Just as Mitsusuke stepped out of the Hokage Building, a voice like celestial music rang out in his mind: [Ding! Mission complete. Reward: Chakra +7.]
[Mission 2: Teach students Taijutsu. Ensure all students reach the entry-level in Taijutsu. Reward: Chakra +8. Deadline: Six months.]
Feeling the sudden surge of Chakra in his body, Mitsusuke almost cried out in pleasure.
How could he describe this feeling? It was like parched earth suddenly receiving the nourishment of rain.
He stretched his neck and clenched his fists; Mitsusuke felt that he could now fire at least three Laser beams.
Sensing the surging vitality radiating from his body, Mitsusuke asked, "System, I feel great right now, as if I have infinite power. With my current Chakra volume, am I about to catch up to that freak Senju Hashirama?"
[Host, please wake up. That old fellow Senju Hashirama's Chakra volume is comparable to a small Nine-Tailed. You are still far from him. Once you complete four more missions, you might have about one-tenth of his Chakra volume.]
"Holy crap! That freakish? It seems the title 'God of Shinobi' isn't just for show."
"If only I could awaken Wood Release. I could try to see if I can absorb others' life force; that way, I'd achieve a form of immortality."
[Host, your body contains a thin trace of Senju lineage. If you possess a massive amount of Chakra, you might be able to awaken Wood Release. As for whether you can absorb an enemy's life force, I do not know. Aramaki's Mori Mori no Mi is not the same thing as Wood Release, so do not get your hopes up.]
The system's explanation didn't disappoint Mitsusuke; he was just thinking out loud.
Immortality didn't hold much attraction for Mitsusuke. Watching your friends and descendants die before you would make immortality a form of torture.
After calming his emotions, Mitsusuke looked at the mission issued by the system: make all students reach the entry-level in Taijutsu. The concept of this mission was a bit vague—what level did Taijutsu need to reach to be considered 'entry-level'?
"System, I understand the mission, but what is the concept of this entry-level Taijutsu? If you use the Eight Gates as a standard, then this mission is too difficult. Forget the students, even I might not be able to reach that."
[Host, I am here to assist you, not to screw you over. By entry-level, I mean combat where they can proficiently use the Substitution Jutsu and Body Flicker Technique.]
[If a standard must be set, it is to have everyone be able to last five seconds against you. Then the mission will be considered complete.]
With a clear standard, Mitsusuke felt relieved. This mission didn't sound particularly difficult.
After buying some meat at the Konoha market, Mitsusuke went home happily.
Just as he returned home, Mitsusuke was stunned by the scene before him: Naruto and Sasuke were grabbing each other's hair, lying on the ground with bruised and swollen faces.
Pulling the two of them up, Mitsusuke asked, "Tell me, what's going on? Why did you start fighting?"
"Mitsusuke-sensei," Naruto spoke first, "Sasuke said I made you angry and that you were going to kick me out. That's why we started fighting."
Glancing at Sasuke, Mitsusuke didn't scold him, but simply said, "Sasuke, I wasn't angry with Naruto. I was just warning him about who is truly good to him. Go wash your faces, then come help me wash the vegetables. I'll make you something delicious."
Watching the two children go to wash their faces, Mitsusuke looked up at the roof and complained, "There's no food for you today. You just watched the kids fight without even trying to stop them."
Kakashi, on the roof, didn't say a word; he just squatted by the eaves reading his little adult book.
After the meal, Mitsusuke had Naruto and Sasuke continue refining Chakra while he lay on the sofa to rest.
Tonight, the Uchiha would be in an uproar. Mitsusuke had to wait for news, otherwise, he wouldn't be in the mood to sleep.
In the evening, Shisui also returned. He couldn't appear in the Uchiha Clan Compound today, and he certainly couldn't be among those acting against the Hardliners. In other words, he couldn't be stained with the blood of the Uchiha Clan.
That would do no good for his position as Clan Head, and the clansmen would become wary of him.
Time seemed to pass particularly slowly today. Mitsusuke sat on the sofa smoking one cigarette after another, while Shisui paced back and forth in the room.
Finally, it was midnight, the time to take action against the Uchiha Hardliners.
After another agonizing two hours, the door suddenly knocked.
Hearing the knock, Shisui immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Shisui saw Itachi standing at the entrance, covered in blood, his eyes completely bloodshot.
"Itachi, why are you here?"
Without answering Shisui's question, Itachi bypassed him and came before Mitsusuke: "Hokage-sama wants you to see him at the Hokage Office. He has something to tell you."
Mitsusuke threw his cigarette butt into the ashtray, stood up, and followed Itachi out the door.
As he passed Shisui, Mitsusuke said, "Protect Sasuke and Naruto. I'll be back in a while."
On the way, Mitsusuke asked, "Did something go wrong with the operation?"
At this question, Itachi's body visibly trembled, but he didn't speak, only quickening his pace.
Mitsusuke now had a bad premonition. No way... did something happen to Fugaku?
But with the strength of Itachi and Fugaku, plus those loyal to Fugaku, there shouldn't have been any problems!
Arriving at the Hokage Office, Mitsusuke immediately saw Fugaku and Mikoto lying on the ground. His heart sank; he hadn't expected both of Fugaku's couple to be in trouble.
Seeing Mitsusuke arrive, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Suke, there was an unexpected turn in this operation. The Uchiha Clan Great Elder sent people ahead of time to capture Itachi's mother. Just as Fugaku was about to act, he used Mikoto to threaten Fugaku into committing suicide. To save Mikoto, Fugaku had no choice but to kill himself."
"By the time Itachi finished dealing with the Third Elder and returned, it was too late. Mikoto had also been murdered. In the end, all those people were killed by Itachi, but the Uchiha Clan Great Elder's whereabouts are currently unknown."
Mitsusuke slumped onto the floor and lit a cigarette for himself.
He didn't speak, just quietly looked at Fugaku's now bloodless face.
After finishing the cigarette, Mitsusuke asked, "Only a few people knew about this operation. The Great Elder's actions were clearly premeditated. Shouldn't we investigate the person who leaked the information?"
Itachi looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi; Mitsusuke's question was also what he wanted to ask.
At this moment, all the pressure fell on Hiruzen Sarutobi. For a moment, he didn't know what to do.
The person who leaked the news—one didn't even need to think to know it was Danzo.
But if he really had to deal with Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't bring himself to do it.