After buying everything, Watanabe Ichiro gambled all his remaining points on the roulette.
101 pulls. Let's see what I get.
That was exactly ten ten-pulls and one single pull.
Watanabe Ichiro pressed the button without hesitation.
The ten-pulls were full of trash. Out of 100 pulls, he only got two Character Profile Cards with decent stats.
That's fine. I've nearly milked the Warring States storyline dry anyway. Getting Character Profile Cards isn't bad. It's about time I switched disguises.
With one single pull left, Watanabe Ichiro pressed the button again.
A golden light flashed, and rainbow radiance shimmered across the system screen.
What's this?
Something good!
Single pulls really do work miracles!
The light faded, and [Rainbow Gold · Absolute Command] appeared before him.
[Absolute Command] When you establish an organization, all data on its personnel becomes visible. Meeting certain conditions allows you to make its members obey you absolutely.
This special card seemed a little weak. It did nothing to improve his individual strength, and compared with his previous [Rainbow Gold · Rinnegan], it was far inferior.
Still, Watanabe Ichiro was quite satisfied. He had recently been thinking of establishing an organization, so this card had come at just the right time.
While Watanabe Ichiro sat cross-legged in the Uchiha Clan Compound drawing cards, a Ninja Hawk quietly flew out of the compound, circled overhead a few times, and headed away.
"Is that... a summoning beast belonging to the Uchiha Clan?"
The ANBU squad on reconnaissance duty looked up, hesitating over whether to let it pass.
"Let it through. It's been registered."
Another squad member took out a scroll, flipped through it, and pointed to the name of a Uchiha elder.
"It's strange, though. Haven't the Uchiha been sending messages a little too often lately?"
"Why overthink it? We just need to follow procedure."
Meanwhile, in a patch of shadow, a figure looked up at the Ninja Hawk with a frown. After wavering for some time, he turned and left.
The Ninja Hawk flew out of Konoha without incident. After cautiously circling a few times in the sky, it headed northeast of Konoha along a familiar route, toward the Land of Lightning.
Under cover of darkness, it slowed before an unnamed cliff, beat its wings, and dove.
The Ninja Hawk flew straight into the rock face. The instant it touched the wall, ripples spread across the stone, allowing it to pass through unhindered.
Moments later, the rock face returned to its plain, unremarkable appearance. No one would have guessed that something lay hidden within.
"Has that old bastard finally got some good news?"
Uchiha Kagami extended an arm for the Ninja Hawk to land on, untied the small Sealing Scroll strapped to its leg, and formed hand seals with one hand.
With a soft pop, the scroll slowly opened, revealing several lines of text that brought a twisted grin to Uchiha Kagami's face.
"He's back? Hahaha, he's finally back! I can put my plan into motion!"
"Uchiha Ichiro! This time, I'll win! This time, I'll crush you beneath my feet!"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
His deranged laughter echoed through the dim space, startling the Ninja Hawk into flight.
Before long, it flew out of the mysterious space carrying a similar Sealing Scroll.
The scroll contained only one sentence-
"Proceed as planned."
Watanabe Ichiro had been enjoying a rather leisurely life lately.
Hashirama Senju's funeral in Konoha had ended. Though people throughout the village were still voluntarily keeping vigil for him, and every household had hung solemn black cloth, that grief would gradually fade with time.
After all, people had to look ahead.
With the year's end approaching, the festive cheer had also brought a few more smiles to people's faces.
Strangely enough, Konoha had a holiday similar to New Year's.
Although many of its customs differed, the desire to reunite with friends and family remained the same.
Unfortunately, Watanabe Ichiro had few friends in Konoha.
Tobirama Senju was tinkering with something in his laboratory, and Watanabe Ichiro did not disturb him.
The future, world-famous Sannin seemed to have only just entered the Ninja Academy. They were three little brats, and Watanabe Ichiro was in no mood to entertain them.
As for the Third Hokage, Danzo, and the others of their generation, they were already adults, but no major plot events involved them at this point, which meant no points to earn. Watanabe Ichiro was not particularly fond of their personalities either, so he had no intention of approaching them.
For once, Watanabe Ichiro felt a little bored. He strolled slowly through Konoha's streets, planning to find an opportunity that evening to slip out and release his new disguise.
Judging by the time, the delegations from the more distant major nations should have returned home from the summit by now.
Once that happened, the Shinobi World would inevitably descend into turmoil for a while, giving his new disguise the perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters.
He wandered aimlessly through Konoha and, before he knew it, arrived at its busiest street.
A large sign reading "Konoha Specialty Street Food Alley" hung prominently at the entrance.
Watanabe Ichiro remembered now. Hashirama Senju had named this street after borrowing a phrase from his everyday conversations while he wore the Watanabe Ichiro disguise. If he remembered correctly, wasn't there a hot pot restaurant here?
I'll give it a try, though I'm not expecting much from the flavor.
Watanabe Ichiro had not walked far down the food alley before he found the restaurant in the most conspicuous spot. It was crowded and seemed lively.
As he entered, a server enthusiastically greeted him and handed him a menu.
Watanabe Ichiro flipped through it, a complicated expression crossing his face.
These were all dishes he had cooked for Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha while wearing the Watanabe Ichiro disguise.
Watanabe Ichiro ordered a few dishes. They arrived quickly, and although the flavor was average, it was still acceptable.
Watanabe Ichiro enjoyed his meal, cradling a half-full cup of sake in one hand as he watched the sun slowly sink. He patiently waited for it to disappear below the horizon. Once darkness fell, he would find a gap in Konoha's barrier and release his new disguise.
"Lord Clan Head?"
A somewhat unfamiliar voice spoke.
Watanabe Ichiro looked up. A short-haired young man stood awkwardly nearby, clutching the hem of his clothes with both hands, hesitant to speak.
After mentally running through a list of names, Watanabe Ichiro remembered him.
This was Kagami Uchiha, one of the Second Hokage's guards. His strength was quite respectable.
Unlike most Uchiha, he was gentle and thoughtful, and he could put Konoha's interests ahead of his clan's. Tobirama Senju held him in high regard.
Watanabe Ichiro had interacted with him a few times, but after discovering that Kagami Uchiha could not earn him any points, he had hardly spoken to him again.
What does he want with me?
"What is it?"
Watanabe Ichiro gestured for him to sit opposite him, but Kagami Uchiha did not move. His complexion was poor, and tiny beads of cold sweat appeared at his temples.
"Lord Clan Head! Please be careful these next few days. I have a feeling someone in the clan is targeting you."
"Explain."
Watanabe Ichiro swirled the cup in his hand, watching the clear liquor ripple with the faint red glow of the setting sun.
Kagami Uchiha shook his head.
"I don't have any evidence, but I've noticed Ninja Hawks appearing far too frequently lately. It's very unusual."
"Everyone in the clan has been acting strangely lately. I have a bad feeling, so I couldn't help coming to tell you, [Lord · Clan · Head]."
"But you're so strong that you should be fine. I'm worrying too much."
"I'm not all-powerful."
Watanabe Ichiro lowered his eyes and drained the sake in his hand.
"I can't change where I came from, and I can't save the people I want to save. How does that make me strong?"
Stifled by frustration, he drank several cups in succession and grew a little tipsy.
"All I could do was watch Lord Hashirama... fall... and I couldn't do a thing..."
He narrowed his eyes, looking at the cup in his hand in confusion. His body tilted, and he collapsed onto the table.
Has the drug taken effect?
Kagami Uchiha's gaze shifted between the sake cup and Watanabe Ichiro, his eyes flickering with intense nervousness.
Before you continue