddenly, a shadow clone identical to his original body appeared beside him.

Hiroya observed for a long moment before bursting into sudden, hearty laughter. "This technique creates a physical clone by evenly distributing chakra. It's not difficult to say it's hard, but it's not simple to say it's easy either. Senkaku Byakuya, you haven't disappointed me. It seems I need to re-evaluate you."

"It is all for the Principal's mission."

"Mm, I am very happy you think that way. Since you have mastered the Shadow Clone Technique, the other two ninjutsu should be no problem. I can safely entrust you with a mission as an external operative for Root."

Hiroya patted his shoulder, turned around, and handed him a mission scroll from his drawer.

"No weighted running today?"

"I stopped yesterday to recover my strength and recharge."

Weighted running was a time-limited task issued by the Fate Grid—

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, the Persistent Shall Succeed
Time Limit 6 days: Run 100 kilometers with 30kg of weight (100/100)
Reward: Stamina Increase]

It had nearly run him to death!

The "Stamina Increase" reward had been exceptionally effective. He had gone to the forest early to perceive natural energy and practiced the newly developed Storm Release ninjutsu; right now, he felt absolutely no fatigue!

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, the Persistent Shall Succeed
Time Limit 4 days: Perceive natural energy (Incomplete)
Reward: Minor increase in Senjutsu talent]

In truth, at this current stage, he would have preferred an increase in ninjutsu talent over Senjutsu talent, but unfortunately, the tasks issued by the Fate Grid seemed random.

"Mm, seeing your hard work, I am genuinely happy for your parents."

That old silver-tongued hypocrite, honey-mouthed but sword-hearted.

Byakuya cursed inwardly.

"Principal, if there are no other instructions, I will prepare to execute the mission."

"Don't be in such a hurry. This is your pass; without it, you cannot leave Konoha. Although this mission has no time limit, I hope you can complete it as soon as possible."

"Yes."

Just as he was about to leave the office.

Hiroya suddenly called out, "You may use any of the ninja tools in the academy warehouse for this mission."

The old hypocrite has a conscience after all.

Byakuya bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Principal."

"Go."

On his way back to the warehouse, he noticed that a portion of the Ninja Academy students were missing, presumably having left after completing their graduation exams.

He closed the heavy doors.

He switched on the warehouse lights.

Byakuya furrowed his brows as he looked at the Root mission scroll.

A group of rogue ninjas had attacked a Ninja Tool Research Branch of Konoha, and Byakuya was tasked with locating and eliminating them.

The location of that Ninja Tool Research Branch was sixty-five miles southwest of Konoha.

"The intelligence is too sparse; I have no idea what the strength of these rogue ninjas is."

Rogue ninjas did not belong to any ninja village; they wandered between nations, stealing ninjutsu, though they often learned only superficial versions that were hardly presentable.

"Why would rogue ninjas attack a Konoha Ninja Tool Research Branch? Was someone pulling their strings, or were ninjas from other hidden villages disguised as rogues, carrying out sabotage behind Konoha's lines?"

He truly had not expected his first Root mission to be so thorny. If they were truly just rogue ninjas, it would be manageable, but if not, things would be troublesome.

Byakuya rolled up the scroll and selected a ninja sword from the warehouse that suited him. The hilt of this sword concealed an explosive tag; when engaged in combat, pressing a switch would cause the tag to be driven into the enemy's body by a fine needle, detonating upon impact.

The sword was merely a facade; the explosive mechanism in the hilt was the real main course.

He did not know why such a dangerous ninja tool existed in the Ninja Academy warehouse, but since it was right under his nose, he would gladly accept it.

He packed enough kunai, shuriken, and military rations, strapped the ninja sword to his back, donned a black trench coat to conceal his weapons, and put on the Shuten-dōji Mask his father had bought him at a fireworks festival years ago. He scaled the wall to leave the Ninja Academy and took a side path toward the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Konoha was situated in a basin, with a spherical barrier of surveillance overhead. Unauthorized entry or exit would be immediately detected by the Barrier Squad. Furthermore, ninjas patrolled the perimeter daily and were required to submit regular reports.

The pass Hiroya had given him was his authorization to enter and exit Konoha.

Looking at this permit through the eye sockets of the Shuten-dōji Mask, he noted it originated from the Anbu, yet contained no information regarding his own identity. This showed just how overbearing the "Root," led by Shimura Danzō, truly was; it was no wonder that even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was unaware of some of the missions they carried out.

After exiting the gates of Konoha, he headed southwest, taking the opportunity to perceive natural energy.

Natural energy was dangerous. Fortunately, the limited-time mission issued by his Fate Grid was only to perceive it, not to absorb it. Even so, merely perceiving it was already incredibly difficult, and Byakuya still had no clue how to begin.

"Lord Danzō, this is the latest intelligence regarding that group of rogue ninjas."

Shimura Danzō took the file and sneered, "The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, always loves playing these little games. So, they are bounty hunters hired through the Underground Exchange? Tatsuma..."

"Lord Danzō."

"Go to the Underground Exchange and hire ninjas to carry out sabotage behind the lines in the Land of Earth. Then, issue a bounty: three million ryō for Higashi Shinin of Iwagakure."

"As you command."

"These bounty hunters are not to be underestimated; we must take them seriously. Has the mission been issued?"

Aburame Tatsuma, of the Aburame Clan, replied immediately, "It has been issued to Hiroya."

"The irregulars under Hiroya's charge are all incompetent; they will only be throwing their lives away if they go. Send someone else to kill them."

"Yes!"

Shimura Danzō was not in the underground base; he stood before a window, gazing at the Hokage Rock. "Four chunin-level ninjas with rich combat experience—we cannot be careless."