That call of "Sensei" was filled with reluctance, but Mizuki didn't care.
[ Ding! ]
[ You successfully took Sakura Haruno as your disciple! ]
He smiled, finally able to continue exploiting the system.
But the system wasn't done yet.
[ Congratulations, you have successfully gathered all three members of Team 7! Reward: Kakashi Ability Card ×1 ]
〖 Kakashi Ability Card: Using this card, you can randomly draw one of Kakashi's abilities and master it directly. 〗
A surprise bonus!
"Kakashi's abilities are worth looking forward to!"
He was about to use the card when he looked up and saw Sakura staring at him expectantly.
"Ahem, here you go!" He handed her the Earth-Style Wall scroll without hesitation.
While eating ramen earlier, he'd already looked over the scroll and memorized its contents.
[ Ding! ]
[ You have granted your disciple Sakura Haruno a B-Rank Ninjutsu Scroll [Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall], triggering a 100× Return! ]
[ Congratulations, you have obtained an A-Rank Ninjutsu Scroll [Earth Release: Stone Mirror Wall]! **]
〖 Stone Mirror Wall (Earth Release): creates a tall, smooth, and hard stone wall to block Water, Fire, and Wind Release jutsu. When encountering Water Release attacks, the Stone Mirror Wall can block them 100% and reflect them back. 〗
A hundredfold return — barely satisfactory.
Still, Mizuki thought the returned Earth Release: Stone Mirror Wall was pretty good.
Upgraded to A-Rank, the earth wall became a stone wall with greatly increased hardness that could defend against stronger jutsu. Moreover, because Earth Release counters Water Release, the Stone Mirror Wall could not only provide complete defense against water jutsu but also reflect it back.
This was the first jutsu with offensive capability he'd obtained.
Sakura took the Earth-Style Wall scroll and said happily, "Thank you, Sensei."
Mizuki nodded, "Take it back and practice diligently. Learn it as soon as possible, and if there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."
Sakura left cheerfully.
"Sakura still has two more grant-and-return opportunities this month. I need to think carefully about what to give her. But first, let me use this card. I wonder what I'll draw."
Returning home, the first thing he did was boil medicine to soak his feet. Since leaving the Hokage building, he'd been training the Yongquan tenketsu on his soles, and now his feet were painfully sore.
After starting the foot soak, he took out the Kakashi Ability Card. The card bore the Copy Ninja's portrait.
"System, let's begin!"
As he spoke, the card turned into fluorescent light and entered his body through his nose and mouth.
[ Congratulations, you have used [Kakashi Ability Card] and obtained the ability: Sharingan Dynamic Vision! ]
"Sharingan?"
Mizuki was overjoyed. Kakashi's left eye was the Mangekyō Sharingan, housing the spatial pupil technique Kamui. He hadn't expected to actually draw it.
He hurriedly looked down, peering through the water in the foot-soaking bucket at his left eye. Although the water rippled, he could clearly see his left eye — there was no change whatsoever.
"System, where's my Mangekyō Sharingan?"
[ Host, listen clearly. It's Sharingan Dynamic Vision. The key words are 'Dynamic Vision', not Sharingan! ]
Mizuki rolled his eyes, leaned back, and let out a, "Tch!"
Excited for nothing. No Sharingan — just dynamic vision. A huge difference.
The Sharingan had multiple abilities: copying jutsu, hypnosis, and enhanced observation. Dynamic vision was merely one aspect of the Sharingan's observation power. The Uchiha clan used it to track high-speed movements, giving them a decisive advantage in combat.
Mizuki tested it out. The dynamic vision was remarkably stronger. Even flies dancing through the air appeared in slow motion, their wing vibrations clearly visible.
"What a shame. It would've been so much better if it were the actual Sharingan."
After soaking his feet and resting, the stinging pain in his soles finally disappeared. He grabbed his fishing gear and headed out.
"Today I'll catch more fish and send them to the orphanage." He was laying the groundwork for future disciple recruitment.
❊❊❊❊❊
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
A crystal ball sat on the desk. Hiruzen used the Telescope Technique to observe Mizuki constantly — from leaving home to entering the forest to starting his fishing.
Soon, another figure appeared in the image. The person approached silently from behind, hiding in a tree and using the foliage as cover. After confirming the target, three kunai appeared in his hands.
A faint smile crossed Hiruzen's lips.
Just then, a knock sounded. He quickly put away the crystal ball, "Come in!"
The door opened. Might Guy walked in, followed by Neji, Tenten, and Lee. All four looked travel-worn and tired.
"Third Hokage, Team 3's escort mission is complete. We're here to report."
❊❊❊❊❊
In the forest, springs babbled and birds sang. Flowers bloomed. Everything was peaceful.
Mizuki wasn't one for crowds, so his fishing spot was secluded. He sat quietly by the river, watching the bobber on the water's surface.
