Impressive Skills

"Too fast!"

Namikaze Minato had always considered himself one of the fastest people his age, but he hadn't expected this guy to be even more terrifying.

"I already told you that wasn't me that day. Don't think I'll let you keep spouting nonsense just because you're a girl."

Shen Ye's shuriken was now at Kushina's throat. He only needed to apply a little pressure to leave a mark on her fair skin.

"Unless you actually prove it to me, I'll keep suspecting you."

Shen Ye rolled his eyes at Kushina, unable to understand why she was so stubborn.

Seeing this, Namikaze Minato hurried between them to play peacemaker. He put one hand on Shen Ye's wrist and gently pushed Kushina's shoulder away with the other.

Shen Ye hadn't really intended to do anything to Kushina, so he used the opportunity to step back twice.

"You're so good at this. What else is there to explain? A rooftop like that would be a piece of cake for you."

"Damn, are you ever going to let this go?"

Shen Ye rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward, and Namikaze Minato quickly blocked the two of them.

"Don't keep arguing, you two. I believe Shen Ye isn't that kind of person. Kushina, you must have mistaken him for someone else."

"I couldn't have mistaken him. His silhouette was exactly the same as that guy's."

"Have you not heard that someone impersonating Jiraiya has appeared in the village? The person you saw that day must have been him."

Kushina stared at Shen Ye, half convinced, trying to spot a trace of guilt in his eyes.

But she saw nothing there, only clarity.

Feeling the tension in the air, Namikaze Minato hurriedly led them both over to Ichiraku Ramen, afraid they might start fighting again.

Only good food could put their grudge to rest. Shen Ye hadn't meant to target Kushina; he just wanted her to stop talking nonsense.

The moment Kushina tasted the ramen, her expression relaxed. Her face brightened with a smile, and her delight was plain to see.

Beside her, Namikaze Minato rested his chin on one hand and quietly watched Kushina take bite after bite.

This guy really did fall for Kushina this early. I won't compete with him. Someone with Kushina's fiery temper isn't my type.

Shen Ye privately looked down on Namikaze Minato a little, then patted him on the shoulder and stood up to leave.

"I've got some other things to do. Stay here and keep Kushina company."

Minato tried to persuade him to stay, but Shen Ye was already gone after a few quick leaps.

A short while later, Shen Ye appeared in an open clearing and clenched his fist.

"System, what skill did I steal from Kushina just now?"

"Host, Steal Skill is still on cooldown, so today's only gain is Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique!"

"What? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Ding! The skill cooldown has ten minutes remaining. The host can steal a skill again after ten minutes."

Shen Ye sighed deeply. He'd rushed over to Kushina then so he could steal her ability while he was at it.

He hadn't expected to get nothing.

There was nothing he could do about it. This was all thanks to the Ghost God System, after all.

Ten minutes was nothing to Shen Ye, so there was no need to rush.

After all, the only things that attracted Ye Xuan to Kushina were her powerful healing ability and enormous chakra reserves.

He could gradually obtain both of those abilities from Tsunade and Jiraiya, so he'd be better off looking for skills suited to direct attacks.

He put his words into action and hurried toward the village outskirts. The forest near the village was full of Konoha shinobi training.

"Shen Ye, what are you planning to do outside the village at this hour?"

"I'm just going for a walk in the nearby forest and learning from the seniors' training."

The shinobi guarding Konoha's gate frowned doubtfully.

So many things had happened in the village recently that he found it hard to believe Shen Ye was just an innocent child. He didn't want to let him come and go as he pleased.

"What are you two hesitating about?"

Tsunade's voice rang out nearby, and then her graceful figure strolled toward them.

"Lady Tsunade, Shen Ye wants to wander around the forest near the village. I think it's too dangerous out there, so I'm not letting him leave."

"Let him go. I'll take responsibility if anything happens."

"But..."

The guard tried to say more, but Shen Ye nimbly turned a couple of times and ran out of the village.

From beyond Konoha's gate, Shen Ye smiled and waved at Tsunade, then disappeared into the forest.

Tsunade shook her head helplessly and turned to continue patrolling the village, searching for the person impersonating Jiraiya.

"It really is different here from inside the village. I can feel the fighting in the air before I've even reached the depths of the forest."

"Hey, kid. You shouldn't be wandering around here. It's dangerous."

A man with a Sharingan appeared in Shen Ye's line of sight. The Forehead Protector he wore showed that he was a Genin from Konoha.

"Are you a member of the Uchiha Clan?"

"That's right. Today is the clan's annual hunt. Everyone in this forest right now is a member of the Uchiha Clan."

"A hunt? I've never heard of that before."

"You're an outsider, so I can't tell you much. I suggest you leave quietly."

Shen Ye rubbed his chin as an idea came to him. Before turning to leave, he patted the Uchiha Clan member on the shoulder.

The other man was puzzled, but didn't think much of it.

As Shen Ye silently thought, Steal Skill, the system quietly activated its ability and transferred one of the man's skills into Shen Ye's mind.

"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan through Steal Skill! Skill cooldown: 3 hours."

"Talk about perfect timing. I managed to steal the Sharingan just when I needed it."

A faint smile appeared on Shen Ye's lips as he took another path back to the village.

By now, not a single member of the Uchiha Clan remained in Konoha, which made Shen Ye's next move much easier.

After several quick leaps, Shen Ye reached the Uchiha Clan compound and found himself a suitable set of clothes.

When he returned to the forest, Shen Ye was dressed in Uchiha Clan clothing. No one would have spotted a single flaw at first glance.

"With Sage Mode, I have enough chakra to keep the Sharingan active. Now things are going to get interesting."