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Still, it was all part of the job. The System was patient.
[Friendly Reminder: The fee (Creation Chakra) paid by the host will be applied to 'You in the Past' in this timeline. The following is the itemized bill. Please decide whether to pay.]
[Fee List: +10% 'Medical Ninjutsu' proficiency, 'Spring Touch' usage right-1, 'Senju Bloodline', 'Perfect Chakra Control'…]
After reading the system prompt, Qianyu froze for a second, then an expression of utter disbelief spread across his face.
"No way…?!"
His hands started to tremble. He manipulated Karasuki once more, traveling through time to "a few years later"—that pitch-black rainy night, the day he first bound with the system!
"System, pay the fee!"
With a thought, Qianyu began channeling massive amounts of chakra into the system.
After his chakra underwent its qualitative transformation, it now possessed the power of creation. The sensation as it flowed was eerily similar to the warm surge he felt whenever the system granted him rewards!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The System was like a bottomless pit, voraciously devouring Qianyu's chakra, nearly draining him dry.
But it didn't matter. His current level was what it was; he'd recover quickly. Right now, he was more desperate to confirm his hypothesis!
[Payment complete. This service has concluded. Thank you for using our services. Goodbye!]
As the system notification chimed, Qianyu felt a tremor deep within his soul. Under the gaze of his golden Rinnegan, a ball of light shimmering with a mysterious luster emerged from his body, transforming into a streak of light that shot into the distance.
Swish!
Qianyu, too, transformed into a streak of light and followed, trailing the system. Soon, an achingly familiar scene played out before his eyes.
"Wait, I'm just a medic-nin from the support team! Why do I have to be on the front lines?! Does that make any sense?!"
Down on the rugged mountain path, a black-haired teenager, one hand clutching a medical kit, was running while complaining to the middle-aged medic-nin beside him.
This scene had replayed in Qianyu's mind countless times, because that black-haired teenager was him—his past self!
Fwoosh!
The ball of light that was the System flew into the boy's body. Qianyu's own body shuddered in tandem.
"So… so that's how it is…"
The power he obtained from the System… it had always originated from him, from right here. He was the source. The System was just a courier, a temporal middleman!
Yin-Yang Release could "create all things from nothing." But his current Creation Chakra was far more miraculous. Whether it was the Senju bloodline, the Sharingan, or any Kekkei Genkai… they were all manifestations of his own Creation Chakra!
As for the various ninjutsu, taijutsu, and chakra control… they too came from him. His Creation Chakra carried his current comprehension and mastery, transmitting it bit by bit back to his past self.
(In the original lore, chakra could carry consciousness—like Minato and Kushina's chakra conversing with Naruto.)
It was a loop. The System didn't truly provide power. It just constantly ferried his power within this loop, taking a cut for itself along the way.
BOOM!
Something exploded in Qianyu's mind. Madara's actions and the System's nature completely reshaped his understanding of time.
Qianyu couldn't tell which came first—"the him of now" or "the him of the past." It was like the chicken and the egg. He didn't understand how he entered this loop that shouldn't have included him in the first place.
But in this moment, time was no longer linear in his eyes. Past and future occurred simultaneously. Cause and effect swapped places freely. What came before and what came after could coexist. Lines intertwined in his mind, forming a perfect circle… like an Ouroboros!
Swish!
Shibai Ōtsutsuki's "Clairvoyance" could see the past. But Qianyu's eyes now saw the distant future.
He saw his future self walking among the stars, also dispersing portions of his chakra and legacy. And the appearance of one of those inheritors… looked exactly like Shibai Ōtsutsuki.
"I made all of this happen…"
Qianyu's three eyes went vacant. He murmured to himself, the words of Isshiki and Shibai echoing once more in his mind.
"Qianyu… you can perfectly integrate our clan's power. As if you were born with the purest Ōtsutsuki bloodline. As if this power… always belonged to you!"
"It really is you! Was all of this… designed by you from the start? Then what am I? A sacrificial lamb prepared in advance to help you ascend to godhood?!"
"To ensure the 'me of the past' becomes the 'me of now,' the 'me of the future' created the so-called Ōtsutsuki God… and gave Karasuki to him."
Qianyu finally understood everything.
Of course he could integrate Ōtsutsuki power. Because the Ōtsutsuki clan… was his creation. He was the true Ōtsutsuki progenitor!
"Looks like Zuchongzhi wasn't me… it was Kaguya."
Qianyu let out a soft laugh. After all this time, he finally saw the entire loop clearly. And that meant… he could soon step out of it.
"Karasuki. I don't have the capability to create you. So… who is your true creator?"
Having figured it out, Qianyu looked at Karasuki before him, curiosity coloring his question.
The Ōtsutsuki had merely modified and utilized Karasuki. The true creator, the one capable of transcending the cycles of time and space to craft it… must exist on a level far beyond his own, even now that he had just seen through the loop.
