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[Exchange?]
[Yes/No]
The system classifies some basic items into tiers: Inferior, Ordinary, Refined, Flawless, Perfect (yes, it's using the equipment classification from a certain Tencent Three Kingdoms game, fufufu). Of course, the corresponding exchange points still need system evaluation to be determined.
[Yes!]
Without a second thought, Shinji directly exchanged these Hashirama cells. If he didn't exchange them, he'd have to pick them up himself, right?
[Ding!]
[Hashirama Senju's Cells (Ordinary) *2 have been exchanged for points. 800 points have been credited. Host, please check.]
[Hashirama Senju's Cells (Refined) *1 has been exchanged for points. 1000 points have been credited. Host, please check.]
Shinji checked his system backend. 1800 points were clearly displayed there. Together with the previous 200 points, Shinji now possessed a 'huge sum' of 2000 points! Looks like he could check the point shop for suitable items to exchange. However, he hadn't expected Orochimaru to be so generous, giving him even refined Hashirama Senju cells.
...
"These three are all a level higher than the cell fluid from last time. These three should suffice as payment for this contract." Orochimaru had no reaction, completely unaware that he had just given Shinji a vial of the best Hashirama Senju cells he could currently produce. In his repeated experiments, he had only succeeded twice. One batch went to Danzō, and the other, Orochimaru himself didn't even realize, was instead given to Shinji.
"Of course, this is sufficient. However, Lord Orochimaru, regarding Miss Anko..." Shinji smiled lightly, looking playfully at Orochimaru.
"Someone will naturally take care of her. Besides... I can also ensure she remains legally in Konoha," Orochimaru still insisted stubbornly.
"Is that so..." Shinji smiled faintly. Did the course of history remain unchanged? Orochimaru, preparing to defect, didn't want Konoha to know anything about him, nor did he want Anko to receive different treatment due to his identity. So, he cast a forbidden jutsu on Anko, making her forget the missions they undertook together, unable to recall them. Moreover, it's known that the only people Orochimaru bestowed the Cursed Seal of Heaven upon were Sasuke and Anko.
"Fufufu, naturally that's the case. However... Boss Shinji, my experiment is about to reach the most crucial point. It probably... still needs about half a month." Orochimaru suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with madness. He himself didn't know if Hiruzen Sarutobi would launch further attacks within this half-month, but he truly needed this time to conduct the final experiment!
"I understand. Let me know when the time comes," Shinji knew Orochimaru wanted to create some diversion to buy time temporarily. Only then could he complete his final experiment and leave Konoha without regrets! Of course, for the current Orochimaru, the regret was only about whether the experiment could be completed, not about leaving Konoha.
"Lord Shinji~ The snow is falling so heavily~" Karin came outside the All-Purpose Shop, watching the winter snowflakes continuously drift down.
"Yes, wear more clothes to keep warm, be careful not to catch a cold." Today, the All-Purpose Shop had no business. Shinji held a bowl of hot tea under the eaves, watching Karin play in the street.
"Hehe, I know, Lord Shinji. Deidara, eat my snowball!" Karin saw Deidara crouching on the ground making snowballs. Suddenly feeling playful, she made a large snowball and threw it towards Deidara.
Splat!
The snowball hit Deidara squarely on the head, scattering snow everywhere.
"Ahhh! Karin! I'll fight you!" Deidara, who was crouching on the ground using the snow to form the shape of his next planned clay creation, involuntarily stumbled back from Karin's snowball impact, crushing the Patrick Star he had just made. This immediately made Deidara somewhat emo (emotional). Infuriated, he started making snowballs and throwing them at Karin. Although Karin's physical strength and speed had improved somewhat after training with Shisui, she was still weaker compared to Deidara. Soon, Karin gradually lost ground under Deidara's assault. For a moment, noisy shouts echoed through the entire street.
"War... is about to begin," a figure suddenly appeared beside Shinji.
"Yes. Your clan shouldn't have been sent to the battlefield, right?" Shinji chuckled lightly; the identity of the visitor was clear. It was Shisui!
"Yes, not a single one sent to the battlefield. It really is..." Today, Shisui wasn't wearing his ANBU uniform, but arrived in casual clothes.
"Then do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?" Shinji watched Shisui enter, turning back into the All-Purpose Shop first.
"There are pros and cons, I suppose. Boss Shinji, I came this time to ask for leave," Shisui sat down familiarly at the tea table.
"It seems Lord Third Hokage has assigned you to the front lines?" Shinji looked at Shisui with a half-smile.
"Yes. According to intelligence, Yugito Nii is no longer in Kumogakure. It's estimated that in just two days, at her speed, she will appear at the border of the Land of Fire."
"So fast? If they come to the Land of Fire, they have to pass through the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Water. It seems the battlefield this time is most likely in the Land of Hot Water... And... they actually dispatched the Two-Tails Jinchūriki." Shinji gently tapped the tea table. The Land of Hot Water and the Land of Frost were necessary paths for Kumogakure to reach Konoha. It was highly likely the battlefield would emerge between these two locations.
"That's highly likely. And a few days ago, Kumogakure already gathered a large number of ninja and began advancing this way. If nothing unexpected happens, the leader of the Kumogakure team this time will be Yugito Nii." (PS: Yugito Nii is 16 years old this year.)
"It seems Kumogakure is really determined to win. And... since your Uchiha clan wasn't dispatched, then presumably... the Hyūga clan is leading the battlefield?" Shinji thought for a moment. Perhaps in this battle, Kumogakure was severely countered by the Hyūga clan's Byakugan, which is why they were so desperate to take Hinata back after the war ended?
