Has the System Finally Found Its Conscience?

"Ding! System notification: Hunt/Subjugation Mission. Defeat Yuki Haku and either kill or subjugate him. Complete the mission to obtain the Kekkei Genkai Frost Release.

Mission failure penalty: gender transformation."

Seeing the mission details, Chen had just been about to call the system a good guy. But then he heard the final penalty...

"System, is this really okay?"

Chen continued toward the Land of Demons as he complained helplessly, while the system was completely absorbed in its own amusement.

Soon, Chen arrived in the Land of Demons.

It hadn't been long since he'd left, but as soon as they met, Shion dismissed everyone else and threw herself into Chen's arms.

Caught completely off guard, Chen was knocked to the ground.

"Does this count as her turning the tables on you?"

The system's voice rang out.

"Can't you keep your thoughts wholesome?"

"I'm just stating a fact. Shion did knock you down, didn't she?"

Chen was speechless and could only pretend he hadn't heard.

"You just wrote back to me. What brings you here so soon?"

"Sort of. There's something I couldn't conveniently explain in a letter.

"To put it simply, I have a way to let people obtain a Kekkei Genkai, and..."

Chen explained the details of the Kekkei Genkai, of course keeping the system's existence a secret.

Shion didn't know much about shinobi, so she assumed it was one of Chen's special abilities and didn't ask any further questions.

After all, if an ability to foresee death existed, then this didn't seem particularly strange.

"If that's true, then it's excellent. We can raise powerful shinobi without worrying that they'll betray us once they grow strong."

"That's what I thought too. It's not exactly aboveboard, but as long as they don't betray us, I have no intention of going too far.

"As for choosing the candidates, I'll leave that to you."

As he spoke, Chen took out a scroll.

This was the item that could grant anyone Ice Release.

Shion was very curious when she saw it, but she didn't look greedy.

That reassured Chen. It would have been troublesome if Shion couldn't resist the temptation.

"They only need to sign their names on this scroll to gain power. Three people can sign each one.

"The effect is the same no matter who gets it, but it would be best to let children learn it. Compared with adults, children are easier to guide, and training from a young age will help them adapt to Ice Release."

"I understand. I'll arrange it as soon as possible. Once the list is ready, I'll use Flying Thunder God to send it to you.

"Or you can come and make the final decision yourself."

"That won't be necessary. I trust you, so you can handle everything."

Hearing Chen's words, Shion froze for a moment. Whatever she thought of, her face suddenly turned red.

Even Chen was puzzled. He hadn't made any suggestive remarks, had he?

Why had she suddenly gotten shy?

Could Hinata's shyness somehow have spread to Shion across thousands of miles?

Chen shook his head in confusion and didn't press the matter. It was normal for a girl to have her own thoughts.

"How long are you planning to stay this time?"

"I'll leave tomorrow. I only thought of coming here on the spur of the moment. I have a Shadow Clone in Konoha, but if I'm away too long, people will notice."

Although he had already begun planning to leave Konoha, now clearly wasn't the right time.

When Shion heard he was leaving the next day, a dejected look came over her face.

"Don't be upset. I'll come by often when I can.

"And I left Flying Thunder God with you, so besides passing along information, you can use it to contact me whenever you miss me."

"Really? I won't bother you?"

Shion had wanted to use Flying Thunder God to contact Chen for a long time, but she worried she might bother him or even put his safety at risk. So she had only contacted him before to discuss training shinobi.

"You won't. That's exactly why I left Flying Thunder God here.

"But it'd be best to contact me at night. Someone might be with me during the day."

Although an advanced Space-Time Ninjutsu like Flying Thunder God probably wouldn't be detected, Chen didn't want to take any chances.

It would be bad if information came through while the Third Hokage had summoned him.

"I understand. I'll contact you at night from now on.

"Also, you can stay in the room next to mine tonight."

"What, you won't let me stay in your room?"

At that, Shion's face turned red at once. She had kissed and hugged Chen of her own accord before, but she was still a girl, after all.

Even her boldness had its limits.

"I..."

"Silly, I was teasing you. I'll stay next door.

"Oh, I earned some money on a mission this time. You can keep it for now."

When Shion heard Chen had only been teasing, she let out a breath of relief, though for some reason, she felt a little disappointed.

"You don't need to give me money. The Land of Demons may not be wealthy, but there's plenty in the treasury."

"Just take it.

"The Land of Demons' tax revenue alone won't be enough to establish a shinobi village. It might not be a problem now, but sooner or later, we'll run into funding issues.

"For now, I'll take on missions to help ease the strain. I'll find a way to secure funds as soon as I can."

Money couldn't solve everything, but without it, nothing could be done. That was true wherever you went.

Chen and Shion chatted about other things before going to dinner together. Only after night fell did Shion reluctantly return to her room.

"System, by now, Haku should have joined Zabuza, right?

"You didn't issue that mission because you want me to deal with Zabuza too, did you?"

Chen didn't know exactly when Haku had joined Zabuza, but Zabuza was still a threat.

"Not yet, but she'll run into Zabuza before long."

"I remember Haku died at fifteen, when that brat Naruto was twelve or thirteen. So Haku should be about the same age as Itachi, right?

"He shouldn't be much of a fighter at this point."

When he first received the mission, Chen hadn't noticed anything amiss. But after thinking it over, he realized it looked far too easy on the surface.

Given how devious the system was, how could such an easy mission reward him with Frost Release?

There didn't seem to be Frost Release in the Naruto World, but it was still a Kekkei Genkai.

"Haku really isn't much of a fighter right now. This mission is a freebie. Do you want me to make it harder?

"Should I add Zabuza's assassination to the mission too?"

"No, don't bother."

Chen hurriedly answered. Challenge Zabuza at a time like this?

Wasn't that just asking for trouble?

Although he had just beaten Kakashi, it was obviously because Kakashi had his plot armor that let him match anyone blow for blow, and he'd been low on chakra. Otherwise, Chen didn't think he'd have had any chance of winning.