An Endless Stream of Buffing Artifacts

Bitter Fruit Entry System

Target detected: Uchiha Shisui

Triggered bitter fruit type: Regret

Content: Reflecting on his lack of understanding regarding the clan, feeling guilty for being too one-sided, and blaming himself for being too naive.

Harvesting...

[Harvest successful!]

[Uchiha Shisui's Regret Bitter Fruit]

[Extractable entries: Doujutsu power stability increase 2%, Uchiha Guardian Aura (Awakening)]

Hayato, out on patrol again, diverted some of his attention to observe the system panel. At first, he had intended to choose the doujutsu power stability.

However, seeing the other option, a flicker of doubt arose in his heart. Guardian Aura?

Could this be the passive ability on his system panel?

After some thought, Hayato chose this one; a 5% increase in doujutsu stability was of little use to him right now.

Extract.

He silently chanted his choice of Uchiha Guardian Aura (Awakening) in his mind, thankful that he didn't have to shout it out loud.

He had been too excited yesterday.

Following Hayato's selection, Uchiha Guardian Aura (Awakening) appeared in his passive options.

He finally understood what this so-called passive ability actually was.

[Uchiha Guardian Aura (Awakening)]

Bonus: Can be used to multiply bitter fruit entry settlements, up to x1.1.

Effect: Small increase in the overall favorability of clan members.

Satisfied.

Hayato was very pleased with this reward. Setting aside the effects for a moment, the fact that bitter fruit entries could be multiplied was simply perfect!

If someone harbored malice toward him or the Uchiha clan and generated bitter fruit, being able to double that would be a massive profit.

If this were a game, he would have essentially grasped a tool for endless buffs.

"Hayato, what are you doing?"

Seiichi and Rin, who were walking ahead, turned around and asked in confusion upon seeing Hayato standing still.

"It's nothing, just thinking about something," Hayato said, suppressing his inner joy and flashing a smile.

"Let's go, we should be off-duty once we finish this patrol."

The Police Force wasn't all bad; at the very least, once work was done, they could return to the building to rest and attend to their own affairs.

"Alright, by the way, what should we eat tonight?"

Seiichi opened his mouth, looking a bit embarrassed.

Hayato raised an eyebrow at this. Was this the passive effect? It really was powerful.

"Sounds good!" Rin nodded repeatedly from the side.

Hayato followed suit and said, "No problem, let's go to Granny Yamazaki's little shop!"

"Sure! I've been missing Granny Yamazaki's three-colored dango for a long time." Hearing this, Rin became even happier and nodded eagerly.

Hayato smiled at the sight. Granny Yamazaki was an elderly woman within their Uchiha clan.

She lived alone with her granddaughter and ran a small shop.

Many of them in the Police Force liked to go there to support her, and most importantly, the food in the shop was quite delicious.

The three of them chatted and laughed, completely ignoring the villagers who kept retreating as they saw them approach.

If they wanted to avoid them, let them; it just made the road wider.

In the evening, Hayato stepped out of the Police Force building ahead of the others.

The group moved against the flow of the crowd, heading toward the Uchiha clan grounds.

A strange look gradually appeared on Seiichi's face. Seeing this, Hayato draped an arm over his shoulder and whispered, "Relax, things will definitely get better."

Although it was a very ordinary sentence, it made Seiichi's expression gradually improve.

Rin smiled at the sight. In the past, the three of them had always walked separately, but today felt remarkably different.

"Oh right, tomorrow is our day off. Should we go to the clan's training ground together?"

Hayato remembered that they were all off tomorrow. In the past, he had felt it was unnecessary.

But now that his plans had changed, he needed to unite the people around him.

If anything happened in the future, he could use this to develop his influence within the clan.

In the past, he had been prepared to defect at any moment, but now that there was an opportunity for change, he had to be well-prepared.

Uchiha Clan Head's residence.

Fugaku flipped through the registered files of his clansmen, stopping when he reached the page for Hayato.

"Hayato, is it? Although his qualifications are average, his parents were both members who dedicated themselves to the glory of the Uchiha."

"His father... had once awakened the three-tomoe."

Just as Fugaku was deep in thought, a small head peeked out from the doorway.

Fugaku had just looked up when he saw Sasuke's head retract immediately, though his tuft of fuzzy black hair remained visible.

"Sasuke?"

Hearing his father's voice, the still-toddling Sasuke poked his head out again, looking timid.

He had done this before, but back then, his father had been very angry.

"Come here."

Fugaku smiled and beckoned, signaling for Sasuke to approach.

Seeing this, Sasuke beamed, scurrying over on his little feet and diving straight into Fugaku's arms.

Looking at Sasuke, who was giggling happily in his embrace, Fugaku felt a complex mix of emotions.

It seemed he hadn't interacted with Sasuke like this in a very long time.

"Papa—! Rice! Rice!"

Sasuke tilted his head back, his dark, round eyes wide, his cheeks puffed out like two little buns as he tried his best to say something.

Fugaku held Sasuke in his arms and asked with a smile, "Alright, then Sasuke, what shall we eat today?"

"Rice... dango..." Sasuke bit his finger, drool already beginning to pool at the corner of his mouth, his voice soft and milky.

Fugaku gently patted Sasuke's head, then suddenly hoisted him up onto his shoulders.

Caught off guard, Sasuke was startled at first, but once he was seated securely, he looked at the world from a different perspective, feeling the stubble on Fugaku's neck with his legs, and began to giggle again.

Grabbing Fugaku's hair, little Sasuke waved his chubby hands and pointed forward.

"Horse! Horse—! Giddy-up!"

"Alright, hold on tight!"

Fugaku chuckled and began to walk, carrying the squealing little Sasuke on his shoulders all the way to the dining table.

Mikoto, who was sitting there, looked up at the sound and was stunned for a moment before smiling softly.

"It seems Sasuke really likes his father."

"Papa—! Porridge!" Sasuke said, patting Fugaku's head with his chubby little hands.

Itachi, who looked like a little adult, also smiled as he watched the happy Sasuke.

"Alright, Sasuke, it's time to come down and eat."

Mikoto stood up to take Sasuke down, saying nothing about how unusually different Fugaku seemed today.

She only said softly, "Let's eat, Fugaku."

"Right."

Fugaku simply nodded and sat down opposite Itachi.

Because of little Sasuke's presence, the atmosphere at the dinner table was exceptionally different today.

"Well then, see you tomorrow."

After the meal, Hayato bid farewell to his two clansmen and headed toward his own home.

He opened the door and stepped inside.

He followed his usual routine, first offering incense to the memorial portraits before turning to wash up.

Possessing the foundation of Hashirama's Sage Body, he truly felt not a hint of fatigue at this moment.