I Won't Say One Word More

Chen pretended nothing had happened and chatted with Shisui for a while. Only after Shisui left did he start talking to the system.

"System, can we talk this over? Stop setting me up. I killed someone from Root. Do you really think that old dog Danzo won't be keeping an eye on me?

There's a limit to how much you can mess with me, you know. You're not even trying to hide it anymore."

"What do you mean, 'mess with you'? What's there to mess with? Can you even get it up?"

"I..."

Faced with a system that jumped straight to dirty jokes at the drop of a hat, Chen was completely speechless.

"I can't do anything about this mission, either. You just heard Uchiha Shisui say that Danzo has his eye on you.

He doesn't know that you're the one responsible, but he's already started suspecting someone inside Konoha.

So if you don't want to be found out, your only option is to deal with the people from Root without leaving a trace.

Otherwise, unless you never leave Konoha, it'll only be a matter of time before you're exposed.

If you ask me, you'd better find a way to divert Danzo's attention elsewhere."

The system stopped teasing Chen and patiently explained the situation. When Chen heard it out, he gave a slight nod.

What Chen didn't know was that the system was once again smiling smugly, pleased that its scheme had worked.

Clearly, things weren't really as the system had described.

Of course, Chen had no idea.

As far as Chen was concerned, Danzo investigating the matter was bad news.

Although Chen didn't think the investigation would lead back to him, he still had to prepare for the worst.

"Man, I'm still too weak. If only I had a cheat. I could just take out that old dog Danzo, and everything would be so much easier."

Chen grumbled helplessly, then made his way to Training Ground No. 7.

Even with the system around, Chen had come to understand that training was essential.

Just as the system had said before, being able to do something and knowing how to do it were two completely different levels of skill.

As soon as Chen arrived at Training Ground No. 7, he spotted a familiar figure.

"Well, if it isn't Sasuko, who loves to cry, wet her pants, and wear girls' clothes.

Why aren't you wearing girls' clothes out today?

Did you run out of pretty outfits?

I get it. A woman's wardrobe is always missing one more outfit.

Want me to lend you some money to buy something you like?"

Chen was already in a foul mood, so of course he was going to give Sasuke a hard time.

"You bastard! This is all your fault!"

Sasuke's face flushed red, his eyes seeming to burn with fire.

If looks could kill, Chen would have died ten thousand times over.

(System: Can't the Sharingan kill people with a glance?

Author: Shut up!)

"Don't use that tone with me. You sound like a scorned woman. Anyone watching might think I'd seduced you and then dumped you.

I don't want people getting the wrong idea about you, and I definitely don't want them getting the wrong idea about me."

"You! Clear this up right now, or I'll tell my father and have him punish you!"

Sasuke knew he couldn't beat Chen, so he tried to threaten him with his father.

After all, Sasuke knew Chen was an orphan with no one to back him up.

"Punish me?

Sure, I'll go see your father.

Then I'll tell Clan Head Fugaku that I forced you to do all of it. How's that?"

Chen's words left Sasuke stunned.

Sasuke could tell that his father was disappointed in him. If Chen explained the situation, perhaps things could still be set right.

"You're really willing to see my father? You're not going to keep framing me, are you?"

"Of course not.

When I see Clan Head Fugaku, I'll just say, 'Clan Head Fugaku, Sasuke didn't want to wear girls' clothes and appear on the streets of Konoha. I forced him.' I won't say one word more."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. I swear that when I see Clan Head Fugaku, I won't say another word apart from that sentence."

After a moment's hesitation, Sasuke decided to let Chen see his father and explain things. Chen followed along obediently.

The two of them entered Fugaku's home, one after the other, and Sasuke hurried off to find his father.

Fugaku had never expected much from Sasuke in the first place. After the incident with the girls' clothes, he was even more furious. Now that he heard Sasuke had something else to say, he merely forced down his anger.

"You're Uchiha Chen, right? Sasuke said you had something to tell me?"

"Y-yes, yes, yes, Clan Head Fugaku."

Chen stammered, while Sasuke beside him felt a vague sense of unease.

"Go ahead."

"Clan Head Fugaku, Sasuke didn't want to wear girls' clothes and appear on the streets of Konoha. I forced him."

Chen said exactly what he had promised. Hearing that Chen hadn't added a single word, Sasuke smiled.

But what Sasuke got wasn't his father's forgiveness. Instead, his father's expression turned even colder.

"Sasuke forced you to say that, didn't he?"

"Clan Head Fugaku, Sasuke didn't want to wear girls' clothes and appear on the streets of Konoha. I forced him."

Chen didn't answer. He simply repeated what he'd just said.

The first time Chen had delivered the whole sentence in one go, Uchiha Fugaku had only been suspicious. Now, he was certain that Sasuke had forced Chen to say it.

After all, someone who stammered just from speaking to Fugaku had suddenly recited a complete sentence in one breath—and then given the exact same answer twice.

To Uchiha Fugaku, it was obvious that Sasuke had made Chen memorize the words. There was no other explanation.

"All right, I understand. You can go back now. I'll deal with Sasuke."

Uchiha Fugaku said this with a dark expression. Sasuke's excited look beside him only confirmed Fugaku's suspicions.

"Y-yes, Clan Head Fugaku."

After stammering out his reply, Chen fled from Fugaku's room.

Fugaku gave Sasuke, who was still wearing an excited expression, a cold look, then turned and left.

Poor Sasuke still hadn't realized that Chen had tricked him yet again.

"Hey, isn't it a bit much to mess with Sasuke like that?" the system asked, laughing.

"How did I mess with him?

I explained the situation just as he wanted me to, and I didn't change a single word.

I didn't even use a sarcastic tone. How can you say I messed with Sasuke?"

After leaving Fugaku's residence, Chen was in high spirits. Humming a little tune, he headed toward Training Ground No. 7.

But on the way, Chen vaguely sensed that something was off.

"System, are there people from Root nearby?"

"You guessed right. There are quite a few people from Root around here, along with some Anbu.

They're probably investigating the Flying Thunder God.

After all, the Flying Thunder God Technique is only recorded in the Scroll of Seals. If it really leaked, that would be a serious matter."

"System, how do I level up the Flying Thunder God Technique? I never gain any proficiency when I use it. At least I get proficiency for using things like the Great Fireball."

"Are you sure you want proficiency in the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

"Uh, never mind. I'll figure it out myself. After all, techniques you develop yourself work best."