Scheming

"I didn't expect to gain so much this time. Looks like I'll have to make some changes to my plan."

Yun Xi hadn't expected his strength to improve by leaps and bounds after his first meeting with the Third Hokage.

He had not only acquired a Mangekyō Sharingan, but had also gained knowledge of every Fire Style Ninjutsu thanks to the system's reward.

That was what surprised Yun Xi the most.

The Mangekyō Sharingan was exceptional, and it was also an extremely powerful Kekkei Genkai.

But Yun Xi wasn't an Uchiha, so using a Kekkei Genkai came with too many risks.

The Heaven Curse Mark was the same. Using a forbidden technique that didn't belong to Konoha without warning would inevitably put Yun Xi in danger.

Yun Xi understood this, so he'd been hiding his abilities all along. Even when he'd tested the Anbu by attacking them, he'd used only basic Taijutsu.

He'd done it to conceal his strength, and this system reward would resolve his predicament at its root.

It would also make his abilities more well-rounded.

Fire Style Ninjutsu was supposedly incapable of killing anyone in the original story.

Its only somewhat famous feat was that one Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet from Madara that took out a bunch of nameless ninja in one shot.

But for Yun Xi right now, it was an invaluable gift.

Besides, Konoha specialized in Fire Style, and even civilian ninja knew a few basic Fire Style Ninjutsu.

That meant Yun Xi wouldn't have to worry about explaining where his Fire Style came from.

"Open the status panel."

After absorbing all the Fire Style knowledge the system had given him, Yun Xi opened his status panel again.

He wanted to see how strong he'd become after this boost!

"Ding. Status panel opened. Please check it yourself, host."

After a prompt, the virtual panel appeared before Yun Xi once more...

Host: Yun Xi

Age: 6 years old.

Strength: Chunin (under the Curse Mark's influence: Special Jōnin) (with the Mangekyō Sharingan and Heaven Curse Mark: Kage Level.)

Ninjutsu mastered: Three Body Technique, Heaven Curse Mark, Multi-Shadow Clone Technique, Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique...

Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan.

Ninjutsu talent: B

Taijutsu talent: B

Genjutsu talent: S

"So I have Kage-level combat strength with the Sharingan and Heaven Curse Mark activated?"

After looking over his latest status panel, Yun Xi was a little bewildered.

He hadn't expected the system to rate his strength as Kage-level.

Based on what Yun Xi knew about Naruto, even with the Heaven Curse Mark activated and a single Mangekyō Sharingan open, he'd be at best evenly matched with Kakashi or Guy with six gates open.

That definitely wasn't Kage-level strength.

"Ding. System notice: The system's combat strength assessment is for reference only."

Just as Yun Xi was utterly baffled, the usually unobtrusive system took the initiative to remind him.

"System, are you saying your assessment compares me to an average ninja?"

Yun Xi hurriedly pressed the system for an answer, but it didn't respond—or disagree...

"Looks like this lousy system's combat assessment probably uses the nameless characters in the Naruto story as its standard."

After receiving the system's reminder, Yun Xi finally understood where his supposed Kage-level strength came from.

Could the Konoha Sannin from thirty years ago really compare to Orochimaru during the Fourth Shinobi World War?

Yun Xi figured his current strength was probably about the same as Uchiha Itachi's at the same age.

He might have an advantage in chakra reserves, but his combat experience couldn't compare to Itachi's years in the Anbu.

If his enemy were the Third Hokage, he still wouldn't be able to win. He should be able to escape, though.

"Still not strong enough. Time to spend more!"

Once he'd figured out his strength, his earlier excitement vanished.

All that remained on Yun Xi's face was a deep-seated Grudge...

"Huh? Yuxi, what are you doing here?"

On Konoha Main Street, a familiar voice broke through Yun Xi's Grudge.

Yun Xi turned and saw that it was Naruto.

"Hey, Naruto, why aren't you at school? What are you doing out here?"

Thinking of the Third Hokage's request, Yun Xi took the initiative to greet him.

"Iruka-sensei said we only had to register on the first day of school. We're free this afternoon."

Seeing Yun Xi ask him first, Naruto answered with a cheerful grin.

"Alright. I'll take you out to eat tonight."

Since it was getting late, and he'd promised the Third Hokage he would look after Naruto, Yuxi took the initiative to invite him.

"Really?"

Naruto was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Yun Xi to invite him to eat.

Combined with Yun Xi's help that morning, it left Naruto deeply shaken.

"Thank you..."

A trace of kindness appeared in Naruto's foxlike eyes...

The wariness he'd held onto for so long disappeared at that moment.

"What are you thanking me for? Come on."

Seeing how awkward Naruto was acting, Yun Xi felt a little helpless and headed straight for Konoha's Back Mountain.

Naruto followed him excitedly, practically skipping along.

A few minutes later, after Yun Xi and Naruto had left Konoha Main Street, two Anbu Chunin suddenly appeared.

After a brief exchange, they vanished again...

They headed in the direction of the Hokage Office Building...

A few seconds later, another group of masked ninja appeared where Yun Xi and Naruto had been.

"Getting close to Naruto caught Danzo's attention? What a pain..."

In Konoha's Back Mountain, Yun Xi lay on the grass, quietly making plans.

Not far away, Naruto was catching fish in a pool, looking quite pleased.

The reason Yun Xi had brought Naruto to the Back Mountain to fish was simple.

He'd already spent all the money the Third Hokage had given him on the system...

And Yun Xi didn't have any money of his own, either.

So fishing was the only way to get by...

Yun Xi thought, "What's wrong with enjoying nature's bounty? Wouldn't it be better to save the money for more spending?"

"Ah, Danzo... Looks like I'll have to pay him a visit..."

In fact, Yun Xi had realized he was being followed as soon as he left the Hokage Building.

At first, he hadn't paid it any mind, and he'd been too busy spending money on the system to bother with whoever was tailing him.

But Yun Xi hadn't expected another group to show up later. He'd even sensed hostility from two of them.

So Yun Xi naturally knew who the two groups were working for.

One group belonged to the Anbu, a force controlled by the Hokage.

The other belonged to Root, Danzo's subordinates!

With the strength he'd had before, Yun Xi wouldn't have dared face Root and the Danzo behind them.

But now that he'd obtained the Mangekyō Sharingan and learned all kinds of basic Fire Style Ninjutsu, Yun Xi had the means to negotiate with Danzo!

"I hope you don't ruin my plans. Otherwise, you'll regret it..."

After thinking it over, Yun Xi stopped dwelling on it. If Danzo knew what was good for him, Yun Xi wouldn't go out of his way to provoke him.

But if Danzo dared to target him, Yun Xi would make him regret it!