"My creators hail from 'Above the Purple Mist.' You are but one step from 'Transcendence.' I believe you will meet the Lords soon enough," Karasuki replied respectfully.
"Transcendence? A whole new realm? And Lords above the Purple Mist…"
After hearing Karasuki's words, a look of keen anticipation appeared on Qianyu's face. "Interesting. Seems the future won't be boring."
His mindset had long since changed on this journey.
He'd walked a tightrope his whole life. A peaceful, quiet ride into the sunset… that couldn't satisfy him anymore. He wanted something more interesting.
Ahead lay new realms, new challenges to conquer, endless spacetime adventures to experience. What could be more thrilling than that?
Makima, Power, Robin, Nami, Kochō Shinobu, Rem, Nino, Mai, Tōsaka Rin, Shirai Kuroko, Katō Megumi, Asuna, Albedo…
Ahem. "But before all that… I should return to the ninja world first."
"That idiot Nawaki still needs looking after. Tsunade and Mikoto are waiting for my answer. Konan and Rin… they're still soaking in those tanks."
Qianyu calmed his excited heart, deciding to return to the ninja world first.
The infinite spacetime beyond the ninja world wasn't going anywhere. For the next century or two… he'd stay and spend time with family and friends.
Life is a journey against the current. An end is also a new beginning.
But since Qianyu had jumped the loop, transcended the control of an unspeakable will… all future adventures and experiences would be written by his own hand.
(End of Book)
The Fifth Hokage (Side Story)
Konoha Year 61.
In the original timeline, Konoha had fallen into decline due to Orochimaru's destruction plot. Now, however, the village was a scene of bustling prosperity. Carriages and horses flowed like water, lanterns illuminated the night, and various modern technological products were ubiquitous on the streets.
And all of this was thanks to this world's Orochimaru. Or rather, thanks to the three demands Qianyu had given her long ago.
Not long after returning to the ninja world, Qianyu had pulled out a stack of futuristic blueprints and sought out Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru. I'm giving you one year. Build the WiFi and all these smart devices on these blueprints."
Orochimaru: "Huh?"
"I got you a helper. His name is Kabuto Yakushi. A kid me and Nonō adopted."
Orochimaru: "Huh?"
Before she could even ask what "WiFi" was, Qianyu's figure had already vanished. Beside her stood Kabuto, barely three or four years old, pushing up his glasses as he looked at Orochimaru.
"Lady Orochimaru, shall we begin? I'll assist you."
Orochimaru: "Huh?"
Orochimaru stared at the thick stack of blueprints and Kabuto, who wasn't even as tall as her… equipment. Her whole being was in disarray.
She was a life sciences researcher! And he wanted her to switch to communications engineering?! Her only helper was a snot-nosed kid?!
Ever since following Qianyu, she didn't know how much of her beautiful, raven-black hair she'd lost! If she didn't have feelings for him, she'd have quit long ago!
…
"It's time to get up, Yahiko! Today's election day! Do you want to hand the Hokage seat to Obito?!"
The sun was already high. Nagato, having reached his limit, climbed into Yahiko's house, grabbed the still-bedridden Yahiko by the shoulders, and shook him vigorously.
"Of course not! If that idiot Obito becomes Hokage, wouldn't our Konoha be finished?!"
Yahiko jolted awake. Changing his clothes, he looked around. "By the way, where's Konan?"
"She went to Qianyu-nii's place early this morning. Said she'd see if she could pull some strings for today's election."
"Her? Pull strings?"
Hearing Nagato's explanation, Yahiko muttered under his breath, "Is it possible… Qianyu-nii is the one pulling strings?"
"You brat! What are you saying?!"
Nagato smacked Yahiko on the back of the head, scolding him irritably. "You're about to get married! Why are you still shooting your mouth off like when you were a kid? Did you forget last month when Nawaki-nii almost broke your leg?!"
"Hmph! Don't remind me. Nawaki-nii is getting more and more violent."
Yahiko put his hands on his hips, indignant. "So I teased him about being single for over thirty years! We're brothers who grew up together! Did he have to go that hard? Jeez."
Nagato: "…"
He thought Nawaki still had some affection for Yahiko. After all, he'd gone easy on him.
…
Hokage Building, Election Hall.
Nagato accompanied Yahiko through the main doors. Quite a few candidates were already waiting in the hall. They immediately spotted some familiar faces.
"Idiot Obito. Can't even straighten your collar properly. What would you do without me?"
"Hehe, I can't live without you anyway, Rin-chan."
In a corner, Rin was adjusting Obito's clothes. The two were lost in their own sweet, lovey-dovey world.
Just then, Yahiko sidled over with a cheeky grin, imitating Rin's earlier tone. "Obito, you big dummy~ What would you do without me~~?"
"Bastard Yahiko! You looking to die?!"
