"The two students whose names were called, if you have any objections, you may voice them now."
Iruka demonstrated remarkable humanity by immediately soliciting opinions from Sasuke and Yuto. If these two really didn't want to participate, he wouldn't force them.
"I have no issues here, Iruka-sensei," Yuto agreed almost without hesitation.
Now the pressure was on Sasuke.
Truth be told, the last surviving member of the Uchiha clan desperately wanted to refuse.
He wasn't afraid of a fair, head-on fight and had complete confidence he could defeat anyone his age. The only exception was this damn Hayashi Yuto—the one opponent he never wanted to face in this lifetime!
Imagine fighting seriously when suddenly your opponent whips out a surprise feces attack—what kind of bullshit is that?! Who the hell could handle that?!
So should he refuse? But if he backed out now, wouldn't that mean he was scared of the other guy?
His personal reputation didn't matter much, but right now he represented the entire Uchiha clan's dignity. If he refused, wouldn't that bring shame upon the entire Uchiha name?
After considering this, Sasuke took a deep breath, his eyes gradually firming with resolve:
"I have no problem either."
He hoped Hayashi Yuto would fight him properly for once, but just in case, he'd have to use that secret equipment he'd prepared.
"That Mikoto's kid… I bet he went through some intense mental gymnastics just now," Kushina said in a tone that suggested she'd seen right through everything.
'What do you mean?' Yuto asked, feigning ignorance.
"Still playing dumb? Have you forgotten what you said in front of the whole class?" Kushina scoffed. "Facing an opponent who flings feces around would give anyone a headache!"
"What feces? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Playing the amnesia card won't work. Everyone in this class knows about your signature move now!"
"Hmm, what should we eat tonight?"
"Pfft, so even you have moments you don't want to face your dark history!" Kushina teased with amusement.
Yuto continued playing dumb, gazing at the sky "Maybe something simple like tomato and eggs?"
"Shut up! Don't you dare mention tomatoes to me again!"
"As you command, my queen."
"Get lost."
Amidst the laughter and banter, time passed quickly.
With the crisp chime of the school bell, Yuto immediately grabbed his backpack to leave.
"Hey, Yuto!" Naruto grabbed him, grinning. "Let's get ramen tonight!"
"Rain check—got a dinner date today," Yuto replied mildly.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked. "With who? Don't tell me you've secretly made other friends?"
"Blind date," Yuto answered decisively.
"Eh? That red-haired girl?" Naruto scratched his head.
"Yep, I'll introduce you someday." Yuto patted his shoulder solemnly. "But not today—we're preparing a candlelit dinner."
With that, he turned and left.
"Damn it, that bastard is so enviable!" Naruto muttered with clear jealousy.
"That blind date… is she from Konoha?" Shikamaru watched Yuto's retreating figure, frowning. "If so, then why would he leave the village?"
Very mysterious.
Shikamaru had always found his friend's thought processes hard to follow, but now he seemed even more inscrutable.
*Yuto's Small House*
"When are you planning to come clean to those friends of yours about what you're doing now?" Kushina asked softly.
"After our plans take more concrete shape, I'll gradually reveal things to them. Otherwise, I'm afraid they might not be able to handle it."
"Hah, true ." Kushina snorted with dark amusement. "If Naruto found out the person you're dating and having 'candlelit dinners' with is his own mother, you think he'd beat you to death on the spot?"
"I don't think so." After a thoughtful pause, Yuto said with complete seriousness: "I'd tell him to his face that what I share with his mom is true love."
"Pah! Who's your true love, you brat!" Kushina's cheeks flushed as she retreated back into Yuto's body.
"Just joking, don't be mad."
"Hmph, are you going to keep researching that dangerous thing now?"
"Not for the moment."
Yuto lightly knocked on the left wall of his house. With a *click,* a dark passage opened in the floor.
Descending the stairs revealed an enormous excavated space.
The ceiling was embedded with glowing fluorescent stones that illuminated the entire area. On the left side stood a massive transparent tank containing a milky-white amorphous substance suspended in liquid.
As Yuto approached, the strange white mass seemed to come alive, constantly shifting forms.
This object and the underground space had been created by Yuto in a single night after obtaining all of Aizen's abilities. The excavation itself had only taken minutes.
The real time investment had been that bizarre white substance!
Creating a completely new energy foreign to the ninja world wasn't easy, even with the combined knowledge of a transmigrator and the "Shinigami" big boss Aizen.
But in the end, he succeeded.
"Just looking at that thing makes my scalp tingle," Kushina remarked.
"Don't be so resistant. For us, this represents the future—the future of reshaping the ninja world." Yuto smiled faintly. "And ultimately, you'll need to merge with it too."
"Hearing that just makes it even creepier!" Kushina took a deep breath.
"It just needs more time to grow." Yuto glanced at the "Hōgyoku" floating above the tank. "Perhaps we should find some… volunteers."
"You're planning to do human experiments?" Kushina sounded shocked.
"Already have some candidates in mind. What do you think about "Lord Danzo"?" Yuto's lips curled.
"I don't approve of human experimentation." Kushina paused, then added cheerfully "But "Lord Danzo"absolutely doesn't count!"
"Exactly." Yuto walked to another section of the space as another dark passage opened. "I knew you wouldn't object."
Human experiments were unethical, but in their eyes, Danzo barely qualified as human.
"Wait!" Kushina stared at the new exit in surprise. "You tunneled all the way to the Memorial Stone?! On purpose?!"
"I thought you already knew." Yuto shrugged.
"Who pays attention to underground routes?! What are you even trying to do?" Kushina's eye twitched. "Stop right there—grave robbing is illegal!"
"Can't do that." Yuto shook his head firmly. "I've already prepared a little surprise for our friend Obito."
"You…" Kushina was at a loss, suddenly realizing the boy was doing all this for her.
'How am I ever supposed to repay you, you idiot.'
"Let's begin."
As Yuto located Rin Nohara's gravestone and prepared to work his magic, that familiar golden text suddenly popped up again.
[Choose.]
[1. Use Edo Tensei to summon the White Fang of Konoha, then ask him to personally witness your romantic relationship with his son Kakashi.]
[2. Use Edo Tensei to summon Sarutobi Biwako, then order her to seduce Danzō.]
[3. Use Edo Tensei to summon Uchiha Mikoto, then inform her you want to be the father to her children.]
"GODDAMMIT!"
The bright smile vanished from Yuto's face, replaced by utter darkness…