The Beginning of Simulation and Recruitment

The Fuma Taro incident was like a small pebble cast into a lake; though the ripples were brief, they effectively altered the course of certain events.

The next morning, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived at the orphanage in person. Dressed in civilian clothes, he had shed the imposing aura of the Hokage, appearing more like a kind-hearted old man. He carefully checked on Ling and Naruto to ensure they were uninjured, then gently inquired about the events of the previous day.

Ling continued to play the part of a precocious, calm, yet seemingly powerless child, describing how he had used his gaze and words to scare off the oppressors in order to protect his younger brother.

"Ling, you did the right thing. Protecting your brother is a big brother's responsibility." The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, his gaze complex amidst the swirling smoke. "However, in the future, try to notify the nearby Anbu when you encounter such incidents. Do not easily engage in conflict; you are still young."

Ling nodded cleverly, though his heart remained unmoved. The Third's advice, while sounding like care, was effectively a restriction; he did not want Ling to possess too much "self-management" initiative, even for the sake of self-defense.

"Regarding the arrangements for you and Naruto," the Third changed the subject, "the village has decided to provide you with a separate residence and arrange for professionals to handle your meals and care. After all, staying in the orphanage indefinitely is not a long-term solution."

Ling's heart stirred. An independent residence meant more privacy and less direct surveillance—this was indeed a positive sign. It seemed that the "value" he had appropriately displayed yesterday (the aptitude and willingness to guard the Jinchuriki) and the "needs" he had indirectly proposed (better living conditions) had achieved the desired effect.

"Thank you, Grandfather Hokage." Ling expressed the appropriate amount of gratitude.

After the Third left, Ling's mood did not relax. He understood that this was only the first step. A separate residence did not mean he was safe; surveillance would simply shift from the open to the more concealed shadows. He had to accumulate strength faster. Relying on himself alone was not enough; he needed his own force, hidden in the shadows.

He thought of the first core member he had set his sights on: Kimimaro Kaguya. That genius youth who possessed the Shikotsumyaku, was imprisoned by Orochimaru, and desperately longed to find a meaning for his existence.

"System," Ling called out in his mind, "is there a way to locate or capture detailed information on Kimimaro Kaguya?"

[Ding! Host requirement detected. You may activate the 'God-Tier Simulator', an accessory to the 'God-Tier Option Device'. By consuming a certain amount of mental energy, you can deduce and simulate specific targets or events to obtain the final result.]

A new mode! Ling felt a surge of excitement.

"Simulate the current situation and exact location of Kimimaro Kaguya."

[Simulation start: Consuming 10% of the host's mental energy.]

[Image emerging: A gloomy, damp underground prison with rusted torture devices hanging on the walls. A white-haired youth is curled up in a corner, dressed in rags, his eyes vacant and sluggish. His hands and feet are shackled with heavy chains, and his exposed skin is deathly pale. Pale bone protrusions pierce through his joints uncontrollably, causing him intense agony. Outside the confinement, the rustling of snakes and an abnormal, low chuckle can be heard faintly.]

[Location confirmed: Land of Rice Fields, Otogakure (in planning) underground base.]

[Target status: Imprisoned by Orochimaru, serving as a test subject and research object. His inner thoughts are filled with hatred for his own bloodline and confusion regarding his own existence.]

As the simulation ended, Ling felt a slight mental fatigue, but the information was sufficient. Kimimaro was at the darkest moment of his life, which was also the moment he was most easily "rescued" and inspired.

Now the problem was how he could leave Konoha and travel to the remote Land of Rice Fields. Given his current identity and the guards nearby, this was nearly impossible.

[Ding! God-Tier Option triggered!]

[Option 1: Infiltrate the Land of Rice Fields alone to rescue Kimimaro. Reward: Stealth technique, perfect transformation disguise. Risk: Extremely high; may expose yourself, trigger diplomatic disputes, or encounter Orochimaru.]

[Option 2: Issue an anonymous mission, entrusting bounty hunters or wandering ninja to carry out the rescue. Reward: Anonymous contact channel, basic disguise technique. Risk: Medium; the mission may fail, and the message might be leaked.]

[Option 3: Utilize future members of "Dawn Wind" (such as Itachi Uchiha) or internal Konoha forces (indirectly) to carry out the rescue. Reward: Slight increase in faction integration, acquisition of intelligence on relevant figures. Risk: Low, but the process is slow and contains many uncontrollable factors.]

Option 1 was immediately discarded; that was the action of a reckless fool. Option 3 seemed stable, but it was a case of "distant water failing to put out a nearby fire," and Itachi's current reliability still needed observation. Option 2, the anonymous assignment, although carrying certain risks, might be achievable with the system's rewards.

"I choose Option 2."

[Selection confirmed. Rewards issued: Anonymous contact channel (can perform one-way information transmission and fund escrow via specialized black-market runes), basic disguise technique.]

Knowledge regarding how to activate specific runes with chakra, as well as how to adjust facial muscles and body shape, flooded his mind. At the same time, he felt as if he could establish a faint connection with some distant, chaotic "information nodes"—that must be the anonymous channel provided by the system.

Capital was an issue. He was penniless. But the system seemed to have considered this.

[Beginner subsidy: Initial operational funds (small limit) provided, deposited into the anonymous account.]

Perfect!

Without delay, Ling waited until the dead of night, verified that Naruto was fast asleep, and checked that the surveillance outside was in the middle of a routine shift change, then quietly moved to the corner of the room. He extracted a sliver of chakra and, following the knowledge in his mind, traced a complex, dark rune in the air with his knuckles that only he could see.

The rune flickered for a moment before stabilizing, like a miniature spatial hole.

Ling focused his mind, inputting the rescue target (Kimimaro Kaguya, with the image characteristics seen in the simulator), the location (underground base in the Land of Rice Fields), the requirements (rescue safely and deliver to the designated location at the border of the Land of Fire), and the reward (the initial funds provided by the system, an amount appropriate enough to attract attention without being overly conspicuous) into the rune.

Once the transmission was complete, the rune vanished silently.

After doing all this, Ling let out a long breath. This was his first time experimenting with the system, arranging things from behind the scenes, and reaching out his own hand. Failure was not terrifying; this represented the first substantive step in the beginning of the "Dawn Wind" faction.

He returned to the bedside and looked at the sleeping Naruto, his eyes firm.

"Naruto, just wait. Soon, big brother won't be alone anymore. We will build a force of our own, a power sufficient to change everything."

Far away in the Land of Rice Fields, in the gloomy confinement, the white-haired youth curled up due to the agony of his body, unaware of the fate that was coming. And in the dark side of the ninja world, a mission notification regarding an incomprehensible employer had quietly flowed into certain channels.

The gears of fate began to accelerate.