Only when you were sick did you realize how happy you had been when you were healthy.
The various symptoms finally disappeared. Shinsei felt indescribably vibrant, inside and out, as though his body had been made anew. He understood that his foundation establishment had succeeded.
Cultivation in reality offered no earth-shaking divine abilities. Successful foundation establishment would not immediately multiply his strength, nor would it bring down any heavenly tribulation.
Shinsei could clearly feel that his physical capabilities had improved considerably, something he could tell by sensing his chakra. His chakra reserves had increased significantly, reaching around six Kakashis, and were still rising rapidly. At the current rate, he would gain roughly one Kakashi a month.
He had been uncertain before, but now Shinsei was sure that the greatest obstacle on his path to Kage Level-the limit on his chakra reserves-had disappeared. The remaining obstacles, such as the power of his ninjutsu, would all disappear once he finished developing several of his techniques.
All he lacked now was experience, and that would naturally come with more fights and exposure.
He had only just begun to feel a little smug when he remembered how Naruto and Sasuke had effortlessly crushed everything during the Fourth Shinobi World War, and his self-satisfaction vanished.
Those two were the real cheaters.
Sasuke had the Sharingan, which upgraded time and again, and later his older brother even gave him his eyes. Naruto already had enormous chakra reserves, along with the Nine-Tails cheat, and then he had to activate the Sage Mode cheat too. Later, both of them even got an old-grandpa cheat.
I have to keep working hard, or I won't be able to keep up with them.
By the time he had fully recovered, it was already his seventh day back in Konoha.
Shinsei went to the Anbu basement and found Captain Wood Kite to report back from leave.
Wood Kite was sitting in his seat with half his mask raised, drinking watermelon juice through a straw.
"Want a glass?" Wood Kite took a long sip.
"Sure. Got any more?" Shinsei could not see anywhere Wood Kite might have stashed more watermelon juice.
"Here's a coupon." Wood Kite pulled a juice shop coupon from his pocket.
Shinsei rolled his eyes.
"Your health's all right now?" Captain Wood Kite was still very concerned.
"No problems. I've recovered completely," Shinsei answered with a nod.
Once he was well, he had to hurry back to work. Konoha's Anbu was nothing like the company in his previous life.
"Well, I've got a mission for you." Wood Kite took out a sheet of white paper bearing someone's information.
Name: Sai Sex: Male Height: 163
On the left was a photograph of a male: a short-haired youth in his teens, smiling with narrowed eyes. His smile just looked a little awkward.
"What does this mean?" Shinsei did not recognize the person in the photograph. After all, two-dimensional characters looked rather different from real people. But the name Sai rang a bell. Wasn't he a later member of Team 7?
"This is your future teammate, Sai. This time, you, Hashihime, and Sai will take part in the first round of the joint Chunin Ninja Exams." Wood Kite scratched his head.
"Huh? Aren't I in the Anbu? Do I need to take the Chunin Ninja Exams too? Aren't we taking part in the second round?" Shinsei did not quite understand. Promotions within the Anbu did not require the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the exams were merely a platform for ninja villages to showcase their strength. Most Genin did not need this process to be promoted to Chunin.
"This is a mission. You'll be notified of the specific details shortly. As for the second round, we don't yet know whether you'll be participating." Wood Kite spread his hands helplessly.
Looking at the information in his hand, Shinsei found it far too sparse. Aside from his appearance and name, there was practically nothing. And if Shinsei remembered correctly, Sai belonged to Root.
"Can I refuse?" Shinsei still refused to give up. Couldn't Wood Kite choose his missions?
"I'm sorry, but no." Wood Kite scratched his head. "Lord Hokage specifically assigned this."
Has Danzo been whispering pillow talk into Hiruzen Sarutobi's ear again? He really hasn't given up on me. Is it because of the strength I showed during the mission? Sai is clearly here for me. Otherwise, how could there be such a coincidence?
Should I find a chance to kill Sai? His strength isn't an issue, but a Root ninja is sure to be proficient in assassination. No, I can't fall out with them yet. I still don't know Hiruzen Sarutobi's stance. If Sai dies, they won't need evidence. Suspicion alone will be enough. The Anbu has plenty of ways to torture evidence out of someone.
The Chunin Ninja Exams will be Hiruzen Sarutobi's end. I only need to wait for Tsunade to return. Once she's back, I won't have to fear Danzo anymore.
Sai's identity as a Root member might be hidden from others, but there's no way it could be hidden from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Since he put Sai on the team, he must have his own intentions.
In the past, Shinsei had at least spent a second considering whether to save Hiruzen Sarutobi. After all, he had grown up safely for so many years. But now that thought would never arise again. He would watch him die.
"Come on. I'll introduce you to your new teammate." Wood Kite stood and headed out.
After passing through a long underground corridor, the two stopped outside a room.
Wood Kite pushed the door open. A man and a woman were inside. The masked woman with long purple hair was Hashihime, while the other masked youth with short black hair was presumably Sai.
"Why don't I see Giant Beast?" Shinsei could not help asking.
"Giant Beast has temporarily gone to another team. He'll come back once you've finished your mission," Wood Kite explained. "All right, everyone's here. To help the mission go better, take off your masks and get to know each other."
"I don't want to wear this stupid mask either!" Hashihime removed her mask, revealing a beautiful, gentle face.
Shinsei had not expected the usually joking Hashihime's looks to be so at odds with her personality. As long as she kept quiet, that face made her look every bit a gentle, shy young woman.
Sai also removed his mask. His features were delicate, and he looked fourteen or fifteen. His eyes curved into crescents, seemingly smiling, though the expression was actually a little fake.
Shinsei took off his mask as well. Anyone who needed to know his identity already knew it anyway.
"Wow, what a handsome little brother. It really was you." Hashihime covered her mouth and laughed.
"You're very pretty too, Big Sister Hashihime!"
"That's right. You're just a little old." Sai narrowed his eyes in agreement.
"I'm not that old!" Hashihime said through gritted teeth.
"That's true. You're still a little short of being an old woman." Sai's eyes narrowed in a smile.
"What did you say?" Hashihime grabbed Sai by his clothes. "Could you say that again?"
Sai raised both hands and said with a smile, "Sorry. I shouldn't have told the truth!"
Smack!
Hashihime punched Sai into the floor.
Tsk, tsk. He really is courting death.
"I'm sorry!" Sai got up and hurriedly bowed in apology.
"All right, you've gotten to know each other in a rather special way. Here are your registration forms. You won't be assigned any more duty today. Hashihime knows the details, so go register tomorrow." Wood Kite hurriedly interrupted.
The three took their registration forms, which bore their basic information and photographs.