The day he joined the team

Early that morning.

Luo Mang got his things ready, fastened his Forehead Protector around his wrist, and headed toward the bridge where they had agreed to meet.

"Not bad. It doesn't really get in the way."

As he ran, he checked the Forehead Protector he was wearing. It didn't hinder his movements or hurt in the slightest.

He didn't want to wear it on his forehead. He thought it looked ugly. People wore theirs in all sorts of places anyway, so wearing it on his arm was fine.

It was still early, and he didn't run into anyone he knew along the way, so he paid it no mind.

When he reached the bridge, he saw the two youngsters standing there. Naruto was nowhere in sight. Apparently, he was late again.

The moment Sasuke Uchiha saw Luo Mang arrive, a trace of a smile appeared on his cold face.

Sakura was dumbfounded. She followed his gaze, puzzled. Why didn't she remember the person approaching them?

"Brother Mang."

As Luo Mang drew closer, Sasuke Uchiha was the first to greet him.

After spending the past two months together, Sasuke Uchiha had started following Naruto's example and calling him his brother. It wasn't as though he was losing anything. With abilities like his, Luo Mang was more than qualified to be his older brother.

So Sasuke Uchiha didn't mind it at all. In fact, he was rather happy to have a new older brother.

"Mm."

Luo Mang nodded, not minding either. Sasuke was half of the world's salvation, after all. There was nothing wrong with building a good relationship with him.

Besides, he possessed a Diary Instance. If Luo Mang was careful about what he wrote in it, he might even get Sasuke to do things for him. There was no need to reject him.

"Sasuke, you have another older brother?"

Sakura Haruno once again asked a question utterly lacking in tact. That remark practically qualified as a Ninjutsu infused with Lightning Release—it shocked them enough to make their scalps tingle!

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Sasuke Uchiha instantly flared up, glaring fiercely at Sakura!

"Easy, easy."

Luo Mang reached out and held him back.

Sasuke had to show him some respect, so he reined in his temper, though he still shot Sakura another fierce glare.

Only once Sasuke had calmed down did Luo Mang breathe a sigh of relief. He turned to Sakura and explained gently.

"We're not related. We met while doing missions during the break. I'm a few months older, so that's why Sasuke calls me that."

"Oh."

Sakura Haruno nodded awkwardly and placed her index finger against her lips, looking thoughtful. After considering it for a moment, she asked another question.

"Then, Brother... Mang, are you passing through on a mission?"

"Uh, the Hokage told me to report here. He said I'd be on your team."

While he explained, Sasuke kept staring resentfully at Sakura. Wasn't this their first meeting? What did she have so much to talk about?

He had wanted to chat with Luo Mang himself. That way, Luo Mang might write something in his diary for him to learn from.

Over more than two months of diary entries, most of the lottery rewards had been poor, but there had also been ninjutsu mastery rewards and books devoted entirely to ninjutsu.

Luo Mang had written two genjutsu-related rewards into his diary. He had now confirmed that both of them had Sharingan, and neither was too far gone yet, so helping them grow stronger still had its benefits. He hadn't held back.

They were Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Turnaround and Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique, both highly practical genjutsu, especially when cast with the Sharingan.

Reflection and restraint.

Both had effects on par with A-rank genjutsu, making them difficult to learn. So far, Sasuke had only scratched the surface.

But Sasuke was still working hard to learn them. The Uchiha Clan's books had either been burned or seized by Danzo. All Sasuke had been left with were a handful of C-rank ninjutsu, most of which he couldn't even use. The Great Fireball Technique was the sole exception.

"Oh, so you're the one who dropped out, Brother Mang."

After his explanation, Sakura understood. Luo Mang was the student Iruka-sensei had mentioned dropping out.

But that only made her more curious. Why could he join their team after dropping out? Didn't they already have three members?

Before she could ask any more questions, Naruto's frantic voice reached their ears.

"Oh, man! I'm late, I'm late!"

"Huff... hah! Huff... hah!"

He braced both hands on his knees and panted, making it obvious just how fast he had run.

"Idiot!"

Sasuke Uchiha rolled his eyes helplessly. This guy was supposed to be the protagonist? He didn't look the part at all.

His opinion remained unchanged. Waiting for Naruto to save the world was no different from suicide.

To be safe, Sasuke decided he would keep improving alongside his clansman. If things came to the worst, they could run. He absolutely couldn't count on Naruto.

"Hey, you smug little..."

Naruto Uzumaki quickly raised his head at the insult. Before he could finish, he spotted Luo Mang standing nearby and froze.

"Brother Mang, what are you doing here?"

Luo Mang took two tissues from his pocket and handed them to Naruto so he could wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"Heh, I've been assigned here too. I'm on your team, so I came to report in."

"We're on the same team? That's great!"

Hearing that, Naruto immediately jumped up.

Since he had started taking missions, things had changed considerably for Naruto. It hadn't reached the point where people would publicly insist he wasn't a bad person, but at least they no longer hurled insults at him.

Some of the missions involved helping bring in stock. The shopkeeper's opinion of him had improved considerably too, and he no longer sold Naruto expired instant noodles.

Things were much better than in the original story. With Luo Mang taking him on missions as well, he was at least happy every day.

"I've already changed so many people's minds. Help me take on higher-ranked missions, and sooner or later, I'll change everyone's."

Naruto Uzumaki kept talking about his goals and dreams, completely ignoring even Sakura beside him.

"Then I'll definitely become a Hokage admired by everyone!"

Although Sasuke found it irritating, he stayed beside Luo Mang too.

Sakura Haruno, meanwhile, seemed to have been left out entirely. She stood there blankly, looking at this boy who had once had no presence whatsoever in their class.

He was handsome, sure, but looks alone weren't enough. He needed strength like Sasuke's too. That was also why Sakura Haruno pursued Sasuke, just as she had in the original story.

But why did Sasuke and Naruto treat such an unremarkable person with so much respect?

Had she failed to notice his good points?

She didn't understand, but Sakura wasn't the type to dwell on things. She soon put it out of her mind.

Just as before, they waited for a very, very long time. It wasn't until later that morning that Kakashi finally made his grand entrance, holding Icha Icha Paradise.

"Yo! Good morning, everyone!"

The four quickly lined up.

Looking at Kakashi with his eye covered, Luo Mang thought the dark circles around his dead-fish eye seemed a little more pronounced.

Had he stayed up late reading Icha Icha Paradise again?

"I got lost on the road of life just now, so I'm a little late. Please forgive me."

Kakashi offered that casual explanation while reading Icha Icha Paradise.

[Just as expected. This is no different from the prediction. Is he going to make us snatch bells in a moment? Only those who get one will be allowed to eat, but there seems to be one more person than in the prediction-me. Will there be enough food?]

Padding his word count anytime and anywhere to mislead others and establish his persona had already become second nature to Luo Mang.