Kushina Uzumaki

"Xiao Zhi, do me a favor and notify all members to come to the Everything Shop tonight for a meeting."

Bai Lin wore a beaming smile, yet his tone remained chillingly flat: "Also, tell Yamamoto Toru, A-Li, and Xiao Ya that they can come if they wish, but if they don't—"

"Take back their wristbands. From today on, there is no place for them in the Everything Shop."

His eyes turned cold as he finished the sentence.

"It's about time for the Konoha Ninja Academy to let out, isn't it?" Bai Lin looked out the window toward the school, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I'm going to pick up Minato. Leave the rest to you."

"Boss..." Xiao Zhi opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

"Go," Bai Lin interrupted, his tone brooking no argument.

But school let out ages ago; you won't make it in time if you leave now!

Xiao Zhi muttered to himself. Seeing that Bai Lin was in a good mood and likely knew what he was doing, he didn't press the issue, turned, and hurried away.

Watching Xiao Zhi leave, Bai Lin straightened his clothes and stepped out of the Everything Shop with a smile.

I never expected you to betray me just when I was at my happiest. I might as well use your failure to put on a good show.

Yamamoto Toru, since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish.

The streets of Konoha were bustling; children chased each other in play, villagers chatted in small groups, and the occasional ninja blurred across the rooftops, carrying the unique peace and vitality of Konoha.

Bai Lin walked through the crowd, his long hair tied back with a wooden pin. Paired with his strikingly handsome face, he drew frequent glances from passersby.

"Young Master Lin, off to pick up Minato again?" The proprietress of the steamed bun shop at the corner poked her head out, waving at him with a smile. "You seem to be particularly fond of that boy, Minato?"

Bai Lin paused, returning a gentle smile: "Sister Konghua! Minato is gifted and has a gentle personality; he is the true successor to the Will of Fire. I have high hopes for him."

"Anyone Young Master Lin thinks highly of must be an outstanding person. He'll surely become a brilliant ninja one day."

"Here, take these fresh, hot buns to eat with Minato."

Bai Lin accepted the buns from the proprietress and thanked her.

The members of the Everything Shop had an excellent reputation among the villagers and were deeply loved by them.

Although Bai Lin taught them never to take so much as a needle or thread from the villagers, he, as their leader, was the exception to the rule.

After all, his system required money, and every little bit saved helped.

"Young Master Lin..."

"Young Master Lin..."

As Bai Lin walked down the streets of Konoha, villagers greeted him with smiles at every turn.

A vegetable-selling grandmother stuffed a bunch of fresh greens into his hands, and the flower shop owner teased him, telling him to find a girlfriend soon so he could take flowers for free.

Even the patrolling ninjas nodded in greeting when they saw him. This was the goodwill the Everything Shop had earned through years of honest work.

If Bai Lin could produce some solid combat achievements, given his prestige among the villagers and the potential support of most Jonin, he would have a strong chance of competing for the position of Hokage.

"The timing is just about right. It's time to reveal the strength I've acquired." Bai Lin bit into a bun, a flash of sharpness crossing his eyes.

"The meager monthly profits from the Everything Shop are nowhere near enough to provide me with the massive consumption funds I need."

Bai Lin had transmigrated into this body, which was naturally incapable of refining chakra; he couldn't become a ninja through hard work alone.

To grow stronger, he had no path other than relying on the system.

Today, he had finally scraped together 1 million, unlocked the 'Newbie Value Gift Pack,' and obtained the template for Sasuke Uchiha (Snake Sasuke). However, his strength was fixed and could not be further improved.

Even if he activated the Sharingan, he couldn't learn new ninjutsu or taijutsu to expand his capabilities.

Unless he continued to spend money in the system to exchange for draws, he would remain at a standstill.

"If we're talking about making money, you need power and status to earn even more."

"Let's set a small goal first: my game in the ninja world starts with becoming Hokage."

Just as he was setting this small goal for himself, a red-haired girl suddenly came running through the bustling crowd.

The girl ran so fast that her vibrant red hair flew behind her like octopus tentacles, making her exceptionally eye-catching.

"Is this? The Uzumaki Clan?"

