Mikoto gone at last, Sogetsu exhaled.
That look she'd given him—eyes shining, cheeks flushed, thighs pressed tight—was one of the top three most dangerous moments since he arrived in this world.
The System text slid into view:
Side Mission: A Qualified Psychiatrist IV
Treat or fulfill the wishes of 100 people. (100/100)
Reward:Lemannor's Travel Notes
Perfect. Mikoto was number one hundred.
Lemannor's Travel Notes
Form: bound, ocher parchment.
Trait:Gate Path — Rank VI Recorder (analogue)
Use: When you witness an extraordinary ability, you may record it onto a page for one later use.
Side effect: After use, you get lost and meet assorted dangers; smear your blood on the cover promptly to dispel the effect.
Time to shake the old man for more gold, Sogetsu thought. A living treasure vault named Uchiha Madara should not be left unplucked.
He slipped the notebook away and eyed the next mission. As he'd guessed, the psychiatrist chain continued—rewards growing each step.
Side Mission: A Qualified Psychiatrist V
Hypnotize or controlten elite jonin / Kage. (0/10)
Reward:Arianna's Night Emblem
Sogetsu's pulse jumped. At last. One spark, and the goddess would grant Secrecy—the kind you couldn't buy.
Move the schedule up, he decided, already drafting a list of "volunteers."
Morning.
He stepped out and ran into Fugaku. The man's eye sockets were dark; bruises marked his face.
"Uh… Lord Fugaku, what happened?"
Fugaku coughed into his fist. "N-nothing. Tried a new jutsu. It backfired a bit."
"Ah. Understood." Sogetsu patted his shoulder. "Pregnancy. Happens. Bear with it."
"You get me." Tears sparkled. "Mikoto snapped at me out of nowhere, asked where I'd been. I said 'Sogetsu's place' and she got even madder—"
Sogetsu looked away, suddenly fascinated by the air.
"Anyway," Fugaku recovered with dignity, "her mood's bad lately. If she offends you, don't mind it. Thank you, Sogetsu."
"Ah—yes—gotta go!" Sogetsu fled.
On the way through the village:
"Morning, Lord Sogetsu!"
"Good morning! Have you eaten?"
"Lord Sogetsu, will you look at my flowers?"
His name rang down the street. Since the Chūnin Exam, the base of Konoha adored him. He waved, smiling, soaking it in.
At the Hokage Tower, an ANBU bowed. "Lord Sogetsu, the Hokage asked you to go right up."
"Thank you. Good work—holding the post without fail isn't easy."
"It's an honor, sir!" The ANBU tried to hide his excitement and failed.
"No need to be tense. We're all Konoha. No one is 'above' anyone."
As Sogetsu walked away, the ANBU murmured, "So gentle… no Uchiha airs… if only I were in Third Squad…"
Even inside the Tower, greetings chased him. Good. Adoration widens the gap from understanding.
Keep going, Sogetsu thought, glasses flashing. Not enough yet. I need more.
He slid the office door. Hiruzen sat behind the desk, pipe clacking; smoke blurred the room. Danzo stood to one side, cane planted, face like a storm.
"Lord Hokage." Sogetsu didn't look at Danzo. "You called for me—mission?"
"Yes." No preamble. "As ANBU, you will go to Kirigakure."
Sogetsu waited.
"Yesterday an ANBU report arrived." Hiruzen's temple vein ticked. A hint of killing intent threaded his words. "Mist has been secretly coordinating with Iwa to plan a war. I need you to lead a team, confirm the how and the target."
There was a scroll at Hiruzen's elbow, stained with fresh blood.
Sogetsu pushed his glasses with one finger. "If the intel confirms they intend war on us—how far may I go?"
Hiruzen's eyes glinted like a blade. "Do as you please. Make a scene."
Sogetsu smiled. "Understood."
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