"Next, Mikoto." Tsunade turned to Uchiha Mikoto, her tone softening slightly.
Mikoto took a deep breath and slowly raised her head. Her gentle features held a hint of resolve. "My name is Uchiha Mikoto. My favorite food is dango. The person I like most..."
She paused and stole a glance at Bai Lin, her ears turning red. "Is someone who keeps his promises and protects the Uchiha."
"My dream is for the Uchiha Clan to become fully integrated into Konoha, no longer isolated or judged. I want my clan to live peacefully in the sunlight, alongside every other clan, and for the Sharingan to become a power that protects Konoha, rather than a weapon people fear."
Her voice was quiet, but her words carried great weight. Her eyes shone with hope for the future.
Tsunade looked at her intently and nodded.
She held no prejudice against the Uchiha Clan. Konoha was her home, and every person and clan in it deserved equal treatment.
Wasn't this the peace her grandfather Hashirama had pursued all his life—a peace where people protected one another, no matter their clan?
Although her granduncle often shouted about the "inherently evil Uchiha," she knew he treated the Uchiha Clan no differently from anyone else.
The Uchiha were simply too unusual. When extreme emotions took hold, the power of the Sharingan could harm the village. That was why her granduncle feared them—he didn't know how to handle the situation.
"All right. Now that everyone has introduced themselves..."
"Let me tell you a few things."
Tsunade spoke to the three of them seriously.
Bai Lin dropped his playful expression and grew serious as well.
"Because of Hanzo of the Salamander and Amegakure, the situation in the Ninja World is grim. The village has completely suspended its mission system, so I can't take you on missions or help you grow anymore."
"The village will assign its ninja to different units. Don't worry—you'll stay with me, and I'll protect you."
Tsunade's grave tone shattered the lighthearted mood.
"Tsunade, what plans does the village have?" Bai Lin asked.
He wasn't concerned about missions. He already had plans of his own.
"Teacher has divided the village's ninja into four units."
"The first will be led by Orochimaru. They'll set out tomorrow for the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire. Their job is to tie down Hanzo's main forces, prevent him from taking the opportunity to invade Konoha, and keep watch on Iwagakure, whose stance is unclear."
"Jiraiya and I have been assigned to that unit, but I'll be serving as a medic. We'll set out with the supply corps in three days, and you'll come with me." Tsunade explained carefully.
"Oh? So the departure dates are different?" Bai Lin nodded, pondering.
He remembered that Nawaki would die this year. Judging by Nawaki's behavior, he seemed completely inexperienced. There was a good chance he'd fall into a trap while overeager to prove himself on this mission to the border of the Land of Rain.
He wondered what Orochimaru had taught him. How could he have been killed by an Explosive Tag?
"The second unit will be led by our senior, Hatake Sakumo. They'll leave tomorrow to guard the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, prevent a surprise attack by Sunagakure, and learn their troop deployments and battle plans."
"The third unit will be led by Torifu Akimichi. They'll guard the northeastern border of the Land of Fire and watch the movements of Kirigakure and Kumogakure. If they notice anything unusual, they'll send word back at once to prevent us from being attacked on two fronts."
"The last unit will be led by Teacher himself. They'll defend Konoha and coordinate the overall response, as well as handle any emergencies that arise."
As Bai Lin listened to Tsunade, he began laying out his own plans.
A moment later.
"Tsunade," Bai Lin said gravely, his tone firm and uncompromising, "I have a request. Let me set out early with Lord Orochimaru's unit."
Tsunade frowned. "What are you planning? Orochimaru's unit is only leaving a few days before ours. There's no need to go early."
"I know. I have my own plans."
"But..." Tsunade started to hesitate, but Bai Lin cut her off.
"Mikoto will come with me, and Kushina will go with you."
The past few days had been a complete waste of time ever since he gained the strength of Sasuke Uchiha (Snake Sasuke). He might as well leave the village early and test his theory about the system.
The system's ways of earning money were doing business, completing missions, and killing enemies.
Once the war began, he wouldn't be short on money earned by killing enemies. But that would mean wasting too much time fighting. To quickly reach the system's required amount, he had to find more ways to earn money.
As for why he was bringing Mikoto along, he had his own plans. He didn't intend to stay with Orochimaru's unit. Once they left the village, he would go his own way and help Mikoto, who had just awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, improve.
Kushina was too weak, and it would be inconvenient to look after her. It would be better to let her take her time getting to the battlefield with Tsunade.
"Big Brother Bai Lin, I want to go with you too!" Kushina protested, anxious that he wasn't taking her along.
Bai Lin patted her head and said gently, "Kushina, listen to me. You're going with Tsunade."
"While I'm away, keep training hard. The battlefield isn't a game. Even I can't guarantee I'll be safe every moment. You don't want to hold me back because you're too weak, do you?"
"I created a new ninjutsu. It's called Rasengan. Once you've finished the training I gave you, you can start learning it."
Bai Lin took a scroll from the System Space and handed it to Kushina.
"Oh." Kushina's spirits sank.
Night fell.
Following the address Tsunade had given him, Bai Lin found Orochimaru.
"Bai Lin, what brings you here so late?" Orochimaru asked. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes when he saw Bai Lin, then he smiled meaningfully. "Is there something you want to learn?"
"I told you Tsunade wasn't suited to be your teacher. I don't know what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking."
"Lord Orochimaru." Bai Lin gave a slight nod, his tone calm. "I've asked my teacher for permission to set out with you tomorrow for the border of the Land of Rain."
"Oh?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Is it because you can't wait to take part in your first war?"
"You're still a child, after all. The next few years probably won't be peaceful. Leaving a few days earlier or later won't make much difference."
"Heh." Bai Lin chuckled. "It really won't make much difference, but I can't sit around for the next few days."
"I came to discuss a few trades with you."
"A trade?" Orochimaru asked, puzzled. "What do you want to trade with me? If it's ninjutsu you're after, I can teach you just as I would one of my own students, whether or not you're Tsunade's disciple."
He didn't know why, but Bai Lin seemed strangely familiar to him. He felt as though he saw his own reflection in Bai Lin, and couldn't help wanting to nurture him.