Seeing Asuma Sarutobi looking utterly dejected, his friends grew even more indignant.
Uchiha Ling's mouth was vicious. After Kakashi, he had driven Asuma into a shutdown as well.
Asuma's lips drooped miserably.
Uchiha Ling, however, was thinking about something else. Could he make someone suffer a defense break multiple times? Could he obtain rewards from the same person repeatedly?
He would verify it in a few days and try putting Asuma Sarutobi through another thoroughly satisfying bout of pressure.
People agonized over different things at different stages of life.
Right now, the words "Your father doesn't love you" could make Asuma Sarutobi suffer a defense break. But at the next stage of his life, something else would break him instead.
Everyone was troubled by whatever was happening in the present, only to be troubled by the next thing afterward, forever jumping from one deep pit into another.
Amid Obito Uchiha and the others' reprimands, Teacher Yamano called Uchiha Ling aside.
"Uchiha Ling, Obito Uchiha and the others have been putting pressure on you lately. Don't take it to heart.
"Kakashi's matter isn't your fault. Kakashi went to the front line to atone. The responsibility his father evaded must be borne by him."
Uchiha Ling knew that Yamano had a poor opinion of White Fang and Kakashi because of his sister's death. He asked, "Teacher, who is Kakashi's captain?"
A gloomy look appeared on Yamano's face. "Kakashi is quite lucky. His captain is the Special Jōnin Minato Namikaze.
"Minato Namikaze is a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Sannin. I don't know what the Village is thinking. Why would they have the son of a sinner like Kakashi follow a young elite like Minato Namikaze?"
Uchiha Ling stopped worrying about Kakashi. It seemed that Kakashi had first joined Minato Namikaze, only becoming teammates with Obito Uchiha and the others several years later.
Yamano said, "There's no need to talk about Kakashi Hatake anymore. Ling, I have something to ask of you."
"What is it? Who are we putting pressure on this time? Leave it to me. I'll make sure the pressure is crystal clear!"
Yamano's eyelid twitched. How had he ended up becoming so close to this student?
"It isn't about putting pressure on anyone. It's something else! Something serious!"
So you know helping you put pressure on Kakashi doesn't count as serious business.
"My sister was just killed on the front line. She left behind a child. Aren't you from the Uchiha Clan? Find a relative you know and help me go to the Military Police Force to register my niece's ninja household status."
The Konoha Security Department was an important part of Konoha. Like the police department in his previous life, one of its duties was managing the household registrations of Konoha.
The most important household registrations were ninja and civilian registrations.
When children were two or three years old, Military Police Force ninja would assess their aptitude. If they possessed ninja talent, they would be registered under a ninja household status and attend school once they reached the appropriate age.
If they had no ninja talent, they would be registered as civilians and live in Konoha as civilians.
"Sure thing. I'll take care of it for you, Teacher."
After school, Uchiha Ling went to the home of his cousin, Uchiha Jing.
Uchiha Jing was the second son of his eldest uncle and worked for the Military Police Force. He was a Three Tomoe ninja.
The living room of his cousin's home displayed a family portrait of his eldest uncle's family.
The happy smiles of the four members of his uncle's family had frozen in the photograph.
His uncle and aunt, like Uchiha Ling's parents, had died in the Second Shinobi World War.
His eldest cousin, Uchiha Jue, had died on a mission the previous year.
When Uchiha Jing saw Ling looking at the family portrait, pain flashed through his eyes. He stared at his elder brother, Uchiha Jue, for a few moments before quickly composing himself.
"Ling, have you spent all your living expenses for this month? I can give you some more."
Uchiha Ling hurriedly said, "No, no, I still have over six thousand ryō. I came to ask Second Brother to make a trip for me.
"Teacher Yamano thinks highly of me. He wants the Military Police Force to register his three-year-old niece as a ninja as soon as possible.
"His niece is also an orphan. Her mother was just killed in the border defeat caused by White Fang of the Leaf."
Uchiha Jing said, "Since it's your teacher's matter, let's get it done quickly. Come on, we'll go now."
Uchiha Jing put on his Military Police Force uniform and went out with Ling.
When the little girl, Xiuxiang, saw the Military Police Force uniform on Uchiha Jing, she stumbled backward several steps in fright.
The Uchiha Clan did not have a good reputation. The poor little girl stared at the two Uchihas in terror, as though she had done something wrong.
Uchiha Ling said, "Don't worry. We're here at your uncle's request to test your aptitude and register your household status."
Xiuxiang said in her crisp little voice, "O-okay, please come in!"
She hurriedly turned around and went to the dining table. She climbed onto a small stool, then a large stool, and poured water for the two guests.
Uchiha Jing looked around. Small stools had been placed in many parts of the room.
Even the broom in the corner had a short handle, suitable for a child to use.
The little girl was so sensible that it broke one's heart. She had already prepared herself to live alone.
"Ling, when you have nothing to do, clean up that filthy doghouse of yours. I don't even want to go to your place. I'm the one supporting you, yet you make me look completely irresponsible. Look at you. Your home isn't even as clean as a three-year-old's."
"Second Brother! I cleaned it last week! It was extremely clean last week!"
"What about this week?"
"We'll talk about this week next week."
Uchiha Jing shook his head and took out Chakra Paper, beckoning Xiuxiang over.
Xiuxiang brought over two cups of water, then obediently stood beside Uchiha Jing.
"Don't be nervous. Don't resist me. I'll see whether you have ninja aptitude."
Aside from geniuses, very young children did not know how to refine Chakra. Konoha's method was to have a Uchiha Military Police Force ninja assist them with Genjutsu.
The black pupils in Uchiha Jing's eyes transformed into scarlet Three Tomoe.
Xiuxiang fell under the Genjutsu and lost control of her body.
Uchiha Jing used Genjutsu to control the little girl, causing the energy in her body to merge with her spiritual energy.
More than ten seconds later, Uchiha Jing furrowed his brows.
Uchiha Ling sensed that something might be wrong and said, "Second Brother, let's discuss it before making a decision."
After releasing the Genjutsu, the two of them left Xiuxiang's home and went outside.
"Your teacher's niece is right near the dividing line. She'll be able to refine Chakra in the future, but her aptitude is average. She might be able to advance to Chunin at around forty, but that will be her limit.
"Her ninja household status can be registered or not. If you're willing, you can give your teacher a favor."
Uchiha Ling thought for a moment, then shook his head and said,
"Forget it. Making a little girl like this become a ninja would only harm her. Second Brother, register her as a civilian."
Uchiha Jing said nothing more. He filled out the civilian household registration and handed it to Uchiha Ling.
"I'll be leaving first. Give the duplicate of the household registration documents to your teacher."
Uchiha Ling returned to Xiuxiang's home and waited there with the little girl for Teacher Yamano.
He was six, while the little girl was three. The little girl had become much livelier.
An hour later, Teacher Yamano returned home.
He took the duplicate of the household registration documents and froze in place.
It was the first time the little girl had seen her uncle's eyes wide open. She did not understand what had happened.
[There is a ninja near the host suffering a defense break. The Defense-Breaking System is activating...]
Uchiha Ling froze. Had he unexpectedly gained something?
Before you continue