The Third Hokage's Shock

"Congratulations, host. You have activated a God-Tier Choice: The Temptation/Trap of the Cursed Seal?"

{Option One: Submit to Orochimaru and become an unruly, Haki-wielding rogue ninja. Reward: The effects of the Heaven Curse Mark are doubled. (There is a risk of being controlled by Orochimaru.)}

{Option Two: Give up the Heaven Curse Mark. Reward: Fire Release Ninjutsu Mastery: Evolutionary Edition (Any Fire Release Ninjutsu you use will gain an explosive effect.)}

"This system had behaved itself for a few days, and now it wanted to cause trouble again!"

Looking at the two options the system had given him, Yun Xi wore a helpless expression.

However...

That didn't mean Yun Xi disliked the rewards the system was offering him this time.

Honestly,

either of the rewards from these two options appealed to him.

If the first option hadn't required him to join Orochimaru, Yun Xi might actually have chosen it.

After all, the Heaven Curse Mark was undeniably a pretty good reward.

At its core, the Heaven Curse Mark was a forbidden technique Orochimaru had developed through his research on Jugo before the story began.

It was also a technique based on the way Jinchūriki fought.

Those who used a Cursed Seal could gain immense power. The seal had two stages: in Stage One, the body was covered in black markings whose appearance depended on the user's chakra. In Stage Two, the markings spread across the entire body, drastically changing the user's skin and appearance.

Once Curse Mark Stage Two was activated, the user's chakra would become nearly limitless.

Simply put, the Cursed Seal Orochimaru had created was more like an incomplete version of Sage Mode.

And the system could double the seal's effects...

If not for the warning in the second half, Yun Xi would have been sorely tempted...

"It looks like this system really does intend to keep me on the path of Fire Release Ninjutsu..."

After silently grumbling about the system, Yun Xi made his choice without hesitation.

The moment he confirmed it,

the three black tomoe of the Cursed Seal that had appeared on Yun Xi's arm vanished...

At the same time, the strange feeling of being controlled gradually disappeared from Yun Xi's mind...

"Thank goodness!"

Realizing the system had removed the Cursed Seal from his body, Yun Xi's face immediately lit up with delight.

And with Orochimaru already gone, Yun Xi didn't stay where he was.

He headed straight for the Hokage Office Building!

Meanwhile,

after placing a Cursed Seal on Yun Xi, Orochimaru had immediately returned to the Root Division. But before he could enter,

the connection he had with Yun Xi abruptly vanished from his mind.

Realizing what had happened, Orochimaru stopped in his tracks.

Gazing into the distance, he murmured, "I really did underestimate that brat. He can even remove a Cursed Seal..."

With that, Orochimaru disappeared into the darkness.

Elsewhere,

after reaching the Hokage Office Building, Yun Xi didn't hesitate.

He went straight to the Hokage's office. Seeing that the door was open, he rushed inside...

"Grandpa Hokage, something terrible has happened!"

Seeing that the Third Hokage was alone in the office, Yun Xi put on a worried expression and gestured frantically as he spoke. "I was about to leave earlier when I found someone dead near my house!"

"Hmm?"

As soon as Yun Xi said that, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped working and stood up. Walking over to Yun Xi, he asked, "What happened?"

"When I went outside, I found several bodies by my front door. The first thing I did was try to tell you, Grandpa Hokage."

"But..."

"But what?"

Seeing Yun Xi hesitate, a puzzled look crossed the Third Hokage's face. In a stern voice, he said, "Don't worry about it. Tell me everything you saw!"

After the Third Shinobi World War had ended, the Five Great Shinobi Villages had entered a relatively peaceful period, and Konoha had taken advantage of the time to develop rapidly.

Though people dying was perfectly normal in the Ninja World,

someone had dared to strike inside the village—and the victims were Anbu.

That was undoubtedly a challenge to Sarutobi Hiruzen's authority!

And seeing the strange expression on Yun Xi's face,

the Third Hokage immediately realized there had to be more to this than met the eye!

"Grandpa Hokage, I understand!"

Seeing how concerned the Third Hokage was, Yun Xi felt a little less nervous.

Because he knew

that the Third Hokage could more or less guarantee his safety now!

After steadying himself, Yun Xi continued, "But just as I was about to come find you, I saw a man outside who seemed to be waiting for me."

"A man?"

After hearing Yun Xi, the Third Hokage immediately asked, "What did he look like?"

"He was a scary-looking man with very pale skin, and he had a snake..."

After picturing Orochimaru in his mind, Yun Xi immediately described him.

"A snake..."

"Oh no. Could it be him?!"

At that, a flash of anxiety appeared in the Third Hokage's eyes. He hurriedly asked, "What happened next?"

"I ran and kept running. That man chased me for a while, but eventually stopped."

"Then I came straight to the Hokage Office Building..."

Though the Third Hokage was a fairly good ally for the time being, Yun Xi wasn't stupid.

Naturally, he wasn't going to tell him about his fight with Orochimaru or the Cursed Seal.

"Could it really be him..."

After hearing the whole story, a troubled look appeared on the Third Hokage's usually calm face.

"Yun Xi, I understand. You can go for now. Until this is over, I'll have Mitaraishi Anko protect you."

"???"

"Seriously? You're having Mitaraishi Anko protect me?!"

Hearing the Third Hokage's decision, Yun Xi looked utterly astonished!

Mitaraishi Anko...

A Chunin...

Protecting him?

And the person he was up against was Orochimaru!

Yun Xi couldn't help wondering if the Third Hokage was joking.

After all, if Mitaraishi Anko really was the one protecting him...

Yun Xi suspected the Third Hokage was sending her to help Orochimaru score a double kill.

"Um, Grandpa Hokage..."

"What is it?"

Seeing that Yun Xi looked a little uneasy, the Third Hokage replied.

"Well..."

"Although Mitaraishi Anko is pretty strong, I think..."

"You think that girl Anko can't handle the person who attacked you?"

"Yeah. That man looked even stronger."

Yun Xi answered honestly.

Hearing his reply, the Third Hokage merely shook his head and smiled. "If it really is that man..."

"Mitaraishi Anko may be the best choice..."