Suddenly, the bobber moved slightly, creating small ripples that spread outward in circles. He perked up, reaching out to grip the rod. The bobber shook a few more times, then suddenly sank.
"Here it comes!" Mizuki gripped the rod and pulled up, bringing a small fish out of the water.
But at that moment, the sound of something cutting through the air came from behind.
Mizuki didn't take it seriously. He just tilted his head to glance backward. But that one glance sent his adrenaline skyrocketing. His enhanced dynamic vision let him see three kunai gleaming with cold light, arranged in a triangular formation, shooting toward him.
By the time he saw them clearly, the kunai were already 2 meters away. Too late to dodge.
The next moment, all three kunai hit their marks — back of the neck, left back chest, right back chest — penetrating more than three inches deep.
Each strike was fatal.
The corpse fell forward. A figure landed on both feet, looking at the body and saying, "Chūnin Mizuki eliminated. Mission complete!"
But just then, the corpse disappeared with a poof, turning into a block of wood.
"Substitution Jutsu? When did he form the hand seals? Did he sense the attack and prepare in advance?"
Though surprised, the attacker didn't pay it much mind.
According to his intelligence, Mizuki was just an ordinary Chūnin who only knew the basic Three Academy Techniques. He'd come here to fish and hadn't brought any ninja tools. Without offensive jutsu or weapons, he was no threat.
So he stood in place, completely unafraid of Mizuki's counterattack.
Meanwhile, Mizuki hid behind a nearby tree, cold sweat breaking out on his back. If he hadn't drawn the dynamic vision ability today, he'd already be dead.
'This person is wearing a mask — an ANBU member. No, this mask pattern is complex with no animal characteristics. It's Root. That old man can't do it openly, so now he's resorting to assassination?'
He hadn't expected Hiruzen would stop playing games and go straight for the kill.
His situation was becoming increasingly dire. Living in Konoha while being targeted by the Hokage — this life was truly unbearable.
Just then, the Root member turned to look at the tree where Mizuki was hiding, "Come out. I've found you."
Mizuki walked out openly. He didn't run.
"A Root ninja, so it seems Elder Danzō wants me dead. I really didn't expect that I, a mere Chūnin, would catch Elder Danzō's attention. What an honor. Make your move!"
The Root ninja asked doubtfully, "You won't resist?"
Mizuki shrugged, "What's the use? I'd still die anyway, so it's better to make it quick."
Though puzzled, the Root ninja didn't waste words. He threw a kunai aimed at Mizuki's throat. Throughout, he kept his eyes on Mizuki's hands — if he formed hand seals, he would immediately switch to a more aggressive offense.
Mizuki made no movements, as if he truly was waiting for death.
In the blink of an eye, the kunai was already 1 meter away. Too late for anything now.
The Root ninja thought it was over. But just then, he saw a slight smile appear at the corner of Mizuki's mouth.
Ichi Kōtai no Jutsu ▻ Body Swap Technique
The Root ninja vaguely felt something had happened, but before he could process it, he felt intense pain in his throat. Looking down, he saw the kunai he'd thrown embedded in his own throat. From the corner of his eye, he saw that his position had somehow switched with Mizuki's.
"Im…pos…sible…"
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand why their positions had switched.
He reached out to grab the kunai, wanting to pull it out and continue attacking, but his strength was already gone.
Thud!
The corpse fell to the ground, lifeless.
"Danzō really underestimated me, sending only one person. Does he actually think I'm some trash ordinary Chūnin?" Mizuki looked at the corpse and considered his options, "Defect? Or keep maneuvering around Hiruzen?"
His mind raced.
If he defected now — with his current strength and no one to help — his chances of success were extremely low. He wouldn't get far before they caught him. And then it would be certain death.
So Mizuki chose to keep maneuvering around Hiruzen.
❊❊❊❊❊
In the Hokage's office, Guy had just left with his team when Hiruzen immediately took out the crystal ball. He activated the Telescope Technique and focused on the small stream in the forest.
But the expected scene of Mizuki being killed didn't appear. Instead, the Root ninja lay dead.
"What's going on?" Hiruzen's eyes widened, thinking he'd seen wrong.
How could Mizuki, an ordinary Chūnin, possibly have the strength to kill a Root ninja?
Root ninjas were all hand-picked by Danzō and meticulously trained from childhood. Whether in taijutsu, genjutsu, or ninjutsu, they were far superior to Mizuki.
But what was this situation?
"Well, losing one Root ninja is Danzō's problem. But Mizuki killing a Root ninja — that's the perfect opportunity to charge him with a crime." He immediately shouted, "Someone! A murder has occurred in the forest east of the village. Follow me at once to apprehend the murderer."
❊❊❊❊❊
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want to enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)