Obtaining Shikotsumyaku

"What happened?"

Just then, the Ninja Academy's Chunin instructor walked over. Seeing the crowd gathered there, he hurried forward to ask what was going on.

"Nothing. We were just stretching our legs here."

When Senju Fujima saw a Chunin approaching, he quickly replied with a smile.

"Lord Fujima."

The Chunin recognized Senju Fujima and hurried over to bow.

"Mm. It's all fine now. Everyone, move along!"

Senju Fujima nodded, then led Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others away.

"Everyone, gather up front. Lord Hokage is coming to give a speech shortly."

The Chunin instructor didn't ask any more questions. Since Senju Fujima had said everything was fine, and the opening ceremony was about to begin, he simply called for the students to gather out front.

The opening ceremony officially began. First, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju gave speeches about the Will of Fire and Konoha's legacy. Then they went on with the usual long speeches, much like any other.

The opening ceremony lasted for over an hour before it finally ended. Everyone was assigned to a class, and lessons would officially begin the next day.

The plan was for all ninja to attend school for no more than six years. Starting from the day they entered the Ninja Academy, they had to pass the Genin exam within six years. Anyone who failed would never again be eligible to become a ninja.

Most students were sent to the Academy at age six. If they still couldn't become Genin by twelve, they were practically useless.

It wasn't wartime now. If it had been, that would've been a different matter. Some might have been sent straight into battle not long after starting school, as long as they knew how to throw a Kunai...!

Early the next morning, Senju Fujima woke up and headed straight to the Ninja Academy.

"Fujima."

Just then, a little girl with long purple hair walked over. She wore a black sleeveless shirt with the Uchiha Clan crest printed on the back. When she saw Senju Fujima, she hurriedly greeted him.

"Hmm?"

Hearing a girl call out to him, Senju Fujima immediately turned around. He saw a young Uchiha girl walking toward him shyly.

"Shizuka, what a coincidence."

Senju Fujima smiled faintly at the girl approaching him.

The girl was his fiancée, Shizuka Uchiha. She was ten years old that year, about the same age as him. She was the daughter of Satoshi Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan's Third Elder, so she had a respectable status.

"Mm, Fujima. This, this is the breakfast I made for you."

Shizuka Uchiha was a gentle, shy girl. She took the lunch box she'd been hiding behind her back and offered it to Senju Fujima, her face flushed.

Strangely enough, the men of the Uchiha Clan were all terribly proud and arrogant, but the girls were gentler than the last.

They were gentle and virtuous, and no one knew why the difference between the two was so extreme.

Take Uchiha Sasuke's mother, Mikoto Uchiha, and Itachi Uchiha's love interest, Izumi Uchiha. They were both sweet, gentle women—truly rare treasures as wives.

"Thank you! Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

Senju Fujima didn't refuse. It was a loving breakfast from his future wife, after all. He accepted it and smiled gently at her.

"No, not yet!"

"I, I made an extra portion, too."

Senju Fujima's gaze and gentle smile left Shizuka a little breathless. Her face grew redder and redder as she lowered her head and spoke more and more softly.

"Then let's eat together! Hehe!"

Seeing how shy Shizuka was, Senju Fujima chuckled to himself. He took her hand, and in an instant, they disappeared from where they stood.

"Hmm?"

When Shizuka came back to her senses, she realized that she and Senju Fujima were in the forest of Konoha. They'd just been in the village, but now they were in the forest. A hint of pride flashed in her eyes.

"Fujima, your hand... You're, you're squeezing it too hard."

Feeling a faint pain, Shizuka looked at Senju Fujima, her face red, and stammered.

"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

Senju Fujima had used too much force and might have hurt his little fiancée. He quickly let go and looked at her apologetically.

"It's, it's okay."

Shizuka didn't mind. She lowered her head, unsure what to do, and stood there frozen for a moment.

"Come on, let's sit down and eat breakfast. I have to try my wife's cooking and see how it tastes. Hehe!"

Seeing how shy Shizuka was, Senju Fujima felt delighted. She reminded him of Hinata Hyuga's adorable shyness, and he couldn't help but adore her. He took her hand and sat down with her.

"Fujima, Fujima called me his wife. I, I...!"

Hearing Senju Fujima say that, Shizuka's face grew even redder. She lowered her head and lightly touched the tips of her index fingers together, murmuring to herself, both embarrassed and happy.

