Hokage: You Call This Guy the Savior?!

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the following rewards:"

"15 Magic Modification Points, Simple Ninja Tool Pack, Explosive Tag *10, Kunai *3, Shuriken *100, Military Ration Pill *100, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu (Entry Level), Spirit: Sure-Hit (Remaining uses: 3), [Uzumaki Clan Bloodline] (5% Purity)."

Keiichi leaned back in a tactical retreat; this is what you call a hardcore mobile gamer!

Profit!

A massive profit!

Not to mention that spending 10 Magic Modification Points to redeem 15 points—effectively getting 5 points for free—was a steal, he also gained a massive amount of ninja tools.

Don't look down on these tools just because they are the most common, low-tier variety; for civilian ninjas who can only rely on D-rank missions to make a living, these are still high-end consumer goods. For the cash-strapped Keiichi, this was nothing short of a huge fortune!

How could a civilian ninja like us ever afford something as luxurious as an Explosive Tag!

Not to mention, the gift pack even included a bloodline with 5% purity, which was equivalent to a net gain of 50 Magic Modification Points!

Although the Uzumaki bloodline isn't considered particularly strong—it doesn't even have a Kekkei Genkai—the moment Keiichi activated it, he immediately noticed a change in his attribute panel.

The [Spirit] stat jumped directly from 3 to 4!

Sure enough, a surge of inexhaustible power welled up within him, leaving him so energetic that he felt like running ten laps outside.

No wonder Naruto always seemed like he had ADHD; it turns out the bloodline was the culprit all along.

The Uzumaki bloodline truly lives up to its reputation; its impact on physical stamina is incredibly obvious. Since chakra is essentially a mixture of physical and spiritual energy, his chakra reserves also saw a significant increase—and keep in mind, this was only at 5% activation!

The only thing in the pack he didn't quite understand was this [Spirit: Sure-Hit].

However, the system quickly provided a thoughtful explanation: once this spirit is used, the next ninjutsu cast will hit the target with 100% accuracy, ignoring any evasion skills.

Good grief, no wonder it came bundled with the Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!

Anyone who has been a ninja in their past life knows that the Fireball Jutsu has everything going for it: high power, low consumption, and ease of use. Its only drawback is that its hit rate is terrifyingly low, often serving only as a distraction.

I've never seen a Fireball Jutsu actually kill anyone.

But if you activate [Spirit: Sure-Hit] before casting a Fireball, then things get really interesting.

He also discovered that such an overpowered item wasn't even available in the Exchange Shop; it seemed to be exclusive to gift packs, so he would have to use it sparingly.

After obtaining the 15 Magic Modification Points, Keiichi didn't hesitate to dump them into the [Land of Waves Arc Limited Pack]; he no longer had any doubts about the cost-effectiveness of the packs.

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the following rewards:"

"Obtained C-rank mission [Protect Tazuna]: The master bridge builder Tazuna is returning to the Land of Waves to finish his bridge. Along the way, he will face obstruction from Gato's subordinates. Bet your dignity and life as a ninja to protect him and help him fulfill his final ideal."

"Spirit: Destruction (Remaining uses: 1), Shadow Clone Technique (Elite Level), Water Clone (Limited to 3 minutes)"

Just as Keiichi opened his gift pack, inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen had just seen off Tazuna, who had traveled a great distance to post the commission.

Gazing at the village scenery outside his window, Hiruzen puffed on his pipe while contemplating who to select for the mission.

It appeared to be a mundane escort mission, but in reality, according to intelligence from the Anbu, Tazuna had long been a thorn in Gato's side, so the journey would be anything but peaceful.

However, with the Chunin Exams approaching, most ninjas were rushing to finish their current tasks, leaving everyone exceptionally busy.

The only team available for deployment was Team 7; after all, they usually handled daily odd jobs and hadn't even left the village much.

Yet, he still harbored doubts about whether to let Team 7 take the mission.

After all, this team was special—not only did it contain the last descendant of the Uchiha clan, but also the Jinchuriki weapon used to maintain strategic balance. A single mistake could lead to a catastrophe.

That was precisely why he had assigned Kakashi to be their teacher.

He kept a close eye on Naruto's growth. Being a Jinchuriki wasn't just about preventing the Tailed Beast from wreaking havoc on the village; it was also a bargaining chip to balance the military strategies of various nations.

While keeping him in the village for missions was safe, his growth rate was concerning. If a war were to break out suddenly, how could he be of any use?

Assigning the village's most precious combat asset, Kakashi, as his teacher wasn't meant for menial tasks like catching cats or delivering mail.

Perhaps Tazuna's mission, with its moderate intensity, would be a good trial.

For one, the Land of Waves wasn't far from the Land of Fire, and there were no reports of elite ninjas lurking there. Even if Tazuna's opponent was that Gato, he was at best a local thug—what kind of decent hired muscle could he possibly recruit?

