A new mission

"Ding! A new mission has been issued. Would you like to view it?"

Qingyun was delighted. The system had finally issued a new mission. He had waited so long he could have withered away. For three years, he had practiced Tai Chi Fist without pause. Though it was a fine technique, mastering this Cultivation Technique required years of steady accumulation, and it was not particularly effective for building internal force.

Right now, Qingyun desperately needed a Cultivation Technique that could quickly strengthen him enough to protect himself. Yet the system had refused to issue any missions, leaving him helpless.

Now that the system had suddenly issued one, how could Qingyun not be thrilled? He hurried to check the details.

"The host has been detected to have reached the age for admission to the Ninja Academy. A new mission has been issued: successfully pass the Ninja Academy entrance assessment. Mission rewards: one manual of the Primordial Chaos Technique and one Minor Restoration Pill."

The Primordial Chaos Technique! Li Hao's face lit up. It was one of Huashan's nine techniques, an orthodox Taoist internal cultivation method. Though it could not compare with those divine techniques, much less the internal cultivation methods of high-martial worlds, it was ideal for a raw beginner like Qingyun, reducing the risk of cultivation deviation.

The Minor Restoration Pill was no ordinary item either. It was a pill made using Shaolin's secret formula, and taking it would grant the user ten years' worth of Internal Force cultivation.

With the Minor Restoration Pill and the Primordial Chaos Technique, I could probably reach the ranks of Genin immediately. With Internal Force powering my Tai Chi Fist, ordinary Genin would be no match for me.

"Accept mission."

Qingyun eagerly accepted the mission. He had practiced Tai Chi Fist for three years. On the surface, his body looked terribly frail, but his muscles and bones were actually stronger than an adult's.

Qingyun was very confident that he could pass the Ninja Academy entrance assessment.

After accepting the mission, Qingyun spent a while basking in his excitement, then lay on his bed with a frown. He was not worried about the Ninja Academy assessment at all, but registering required an adult to accompany him.

His parents were dead, and as a member of the Uchiha Clan, he needed to report his intention to apply to the Ninja Academy. Only after approval would the clan elders arrange for someone to take him there to register.

However, the Uchiha Clan had always been at odds with the Hokage's faction. Few clan members voluntarily applied to the Ninja Academy. Each year, they merely picked a few children at random to attend, while most of the others were trained within the clan.

He had always presented himself to others as frail. If he suddenly asked to register at the Ninja Academy, the clan members would probably stop him on the grounds that he would disgrace the Uchiha name.

After all, even ordinary Uchiha children were considered geniuses at the Ninja Academy. If he became the academy's dead last, he would utterly disgrace the clan.

"Do I need to reveal some of my abilities?"

Qingyun muttered to himself.

Qingyun felt neither affection nor resentment toward the Uchiha Clan. Still, endless trouble lay ahead for them, and even as someone who had transmigrated, changing their original fate would not be easy.

That was why Qingyun had never intended to reveal his talent. He wanted to avoid getting too entangled with the clan's leadership and ultimately becoming trapped in their affairs, unable to grow stronger in peace.

Besides, the dispute between the Dove Faction and the Hawk Faction had already begun to polarize the clan. Both sides were frantically recruiting talented members to serve as their pawns. If he revealed his talent...

At that thought, Qingyun shook his head. He did not want to get involved. In his three years with the Uchiha Clan, he had felt no familial warmth. His parents, the only people who had given him any bond with the clan, were dead. At this point, he had no affection for the Uchiha Clan whatsoever.

Although a few parasites were responsible for all this, the clan head and elders also bore responsibility for their poor management.

Pushing those stray thoughts aside, Qingyun closed his eyes to rest. For now, he could only take things one step at a time.

Early the next morning, Qingyun got up, washed, and headed to the mountain behind the compound to practice Tai Chi Fist. This was his daily routine, one he had maintained for three years without missing a day, rain or shine.

After finishing a set of Tai Chi Fist, Qingyun sought out Uchiha Ichigo, the steward responsible for the section where he lived, and told him that he wanted to study at the Ninja Academy.

Sure enough, Uchiha Ichigo burst out laughing. "You? Don't be ridiculous. The Uchiha Clan can't afford that kind of humiliation. With that body of yours, never mind becoming a ninja—it's doubtful you'll even live to adulthood. Stay in the clan and behave yourself. Don't go out and embarrass us."

