Nuclear Ninja

Who would've thought the system could be used like this? This farming-style path to wealth was practically a real-life Monopoly.

Itachi sat on the tatami in the courtyard, lost in thought.

By the distant pond, the shishi-odoshi repeatedly filled with water before suddenly striking the ground with a sharp "clack." This water-filled bamboo device was also called a "sozu," originally designed to scare sparrows away from farmland.

However, wealthy households during the shogunate era often liked using water and bamboo like this as symbols of spiritual purification.

And the successive incidents over the past two days had earned him the Mangekyo Sharingan, along with the corresponding supporters.

"Although I don't know how to trigger these rewards proactively, as long as it benefits the Uchiha Clan, there probably won't be any problems."

As he spoke slowly, Itachi rose slightly and stretched his body. Yesterday's battle had looked effortless, but the Sharingan's drain on his body was simply terrifying.

Even now, he could still feel a bone-deep exhaustion, as though he had been drained dry.

It was hard to imagine just how painfully overloaded his body would become after activating Susanoo.

"Brother, don't you have an Anbu mission today?"

A childish voice came from beside him. Accompanied by rapid thumping footsteps, a fair-skinned child ran straight over, his bright eyes filled with admiration and laughter.

"Yes, otouto!"

Warmth filled Itachi's heart. Watching the young Sasuke Uchiha tilt his head, he narrowed his eyes and smiled.

After all, this was the little brother he wanted to protect from the bottom of his heart.

"Then can you come train with me today? I heard that you showed off your power over by the Naka River. You looked really cool throwing kunai."

Sasuke pouted and made several "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" motions with his hands, looking as though he had witnessed the scene himself.

He really was such a cute and amusing little brother.

As the exceptionally outstanding eldest son, Itachi had always been Sasuke's idol. In private, Sasuke even respectfully called him Itachi-sama in front of his little classmates, then spread every story about him that he'd picked up through hearsay.

After school, he would even set up a stall specifically to promote his brother's heroic deeds, gathering a group of little fans around him to shout all day.

What an interesting little brat.

"So, is this seduction?"

Itachi smiled so broadly that he could barely close his mouth. This little Uchiha puppy...

Was he studying charm techniques at school? If so, perhaps he could ask Kurenai Yuhi to give him some proper training. But inviting her over—

"Can you? Can you?"

Sasuke clasped his hands together and swayed his rosy little face from side to side, his voice cheerful and crisp like a bell.

"I have something to do today, Sasuke. Forgive me this time."

Itachi smiled helplessly and flicked his finger against Sasuke's forehead. With a sharp snap!, Sasuke winced and covered his forehead.

Because he had seen the Anbu members in the distance constantly watching his every move. At the very least, he couldn't show such obvious affection.

The person he worried about most was this younger brother, who couldn't even defend himself.

As long as those people remained, there would be no peace.

At that thought, his face immediately darkened. But before that, he had to quickly grow stronger and acquire more resources and wealth.

"Hey, Itachi, you're too slow. The Anbu needs discipline. You absolutely can't be so lazy and slack."

The moment he stepped outside, a rather cold voice sounded beside his ear.

A silver-haired youth leaned against a wall in the corner, waiting for him. He wore a warrior's outfit, with binding bandages and protective armor plates on his arms.

The mask and the short blade on his back, forged from repeatedly hammered steel, were the symbols of the Anbu!!!

Kakashi Hatake.

Several more Anbu members appeared around him in swift movements. Some crouched, some stood, their masks carrying a chilling, deathly aura.

The Assassination Tactics Special Force, established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was referred to as the Anbu and directly commanded by the Hokage. It was the first intelligence organization among the five great nations at the time and was widely imitated by the ninja villages of other countries.

Anbu members were outstanding ninja selected from the village. Their primary duties were protecting the Hokage and preventing foreign enemies from invading the Hidden Leaf Village, though they also carried out missions such as enemy reconnaissance and assassination.

When operating, they all wore white animal-like masks, and the nature of their missions and all other information were kept secret. The Anbu answered directly to the Hokage and contained multiple squads, with squad captains relaying orders and leading missions.

"Senior, do we have a mission today?"

Itachi's face quickly returned to its harmless appearance. With that childish voice, he was practically a mature-woman magnet!

