An Unexpected Encounter with Hinata

Ding, system notification...

"I'm telling you, System, you're really trying to kill me. I'm still lying in the hospital and you're already issuing missions? Even the donkeys on a production team aren't as overworked as I am."

Uchiha Chen spoke up the moment he heard the system's voice. There was no way to play like this—one mission after another, and each one more of a trap than the last.

Chen felt that at this rate, he'd be challenging Kaguya within a year. That was, of course, assuming he could even stay alive until then.

"Don't get excited. I'm so benevolent, why would I trap you at a time like this? Why don't you listen to what the mission is first?"

The system's voice sounded again. Although the original mission had been interrupted, Chen still didn't feel at ease.

After all, this treacherous thing had never given him a decent mission before.

Ding, system notification: Request to learn ninjutsu from the Third Hokage, learn Fire Release, Flame Bullet. No penalty for mission failure. Upon completion, Fire Release, Flame Bullet level increases by LV1.

Hearing the mission details, Uchiha Chen was stunned. This mission didn't even have a time limit, and it truly didn't seem to have any traps hidden within it.

The Third Hokage had just come by in person to say he could come to him for ninjutsu guidance; if it was just learning a Fire Release, Flame Bullet, it shouldn't be too difficult.

"System, have you turned over a new leaf?"

"Get lost. When did I ever 'go down that road' to begin with? Turned over a new leaf? Do you want me to issue a special mission right now?"

"You're the boss, you're the biggest. I surrender, okay?"

Although the previous explosion hadn't severely injured Uchiha Chen, his wounds hadn't fully healed yet. If any more nonsense happened now, Chen really couldn't take it.

Seeing Chen concede, the system fell silent, and Chen began to ponder this mission.

The mission itself was just to seek guidance from the Third Hokage; there really were no traps.

However, Chen, who knew the plot well, understood that the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village was already fraught with deep conflict. If he, an orphan with no parents, really leaned toward the Hokage's faction, he would inevitably be resented by the Uchiha Clan.

Although the Uchiha Clan would be wiped out before long, Uchiha Chen's life would certainly be miserable until then.

More importantly, Uchiha Chen wanted to change the fates of Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Izumi. In that case, simply cozying up to the Third Hokage was impossible.

Am I still too weak?

As expected, no matter where you go, the strong are respected. The weak never truly have the right to choose.

Chen sighed helplessly in his heart while chatting idly with Uchiha Izumi.

Because there were still classes in the afternoon and Chen had already woken up, Izumi went off to attend her lessons.

"System, do you think staying in Konoha will slow down my progress?"

Chen spoke suddenly, and the system was taken aback.

In Chen's view, although the current Konoha had its darkness, it was indeed the most suitable place to survive. After all, aside from the Uchiha Clan's affairs, it was basically peaceful.

However, for him, this kind of peace only bred laziness.

Knowing the plot, Chen understood that as long as he remained in this world of the Hokage, he would eventually have to face Kaguya.

Although Sasuke and Naruto were there, who knew if his own appearance would change anything? Besides, the feeling of leaving his life in the hands of others was truly unpleasant.

With the system as a treacherous partner, Chen didn't want to live at the mercy of others anymore.

More importantly, Chen didn't want to just linger on in a desperate struggle for survival; he hoped to save the people he wanted to save.

"You want to leave Konoha? And you say I trap you? Aren't you preparing to trap yourself right now? The world outside Konoha is very dangerous."

"Where is it not dangerous if you lack strength? With a treacherous thing like you around, I highly doubt I'll even live until the extermination event."

Chen retorted, and for once, the system didn't argue back.

Seeing this, Chen didn't say much more. Leaving Konoha, or rather, a temporary relocation, wasn't something that could be done overnight.

Although he planned to leave, Chen didn't intend to become a rogue ninja, at least not yet.

Therefore, matters here in Konoha needed to be arranged properly.

Stretching his body, Chen left the Konoha hospital directly. Over the next few days, he didn't go to find the Third Hokage.

On the other side, the Third Hokage, busy with a thousand tasks, soon forgot about Uchiha Chen, and didn't care at all that he hadn't come to see him.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed. Chen had fully recovered, and by now, winter had arrived, with Konoha welcoming its first snowfall of the year.

Uchiha Itachi had already graduated early—perhaps because of Chen's appearance, it was two months earlier than expected.

Having become a genin, Uchiha Itachi went off on missions with his teammates, while Izumi, still a student at the ninja academy, naturally had to attend classes.

As for Uchiha Shisui, he had actually already become a jonin.

Everything had undergone subtle changes, seemingly all caused by Uchiha Chen, this transmigrator.

"Hey, if you're from the Hyuga House, hurry up and show us your Byakugan."

"If you're not willing, then stop looking over here."

"Your eyes are really nauseating."

"You're actually a monster, aren't you?"

"You white-eyed monster."

Three older boys were bullying a little girl.

The little girl was crying because of their words.

The older boys had no intention of letting the little girl go.

Uchiha Chen, who had been wandering around, suddenly heard a commotion in the distance. He walked over and saw a familiar figure.

"What are you doing?"

"An Uchiha? This is none of your business, brat. Don't go looking for trouble."

Chen was stunned to hear this. Not only were they insulting the eldest daughter of the Hyuga House, but they also didn't hold the Uchiha in any regard.

These were clearly not people from an ordinary clan.

"Looking for trouble? It's you lot who are in trouble, aren't you? I just heard you talking about the Byakugan. If I tell the Konoha Military Police Force that someone is coveting the Byakugan of the Hyuga House, do you think you'll be invited in for tea?"

"W-what did you say?"

The older boys hadn't expected Uchiha Chen to pin such a label on them right from the start.

"I said you are spies from another village, intending to get your hands on the Byakugan."

"You—you have no proof!"

The ringleader was clearly flustered, and it was precisely this panic that convinced Chen they were no ordinary brats out bullying people.

"No proof? Do you think the Uchiha will believe a member of their own clan, or a few nameless brats like you?"

Since the Uchiha's reputation wasn't exactly stellar anyway, Chen didn't mind dragging it through the mud further.

"Hmph, then I'll beat you until you can't speak!"

As he spoke, the ringleader suddenly lunged at Uchiha Chen. In that instant, Uchiha Chen actually felt killing intent.

So that's how it is. You were sent by him...