"Wow, this lunch box is beautiful! And this... these rice balls? Isn't this one supposed to look like me?"

Senju Fujima opened the lunch box and saw all kinds of sushi and rice balls inside. There were even two special rice balls that looked just like him. He blinked in surprise.

"Let's eat."

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"Ga bu...!"

Senju Fujima picked up the rice ball shaped like himself and took a bite.

"Hmm?"

"It's delicious."

He took another bite. The rice ball was special, and it tasted wonderful. Shizuka must have gotten up very early to make it. She really had gone to a lot of trouble.

"Shizuka, you'll definitely make a wonderful wife someday."

After taking a bite of the rice ball, Senju Fujima smiled with narrowed eyes and turned to Shizuka.

"Hmm?"

"W-wife...!"

Shizuka turned her face away shyly. Her cheeks were so red they looked like ripe apples. It made him want to take a bite.

"Fujima, I'm, I'm glad you like it."

Shizuka lowered her head and spoke bashfully.

"Hehe! Come on, let's eat together. We still have to go to school afterward!"

Senju Fujima grinned at the bashful Shizuka and handed her a rice ball.

"Mm."

Shizuka gazed blankly at Senju Fujima as she reached out to take it, her eyes full of affection.

Everyone dreamed of marrying a strong hero, and Senju Fujima was both strong and heroic. To Shizuka, that alone made her incredibly lucky and happy.

"Ding! The host's happiness level has reached its limit. God Selection System activated. Choices are now available."

[Option One: Everyone loves beauty. Go kiss Shizuka Uchiha and take her first kiss. Mission reward: Charm -1.]

[Option Two: Tell Shizuka Uchiha, "I'm sorry, I don't love you. I don't want to marry you." Mission reward: Shikotsumyaku.]

[Option Three: Spend the day playing with Shizuka Uchiha. Skip school and enjoy some time alone together. Mission reward: A beating from Hashirama Senju, plus one ice cream (ice-cold to the heart, soaring spirits, here's a song of sorrow for you).]

Out of nowhere, the system appeared again. The choices on the screen before Senju Fujima left him speechless.

"System, you think you can tempt me with Shikotsumyaku and make me say that?"

"You're underestimating me!"

"If I said that, how heartbroken would Shizuka be?"

"Is Charm even useful? I'm so handsome, do I need to worry about finding a wife? Wait, my wife's right here in front of me. Why would I care if my Charm goes down by one?"

"And let me say this again: I'm not a masochist. I refuse to choose option three. Keep that ice cream for yourself and enjoy the brain freeze!"

Senju Fujima stared at the choices on the screen, frowning. This system was damn ridiculous. Every time, it dug a pit and waited for him to fall into it.

He absolutely couldn't take the bait. If he did, he'd fall deeper and deeper into the system's trap.

"Shizuka."

"There's something I want to tell you."

Suddenly, Senju Fujima turned toward Shizuka and smiled faintly.

"Fujima, what, what is it?"

Hearing him, Shizuka shyly turned toward him and asked.

"I'm sorry, I don't love you. I don't want to marry you."

Senju Fujima looked at Shizuka as he said it, as if he meant every word.

System: "That backfired fast. Tch."

"Ding! The host has successfully made a choice and completed the mission. Reward: Shikotsumyaku."

"Ding! Shikotsumyaku transplant successful. Congratulations, host. Your despicable face has leveled up."

As soon as Senju Fujima said those words, the system counted his choice as valid and immediately issued the reward. All the abilities of Shikotsumyaku and how to use them appeared in his mind.

"What?"

When Shizuka heard Senju Fujima's words, she froze. Tears immediately streamed down her face. It was as if he could hear her heart shattering into pieces.

"Fujima doesn't like me. He doesn't want to marry me. He doesn't want me to be his wife?"

"What am I supposed to do? Waaaah...!"

It was almost impossible to accept. Shizuka had never expected her fiancé to say something like that to her. She felt humiliated, and she wanted to die.

"Silly girl, I was joking."

"Our Shizuka is so adorable. How could I not like you?"

"And you'll definitely make a wonderful wife someday. I like you so much—how could I not want to marry you?"

Seeing Shizuka like this, Senju Fujima felt terribly guilty. He pulled her into his arms and spoke tenderly, his heart aching for her.

He also blamed himself. Why had he gone and made himself eat his words so quickly? He'd hurt such an adorable girl. It really wasn't worth it.