The Anbu senior beside him had just been about to grumble a few words, but upon seeing that tender, round little face, the words stuck in his throat and went back down.

"What an adorable child. I never expected you, little guy, to become my teammate."

A figure arrived with the voice.

Her tight clothing outlined an exceptionally well-proportioned figure, curved in all the right places. Her lush, full body swayed everywhere with even the slightest movement; being a ninja must have been rather troublesome for her.

Even without seeing her face, she was undoubtedly a stunning beauty.

The woman wearing a tabby-cat mask crouched down and reached out to pinch Itachi's cheek.

His skin was so soft it seemed as though it would break with a puff of air, and the texture was even better than her own. Oda Misuzu couldn't put him down and pulled him into her arms.

This sudden benefit left several men nearby staring in stunned silence. Watching Itachi nearly get buried and suffocated inside, they saw everything that should be round was round, and everything that should be flat was flat.

Every one of them secretly gritted his teeth, wondering why that person wasn't him!

"Tian, don't let personal feelings get involved. I'm still watching!"

Kakashi spoke up to stop her, though his voice trembled slightly. As a hot-blooded young man, how could he possibly not get worked up at the sight?

Damn it!

"Oh, nothing's going to happen. He's just a child. He's so cute, I like him so much, waaah."

Oda Misuzu complained as she spoke. Itachi let her handle him like a little puppy, his endless cuteness awakening her maternal instincts even further.

He was practically a life-sized doll.

If she could hold him while sleeping at night, that would be absolutely perfect.

"Big sister, when I grow up, can I marry you?"

Itachi narrowed his eyes and whispered beside the woman's ear, lightly biting her earlobe at the same time. Consider it interest for taking advantage of him.

--

PS: The following information can currently be made public.

Ninja needed to eat, and the rank of the mission scrolls they accepted roughly reflected the rewards they could obtain and the danger they would face.

D-rank missions: Defined as small missions that did not require direct combat or involve danger to one's life.

For example, retrieving runaway pets, cleaning a client's farm or fields, babysitting for important people, and so on. These were Genin missions, though such missions would be abandoned if manpower was insufficient.

For instance, Team Seven once retrieved a fat woman's runaway cat. Naruto played with a "Gold Release ninja" named Bankyu, while Sasuke accompanied a daimyo's daughter. These were all D-rank missions. Genin could save money rather quickly by doing such missions.

Reward: 5,000 to 50,000 ryo.

C-rank missions: Defined as missions where one might be injured but would not face a threat to one's life.

Examples included taming or hunting wild beasts, serving as a client's bodyguard without fighting ninja, investigating and tailing people or incidents, and delivering secret intelligence. Genin were sufficient for these missions, though Chunin were occasionally assigned when manpower was lacking and whoever was free got sent.

Team Seven's first major mission was a C-rank mission to protect the famous bridge builder Tazuna. However, Tazuna concealed the truth that ninja were targeting him, raising the mission's rank to at least B-rank.

Reward: 30,000 to 100,000 ryo.

B-rank missions: Defined as missions involving assassinating a ninja, infiltrating as an undercover agent, or protecting clients targeted by ninja.

Any mission connected to ninja from other countries or rogue ninja was handled as B-rank or above. Such missions were generally quite difficult, and the team usually needed at least one Chunin or higher-ranking ninja. Most of these missions would later request reinforcements, and being raised to A-rank was common.

Reward: 80,000 to 200,000 ryo, divided among the team.

A-rank missions: Defined as missions concerning the safety of a village or country.

These missions involved battles between ninja forces, with several Jonin leading troops into action. However, the death rate for Chunin and Genin was extremely high, especially for Chunin.

Using the Hidden Leaf Village as an example, there were many Chunin, and their abilities were relatively strong, so their survival rate on the front lines was slightly higher. Genin were too weak and would merely be sent to their deaths, so under such circumstances they would usually be assigned to evacuate civilians, while Chunin directly participated in battle!

Reward: 1,000,000 ryo, or special favors and items in exchange.

S-rank missions: Defined as missions that directly determined the safety of a village or country.

These were upgraded versions of A-rank missions and were usually completed by an individual or a small team. For example, when a war reached a stalemate, a ninja village might send ninja to assassinate the opposing commander, or the weaker side might deliver intelligence that determined its fate.