Bai Lin squinted at the girl's red hair.

"I've lived in Konoha for so many years and haven't seen anyone from the Uzumaki Clan. With that iconic hair color, could it be her?"

The point in time he had transmigrated to was not the Naruto era; the Second Shinobi World War had not yet fully erupted in Konoha.

Hanzo of the Salamander had not yet declared war on Sunagakure, Konoha, and the Land of Iron simultaneously, but the signals coming from the village made Bai Lin feel that the Second Shinobi World War was not far off.

"Since Kushina has already been brought to Konoha, Uzushio Village must have been destroyed by now. She must be one of the last few survivors of the Uzumaki Clan found by Konoha."

Bai Lin calculated rapidly, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.

He wasn't happy about the destruction of Uzushio Village, of course; it had nothing to do with him, and whether it was destroyed or not was irrelevant.

He had heard in his past life that Kushina owned an entire street of assets, though he didn't know if it was true or not.

If it were true, Bai Lin certainly wouldn't let such a little rich girl slip through his fingers.

Kushina Uzumaki charged straight toward Bai Lin. Thanks to the power boost from Sasuke Uchiha, Bai Lin felt his dynamic vision had long since surpassed that of an ordinary person.

He could see the traces of tears in Kushina Uzumaki's reddened eyes.

A flash of realization crossed his mind; she must have been bullied on her first day at the Ninja Academy.

Seeing they were about to collide, Kushina Uzumaki tilted her body slightly, trying to dodge.

Seeing this, Bai Lin took the initiative to intercept her with his own body.

"Ouch, what are you doing?"

He intentionally let the momentum knock him backward, his back slamming hard against the stone path as the steamed bun in his hand rolled away.

He clutched his arm, furrowing his brows as he let out a cry of pain.

Kushina Uzumaki also stumbled and fell to the ground, her red hair splayed messily over her shoulders. Her eyes grew even redder, but she bit her lip, holding back tears and refusing to even look at him. "I... I didn't mean to!"

Her voice was thick with tears, yet she stubbornly scrambled to her feet and turned to run away again.

She didn't want anyone to see her in such a pathetic state; she just wanted to find a place where no one could see her and hide.

"Minato Namikaze, go stop her quickly. With her rushing around like that, it's one thing if she bumps into me, but it wouldn't be good if she hit other villagers."

Bai Lin had long since spotted Minato Namikaze, who had been following Kushina Uzumaki the whole way.

He was on the rooftop, his yellow hair gleaming in the setting sun, as if he were someone born to stand on the moral high ground.

Hearing Bai Lin's shout, he immediately leaped down, landing steadily a few paces in front of Bai Lin.

"Boss, she's a new transfer student in our class, her name is Kushina Uzumaki."

"Regarding what just happened, I apologize to you on her behalf. Please, forgive her."

He scratched his head, his tone carrying a hint of cunning. "But Boss, you let her bump into you on purpose, didn't you? I saw it all."

"So what if I did?"

Bai Lin brushed the dust off his back and looked up at Minato Namikaze, the smile in his eyes deepening. "Go stop her. That girl seems to have been wronged at the Ninja Academy, and it seems you failed to help a classmate."

"Watching a classmate get bullied while just standing by and watching—is this the Will of Fire you believe in?"

"It seems you haven't taken the words I taught you to heart, have you?"

Minato Namikaze scratched his head, feeling an inexplicable sense of pressure under Bai Lin's direct gaze.

"I'm sorry, Boss, actually I..." Minato Namikaze tried to explain.

"Don't explain anything to me yet. Save it for later; go stop her first."

Although Bai Lin's face still wore a grin, his tone was flat.

"I understand!" Minato Namikaze replied immediately, condensing chakra under his feet as his figure vanished from Bai Lin's field of vision.

"Honestly, is my Will of Phosphorus really no match for the Will of Fire?" Bai Lin shook his head and began to stroll slowly in the direction Minato Namikaze had left.

(Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki: Konoha Year 27, 8 years old this year, graduating at age 10.)

(Nawaki: Konoha Year 23, 12 years old, died this year in the Second Shinobi World War.)