Kakashi was a powerhouse Jonin; as long as the opponent wasn't an elite Jonin, he could handle any situation.

Yet, the lingering sense of crisis in Hiruzen's heart made him feel it still wasn't quite safe; he couldn't shake the feeling that he had overlooked something.

Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a document on his desk, and a name caught his attention—

Keiichi.

A little guy who, by some stroke of luck, learned [Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet] and managed to kill a Sunagakure spy with strength nearing that of a Jonin while acting as a Genin. His teammates were either dead or wounded, yet he remained unscathed—his luck was truly remarkable.

Although he didn't know how the boy had learned the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, ever since becoming Hokage, Hiruzen had cast aside his own clan's interests, keeping only the future of the village in his heart.

Therefore, Hiruzen didn't resent this kid named Keiichi; in fact, he felt a hint of admiration.

That was a B-rank ninjutsu, and how long had it been since he graduated from the Ninja Academy? He had already mastered it?

He had a certain amount of talent, but how much potential he truly held remained to be seen.

He knew all too well how narrow the path for a civilian ninja was. To catch his eye, both strength and luck were indispensable.

He couldn't help but think of someone else—a brilliant hero who had saved the Leaf Village from the brink of despair during the Third Great Ninja War, though unfortunately...

Looking at this name, Hiruzen nodded slightly. The Anbu had investigated this child's background thoroughly; his parents were civilians of the Land of Fire who died in the crossfire of war. As a war orphan, he was brought back to the Leaf Village at the age of one to be raised, and having been bathed in the light of the Will of Fire since he could understand the world, there was no possibility of him betraying the village.

Now that his teammates were either dead or wounded and he was currently idle, it would be better to temporarily assign him to the escort mission, which would serve as an extra layer of insurance.

Of course, besides the escort mission, this child had an additional secret task: the protection of Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, and...

Surveillance.

Although these two little ones knew nothing and appeared fiercely loyal to the Leaf Village, with the possibility of defection being almost non-existent, anything could happen once they left the Land of Fire. No matter how strong Kakashi was, he was only one man, and there were places he might not be able to look after.

Adding this little one named Keiichi could be considered an extra insurance policy.

Just like that, Hiruzen changed his mind on a whim and decided to add one more person to this mission, without sensing that anything was amiss.

Chapter 5 Meeting the Third Hokage

Keiichi never expected that he would intersect with the main cast so quickly, which gave him the feeling of being orchestrated.

However, thinking about it, he felt relieved. Since the gift package had triggered the [Protect Tazuna] mission, it was only natural that he would be summoned to the Hokage's office and find himself standing alongside the legendary Team 7.

Should he be touched at this moment?

As a background character, he was making his shining debut in the manga panels for the first time?

If he were to say a few words right now, would speech bubbles appear in the empty space?

If so, would anything he did allow him to modify the plot and contribute Magic Modification Points?

As for how much he could earn, it would probably depend on how much ability he had to force his way into the spotlight.

Just as Keiichi's thoughts were wandering, the others were also sizing up this person they had never seen before.

Although they were all the same age, it was interesting that Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had never spoken a single word to Keiichi. The reason was simple: they were never in the same class.

Although Naruto always complained about having no friends, he never seemed to notice how special his treatment actually was. Look at the students around him; one by one, they were basically from prestigious ninja clans. Even those not born into great families were top-tier potential candidates from fallen noble houses. The classes these people were in were privately referred to by everyone as the 'Elite Class'.

As for the class Keiichi was in, the tiny classroom was stuffed with over a hundred students, all of whom were without exception of civilian origin. Their ninja aptitude was extremely poor, and their teaching resources were worlds apart from the Elite Class. Consequently, the graduation pass rate was less than 50%, unlike the Elite Class where everyone could pass with ease.

And that was only the result of the proctors intentionally going easy on them. After all, on the battlefield, one general's fame is built on ten thousand bones; there had to be someone to serve as those 'ten thousand bones'. Otherwise, did you really think those prestigious ninja clans would have the heart to send their own children to the battlefield to die?

Therefore, the class Keiichi was in was also known as the Cannon Fodder Class.

And there were actually six or seven such Cannon Fodder Classes.

Although they were in the same school, the two types of classes were like strangers, never having any interaction. Those born into families had the concepts of status and hierarchy carved into their bones; they avoided Naruto, and they treated those from the Cannon Fodder Class as if they were invisible.

The only thing the two classes had in common was that they both had a homeroom teacher named Iruka.

Young Naruto didn't understand these things; he just thought Keiichi looked somewhat familiar. After all, they had been in the same school for so many years and would occasionally cross paths, but since they weren't in the same class, they never spoke.

Sasuke just glanced at Keiichi and turned his head away, appearing somewhat arrogant. He had his pride; what could he possibly have to say to a classmate from the Cannon Fodder Class? Could he help him kill his brother and fulfill his wish?

