Uchiha Mikoto

"Everyone, no need to rush. Listen to me until I finish." Bai Lin's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable power. "I am stepping down from the Everything Shop, not because I am disheartened, nor because you have done poorly, but because I have more important things to do."

"The Third Hokage spoke with me today. From now on, I will serve as a ninja and contribute my strength to Konoha."

"Furthermore, the Everything Shop belongs to all of you. Stop saying things like 'what will we do without you'—I don't like hearing that."

"A ninja?" The crowd was full of question marks.

Hasn't the boss always been an ordinary person?

How could he suddenly become a ninja?

"I apologize, everyone. In truth, I am a genius. I have hidden my strength all these years simply because I wanted to live among you as an ordinary person."

"Because the ninja world is no longer peaceful." Bai Lin's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone carrying a deliberate weight. "War could break out at any moment. Only by becoming a stronger ninja can I hold up the sky for all of you in these chaotic times."

A collective gasp echoed through the room, and everyone's faces were filled with disbelief.

Xiao Zhi opened his mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

Might Duy slapped his thigh, his face flushed with passionate excitement. "Boss! So you've been hiding your strength all along! That's so cool! This is what youth should look like—staying low and dormant, then stunning everyone!"

"The second matter: Minato Namikaze, Might Duy, and Uchiha Mikoto will also be leaving the Everything Shop with me."

"Minato, you no longer need to hide your strength. Graduate from the Ninja Academy early; the battlefield is the place where your skills will improve the fastest."

"Mikoto, I know you want to change the villagers' perception of the Uchiha Clan, but you cannot achieve that alone while staying in the Everything Shop. Follow me, and I will give you a satisfactory answer."

"Duy, you..."

Bai Lin paused, suddenly unsure of what to say.

Might Duy's strength was lacking, and his talent was mediocre. Although he possessed the Eight Inner Gates as a trump card, he could only stably open the third gate, the Gate of Life, which placed him in the low-to-mid tier among ninjas.

His current strength was nowhere near the level of the 'Lucky Trio', and his potential seemed to have a visible ceiling.

Having spent so many years with Might Duy, Bai Lin had long since seen through his stubborn obsession with becoming a Chunin.

He might lack talent, but he possessed resilience and loyalty far beyond the average person.

While completing commissions for the Everything Shop, he never stopped training his body, which was why the report card in Bai Lin's hand read:

Might Duy, completed this month..., error rate increased by 20% compared to last month, villager satisfaction 50%, performance poor.

Now that Bai Lin intended to leave the Everything Shop, if he didn't take Duy with him, the man would likely feel discouraged and might even succumb to self-loathing or despair. It was better to simply pull him along to follow in his footsteps.

"Duy, from today on, abandon all duties at the Everything Shop and devote yourself entirely to training. I need to see your strength grow so that you can keep up with my pace and never be left far behind."

"Tell me with your youth and passion—do you have the confidence? Answer me!"

Bai Lin's voice was resonant, carrying an unquestionable power. His gaze locked onto Might Duy, as if trying to ignite the stubbornness deep within his heart.

Might Duy shuddered, the excitement on his face instantly replaced by boiling passion.

He stood up abruptly, his sturdy frame standing straight, his chest heaving violently, his eyes reddening with emotion. His voice was hoarse but exceptionally loud: "I do! I have the confidence!"

"I will not let you down, Boss! And I will never be left far behind!" His eyes shone with a scorching light, like a burning flame. "I will prove with my youth and passion that even without talent, I can keep up with your pace and become a companion you can trust!"

"Very good. Now, let me address the third matter: the situation with Yamamoto Toru."

"Tell all the villagers of Konoha that it is not they who abandoned the Everything Shop, but the Everything Shop that has abandoned them. Their actions violated the principles of our shop; their individual behavior must not tarnish the reputation of the Everything Shop."

"Xiao Zhi, from now on, you are the boss of the Everything Shop. You will need to handle this matter yourself. I will no longer manage this place; the Everything Shop is yours now."

Betrayal and treachery were the things Bai Lin could tolerate the least.

He would make Yamamoto Toru taste the same bitterness of being surrounded by rumors and despised by the villagers that Hatake Sakumo had endured—a traitor deserved such a price.

The truth never truly hurts anyone; it is the rumors and gossip that act as a blade.

In his past life, many ignorant people followed the crowd, allowing themselves to be swayed by public opinion to spread malice.

As the founder of the Will of Phosphorus, it was time to show the true power of the Will of Phosphorus.

"The rules of the Everything Shop remain unchanged: 'Serve the villagers with all your heart'." Bai Lin turned to the crowd, his tone softening slightly. "Xiao Zhi is your boss from now on. He is thoughtful and responsible; he will lead you all well. Although I am stepping down, I will always be your backing. If you encounter trouble you cannot solve, use my name; the villagers will show some respect."

"If you need anything, you can find me." Bai Lin patted Xiao Zhi on the shoulder, signaling him to step forward and give a speech.

After settling everything, Bai Lin did not linger, turning to walk toward the door. "Minato, Mikoto, Duy, follow me."

The three followed immediately, leaving behind the reluctant gazes of the crowd.

As he passed Xiao Ya, Bai Lin looked at her with an indifferent expression and said, "Xiao Ya, for the sake of you being a girl, I will give you a piece of advice."

"Don't underestimate me. You will definitely regret leaving the Everything Shop during this time!"

The moment he stepped out of the Everything Shop, Bai Lin looked up at the Konoha sky. The stars were twinkling tonight, I love you—bah!

Yet, they could not illuminate the hunger for power and authority deep within his heart.

"Minato, Duy, you two head back first!" Bai Lin commanded.

"Yes!"

The two lightbulbs departed, leaving only Bai Lin and Uchiha Mikoto.

"I haven't had dinner yet. I'll have to trouble you once more tonight; I love the food you make the most." Bai Lin's gaze turned gentle and tender.

A faint blush instantly appeared on Uchiha Mikoto's cheeks. With a subtle, shy movement of her eyes, she replied softly, "Okay."

Uchiha Mikoto had always served as Bai Lin's secretary, so their relationship was naturally intimate and inseparable.

The place where Bai Lin lived was a bit further from the center of Konoha, making the price much lower.

He naturally couldn't afford to buy it; like the Everything Shop, it was rented.

The two of them chatted happily as they arrived at Bai Lin's residence.

The house was very small, much like the one Naruto had at the beginning—a bed in the middle, a bathroom, and a kitchen; though the sparrow is small, it has all the vital organs.

Mikoto walked into the kitchen with practiced ease, tied on an apron, and began handling the ingredients with nimble fingertips.

Bai Lin leaned against the doorframe, watching her busy figure; the firelight reflected on her face, warm and healing.

"Sit for a while, I'm making your favorite miso soup and tempura, it'll be ready soon." Mikoto looked back at him with a gentle smile.

Bai Lin didn't answer, simply walking slowly to her side and embracing her from behind.

The two were pressed very close, able to clearly feel each other's breath, while the air was filled with the fresh scent of ingredients and a faint sense of intimacy.

"Mikoto," Bai Lin's voice was low and gentle, "as long as I become Hokage, I will make the Uchiha Clan fully integrate into the village. Do you believe me?"

"I believe you. As long as it's something Lin says, I believe it all!"