Chapter 14: Untitled
"We really took a huge loss…"
After bringing Uchiha Itachi back to the shop, Shunhi had been muttering that same line nonstop.
"Deputy Director, are you alright?"
Uchiha Itachi asked.
"Don't call me Deputy Director—it sounds too stiff. From now on, just call everyone 'comrade.' For example, you're Comrade Flaming Cloud Evil God, and I'm Comrade Husky."
Shunhi spoke while sitting in the empty shop, thankful that his clone tools didn't need to eat—otherwise, their already modest household would have been in even worse shape.
"…Comrade Husky, what does 'comrade' mean?"
Itachi asked seriously.
"It means people who share the same ideals."
After giving a simple explanation, Shunhi fell silent. Seeing that Shunhi didn't seem to be in high spirits, Itachi also fell into a speechless silence.
Inside Shunhi's inner monologue:
If only I could draw Kakuzu… with his money-making skills, I'd be rolling in cash in no time.
No wait—if Kakuzu found out how recklessly I spend money, he'd probably drag me down with him in a blaze of mutual destruction.
Forget it.
But… are there any decent ways to make money…?
Come to think of it, how did the Akatsuki usually make money again…?
I remember—it was bounty missions on the black market and… kidnapping!
That's right—kidnapping!
Sure, a proper person wouldn't do something like kidnapping, but if it's S.H.I.E.L.D. doing the kidnapping, what's it got to do with me, Shunhi?
"Comrade Flaming Cloud Evil God, there's a very important mission for you."
Not using his real name, but his codename instead—Itachi understood immediately that S.H.I.E.L.D. had another assignment for him.
After returning, Itachi had tried probing Shunhi for more information about S.H.I.E.L.D., but came up empty. He knew nothing about other members' codenames or abilities either.
Itachi figured he still hadn't earned S.H.I.E.L.D.'s full trust.
He couldn't help but think this organization was being excessively cautious. Despite having ways to control him, they still refused to trust him.
"What's the mission?"
Itachi asked. At the moment, the only way he could gain their trust—and intel—was by completing more missions.
"Kidnap the young master of the Kaminarimon Corporation. And don't let him go for less than one hundred million ryō."
"As for intel on the Kaminarimon heir, you'll have to investigate that yourself. All I know is he's currently enrolled at the Ninja Academy."
"This mission is to be carried out solo."
"Also, here's your mission equipment."
Shunhi handed Itachi two items labeled [Shrink Potion (Age 13)].
"What are these?"
Itachi asked, eyeing the strange potions in his hand.
"It'll make you look thirteen. Drink the first one to shrink, and the second to return to normal. You'll infiltrate the Ninja Academy after drinking the first one, then find the chance to kidnap the Kaminarimon heir."
Shunhi spoke while manipulating Itachi into drinking the potion.
There were no side effects. Itachi smoothly transformed into his thirteen-year-old self. His Akatsuki cloak now looked oversized and sagged onto the floor.
"Didn't expect this pleasant surprise—now we can finally get rid of that Akatsuki cloak."
Shunhi casually pulled out some gear previously drawn from the system and helped young Itachi change into it.
[Shirt That Never Gets Dirty]
[Pants That Never Get Dirty]
[Shoes That Never Get Dirty]
"To be safe, we also need to change your appearance."
As he spoke, Shunhi pulled out a [Special Human-Skin Mask (Fixed)]—another tool from the system. By adding a drop of someone's blood, the mask would permanently transform into that person's face.
However, once used, it would forever be locked to that appearance.
Because things were rushed, Shunhi hadn't prepared anyone else's blood—just his own.
He drank a bottle of the shrink potion, turned into his thirteen-year-old self, and dropped his own blood onto the mask. Slowly, the mask began to morph into a thirteen-year-old Shunhi's face.
"Alright, wear this mask."
Shunhi then drank the second shrink potion to return to normal and handed the mask to the now-thirteen-year-old Itachi.
Itachi put the mask on.
"Uncle Shunhi, are you in the shop?"
Just then, Naruto's voice rang out from outside.
"A customer! Comrade Flaming Cloud Evil God, wait here."
Saying that, Shunhi hurried out.
To him, S.H.I.E.L.D. was just a side hustle. Running the ramen shop was his real job.
Sure, the side gig might make more money—but that was perfectly normal.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru… and Kakashi? What are you all doing here?"
Shunhi was startled. He had expected regular customers, not this all-star lineup. Was his identity exposed?
Naruto still looked the same, while Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Kakashi were staring intently at Shunhi.
"Of course we came for some ramen."
"By the way, Shunhi-ojisan, I didn't know you were an Uchiha. That's the first I've heard of it."
Hearing Naruto's words, Shunhi finally relaxed. So they weren't here for S.H.I.E.L.D.—they were here about him being an Uchiha.
"Well, I gave up the Uchiha name on my own. So, what would you like to order?"
Shunhi handed Naruto the menu as he spoke.
"I'll have your signature tonkotsu ramen, Shunhi-ojisan!"
Naruto immediately made up his mind. The others casually said they'd have the same.
"Same for me."
"…Are you really an Uchiha?"
After ordering, Sasuke asked Shunhi directly.
"Of course I am, Sasuke. Shunhi is definitely an Uchiha."
Kakashi replied. He understood Sasuke's implication—true Uchihas weren't supposed to be fools. Even Obito, once called the Uchiha village idiot, had turned out to be the ultimate big bad of the ninja world.
Shunhi simply smiled in response, then opened his Sharingan—one tomoe.
That's right, ever since he learned he had a system, he'd possessed a one-tomoe Sharingan. Over ten years had passed, and it was still a one-tomoe Sharingan.
"That's the Sharingan!"
"Shunhi, when did you awaken it?"
Kakashi was stunned. He had always assumed Shunhi had no ninja talent—much less the Sharingan.
"I forget. Might've been during the Uchiha massacre. I just chose not to reveal it."
Shunhi didn't mention the real timing, since unlocking the Sharingan required emotional upheaval.
In truth, it had awakened when Naruto became a genin.
There was no way Shunhi would expose the existence of his system. After all, what kind of emotional upheaval would he have just because Naruto became a genin?