Yuichi glanced at the system interface glowing before her.
[Character Development Line: Hyūga Hinata – Unlocked]
[Please choose:]
Encourage Hinata – Reward: Ordinary Byakugan
Mock Hinata – Reward: Ice Release
Leave silently – Reward: Water Style: Water Dragon Bite
The earlier conversation with Hinata had, as expected, triggered another branch of the system's choices.
Yuichi had already guessed that simply speaking with Hinata in that moment of silence would unlock something.
Now the real question—should she open Hinata's character development line?
The Byakugan of the Hyūga clan was tempting. And not just any Byakugan—this was Hinata's, the so-called "Princess of the Hyūga," heir to one of the clan's purest bloodlines. Even the Ōtsutsuki clan had once coveted such eyes.
After some hesitation, Yuichi decided it wouldn't hurt to open Hinata's line.
But the first option it presented… was simply "Ordinary Byakugan."
For Yuichi, that single word "ordinary" ruined the allure. Byakugan was powerful, yes, but what if accepting it altered his own eyes? If it risked saddling him with a permanent, clan-bound appearance—or worse, gave him the look of a cataract—then all his long-term plans could collapse instantly.
So, he chose differently.
He selected Water Style.
This was already the second time the system had offered "Water Dragon Bite." That alone proved something important: rewards skipped in the past could reappear in the future. Missing Byakugan now didn't mean it was lost forever.
[Congratulations! Host has acquired Water Style: Water Dragon Bite]
With that, his collection of perfected ninjutsu grew larger still. He already possessed Earth Style mastery at the grandmaster level, and a huge arsenal of Earth techniques besides.
Quantity was no longer the issue. Proficiency, however, still needed polishing.
The exam was only days away.
At this point, Yuichi realized his focus shouldn't be on hoarding more jutsu. His chakra reserves needed strengthening.
After all, with enough chakra poured in, even simple B- or C-rank techniques could rival an S-rank's destructive might.
But there was balance to maintain. Simply flooding a technique with chakra wasn't limitless—it demanded precise control and mental focus. Yet the system had never once offered him rewards for sharpening his spirit or chakra control.
For now, all he could do was prepare the foundation: increase his chakra.
He usually made his system choices in the mornings, since the rewards leaned heavily toward ninjutsu. The more techniques he possessed, the more versatile he would be in battle.
Yuichi clenched his fist, staring at it as he lay back on the bed.
"If my chakra reserves grow, the power of my Monster Strength Fist will skyrocket too!"
Close-quarters combat was not his preferred method. Unless absolutely necessary, Yuichi avoided it.
Yes, his body had already been enhanced to inhuman levels. Yes, even against the Third Hokage in his prime, Yuichi would only be pushed into disadvantage—not outright crushed.
And yes, with the Monster Strength Fist he had developed, most opponents struck in melee would be finished in one blow.
Even so, why abandon his broader advantages for a single style of fighting? Yuichi wasn't reckless.
With that decision made—chakra first, jutsu later—he finally closed his eyes and rested.
Night settled over Konoha.
While the village lamps dimmed, the Hokage's office still blazed with light.
Third Hokage sat beneath his hat, the candle flames dancing across his weary face, half-hidden in shadow. Before him, three Anbu knelt.
"Lord Third," one of them reported, "we discovered a strange site not far from Konoha. Someone used a terrifying Earth Style technique there."
The Anbu's mind replayed the devastation: entire woods leveled, hundreds of meters of land drowned in mudslides.
No ordinary shinobi could perform such large-scale ninjutsu. The team, which had been searching for Jiraiya, was shaken.
Hiruzen's expression didn't waver. "Continue."
"Near the Earth Style devastation, there should have been a canyon. Now, it has collapsed entirely into a massive sinkhole. There were no signs of further fighting nearby."
The Anbu hesitated before adding, "And… we also found Konoha Genin Uzumaki Naruto. We brought him back safely. He's already been returned home."
"...Naruto?"
For a moment, the Hokage froze. He knew Jiraiya had taken Naruto out of the village. His greatest fear was that the boy, as Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, might have been targeted.
But Naruto had returned. Relief washed over him.
"...Good. That's enough. Leave it at that."
The Anbu bowed and departed.
Once the office was silent, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly raised his head.
A dangerous glint flickered in his old eyes.
Danzo…
Was it truly you?
Jiraiya was dead.
If an outside enemy had been responsible, they would never have left the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki untouched. The only explanation was that it had been someone within Konoha itself.
And who had the motive? The power? The audacity?
Danzo.
The old war hawk had long coveted the Hokage's seat. His Root division was ruthless enough to even eliminate one of the Legendary Sannin.
Hiruzen understood now. Danzo had deliberately kept Nagano Yuichi outside of Root, using him instead as a distraction. The real goal had always been the Hokage's chair.
Danzo's patience had snapped.
Perhaps it was triggered by Sarutobi assigning the heirs of Konoha's great clans—Ino–Shika–Chō, Hyūga, Aburame, Inuzuka—under Asuma and Kurenai's care. Once more, the village's future was tied to Sarutobi's line.
That must have been the final straw.
Hiruzen clenched his fists.
"If this is the path you've chosen, Danzo… then don't blame me for showing no mercy."