System: What Is Integrity? Is It Tasty?

Uchiha Chen had never imagined that something like this was happening in the Land of Demons.

But on second thought, it did seem to make sense.

In the original story, Shion could see people's deaths, and the guards around her would die in her place.

Religious devotion could certainly drive people to madness, but this seemed to go too far.

Now it seemed that the reason was the secret Shion had mentioned.

"Is it really all right to tell me something like this?

"I'm just a ninja who took on a mission. The secret you're telling me is something even the Five Great Shinobi Villages don't know, isn't it?"

"Of course they don't. None of the guards can reveal any secrets about the Shrine Maiden, so no matter how deeply the Five Great Shinobi Villages infiltrate us, they'll never succeed."

Shion spoke with firm conviction.

"If that's the case, is it really all right to tell me?"

"I trust you. Those people tried to kill me earlier, and you saved me without hesitation. You even nearly lost your life.

"You're not one of those guards, and you're not bound by any restrictions, so I trust you."

The damsel-in-distress rescue might have been a tired old trope, but there was no denying that it could win someone's heart.

Chen had appeared when Shion needed help most, and in her eyes, he had risked his life to save her. That had left an indelible impression on her.

"Can I say that I was only protecting my client? And although I did save you, I'd already calculated how much danger I'd be facing.

"To put it more bluntly, if saving you really meant sacrificing myself, I would have abandoned the mission without hesitation."

"Maybe what you're saying is true, but I trust my own judgment, too.

"So can you tell me who you really are and which shinobi village you belong to?"

After hearing Shion's words, Chen fell silent.

The truth was, one reason Chen had originally considered making the Land of Demons and the Land of Snow his bases was that both places were suitable for development.

But more than anything, it was because of Shion.

Chen liked Shion's character a lot. At first, in the original story, she came across as annoying, but by the end, she inspired a kind of tenderness.

If Chen thought of Hinata as simply cute, someone he could see as a little sister or even a daughter, then he felt a genuine fondness for Shion.

That fondness had originally been more about liking a character, but after meeting Shion, it had gradually begun to change.

When Chen hadn't said anything for a while, Shion stepped over to him and threw her arms around him.

"I know you might not believe me, but I still want to say it. I like you, so I want you to stay, no matter what it costs.

"If you leave this time, I'll do everything I can to find you."

Her face was already as red as could be, but Shion's expression was resolute.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"How old are you?"

"I'm four. Wait, are you younger than me? Even if you are, you can only be a year younger. That's not a problem."

When Chen asked her age, Shion thought he was worried about the difference between them.

"That's not what I meant. I'm saying, you're only four, and you're already thinking about whether you like me or not. Don't tell me you're a transmigrator, too?"

"Transmigrator? What's that?"

Shion looked confused. She clearly had no idea what a transmigrator was.

Seeing her expression, Chen understood that Shion wasn't a transmigrator. Still, hearing someone so young say things like "I like you" had left him at a loss.

"It's nothing.

"I wanted to ask if you know what it means to like someone.

"You've known me for less than three days, and you don't even know my real name or what I look like.

"And yet you say you like me. Do you think those feelings are real?

"Or is your affection just a momentary impulse?"

Chen liked Shion and had planned to pursue her, but that was supposed to happen after she grew up, not now.

What's wrong with raising her to adulthood?

I think you should give it a try. Wasn't that why you chose this mission in the first place?

If you're too embarrassed to ask, I can just give you a mission.

Or how about I give you a mission to make her yours?

But can you even get it up?

"Shut up!"

Chen had to admit that the system had hit a new low. It was absolutely shameless.

Chen was also glad that this shameless system could only stay behind and look after the place. Shion couldn't hear it. Who knew what might happen otherwise?

"I'm sure I like you. As for what you said about not knowing who you are and all that, I believe you're not a bad person, so it doesn't matter.

"But I do want to know who you are."

Shion kept holding on to Chen, as if she were afraid he'd run away. Chen had no idea what to do.

"Just so you know, Shion's affection for you has reached one hundred. Even if she finds out about your plans, she won't betray you."

For once, the system was acting like a decent person. Chen wasn't used to it, but when he opened the affection panel, he really did see a hundred.

"Since that's the case, I'll tell you.

"My name is Uchiha Chen. You can guess where I'm from, right?"

"Konoha? The Uchiha?"

Shion had suspected that Chen came from a major power, but she had never imagined he was from Konoha—and a member of the Uchiha Clan, at that.

The Senju Clan had all but disappeared by now, so the Uchiha Clan's name truly resounded throughout the Shinobi World.

"So don't think you can persuade me to become your guard."

"No. Even if you're an Uchiha, if it's for the Land of Demons, I can still convince you to come here by offering something in return."

"Let me finish.

"Even if you could do that, I don't want to come just yet.

"I have plans of my own. I want to build my own power and break away from Konoha.

"My original plan was to make the Land of Demons my base and take control of its daimyo."

"In that case, I'll help you. I'll establish a shinobi village in the name of the Shrine Maiden."

"That's what I was thinking, too. You'll be the figurehead in control of the shinobi village in the Land of Demons, while I'll stay in Konoha for now and come here when the time is right."

"I understand. Once we get back, I'll have people start preparing for it. I'll do everything I can, whether it's money or supplies."

Shion was a little surprised when she heard Chen's plans, but she was still very supportive. In fact, she acted as if she were ready to hand the entire Land of Demons over to him.

Seeing this, Chen couldn't help but wonder.

"Aren't you worried that I'm only getting close to you because I want to use you?"

"I believe you wouldn't do that. And even if you really were, I'd still be willing. Anything I do for you is worth it."

"Uh..."

Faced with a Shion like this, Chen truly didn't know what to say. They said a woman in love had the intelligence of zero, but Shion's was below zero.