Obito was so angry his Sharingan flickered to life. He pointed at Yahiko furiously. "I swear on the honor of the Uchiha clan! I will defeat you in this election and become Konoha's Fifth Hokage!"
"Hmph!"
Yahiko snorted, curling his lip disdainfully. "Your blade is dull, your horse is weak. What do you have to compete with me? The last Hokage was my junior brother! The Fifth Hokage seat is mine!"
"Yahiko!"
"Obito!"
They pressed their foreheads together forcefully, glaring at each other with intense rivalry, neither willing to back down.
"Enough, you two idiots! Stop embarrassing yourselves!"
Just as Rin and Nagato, feeling secondhand embarrassment, quietly tried to distance themselves, a flash of silver light streaked past. In an instant, Obito and Yahiko, still locked together, were tossed to opposite sides of the room.
"Ow ow ow! Kakashi! When did you get back?"
Obito rubbed his sore backside as he stood up, grimacing in pain, but his tone held a note of genuine happiness.
Even though he spent every day with Rin-chan now, this Kakashi guy was always disappearing. It felt like something was missing in his life.
"Yeah, Kakashi! Weren't you traveling around training Naruko and Sasuke?"
Yahiko stood up, dusting himself off as if nothing happened, asking in his usual boisterous manner.
"Minato-sensei called me back to run for Hokage."
Looking at the friends he'd grown up with, a flicker of warmth passed through Kakashi's eyes. His explanation was characteristically brief.
"(owo?)! Nani?!"
Yahiko and Obito exchanged a look. Their previously burning competitive spirit instantly deflated.
It's over. It's over. If Kakashi was running… then what was the point of them even being here?!
They couldn't match his capabilities. And connections-wise? He was the teacher of the future Hokage and his wife! How could they possibly compete?!
…
Hokage's Office.
Qianyu sat behind the desk, one leg crossed over the other, enjoying the perfectly calibrated cool touch of Yamanaka Ryoka's skilled fingers as she massaged his temples. He watched lazily as Minato and Rasa handled the paperwork.
He found the current Konoha system utterly unreasonable. The election for the next Hokage… actually required the current Hokage to be present?!
"Speaking of which, Minato… why don't you want to be Hokage?"
Watching Minato bury himself in documents, Qianyu asked curiously. He'd actually wanted Minato to take the Fifth Hokage spot.
"Too busy. I want to spend more time at home with my wife and kid."
Minato put down the file in his hand, glancing at Qianyu with mild exasperation.
He'd once had so much passion for serving Konoha. But after years of Qianyu's inhuman levels of delegation… all he wanted now was to be a couch potato.
The ninja world was at peace. No nation dared start a war, terrified of giving Qianyu an excuse to, on a whim, wipe them off the map. The various Daimyō kept their heads down.
The current leaders of the remaining four great villages—the Raikage Yugito, the Kazekage Pakura, the Mizukage Mei—were all Qianyu's people.
With no wars, the existence of the ninja villages was becoming negligible. What was the point of being Hokage anymore?
'The ninja village system will probably be abolished soon. And the Daimyō system too. This guy Qianyu won't tolerate anyone above him, even nominally.'
After finishing another document, a relaxed smile appeared on Minato's face. Anyway, no matter how the ninja world changed, it wouldn't affect him and Kushina.
Given his relationship with Qianyu, even if his daughter didn't marry Qianyu's boy, he and Kushina had zero worries about the future. Qianyu would arrange everything.
"By the way, Qianyu. Jiraiya-sensei sent another invitation. It's for the 13th of this month."
"Again? That's his and Sensei's seventh kid, right?!"
Looking at the invitation Minato handed over, Qianyu was shocked. "What, is he trying to form his own Seven Ninja Swordsmen?!"
…
Hokage Election Hall.
Uchiha Nami swaggered in, announcing with an air of importance, "The Hokage is feeling unwell. He left early… ahem, took the day off. I am here to announce the final result of this election."
"Wait, Nami-nii! We haven't even voted yet! How can there be a result?!" Obito stared at the scroll in Nami's hand, utterly baffled.
"Doesn't matter. The result would be the same even if you voted."
Uchiha Nami waved a hand dismissively, unfurling the scroll. "I announce the Fifth Hokage is—Hatake Kakashi!"
"Foul play! Rigged!"
Yahiko and Obito were immediately up in arms, shouting as if trying to rally the masses for a rebellion.
"Oh. The Hokage also said…"
Uchiha Nami gave them a sidelong glance, speaking unhurriedly, "If Yahiko and Obito dare make a fuss… he'll send them to the Land of Snow to plant potatoes."
Obito: "…"
Yahiko: "…"
"Sigh… I really didn't want to be the Fifth Hokage."
Kakashi let out a deep, melancholic sigh. With extreme reluctance, he took the scroll from Nami's hand, completely ignoring the murderous glares from Yahiko and Obito beside him.
Yep. He was doing this on purpose.
"To be continued…"
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