Intelligence from Shisui

For three days, all of Konoha had been talking about one thing: the Uchiha Clan head's second son wearing women's clothes.

Since it had happened right out in the street, countless people had witnessed it.

Sasuke now understood all too well what it meant to die of embarrassment.

Uchiha Fugaku had never expected much from Sasuke in the first place. After this happened, Fugaku didn't even give Sasuke a chance to explain.

Whatever the truth was, everyone now knew about Sasuke wearing women's clothes.

Chen, the one who'd started all this, was delighted, while Izumi felt a little sorry for Sasuke.

"Izumi, don't take it too much to heart. Sasuke did this of his own free will.

"Think about it. If he hadn't wanted to, couldn't he have just changed back into his own clothes?

"Why would he run out into the street and let so many people see him?

"In my opinion, this was what Sasuke wanted all along. He just couldn't do it before, and now he's got the perfect excuse.

"Maybe if you go to Sasuke's house and look around, you'll even find some women's clothes."

Though he was lying, Chen didn't so much as blink.

"Are you telling the truth?"

Izumi wasn't convinced. After all, in the Naruto World, the idea of a man dressing as a woman wasn't really a thing.

(Orochimaru: What are you talking about?)

"Of course. He had his own clothes, but still ran out into the street. No matter how strong I am, I couldn't force him to do that, could I?

"I haven't even awakened my Sharingan yet. There's no way I could use genjutsu to control Sasuke like that."

Since Izumi didn't have all the information, she didn't know that Chen had burned Sasuke's original clothes. As a result, she was starting to believe what Chen said.

"Could that really be the case?"

"Of course.

"I bet next he'll say I forced him to do it. That way, Sasuke got to enjoy wearing women's clothes, and he won't have to take the blame himself."

"That does make some sense. I never thought Sasuke would really like wearing girls' clothes.

"Chen, do you think I should talk to him?"

As far as Izumi was concerned, there was no way becoming a man who dressed as a woman could be a good thing.

"Izumi, how would you even bring it up? Do you think that if you ask him, he'll admit he wants to wear women's clothes and be a girl?

"If you were in his place, would you admit you wanted to become a boy?"

At that, Izumi shook her head helplessly. She clearly had no desire to become a boy, and even if she did, she wouldn't tell anyone.

And so, Izumi decided not to interfere.

"Ding! System notification: The mission to find Uchiha Itachi has failed. Mission penalty: one bedding set."

Since Chen had never planned to look for Itachi, the mission had naturally failed.

But when the penalty appeared before him, Chen wore a strange expression.

"System, are you sure you didn't give me the wrong thing this time?"

Looking at the huge bundle in front of him, Chen could hardly believe his eyes.

What had appeared was a genuine six-piece bedding set: a duvet cover, sheets, pillowcases, and the like. It was nothing like what Chen had expected.

No, it wasn't that it was unlike what he'd expected. It was completely out of character for the system.

"What's wrong with it? Isn't this what bedding is?

"Were you hoping for something else?"

The system's voice turned sleazy again, leaving Chen utterly helpless.

"No, I just didn't expect your penalty not to have a catch."

"Tch, when has this system ever tricked anyone?

"I'm just giving you a little something because you've been working so hard.

"To tell you the truth, you'd have gotten the same thing whether you found Uchiha Itachi or not.

"I just thought your bedding looked so shabby that I'd give you a new set. I don't know what you're thinking. You've got plenty of money, but you won't even replace your bedding. What a miser."

"Uh..."

For a moment, Chen didn't know what to say. When had he ever been stingy? It was just that he didn't care much about where he slept.

Forget being a ninja in the Naruto World—even in his previous life, he'd often lie down on the sports field during gym class and fall asleep on the spot.

Still, Chen didn't bother explaining. Having something better was always nice.

After changing the bedding, Chen was just about to head out when someone came to see him.

"Shisui? Is something wrong?"

Seeing Shisui standing before him with a serious expression, Chen sensed that something was off.

"Let me ask you something. Is the Flying Thunder God how you get in and out of Konoha?"

"Flying Thunder God? How could it be? Konoha is covered by a defensive barrier. If I really used Flying Thunder God, I'd have been discovered ages ago.

"Shisui, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"Hatake Kakashi reported not long ago that there's someone in Iwagakure who seems able to use Flying Thunder God.

"Danzo is investigating it now. According to Kakashi's description, the person is just a little kid."

"Uh..."

Chen really hadn't expected Kakashi to suspect the Flying Thunder God Technique, even though he'd deliberately concealed his tracks.

"So it really is you. How many secrets are you hiding, kid?

"You can even fly. I wonder if there's anything you can't do."

"I can't use the Sharingan. It's pretty frustrating, actually. I still haven't awakened it."

Hearing Chen say that, Shisui suddenly felt like hitting him.

Come on, you're only four. Even Itachi didn't awaken his Sharingan until he was seven. You... Actually, this kid really is more of a prodigy than Itachi.

Shisui silently grumbled to himself, while Chen was busy wondering why he didn't have a Sharingan.

"You really are never satisfied.

"Danzo has already started investigating. Don't leave Konoha for now.

"Shadow Clones are hard to see through, but still be careful. The Root members aren't fools. It'll be a big problem if Danzo learns about you."

"Don't worry, Shisui. I won't get caught that easily.

"By the way, how's Itachi doing lately? Ever since he awakened his Sharingan, he's seemed a little off. I'm worried that the Masked Man might manipulate him.

"It would be bad if that made Itachi start thinking the wrong way."

"Don't worry. Itachi's acting this way on purpose. His comrade died, and the Masked Man is manipulating him. It'd be strange if he didn't change at all."

Only then did Chen understand what was going on.

"Hey, even if you didn't tell me, was it really okay not to tell Izumi? Be careful—once she finds out, Itachi might end up kneeling on a washboard until dawn."

"I doubt it'll come to that."

Shisui smiled, clearly not taking the matter seriously.

"Ding! System notification: Assassinate a Root member. Mission failed penalty: Danzo's attention."

The system's voice suddenly rang out, and Chen couldn't help but freeze. The system was up to its tricks again.