As for Sakura, her eyes were on Sasuke most of the time; perhaps she didn't even notice the existence of someone named Keiichi in the Hokage's office.

"This is Keiichi from Team 25. Counting it up, he is a classmate who graduated in the same year as you. He is temporarily joining your Team 7 for this mission. Everyone, get along well, do you hear me?"

After rambling through the introduction of the mission, Hiruzen said with a stern face.

"Yes!" everyone replied in unison.

This was the first time Keiichi had been this close to the Third Hokage. In the past, he had only heard him give speeches from the podium at school, and occasionally he would come to inspect the Cannon Fodder Class, but Keiichi had always avoided him.

After all, if you already knew what kind of person the Third Hokage was and knew his time was short, you would surely try to stay away from him too.

Even though he was in the Cannon Fodder Class, he didn't want to truly become cannon fodder.

In his previous life, he managed to survive until the late stages of Boruto by relying on the principle of 'staying low-key'. His experience in this area could be written into a book titled Self-Cultivation of Cannon Fodder.

"Keiichi-kun, please take care of us." Kakashi revealed a kind smile and took the initiative to reach out his hand.

Keiichi, feeling flattered, hurriedly stepped forward to shake his hand, repeatedly saying he wouldn't dare.

Although at this stage Kakashi only carried the title of [Copy Ninja] and his strength wasn't fully apparent, he was the future Sixth Hokage. Could he really lose out by getting on his good side?

But what Keiichi didn't know was that Kakashi had already developed a bit of interest in him.

Don't let his laid-back appearance fool you; having reached the position of Anbu Captain, he was bound to be well-informed. How could he not know what was happening in the village?

A child who came out of a Cannon Fodder Class was able to kill an enemy at the upper level of a Chunin in less than half a year after graduation. Although it was just a Sand Ninja with very little substance, it was already quite incredible.

What was even more noteworthy was that while the entire Team 25 was either dead or wounded, only this person who delivered the final blow remained unscathed.

If one were to say he was just lucky, then how would one explain him learning the B-rank ninjutsu [Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet]?

The greatest possibility was that this child truly had immense talent, and staying in the Cannon Fodder Class had indeed buried his potential.

It was no wonder the Hokage had actually added him to the mission to act alongside Team 7; the meaning behind this was quite worth pondering.

However, Kakashi was in no rush. Along this journey, he could carefully observe what exactly was so special about this little guy.

Less than half an hour after leaving the Hokage's office, an Anbu ninja suddenly appeared and called Keiichi back. This time, there weren't so many people in the room; it was a one-on-one meeting.

"Do you know why I called you here alone?" Hiruzen asked with his back turned, gazing into the distance, his tone radiating the majesty of the Hokage.

"I do not know." Keiichi knelt on one knee, answering honestly.

Hiruzen turned around and looked at Keiichi, who was keeping his head down and remaining motionless. He nodded slightly.

He looked like an obedient child.

"No one will hold you accountable for what happened before. Although the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet Technique is a secret art of my Sarutobi clan, since you have already mastered it, consider it a reward from me—a reward for eliminating the Sunagakure spy and safeguarding the village. However, after this experience, you should understand that not every ninjutsu can be learned so casually."

As he spoke, Hiruzen tossed a scroll in front of Keiichi, with the words [Fire Dragon Flame Bullet Technique] written clearly upon it.

This signified that Hiruzen was officially bestowing the secret art upon Keiichi, ensuring that he would face no scrutiny for using this ninjutsu in the future.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage! Keiichi will swear to protect the village with his life!" Keiichi lifted his head in excitement, clutching the scroll tightly, his eyes burning with a look of fanaticism.

Yet, deep down, he was grumbling incessantly. Good grief, it's a 'reward' when it comes to me, but when Naruto learned a forbidden jutsu so easily back then, I didn't see you punishing him at all.

If I hadn't read the original story, I really wouldn't have known I was being treated differently!

Keep bluffing, just keep bluffing!

"What is your opinion on Team 7?" After a long silence, Hiruzen asked, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"Lord Kakashi is an idol I have long admired!" Keiichi immediately stated his position.

"Who asked you about Kakashi? I'm talking about Naruto and Sasuke!" Hiruzen nearly choked on his own words.

Perhaps due to his advanced age, he didn't even notice that he had forgotten to mention Sakura's name.

"I... I don't have an opinion."

"Hm?"

"I don't even know them, what kind of opinion could I have?" Keiichi spread his hands helplessly.

Hiruzen was slightly taken aback, but he quickly realized that since Keiichi came from the Cannon Fodder Class, it was perfectly normal for him to have had no interaction with the three of them.

This answer... actually satisfied him even more.

"For this mission, regardless of success or failure, there is only one thing you need to do..."

Keiichi pricked up his ears.