"What if I insist on taking the Ninja Academy entrance assessment?"

Qingyun ignored Uchiha Ichigo's mockery and spoke in an indifferent tone.

Uchiha Ichigo's smile vanished. He had not expected Qingyun to dare talk back. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he said icily, "You want to go to the Ninja Academy? There are two ways. First, defeat one of the children the clan is sending to enroll this year."

"And the second?"

The first condition did not surprise Qingyun, but he did not want to take that route unless he had absolutely no choice.

"Heh. Second, if you aren't a member of the Uchiha Clan, you can naturally go to the Ninja Academy."

Qingyun narrowed his eyes. Not a member of the Uchiha Clan? What does that mean? The Uchiha were a major clan in this world. They could not possibly let their members live outside on their own, lest the Uchiha bloodline spread beyond the clan.

That was why Qingyun had never considered leaving the Uchiha Clan to live alone in the village as an orphan before he became strong enough.

"What do you mean by not being a member of the Uchiha Clan?"

"It's simple. Once you leave, you stop using the Uchiha name, and the clan will strike your name from its genealogy. Whether you live or die afterward will have nothing to do with us. Agree to that, and you can do whatever you like."

Qingyun narrowed his eyes at those words and said flatly, "I doubt a mere district steward like you has the authority to decide that."

"Hmph. Who do you think you are? Which of the elders even knows a frail piece of trash like you, someone doomed to have no talent as a ninja? But let me tell you this: if you choose the second option, you won't receive a single coin of your survivor's benefits from now on. Watch out, or you'll end up starving to death on the streets after you leave."

Uchiha Ichigo sneered and spoke arrogantly.

Hearing that, Qingyun nodded in understanding. So Uchiha Ichigo was only offering him this choice because he wanted to embezzle his survivor's benefits.

Without hesitation, Qingyun said calmly, "I choose the second option." Then he turned and left.

Uchiha Ichigo was startled by Qingyun's decisiveness. But then he recalled how frail Qingyun was. There was no way the boy could become a ninja. Even if he somehow passed the Ninja Academy entrance assessment, he would never graduate.

Someone like that would never attract the attention of the clan's leadership. Thus, with a delighted expression, he took Qingyun's share from the recently issued survivor's benefits and pocketed it.

Unaware of Uchiha Ichigo's thoughts, Qingyun went home, packed his clothes and his pitiful savings of just over a thousand ryo, slung his bundle onto his back, and headed out of the Uchiha Clan Compound.

His most pressing task was to find somewhere to live, then figure out how to qualify for registration at the Ninja Academy.

After leaving the compound, Qingyun went to the Edge of the Forest of Death. He checked the surroundings and found no signs of large predators. Then he set down his bundle and went to the Market, where he bought a saw and some tools before spending the rest of his money on food with a longer shelf life.

Returning to the Edge of the Forest of Death laden with bags, Qingyun began laboriously sawing through trees. Fortunately, he had some wilderness survival experience from his previous life. Otherwise, even finding somewhere to live would have been a problem.

After a full day of work, Qingyun wiped away his sweat and looked with satisfaction at the crooked Wooden House. It was not pretty, but at least it was sturdy.

With his shelter ready, Qingyun began cooking. After enjoying a satisfying meal, he practiced his fist technique for a while, then settled down to rest.

The next day, Qingyun went to the Ninja Academy's admissions office. Most of the children applying had already registered with their parents accompanying them, so there were very few people there now.

"Hey, are you here to register for the Ninja Academy too?"

Qingyun looked at the registration desk with a troubled expression, unsure what excuse he could use to clear this first hurdle. Suddenly, a cheerful voice rang out behind him.

Qingyun froze, then turned around. A little boy with blond hair and blue eyes stood there, rubbing the back of his head and grinning foolishly at him.

The sight of the boy left Qingyun momentarily dazed. Could this silly kid be Naruto? No, that's not right! The timeline is completely wrong. I haven't heard anything about Sasuke or that ever-so-filial son in the clan, either.

"That's right. Did you need something?"

Qingyun looked at the blond boy in confusion, unsure why he had approached him.

"Hehe, nothing. I'm planning to join the Ninja Academy too. Maybe we'll even be classmates someday. My name is Minato Namikaze. What's yours?"