The One Thing I Can't Accept Is Your Drinking

[Spy emotionally compromised detected. Extracting spy-related abilities. Host may choose one of three options.

Option One: Earth-nature chakra;

Option Two: 0.3 cards' worth of chakra;

Option Three: Earth Style: Antlion.]

Judging by the reward, this spy was probably from the Hidden Rock Village.

Uchiha Ling first ruled out the third option, an Earth Style ninjutsu he had no immediate use for.

The first option was Earth-nature chakra, an affinity he did not currently possess.

The second option was chakra volume.

He hesitated between the two. Should he choose the chakra volume that would immediately boost his strength, or should he strengthen his foundation and gain another chakra nature?

In the end, he chose Earth-nature chakra.

He would stick to long-term thinking and build a solid foundation first. He could slowly work on increasing his chakra volume later.

At this point, his chakra natures were Fire, Wind, Earth, Yin, and Yang.

He was practically heading down the path of a ninjutsu professor.

One day, he would have Hiruzen Sarutobi crack too and get himself a Five-Style Great Combo with all five natures. Only then would all these chakra natures of his not go to waste.

The method for making Hiruzen Sarutobi crack was obvious: drag him down from his lofty seat of power, and he would lose it immediately.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's Adamantine Staff was also formidable, perhaps even stronger than the Five-Style Great Combo.

They would see. One day, he would drive Hiruzen Sarutobi from the Hokage's seat.

Just as Uchiha Ling was lost in thought, the spy's expression shifted from terror to ferocity in an instant.

He lunged at Uchiha Ling. His body was bound by steel wire, leaving the rest of him unable to move, but he bent forward, opened his mouth, and bit at Uchiha Ling's hand and the wax-sealed pellet.

Seeing that mouthful of yellow teeth, Uchiha Ling thought that if he got bitten, he would probably need a tetanus shot.

He hurriedly pulled his hand back.

The spy suddenly straightened again, trying to headbutt Uchiha Ling in the chin.

Uchiha Yashiro still had a hand over Uchiha Ling's mouth. He quickly brought down a fist, knocking the spy to the ground and unconscious.

Uchiha Ling chuckled and handed the wax-sealed pellet to Uchiha Yashiro.

Just as Uchiha Ling thought he was about to earn a great merit, he spotted a shadow appear beside him from the corner of his eye.

A hand reached for his wrist.

Without hesitation, chakra erupted from the acupoints in Uchiha Ling's arm. He sharply raised his arm, evading the hand reaching for him.

Only then did the rustle of clothing slicing through the air reach his ears.

When he turned to look, he saw an ANBU wearing a mask and a black cloak.

Thank goodness. Just an ordinary ANBU, not a squad captain in a white cloak.

Among the Hokage's ANBU, ordinary members were mostly elite chunin and special jonin. Jonin could serve as squad captains.

This ANBU had appeared out of nowhere with the Body Flicker Technique, while Uchiha Ling only needed to raise his hand and clench his fist to keep the wax-sealed pellet safe.

The moment Uchiha Yashiro saw the ANBU, he grabbed Uchiha Ling's shoulder and shielded him behind himself.

"ANBU! What are you trying to do?"

Seeing Uchiha Yashiro actually question the ANBU, Uchiha Ling thought, Just as expected of the Uchiha Clan. So proud. What if they're ANBU? If they're unhappy, ANBU won't help them.

The ANBU said in a low voice, "Eliminating spies is the work of us ANBU.

"We followed this spy for a month, intending to cast a long line and catch a big fish.

"But when your Military Police Force interrogated him, you cleverly exposed his identity as a spy.

"Do you know how great a loss you caused the ANBU?"

Uchiha Yashiro did not care about any of that. He said, "I think your ANBU simply lacked the ability to uncover the spy. Our Military Police Force found him suspicious with just a few words during a routine inspection, so now you're rushing over to steal the credit, aren't you?"

Uchiha Ling was getting anxious. Why did Uchiha Yashiro not say a few more words? He should have viciously mocked Danzo, who trained the ANBU, then viciously mocked the Hokage, the ANBU's leader.

Why was that all?

A kunai slid from the ANBU's sleeve. "Don't get in the way! Uchiha! We are taking this spy and the intelligence he left behind!"

The two sides stood at sword's point. It looked like the ANBU intended to seize the man directly.

Uchiha Ling did not care about any of that. He opened his mouth, ready to let loose:

"You ANBU came way too late. Even the old lady next door to me could—"

His mouth was covered again.

Uchiha Jing appeared behind him and immediately put an end to Uchiha Ling's trash talk.

Uchiha Yashiro and the others had made quite a commotion while pursuing the spy, drawing many Uchiha over.

"I'll take the man. If you have any issues, tell your squad captain to come see me at the Military Police Force."

Upon hearing that voice, the ANBU immediately took a step back.

Uchiha Fugaku had arrived. His arms were folded across his chest as he frowned at the conflict.

Another ANBU appeared with the Body Flicker Technique. After exchanging looks with the first ANBU, he vanished again with the same technique.

Uchiha Yashiro stepped before Clan Head Fugaku and briefly explained the entire sequence of events:

"Clan Head, during a routine inspection, I noticed something suspicious about this spy.

"This spy resisted arrest, and we pursued him.

"Uchiha Ling discovered that he had left behind intelligence in a blind spot, a wax-sealed pellet.

"Then the ANBU came to demand the man. You arrived in time and saved us."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded and said, "Yashiro, continue digging into this spy's intelligence. Have a report ready overnight."

"Yes, Clan Head!"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Ling, whose mouth was still covered.

"Alright, let him go. He simply enjoys mocking people.

"Throughout the Uchiha Clan's history, many powerful figures have enjoyed taunting their enemies. Not only did they want to defeat or kill their foes, they wanted to completely crush their enemies' wills.

"It is not much of a flaw. Jing, remind Uchiha Ling to mind the occasion."

"Yes, Clan Head!"

After Teacher Fugaku turned and left, Uchiha Tekka was in a terrible mood.

His performance tonight had been awful. He had not caught the spy, nor had he discovered the intelligence. In the end, Teacher Fugaku had not given him any special praise either.

"Second Brother, Senior Tekka said I entered the records room before, so I need to fill out a registration form."

"Oh, I was so busy that I forgot. Come with me. We're both heading back to the Military Police Force anyway."

The Military Police Force was brightly lit.

As they approached it, they encountered many suspects. Bound with steel wire, they were being escorted by Military Police Force ninja.

The Hidden Leaf Village was exceptionally chaotic at night.

There were ninja who caused trouble after drinking away their sorrows, ninja who went on killing sprees in the streets after mental breakdowns, and ninja whose private fights led to bloodshed.

Uchiha Jing said, "Ling, whatever quirks you develop in the future are fine, but you must never drink.

"More than sixty percent of the serious incidents the Military Police Force handles at night are related to alcohol.

"Ninja carry a lot of mental pressure. Without some kind of hobby, even an odd one, they cannot withstand the negative emotions constantly piling up from killing.

"I can accept any other strange habit. The one thing I cannot accept is you abusing alcohol."

"Don't worry, Second Brother. My biggest strange habit is insulting people. I have no interest in alcohol at all."

"Then..."

Uchiha Jing wanted to say that was good, but on second thought, maybe it was not all that good either.

After filling out the registration form, Uchiha Jing brought him fifty kunai, enough to fill five ninja tool pouches.

"This is Clan Head Fugaku's reward for you. You performed well tonight. Study weapon throwing properly at the academy. Kunai and shuriken are fundamental ninja skills."

"Thank you, Clan Head! Thank you, Second Brother!"