Dusk.
Konohagakure, the Hokage Building.
"Ahem, that's the situation."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, his hair white and a pipe held in his mouth, set down the document in his hand and looked at the young ninja standing before him.
"What do you think, Naraku?"
The young ninja, Shihōin Naraku, scratched his slightly disheveled short black hair, and a relaxed expression appeared on his handsome face.
"Since you've already decided, Lord Hokage, I have no objections."
"It'll give me a chance to take things easy. Keeping busy in the Medical Department all the time is exhausting, too."
"Hehe, that won't do." Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke. "The Medical Department's Corpse Disposal Unit and Animal Care Unit will still need you to manage them. I believe you can handle it."
Fuck!
Naraku kept a cheerful smile on his face while silently cursing.
Taking away the Medical Emergency Response Unit, which gave him the most authority and perks, then saddling him with corpse disposal and veterinary organizations-this was downright insulting.
"Then who will manage the Medical Emergency Response Unit? This organization is extremely important to Konoha. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong."
It wasn't that Naraku looked down on everyone else in Konoha. The reality was that no one was better suited than him to managing the medical services. No replacement could possibly do better.
As Tsunade's personal disciple, Naraku deserved that standing.
Besides, before transmigrating into the Naruto world, Naraku's family had run a hospital, so he was very familiar with medical matters.
That was right-Naraku was one of those famed transmigrators!
Perhaps it shouldn't be called transmigration, but reincarnation!
Or perhaps transmigration plus reincarnation!
Naraku, who had originally grown up peacefully, was a member of the Shihōin Clan, one of Konohagakure's many ninja families. Like the village's other children, he had entered the Ninja Academy to study because he possessed a talent for becoming a ninja.
No one knew that when Shihōin Naraku first extracted a wisp of chakra, the memories of his "previous life" had begun to return and awaken.
Naturally, he had also recalled everything he knew about the Naruto world.
Unfortunately, despite being a transmigrator who had been reborn, Shihōin Naraku discovered that he had no system accompanying him, which left him somewhat disappointed.
But having died in an accident in his previous life, getting another chance to live was still a good thing.
Even if the Naruto world was extremely dangerous!
Since he was here, he might as well settle in!
As he gradually grew older, however, Shihōin Naraku discovered that he wasn't entirely without a special advantage.
Perhaps because he had lived two lives and his souls had overlapped, his mind and soul were exceptionally strong.
A powerful mind meant more chakra.
After all, chakra consisted of mental energy and physical energy.
Combined with Shihōin Naraku's excellent chakra control and learning ability, these talents had made him a renowned genius in Konoha!
And the only genius ninja whose fame had rivaled his at the time was Kakashi Hatake!
That was also why Shihōin Naraku had been able to become Tsunade's personal disciple back then.
Yet now, having taken over the Medical Emergency Response Unit from Tsunade and expanded it, Shihōin Naraku was about to have to relinquish it.
"The two elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, will take over the Medical Emergency Response Unit. They already manage the funds allocated to the village by the Land of Fire, which will also benefit the unit's development."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's answer left Naraku deeply skeptical.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu certainly held considerable authority in Konohagakure, but those two knew nothing about Medical Ninjutsu.
No, that wasn't right. Utatane Koharu had once been an outstanding medical ninja.
But that was in the past. Shihōin Naraku had controlled the Medical Emergency Response Unit for years. With its steadily improving medical organization and large number of newly developed Medical Ninjutsu techniques, it was far beyond what the current Utatane Koharu could handle.
Times had long since changed!
As if noticing the skepticism on Naraku's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and continued, "Oh, Jonin Yashiro will also help the two elders manage it."
"Yashiro Ao?"
"Yes!"
Naraku understood.
Seeing that Naraku understood what had happened, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued:
"The Medical Emergency Response Unit is of great importance. To prevent any unexpected problems..."
"Jonin Shihōin Naraku, starting today, you are the deputy director of Konoha's Medical Department!"
Tch!
Naraku didn't care about this appointment at all.
The deputy director had little actual authority. Hiruzen Sarutobi was simply worried about unexpected problems and wanted some insurance for the medical services.
"Also..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Naraku had gotten the short end of the stick, so he planned to compensate him. After all, Naraku also belonged to the Hokage's faction!
"Jonin Shihōin Naraku, you will serve as deputy commander of the ANBU, overseeing thirty-seven members!"
Has this old man gone crazy?
Konohagakure's ANBU had only seventy members in total, and that included Root, which had already been forcibly disbanded!
Putting thirty-seven people under his command meant he would be in charge of more than half the ANBU.
Shihōin Naraku frowned at the smiling Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Actually, I..."
Before he could finish, a crisp notification sounded in Naraku's ears.
[Ding-] [Promotion System activated!] [Promotion System rule one: lottery mechanism...] [Promotion System rule two: unlimited duplication...] ... [Promotion System rule 97,003: promotion...] [Promotion System rule 97,004: demotion...] ... [Congratulations to the host on successfully becoming deputy director of Konohagakure's Medical Department...] [Congratulations to the host on successfully becoming deputy commander of Konoha's ANBU...] [...Awarded seven lottery draws!] [Host's beginner gift package grants five lottery draws!] [Host's total remaining lottery draws: twelve!] [Friendly system reminder: drawing ten times at once makes wondrous items more likely to appear!]
The system notifications rang incessantly in Naraku's ears, bringing the words on his lips to an abrupt halt.
"Hmm?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Shihōin Naraku with an expression that said he was acting rather strangely.
Naraku now wore a serious, responsible expression, as though a heavy duty rested on his shoulders:
"Understood!"
"I am willing to obey your orders, Lord Hokage!"
"From this day forward, I will serve Konoha wholeheartedly and contribute my strength!"
"I absolutely won't let everyone down!"
"Huh?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked utterly bewildered by Naraku's dramatic change in attitude. His earlier dissatisfaction and indolence had vanished completely.
Did something just happen?
Am I losing my memory because I'm getting old?
Of course, seeing Naraku's excitement also left Hiruzen Sarutobi quite satisfied:
"As long as you're willing, that's good."
"As long as nothing unexpected happens in the Medical Department, devote more attention to the ANBU."
"You'll have quite a few people to manage, so some mistakes may occur, but the missions must be completed flawlessly!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Naraku a meaningful look, as though reminding him of something.
Normally, Naraku would have picked up on the implication long ago, but at this moment, his thoughts were entirely occupied by the system that had suddenly appeared. He had no time to consider Hiruzen Sarutobi's words closely.
After such a long wait, the standard perk of transmigration and reincarnation-a system-had finally appeared!
The Promotion System?
Does this system depend on how high my position is?
Naraku struggled to suppress his excitement and continued listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi ramble.
A good while later, watching Naraku depart excitedly, Hiruzen Sarutobi wondered:
"Naraku really likes the ANBU?"
The ANBU's members were mostly outstanding ninja selected from Konoha, but because of the danger and secrecy of their missions, few people actually liked this department.
Ordinary villagers mostly regarded the ANBU with fear.
He had originally thought Naraku would refuse to join the ANBU, but the result had turned out to be the exact opposite.
"Greetings, Lord Naraku!"
"Greetings, Lord Naraku!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Lord Naraku!"
After Shihōin Naraku left the Hokage Building, every ninja he encountered along the way greeted him with great respect.
Simply being a powerful jonin wouldn't have earned him the respect of so many ninja.
It was mainly because Naraku, who had long controlled the Medical Emergency Response Unit, had treated many ninja. They were thanking him for saving their lives.
Before you continue