Warning

The afternoon class was held outdoors. Since they had only just started school, Taijutsu, which could easily cause injuries, wasn't suitable for the students yet. The lesson consisted of nothing more than a simple run to build their stamina. The students were free to do whatever they wanted with the time left over.

Ueda Shin also got the chance to meet Senju Kotoha alone and talk with her in private.

Meanwhile, Ito Makoto was with Sakura nearby. Seeing the two of them huddle together, he knew they were discussing something.

So he quietly adjusted his position to face them, activated his Sharingan, and copied their lip movements, reading their lips to figure out what they were saying.

"So, when are you planning to make your move?"

Ueda Shin asked Senju Kotoha.

"After school, naturally, when there's no one around," Senju Kotoha replied casually. "When are you planning to act?"

"Same as you. There are too many people at school, and too many eyes watching." Ueda Shin found a flat patch of ground and lay down. "I'm not stupid enough to make a move at school."

"By the way, your Harem Plan includes Yamanaka Ino, right?" Senju Kotoha asked curiously. "Whether or not Yamanaka Masami is a Transmigrator, she's still Yamanaka Ino's biological older sister. If you make a move on Yamanaka Masami, how will you win Yamanaka Ino's heart in the future?"

"I don't care whether she likes me," Ueda Shin said flatly. "I like her body, not her heart. As long as her body is mine, that's enough. Once I'm strong enough, I can force her to submit. She'll have no choice but to obey."

"Are you planning to force yourself on her?" Senju Kotoha frowned. She loathed that kind of behavior, which disregarded women, and as a woman herself, she could sympathize with them. "The shinobi villages and the Hokage won't allow that."

"Hahahahaha—"

Ueda Shin burst into laughter.

"Kotoha, how can you be so naive? We've seen the original story, so we know that in this world, strength lets you do whatever you want. If I'm strong enough to kill the Hokage, who can restrain me?"

"If I'm strong enough, what's wrong with having a harem? If I become the strongest in the world, then I'll force my way into having a harem. Which of those women would dare refuse?"

After hearing Ueda Shin's words, Senju Kotoha found herself unable to refute him. Perhaps that really was how this other world worked.

Strength could trample order, laws, morality, dignity, and every beautiful thing born into this world.

The strong could do whatever they wanted, while the weak could only scrape by in the cracks, at the mercy of the strong.

But as she looked at Ueda Shin, who was smugly gloating before her, she couldn't help sneering.

"Even if strength really does let you do whatever you want, what makes you think you'll be the strongest? This world is full of monsters, and geniuses are as numerous as fish crossing a river."

"You think you can rely on that Mera Mera no Mi from One Piece? Don't make me laugh. Your Fruit couldn't even beat me as I am now."

"And your physical training so far has made it clear that your stamina ranks in the lower middle among all the students. You got the top score on the entrance test by cheating and turning into flames, didn't you?"

"If I'm not mistaken, you hardly ever train your stamina."

"You're right. I never train my stamina. I wouldn't touch that exhausting, miserable work. And I don't just skip stamina training—I never train at all." Ueda Shin sat up and spoke calmly.

"Then what makes you think you'll become the strongest in the future?" Senju Kotoha mocked. "During this free period, even the students who did poorly on the stamina test are doing extra training. Even Ito Makoto and Haruno Sakura are still working on their stamina. Meanwhile, you've already hidden away here to rest."

"Even if you're strong now, won't they be able to surpass you in the future?"

Ueda Shin snorted.

"I'm not like you ordinary people. I'm chosen by fate. You're all just mediocre nobodies."

"And," Ueda Shin said, his anger hidden in his throat, "don't lump me together with that Ito Makoto. What right does that good-for-nothing have to compare himself to me?"

"That piece of trash actually dares to stay by Sakura's side. Sooner or later, I'll take Sakura away from him."

Ueda Shin really dared to think of anything! From a distance, Ito Makoto read his words, and anger welled up inside him.

He thought of Sakura as his little sister and felt a familial affection for her.

And now that scumbag Ueda Shin had his sights set on Sakura, intending to take advantage of her.

Even with his cautious, play-it-safe nature, he couldn't help feeling a flicker of murderous intent.

Should I take a risk and kill this guy? Ito Makoto seriously considered the idea.

He wasn't afraid of Ueda Shin. Although Ueda Shin had the power of a Logia Fruit and could ignore physical attacks, Ninjutsu attacks and Natural Energy should still work.

Earlier, Senju Kotoha had used Water Breathing to infuse her Ninja Blade with Natural Energy before attacking Ueda Shin. According to Senju Kotoha, if Ueda Shin hadn't separated his head in advance, she was certain her blade could have struck it.

Ito Makoto knew Water Style, which could defend against fire attacks. Although he didn't know any offensive Water Release Ninjutsu, he could use Sage Mode.

As long as he bought a Ninja Blade and infused it with Natural Energy, he could cut off Ueda Shin's head before he had a chance to react, given Ito Makoto's current Taijutsu skills and Ueda Shin's pathetic physical ability.

What truly gave Ito Makoto pause wasn't Ueda Shin himself, but the attitude of Konoha's leadership and the Hokage.

Just as Senju Kotoha would be killed by the Third Hokage if she killed Ueda Shin, Ito Makoto would also be sentenced to death by the Hokage if he killed him. Although Ito Makoto had Reverse Summoning Jutsu and could escape, he had even put his mother's name on the Contract Scroll so he could take her with him.

But after that, they would become rogue ninja and face Konoha's relentless pursuit.

Putting his mother in danger just to protect one of his relatives—however he looked at it, he'd be letting her down.

Damn it. Ito Makoto rubbed his head. Why did someone like me have so many constraints and entanglements whenever I wanted to deal with someone? Meanwhile, someone like Ueda Shin, with no parents, relatives, or friends, could do whatever he wanted.

Suppressing his anger, Ito Makoto temporarily put his murderous intent to rest. After thinking it through, he realized it had gone too far. The situation hadn't yet reached the point where he needed to kill someone and turn everything upside down. Ueda Shin's methods were still within his control.

Still, he couldn't let his guard down. He needed to raise his vigilance toward Ueda Shin another level and strengthen his protection of Sakura. He also needed to speed up preparations for a Ninja Blade and his Breathing Technique training, in case anything unexpected happened.

With precautions in place on all fronts, Ueda Shin wouldn't be able to do anything dangerous.

Ito Makoto also planned to step up his surveillance of Ueda Shin. Although the Anbu patrols covered Konoha like an impenetrable net, even the tightest net had gaps to slip through.

He planned to have the Golden Eagle keep Ueda Shin under long-term surveillance. If an opportunity arose, he wouldn't let it pass—he'd use Reverse Summoning Jutsu to appear on the spot and kill him.