The Main Family's Trash? The Branch Family Genius's Obsession

Naruto walked back to his seat and put his hands back into his pockets.

As soon as he sat down, a vibrant red figure timidly approached him. Karin squatted at his feet, clutching his clothes tightly with both hands, burying her face in her knees, revealing only her bright red eyes.

She saw Naruto kiss Tenten, and she saw Naruto dominate the entire scene. From the perspective of this homeless orphan girl, this boy from her own clan was like a domineering blazing sun, and she felt that she didn't even have the right to look him in the eye.

She desperately craved that protection, longed for a "home." But she dared not speak, afraid of shattering this only hope. This urgent desire to hold him tightly yet not daring to overstep made her tremble slightly.

Naruto looked down at the red-haired girl who was so nervous she was about to faint.

He didn't speak, but simply stretched out his large palm and roughly yet warmly pressed it onto Karin's head, ruffling her red hair.

"Stay put and wait until after the exam, then I'll take you home."

Karin trembled, tears welling up instantly. She bit her lip hard to stop herself from crying out, and just nodded frantically.

Just then, a system notification sounded in my mind without warning—

[Ding! Routine status update for multi-line strategy --]

[Current number of valid bonds: 2 (Hinata Hyuga, Affection 90 / Yuki Haku, Affection 90)]

[New candidate targets: 3 (Karin Uzumaki - Affection 90 / Mitarashi Anko - Affection 20 / Temari - Affection 15)]

[Note: The host is advised to pay attention to managing the emotional connections with fellow clan members. When multiple lines of highly concentrated emotions are operating simultaneously, there is a risk of unpredictable chain reactions and fluctuations in emotions.]

Naruto raised an eyebrow slightly.

The system finally gave a hint in this regard. Although it was just a neutral announcement that didn't really matter, it at least showed that this cheat system wasn't completely oblivious to multi-tasking strategies.

He glanced up and swept his gaze across the various expressions on the stands—a bewildered Sakura, a fanatical Sasuke, and in the distance Neji Hyuga, his face pale, gripping the railing tightly.

Naruto leaned back lazily in his chair, his fingers tapping idly on his thigh. From Haku, who was always looking at him from the back of his house, to Tenten, whose defenses had just been completely shattered, to Karin, who was about to be caught in the trap, and Temari and Anko, who had planted the Hinata of their relationship.

Six lines intertwine simultaneously.

Ordinary people, faced with such a multi-faceted battlefield that could explode at any moment, would probably be terrified and feel like they are walking on thin ice.

But Naruto felt no anxiety whatsoever; in fact, he felt a surge of wild blood boiling excitedly within him.

He wants to build the Uzumaki Empire, and clashes of this magnitude are inevitable. The strong never compromise or adapt to the rules; the strong are only responsible for crushing and redefining the rules. As long as his fist is always the hardest, as long as he can give them absolute protection and irreplaceable dominance, this so-called battlefield will only become the most solid foundation under his throne.

However, the real trouble doesn't lie in the harem.

A cold glint flashed deep within Naruto's azure eyes.

Orochimaru, that old fox, was beaten like a punching bag by the Fifth Gate and Yang Release in the Forest of Death, even having his neck burned. He even had to use his snake form to escape. Such humiliation, given the character of the Legendary Sannin, would never be something they would just hide in the shadows to lick their wounds.

Orochimaru will definitely gather intelligence frantically, develop countermeasures against Yang Release, and may even try to use those around him to restrain him. The situation that follows will be far more dangerous than a simple crushing victory by force.

We must keep all variables under control before the seal is lifted.

Meanwhile, in an abandoned underground bunker somewhere on the outskirts of Hidden Leaf.

The air was thick with the smell of burnt flesh and blood. Orochimaru leaned against the damp stone wall, his fair face now as pale as paper. The wound on his neck, burned by Yang Release, was a strange charcoal black, and the skin around the edges was still slowly festering, his regenerative abilities completely suppressed.

Those golden, vertical pupils held no anger, only a chilling calmness.

"Perfect Uzumaki Sage Body... Yang Release... Near-infinite life perception..."

Orochimaru's voice was hoarse and deep, like sandpaper rubbing against metal. He stuck out his tongue and licked his chapped lips, then closed the lab notebook in his hand.

He had finished reading Kabuto Yakushi's intelligence report. Every word felt like a needle piercing his pride as one of the Legendary Sannin —but he had no time for pride.

A direct confrontation is pointless. The boy's pure physical destructive power in his Gate of Limit state has surpassed the conventional defensive limit of Kage Level fighter, and his Yang Release is the natural nemesis of all his sinister techniques.

But Orochimaru is a scientist, not a brute.

"Since we can't win head-on, let's attack from the side."

He turned to a blank page in his notebook and wrote two lines with a trembling but clear hand:

[1. The Yang Release Mark has been implanted in Sasuke Uchiha's shoulder. The Snake Mark and the Yang Release Mark are clashing within the container; the rate of this clash needs to be continuously monitored remotely to find the window of decay for the Yang Release energy.]

[II. Four Hidden Sound agents, equipped with Level 2 Cursed Seal, will be pre-positioned between the seventh and eleventh outposts on the outskirts of Hidden Leaf to activate the Sealing Jutsu. Once the container is outside Naruto Uzumaki's close protection during the final stages—activation will begin immediately.]

After finishing the last stroke, Orochimaru slowly closed his eyes. A burning pain emanated from the wound on his neck, a reminder of the terrifying power of Yang Release.

"Naruto Uzumaki... your Yang Release can burn through my flesh, but it can't burn through my patience."

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips.

There's only one container. I'll take it.

Inside the tower, the preliminary rounds continued.

The large electronic screen emitted a piercing buzzer, and the names scrolled rapidly before finally freezing.

[Sasuke Uchiha VS Akado Yoroi]

In the stands, Sasuke clenched his fist tightly. The skin on the back of his neck began to feel faintly hot again—the thing Orochimaru had implanted in the Forest of Death was like a lurking venomous snake, awakening and writhing when it sensed danger. But he gritted his teeth and forcefully suppressed the discomfort.

"Sasuke, step back. You'll die if you go on in your current condition." Kakashi appeared beside him unnoticed, his voice grave.

Naruto also came over and reached out his hand, ready to use Yang Release to help suppress him.

"Don't touch me!"

Sasuke abruptly shoved Naruto's hand away.

He swayed as he straightened up, his Sharingan, bloodshot and glistening beneath his bangs soaked with cold sweat. He didn't look at Naruto, nor at Kakashi, leaving them only with his shaky yet taut back.

"This is my own battle." He gritted his teeth, enunciating each word clearly, his voice hoarse as if he had swallowed sand. "If even these small fry need charity, I'd rather die here."

Naruto withdrew his hand, a playful smile curving his lips. He said nothing more and turned to walk back to the stands.

On the field.

The Akado Yoroi smiled coldly and opened his arms; the Chakra Absorption Technique was ready.

"A genius from the Uchiha? He's just a sickly kid who can barely stand."