"Everyone, don't rush. Let me finish." Bai Lin spoke calmly, but his voice carried an undeniable force. "I'm leaving the Everything Shop not because I'm disappointed in you or because you've done anything wrong. It's because I have something more important to do."
"Today, the Third talked with me. From now on, I'll serve Konoha as a ninja."
"And the Everything Shop belongs to all of you. Stop saying it won't be the same without me. I don't like hearing that."
"A ninja?" The crowd was baffled.
Hadn't their boss always been an ordinary person?
How had he suddenly decided to become a ninja?
"I'm sorry, everyone. The truth is, I'm a genius. I've been hiding my abilities all these years because I wanted to spend time with you as an ordinary person."
"Because the Ninja World is growing unstable." Bai Lin's gaze swept over everyone, his tone deliberately grave. "War could break out at any moment. I have to become a stronger ninja if I'm going to protect all of you in these troubled times."
A chorus of sharp intakes of breath rang through the room. Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
Xiao Zhi opened his mouth, but for a long moment, no words came out.
Might Duy slapped his thigh, his face alight with fervor. "Boss! So you've been hiding your strength this whole time! That's so cool! This is what youth is all about—lying low, then dazzling everyone!"
"Second, Minato Namikaze, Might Duy, and Uchiha Mikoto will also be leaving the Everything Shop with me."
"Minato, you don't need to hide your abilities anymore. Graduate from the Ninja Academy early. The battlefield is where your strength will grow fastest."
"Mikoto, I know you want to change how the villagers view the Uchiha Clan, but you can't do that alone from inside the Everything Shop. Come with me, and I'll give you the answer you're looking for."
"Duy, you..."
Bai Lin paused, suddenly unsure what to say.
Might Duy lacked both strength and talent. Though he had the Eight Inner Gates as a trump card, he could reliably open only the third gate, the Gate of Life. Among ninjas, that put him somewhere in the lower-middle ranks.
He was nowhere near the level he needed to be for the "Lucky Trio." His potential seemed to have an obvious ceiling.
Bai Lin had known Might Duy for years and had long since seen how stubbornly he wanted to become a Chunin.
He might not have talent, but he had more grit and loyalty than most.
Even while completing assignments for the Everything Shop, he hadn't stopped training his body. So, in the report Bai Lin had on him, it said:
"Might Duy: completed..., errors up 20% from last month, villager satisfaction 50%, poor performance."
Now that Bai Lin planned to leave the Everything Shop, Might Duy would likely never accept being left behind. He might even grow insecure or give up altogether. It was better to bring him along and let him follow in Bai Lin's footsteps.
"Duy, starting today, give up all your work at the Everything Shop and devote yourself to training. I need to see your strength grow. From now on, keep up with me and don't let me leave you far behind."
"Tell me with your youth and passion: do you have confidence? Answer me!"
Bai Lin's voice rang out with force, leaving no room for doubt. His eyes were fixed on Might Duy, as though he meant to set the man's stubborn resolve ablaze.
Might Duy shuddered, his excitement instantly replaced by a surge of burning fervor.
He sprang to his feet, his sturdy frame ramrod straight. His chest heaved, his eyes reddened with emotion, and his hoarse voice rang out loud and clear. "I do! I have confidence!"
"I won't let you down, Boss! And I won't let you leave me behind!" His eyes blazed with fire. "I'll prove with my youth and passion that even without talent, I can keep up with you and become a comrade you can trust!"
"Good. Now, the third matter: Yamamoto Toru."
"Tell every villager in Konoha that they didn't abandon the Everything Shop—the Everything Shop abandoned them. Their actions went against our principles, and their personal behavior mustn't damage the shop's reputation."
"Xiao Zhi, you're in charge of the Everything Shop from now on. You'll have to deal with this yourself. I won't be managing things here anymore. I'm leaving the shop in your hands."
Bai Lin could never tolerate betrayal or treachery.
He intended to make Yamamoto Toru taste the same fate as Hatake Sakumo: being hounded by rumors and despised by the villagers. Betrayers deserved to pay that price.
The truth itself never truly hurt people. Rumors and gossip were the real knives.
In his previous life, during online witch hunts, countless people who knew nothing about the facts had blindly followed the crowd, swept up in public opinion and spreading their malice without restraint.
As the founder of the Will of Phosphorus, it was time for Bai Lin to show what it could do.
"The rules of the Everything Shop won't change. We'll still 'serve the villagers with all our hearts.'" Bai Lin turned to the group, his tone softening. "Xiao Zhi will be your boss from now on. He's thoughtful and responsible, and he'll lead you all well. I may be leaving, but I'll always have your backs. If you run into trouble you can't handle, give my name. The villagers will show you some respect."
"Come to me if anything comes up." Bai Lin patted Xiao Zhi on the shoulder, signaling for him to step forward and speak.
Having finished his instructions, Bai Lin didn't linger. He turned toward the door. "Minato, Mikoto, Duy, come with me."
The three followed at once, while the others watched them go with reluctant expressions.
As he passed Xiao Ya, Bai Lin looked at her calmly. "Xiao Ya, since you're a girl, I'll give you a word of advice."
"Don't underestimate me. You'll absolutely regret leaving the Everything Shop!"
The moment he stepped out of the Everything Shop, Bai Lin looked up at Konoha's sky. The stars sparkled that night. Love you—ugh!
Yet their light couldn't reach the hunger for power and strength in his heart.
"Minato, Duy, you two head back first," Bai Lin instructed.
"Yes!"
Once the two human light bulbs had left, only Bai Lin and Uchiha Mikoto remained.
"I haven't had dinner yet. I'll have to trouble you again tonight. I love your cooking more than anything." Bai Lin's gaze softened, turning tender.
Mikoto's cheeks flushed faintly. A hint of bashfulness passed through her eyes, and she replied softly, "Okay."
Uchiha Mikoto had always been Bai Lin's secretary, so the two were naturally very close.
Bai Lin lived a little farther from the center of Konoha, where rent was much cheaper.
He couldn't afford to buy a place, of course. Just like the Everything Shop, he rented it.
They chatted cheerfully as they made their way to Bai Lin's home.
The place was tiny, much like Naruto's first apartment, but it had everything: a bed in the middle, a bathroom, and a kitchen.
Mikoto walked into the kitchen with practiced ease, tied on an apron, and deftly began preparing the ingredients.
Bai Lin leaned against the doorframe, watching her work. The firelight fell across her face, warm and soothing.
"Sit down for a bit. I'll make the miso soup and tempura you like. It'll be ready soon." Mikoto glanced back at him with a gentle smile.
Bai Lin didn't answer. He simply walked over and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
They stood close enough to feel each other's breath. The fragrance of the ingredients mingled with a faint, tender intimacy in the air.
"Mikoto," Bai Lin said in a low, gentle voice, "once I become Hokage, I'll help the Uchiha Clan become a part of the village for good. Do you believe me?"
"I do. I believe everything you say, Phosphorus!"