"Yes. On Konoha's side, Senior Hiashi Hyūga is leading, assisted by Seniors Shikaku Nara, Chōza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka. They have already assembled and will set out tomorrow." Shisui looked at Shinji, who seemed to have everything under control, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"In that case, your mission regarding me must also be temporarily suspended?" Shinji looked at Shisui with a smile, as if he already knew.
"Uh... that hasn't been explicitly stated, but judging from the situation, yes, that's the case." Shisui paused for a moment. Actually, after receiving the mission concerning Shinji, he had mentally prepared himself for a long time before deciding to tell Shinji about it. However, what surprised Shisui was that Shinji seemed to have known all along that Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him this mission, showing no surprise at all.
"I see. It seems Lord Third Hokage still has some backup plans. But... it doesn't matter. Then I wish Shisui success in this mission." Shinji smiled dismissively. Shisui's end hadn't arrived yet, but... Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't going to the battlefield, and in fact, some high-ranking personnel were still in Konoha. On paper, their strength seemed somewhat inferior to Kumogakure, which possessed the Jinchūriki Yugito Nii. But Shinji could see it, and Hiruzen Sarutobi could see it even more clearly. And in this war, none of the Sannin were going to the battlefield, nor were they even recalled. Meaning, if Jiraiya and Tsunade were recalled, it could potentially affect other matters significantly. And this impact was significant enough for Hiruzen Sarutobi to accept some losses against Kumogakure! Then the answer became obvious. Regarding Orochimaru, it seemed things would come to a head very soon. Combined with Orochimaru not having visited for the past two weeks, which was very close to the half-month timeframe Shinji had anticipated. Meaning, the operation against Orochimaru was likely about to begin.
"I've relayed the message. Then, Boss Shinji, I'll take my leave first," Shisui stood up.
"No problem."
"By the way, Boss Shinji, one more thing," Shisui suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Shinji.
"What is it?"
"Itachi will be attending the Ninja Academy in about a month. If I haven't returned by then, I'll have to trouble Boss Shinji to help look after him."
"That's a small matter. After all, Shisui has helped me so much. Don't worry about it," Shinji didn't mind and readily agreed.
"Lord Shinji! So many ninja!" Just as Shinji was pondering, Karin and Deidara's voices suddenly came from outside. Stepping outside, he saw Konoha ninja, already dressed in combat attire, running towards the Hokage Building.
"It seems... everything is about to change," Shinji watched these hurried ninja, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"So be it... I should prepare as well." After speaking, Shinji told Karin and Deidara to return to the All-Purpose Shop and warned them not to go out for the next two days.
After all, Shisui had just said it. The ninja heading to the front lines had already assembled. Yet now, so many more ninja were gathering. There was only one reason. The operation against Orochimaru was very likely tonight!
"Truly worthy of Konoha? To actually deploy two groups of ninja at once, fighting on two fronts?" Shinji watched as ninja continuously passed by outside the All-Purpose Shop. Moreover, most of the ninja wore ANBU masks! Even... several individuals wearing Root masks were stealthily tailing behind.
"Fighting on two fronts?" Karin looked curiously at Shinji, finding she didn't understand the meaning behind his words.
"This is a bit too early for you, Karin. But... it's best not to go out these few days. Deidara, you too." Shinji gently patted Karin's head, then turned and walked towards his room. Since it was tonight. Then Shinji planned to do some things as well.
...
...
Night. Konoha was extremely quiet today. Although the New Year had just passed, and many homes still had various decorations hanging in front. But tonight in Konoha. The streets, usually bustling with people at this hour, were now deserted. All the villagers seemed to have received some news or sensed the unrest in Konoha, staying home early and not going out.
But Shinji walked alone through the streets. Not to get close to Orochimaru's secret base. But waiting at another exit. Because, to leave Konoha, this exit was the most suitable, and also the path Orochimaru chose in his memory.
...
...
Inside Orochimaru's secret base, Hiruzen Sarutobi ran solemnly through a damp secret passage, the splashing water echoing clearly in the quiet underground tunnel. Behind him, two ANBU members followed closely on either side. Soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived in front of an iron door. He signaled the two ANBU behind him with his eyes, and the iron door was opened directly. Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly entered the room. Inside, shelves displayed rows of culture jars filled with human tissues. At the end of the room, under a dim yellow light bulb hanging overhead, Orochimaru stood with his back to Hiruzen Sarutobi, seemingly performing some actions with his hands.
Ding~
"Fufufu, finally discovered... What a pity~" Orochimaru turned his head, blood on his face adding a grotesque touch to his pale complexion.
"Orochimaru, what is the meaning of this?" Hiruzen Sarutobi feigned shock, looking at Orochimaru.
"I set up so many traps. Though it surprised me... I see, so it was you~" Orochimaru seemed completely unsurprised by Hiruzen Sarutobi, instead wearing a strange smile.
"Recently in the village, from Genin to Jōnin, even ANBU Jōnin, people have continuously gone missing. Plus, recent reports indicate your behavior has been highly suspicious."
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> Check my: [email protected]/ShixT9 for extra 60 Chapters
> Each 50 Spirit Stones I will release an extra chapter
> If a member joins my p@treon
> Tier 1 = 20 Advance Chapters +1 Extra Chapter + Shoutout
> Tier 2 = 40 Advance Chapters + 2 Extra Chapters + Shoutout
> Tier 3 = 60 Advance Chapters + 4 Extra Chapters + Shoutout
A review will also be greatly appreciated ^•^