"Ahaha, I helped?"
Sakaki obviously hadn't expected this reaction. He'd assumed his junior would snort in disdain or just ignore him.
"The player is lost, the onlooker sees clear."
Hii Kōri's tone returned to its usual calm and ease. "Properly accepting others' opinions is necessary for progress. To be honest, not just emotionally—research needs more assistants too."
"Ah, can't help with that~"
A nine-year-old, even a ninja, talking seriously about "research" might make others chuckle. But those unaware of the facts? Sakaki, having paid close attention to his junior's activities, knew well.
Couldn't understand. Absolutely couldn't understand. Sakaki figured the hardest equation he'd ever solve was a shuriken's parabola. Hii Kōri's writing was heavenly script.
Where did this take Me? Am I still in the country?.jpg
"Next time, add more syrup to my ice cream—that'd help plenty~"
Hii Kōri patted Sakaki's shoulder, left triple tip on the table, and walked out quite cheerfully. "When you open your shop, I'll definitely patronize."
"Ahaha, hope your words come true~"
Hii Kōri, as a former Jujutsu sorcerer—his cursed technique awakening and subsequent circumstances could hardly be called peaceful.
His life had always been solitary, even ending up killed by acquaintances, stemmed largely from his twisted personality formed during that period.
Though somewhat relieved after discovery and enrollment at Jujutsu High, he'd long reached the point of no return.
No complaints, though. Being killed by a friend, Gojō Satoru's implied form, was better than post-mortem. dissection.
He'd always been aware his mental state was dangerous—could create something worse than Special Grade Cursed Spirits anytime.
But deep down, Hii Kōri may have harbored thoughts like "if only things had been different from the start, could I have lived a different life?"
Perhaps retaining this most sincere regret was why he revived in this child carrying similar regrets.
Might be considered a form of harmony of yin and yang.
Now he had family, cute childhood sweethearts, decent friends—most importantly, the ninja world's moral standards were far lower than his previous life. He could do whatever he wanted.
Refreshed!
The stagnation in Hii Kōri's heart suddenly brightened. He felt even lunch appetite improving. Sunagakure's dry air—well, never mind. No matter how good his mood, he couldn't force that compliment.
"Well, whatever. Three or four months till the chūnin exams. Take the exams, polish resume, then directly set "Up a lab. People, equipment, funding—all there..."
Walking toward the Kazekage Building, his steps noticeably lighter than in recent months, the boy muttered continuously.
What he told Sakaki was the truth. He wasn't some superhuman—his brain processing could err. Assistants would advance the research.
Besides, even with a dual-core four-thread artificial intelligence brain, he had only one body. Limited simultaneous operation.
Considered Shadow Clone Technique. It created a physical clone with evenly split chakra—some durability, independent consciousness distinct from the user.
Upon deactivation, the clone's memories and experiences returned to the original. This property aided combat and training.
Problem lies in those last two points.
First: Hii Kōri's split consciousness was, strictly speaking, a bodily function—inheritable by clones.
And he knew his personality. If clones had self-awareness, they absolutely couldn't resist thinking about various topics outside of combat.
Sound manageable?
But deactivating Shadow... Clone brought back experience and fatigue.
Terrifying, bro. Hii Kōri himself maintained balance with various builds. Suddenly doubling energy drain?
He'd kill himself.jpg
So until he could sustain his own energy drain, he absolutely wouldn't use Shadow Clones non-combat.
The tragedy of an exquisite egoist—with a sense of independence, even clones and original can't understand each other. (Shakes head)
Hii Kōri's steps are lighter than recent months, he soon reached his destination—the Kazekage Building.
He knew this place well.
Chiyo, as a jōnin, didn't take missions too frequently.
One: her commission fees were high. Sunagakure lacked that many missions for her level. Two: as the current strongest puppet user, she moonlights as puppet division instructor, regularly teaching puppet techniques.
Then her main business: medical corps work.
Though Sand's leadership is somewhat criticized—felt she should focus more on puppetry—she stayed in medical corps against all odds.
Chiyo's reasoning: Sand already scarce. Researching how to maximize saving lives mattered more than faster killing.
That makes sense. Besides, Chiyo herself was "half-step to peak leadership"—another decade, she'd sit on the elder council. No one wanted conflict over this.
So in Sunagakure, Chiyo split time evenly between hospital medical research and Kazekage Building paperwork.
When Hii Kōri couldn't be bothered cooking, he'd grab takeaway from the Kazekage Building cafeteria and eat with Chiyo.
Better chef skills than the hospital cafeteria.
This time, though, not here for food.
Greeting the stationed ninja, Hii Kōri stood before the Kazekage's office door on the fifth basement floor.
***
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