Sowing

"Master, what would you like for breakfast today?" Shinozaki Ayumi's sweet voice came from downstairs.

"Mm... Anything's fine," Xian Yu called out sleepily from under the covers.

"Then I'll make you some noodles," Shinozaki Ayumi called back.

"Mm, remember to add an egg." Xian Yu stretched and prepared to get up. "Another boring day. Dull as ever."

After the incident with the Daimyo Ginseng, intelligence from Anbu reported that all four factions had suffered heavy casualties. Even Kuiling Hefan, an elite Rain Ninja jonin, had died in the Explosive Tags' blast. Aside from the other three elite jonin and several jonin who had survived through their strength, only a tiny number of lower- and mid-ranking ninja had survived through sheer luck. In the end, the Daimyo Ginseng had also been destroyed in the explosion. He heard that Amegakure had suffered the greatest losses, and Salamander Hanzo had been so furious that he'd smashed things in his bedroom all night.

Without Xiao Qi as a trump card for the time being, Xian Yu didn't dare go out and take risks again. He'd only made a small detour on the way back to Konoha, picking up two Black Iron Treasure Chests before hurrying back to the village.

He'd only gotten home in the second half of last night and was exhausted.

In his Space Backpack, the first slot was still occupied by the Golden Treasure Chest. The second held the Silver Treasure Chest. Since that little bitch had swallowed 1,000 diamonds, the Silver Treasure Chest's opening time had been postponed again...

The third slot held the Super God Water from Dragon Ball. It would probably just rot in his backpack.

Maybe... it'd make a pretty good poison... If he got Madara Uchiha to drink it, the world would finally be at peace...

Anyway, their little Xian Yu would never believe that Lord Madara was as pure-hearted as Wukong...

The fourth slot held three Black Iron Treasure Chests. He'd picked one up while escaping Great Warm Valley and found two more on his detour back to Konoha.

"Seriously, why do all the other transmigrators keep getting stronger, with abilities that cover both offense and defense and everything they could want? But I keep drawing all sorts of random junk. It all looks great, but when danger comes, I still have to rely on my wits..." Xian Yu couldn't help sighing. He really wasn't cut out to be the protagonist.

"System, I want to open a Black Iron Treasure Chest!" Little Xian Yu issued the command with a trace of anticipation.

"Opening a Black Iron Treasure Chest costs 15 diamonds. Current balance: 74 diamonds."

"Congratulations, host. You opened a Black Iron Treasure Chest and obtained Sexy Jutsu."

"..."

"I knew it..." Xian Yu kept telling himself, I'm used to it. I'm used to it...

(≧◇≦) A smile. I'll face this tragedy with a smile.

"System, open the other two Black Iron Treasure Chests together." Xian Yu sighed, no longer holding out any hope.

"Reminder: To allow the host to experience the fun of opening treasure chests, only one chest may be opened per day."

System, you're so nice to me. I'm having so much fun... Really...

"Master, the noodles are ready. Come downstairs!" Shinozaki Ayumi's sweet voice called from below.

"Mm, coming, coming." Xian Yu pulled himself together and went downstairs.

Seeing Ayumi busy in the kitchen, he suddenly felt much better.

That was life. There couldn't be excitement all the time. The simple, ordinary things were what mattered.

"Master, have you washed up?" Shinozaki Ayumi smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons. Today she wore a pink dress that made her look especially cute.

"Heh heh, not yet. I was waiting for you to wash me, Ayumi." Even Xian Yu was a little surprised by his own words.

We were all just children, grown up by the winds of time.

"Oh, why are you being lazy again? Hurry up. The noodles will get soggy if you wait too long." Shinozaki Ayumi urged him as she led him toward the washroom.

"Look how lazy you've become. What are you going to do when you grow up?" Shinozaki Ayumi gently wiped his face, carefully checking to see if she'd missed any spots.

"Heh heh." Xian Yu grinned foolishly. In his previous life, he'd been an orphan, poor and low-status, without talent or good looks. When had he ever enjoyed being waited on? Especially by a sweet, pretty girl.

Sometimes he still acted childish and sulked in front of Ayumi. After all, he was only six. He really was just a child. (≧▽≦)

Maybe that was just how people were. You only showed your weakness when someone cared for you.

