Planting Sasuke

Chen's plan was simple: he would fake his death and use it to get Izumi to leave Konoha.

However, Chen had overlooked one small problem: Izumi had family.

"I did overlook that. Shisui, Itachi, what do you think we should do?"

"For now, we should hold off. There are plenty of conflicts at the moment, but it'll still be some time before they boil over.

"Besides, your plan has only just begun. I don't have time to identify the right people.

"Those we take away must be able to let go of their hatred. Otherwise, given enough time, they'll inevitably seek revenge on Konoha.

"If that happens, the situation will be difficult to handle."

Chen nodded at Shisui's words. The three of them then shared the information they had gathered to make sure Danzo hadn't noticed anything.

In the days that followed, Chen continued training as usual. Now that he was five, he yearned for strength more than ever.

He opened the system panel and checked his stats once again.

Host: Uchiha Chen

Age: 5 (18)

Abilities: Ninjutsu: Three Body Technique LV1, Great Fireball Technique LV3, Flame Bullet LV2, Phoenix Sage Fire Technique LV1, Dragon Flame Technique LV1,

Fire Style Mastery LV1, Water Formation Wall LV1, Body Flicker Technique LV1, Flash Step LV1, Pale Fire Drop LV1.

Chakra Control LV1, Great Breakthrough LV1

Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu LV3.

Genjutsu: XXXXX.

Items: Asauchi, XXX Transformation Potion.

His ninjutsu had clearly increased a great deal compared to when he first started, though the vast majority of it was still only at level one.

This level of strength might have been enough for an ordinary shinobi, but Chen was still far from satisfied.

"Why did Uchiha Sasuke come here by himself today? I thought Itachi had gone out on a mission."

Chen was puzzled when he noticed Sasuke. Sasuke, meanwhile, stared at him with boundless fury.

Clearly, after more than half a month, Sasuke had finally realized that Chen had tricked him again.

"This time, I'm definitely going to beat you!"

"Beat me? Go on, then. What have you learned this time?"

Hearing Sasuke's words, Chen understood. The skies had cleared, the rain had stopped, and Uchiha Sasuke thought he could take him on again—the sequel had arrived.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A huge fireball shot straight toward Chen, but an attack like that meant nothing to him.

In fact, with his current strength, Chen could defeat Sasuke in an instant.

But simply beating Sasuke in one blow would be no fun. If he accidentally crushed Sasuke's spirit for good, wouldn't that mean the long-running series Sasuke Thinks He Can Again would have no sequel?

So Chen deliberately slowed down as he dodged Sasuke's attacks. Seeing this, Sasuke immediately unleashed a flurry of kunai.

Chen had no idea what Sasuke was thinking. Tying steel wires to kunai was perfectly normal, but using cables as thick as a finger—did Sasuke think Chen was blind?

Clumsily controlling the kunai, Sasuke attacked Chen with all his might.

Chen, meanwhile, looked thoroughly unimpressed.

He'd thought Sasuke had learned some new trick, but it was the same old routine. Chen couldn't help wondering where the kid got his confidence.

"System, can we make a deal?"

"What is it?"

"Teach me the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique."

"The Double Suicide Decapitation Technique? You want to plant Sasuke in the ground?"

"Exactly."

Hearing Chen's affirmative answer, the system fell silent for a moment.

"Ding! System notice: Uchiha Sasuke detected. Mission reward: Earth Release, Double Suicide Decapitation Technique."

"Ding! System notice: Mission complete. Uchiha Sasuke found successfully. Reward obtained: Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique."

"Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"

After learning the technique, Chen wasted no time activating it. Sure enough, Sasuke was planted underground, with only his head sticking out.

"Y-you, let me go!"

Sasuke struggled desperately, but with strength far below even a genin's, how could he break free of the jutsu?

"Uchiha Sasuke, I think you'll sprout in a few days if I plant you in the ground. After all, your head's full of weeds, isn't it?"

As he spoke, Chen took out a watering can and started watering Sasuke.

"You bastard, let me go! I'll kill you!"

"Honestly, calling you an idiot would be a compliment.

"You want to kill me, so why would I let you go?

"To be honest, I'm starting to regret planting you here. With your condition, it feels like the only thing that could grow from you is stinky fast grass. And even if something does grow, it'll be three hundred percent inedible."

"You damn Uchiha Chen! I'm definitely going to kill you!"

"What else can you do besides bark like a dog?"

After emptying the watering can, Chen got up and left. He casually set it on Sasuke's head, then went off to get lunch.

However, even Chen hadn't expected what happened next.

Not long after Chen left, a stray dog appeared from who knew where.

To a stray dog, Sasuke—planted in the ground with only his head exposed—was obviously a tree stump.

Well, stray dogs had to mark their territory wherever they went, didn't they?

And so...

Chen was walking through Konoha's streets when he spotted Hinata sitting at Ichiraku Ramen in the distance.

Hinata had given Chen quite a few ninjutsu, including several B-rank techniques. He hadn't forgotten that.

He'd wanted to thank her many times before, but he'd worried that, given the Uchiha Clan's reputation, visiting her would only cause trouble for Hinata.

"Chen."

Chen was lost in thought. Hinata happened to turn around and see him.

"Hinata, what a coincidence. How has your training been going lately?"

"Father says I've made a lot of progress. I have you to thank for opening my eyes, Chen."

Hinata smiled sweetly, and Chen sat down beside her and ordered a bowl of ramen.

"It was nothing. I should be the one thanking you. You gave me so many ninjutsu. If I'd had to obtain them the usual way, it would've taken a lot of missions."

"It was the least I could do. If it weren't for you, Chen, I might have carried on as I was before, and Father would have been even more disappointed in me."

Hinata wore a sweet, sunny smile.

Seeing her like this, Chen felt as if she were a completely different person from the Hinata he remembered.

Chen was about to say something when a voice caught his attention.

"Uncle Ichiraku, one bowl of miso ramen."

Following the voice, Chen saw a blond boy walk in.

As soon as he entered, the other people eating nearby hurried to finish their noodles, then turned and left.

Naruto? He looks even more miserable as a kid than he did in the original story.

Chen didn't want to draw the attention of the Anbu lurking nearby, so he had no plans to strike up a conversation with Naruto. But when he turned back, he noticed a trace of displeasure on Hinata's face.

She wasn't exactly disgusted, but Hinata didn't like Naruto at all.

Uh, how did this get so serious all of a sudden?

Is the future Hokage's wife going to slip away from him?