In his previous life, he'd been strong too. Though he'd been short, ugly, and poor, no one had ever seen him show weakness. No matter how dire the situation, even if it seemed hopeless, he'd never begged anyone for mercy.

Because that would only have made him feel more pathetic.

"All right, the noodles are getting soggy. Hurry and eat." Shinozaki Ayumi rubbed her young master's cheek and spoke in a coaxing tone.

"Mm, Ayumi, you haven't kissed me in ages. I suddenly want a kiss." Xian Yu stared at the ceiling, getting bolder by the moment.

Shinozaki Ayumi giggled. "Our young master, who's always acting like a little adult, is unexpectedly cute today. All right, mwah. Now, shouldn't you go eat?"

Feeling the dampness on his right cheek, Xian Yu returned to the dining room, satisfied, and started eating.

After breakfast, little Xian Yu took out the six Spirit Grains he'd soaked the night before. To his surprise, they'd already sprouted in the water after just one night.

He'd helped the orphanage director with farm work in his previous life, so he knew a few basic things. But seeing Spirit Rice, a miraculous grain that skipped even the greenhouse cultivation stage, left him questioning everything he knew...

The season was just right. Xian Yu went to the backyard, sowed the sprouted seeds in the seedbed, covered them with soil, watered them thoroughly, and laid down plastic sheeting. Now all he had to do was wait for them to grow. According to the system, there was no need to transplant or plant them in rows. He just had to watch out for pests, pull weeds, prevent drought, and fertilize them, and he'd have a harvest by autumn.

The Spirit Rice he'd obtained earlier had already been hulled.

What cost 300 Killing Points per grain now was Spirit Grain. Once planted, if he took good care of the crop by keeping pests away and weeding, each seed would theoretically yield 40 Spirit Grains when ripe.

Even if he didn't care for them very well, as long as he did the bare minimum, he'd still get at least 30 Spirit Grains.

But if he didn't look after them at all, he might not get a single grain.

After finishing his work, Xian Yu went to the neighboring courtyard. It also belonged to the Shimura Clan.

The courtyard next door had been empty, but now Ya Midie and his family of three had moved in.

"Knock, knock, knock." Xian Yu rapped on the gate.

"Who is it? Coming!" A woman's voice came from inside the courtyard.

As the gate opened, an ordinary-looking woman stared at the little boy before her in confusion. "Child, what can I do for you?"

"Mm, I'm looking for Uncle Ya. I mean Uncle Ya Midie."

Hearing the commotion, Ya Midie called from far away, "Is that Young Master Yu? You've finally come!"

"Hm? Are things not going well here? Surely no one's been giving you trouble?" Seeing the worried look on Ya Midie's face, Xian Yu found it strange. Surely no one would dare bully someone he'd personally arranged to move in. After all, aside from the Senju Clan, the whole area was full of Shimura Clan members. No one would dare disrespect him, the clan's young master.

"Oh, you're Young Master Yu?" the woman exclaimed, quickly bowing in greeting. A full ninety-degree bow...

Xian Yu could only think that Uncle Ya was one lucky man. His wife wasn't a great beauty; her looks and figure were both ordinary, and her bearing... Well, there was no point talking about a farm woman's bearing... She was straightforward, guileless, and honest. Still, that ninety-degree bow really was something...

Ya Midie shook his head repeatedly. "You've got the wrong idea, Young Master Yu. It's not what you think. Things are great here. Lord Danzo even summoned me once. He gave us this huge courtyard and a good sum of money."

"Huh? Then why do you look so worried?" Xian Yu was even more confused now.

Ya Midie quickly explained, "It's because of my kid. He's old enough to attend the Ninja Academy, so I was wondering if there might be a chance for him. I didn't expect Lord Danzo to have already arranged it."

"That's a good thing. Why aren't you happy?" Xian Yu really didn't want to complain. Couldn't he just say it all at once? This was exhausting!

"But that little brat of mine says he doesn't want to learn. He says he has no interest in becoming a ninja. It's enough to drive me crazy..." Ya Midie was exasperated by his son's lack of ambition.

What a great opportunity. If only he'd had a chance like that as a child. And now this little brat didn't even want to learn!

Xian Yu smiled and spoke with the confidence of experience. "So that's what it is. There's nothing to worry about. Interest can be cultivated. You have to get him used to it first, then he'll grow to like it and eventually take the initiative."