Chapter 7: Give the Hidden Leaf Village a Little Capitalist Shock

"My name is Kuma Kumo. I love drawing, and my dream is to become a great ninja."

Kuma Kumo added quickly, her voice clear and bright.

Rojie turned his head slightly toward her upon hearing Kuma Kumo’s words.

The traumas of childhood and her physical condition had indeed profoundly shaped Kuma Kumo, molding her current dream.

People are ultimately haunted all their lives by what they could not obtain in youth.

But compared to the original story in his memory, the present Kuma Kumo had changed greatly.

She had gradually overcome her physical limitations and become a genin—the strongest beings in the ninja world.

Moreover, Kuma Kumo had not developed psychological issues from being unable to become a ninja, nor had she created the monstrous Idō.

Naturally, the tragedy that had claimed her parents’ lives in a fire had never occurred.

Whose credit is this?

Of course, it’s Lord Rojie’s!

The Hokage Tower that would one day be destroyed by Kuma Kumo must be sincerely thanked to Rojie.

At that moment, Lei Menyue gathered his courage and began his self-introduction.

"My name is Lei Menyue. I love studying machinery. My dream is to become Hokage."

Rojie glanced at him briefly upon hearing this.

Become Hokage?

Brother, Itachi’ve got serious potential.

It’s just a bit difficult.

Itachi’d have to go head-to-head with Huang Yuan.

Why not wait until Itachi become the richest ninja in the world, then just buy the village and become Hokage?

Give the Hidden Leaf Village a little capitalist shock.

Isn’t this also a way to achieve your dream?

Shan Cheng Qingye cleared his throat twice, straightened his posture, and his gaze carried a hint of seriousness.

"Alright, there’s still some time before noon. Let’s begin a drill to test your abilities—I need to get a sense of your level."

He paused briefly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"After the drill, we’ll have lunch together to get to know each other better."

"Then Itachi’ll have free time. Official missions begin tomorrow."

Shan Cheng Qingye announced the schedule in an orderly manner.

Upon hearing this, Lei Menyue immediately raised his hand, his eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.

"Teacher Qingye, is this the bell-stealing drill?"

"I heard if Itachi don’t get a bell, Itachi get sent back to the Academy—is that true?"

Shan Cheng Qingye looked at Lei Menyue and shook his head gently. "Bell-stealing? Too troublesome. It’s all just for assessment."

"As for being sent back to the Academy if Itachi fail to steal a bell..."

He paused, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I’m a Special Jonin, after all. If Itachi actually managed to take a bell from me, that’d be the strange thing."

Rojie listened nearby, silently sneering.

Bell-stealing is a Hidden Leaf tradition.

Must be tried.

Those who defy tradition are scorned.

In the drill field, the sun blazed fiercely, casting golden glimmers across the ground.

Shan Cheng Qingye stood beneath a patch of shade, his figure half-hidden by dappled shadows.

He looked at the three before him.

"Your mission is to fight me. Mainly, show me your strengths—I need a clear sense of your abilities."

Rojie stared intently at Shan Cheng Qingye.

Tatakae?

Fine.

My friends, I love battle.

"Understood?"

Shan Cheng Qingye asked.

Rojie nodded.

Kuma Kumo’s expression remained calm, unchanged, only giving a soft reply.

"I... understood."

Lei Menyue’s voice was tense.

"Then..." Shan Cheng Qingye slowly raised his right hand.

"Begin."

The moment he spoke, all three figures vanished instantly, hiding themselves with speed.

Shan Cheng Qingye nodded in satisfaction.

Their fundamentals were solid—even Kuma Kumo, whose file specifically noted her frail physique, had concealed herself swiftly and effectively.

Looks like things will be easier from now on.

Shan Cheng Qingye scanned the surroundings, silently pondering.

Behind shrubs, behind rocks, on tree trunks.

They were fresh genin, after all—still full of gaps in concealment.

As an experienced veteran, he needed only one glance to spot their hiding spots.

Still, Shan Cheng Qingye had no intention of attacking first.

His goal this time was primarily to let them display their abilities.

Besides, the sunlight was too blinding. Where else was as comfortable as this shade?

Thinking this, Shan Cheng Qingye pulled a kunai from his ninja tool pouch and gripped it.

Better stay alert.

Suddenly, Shan Cheng Qingye felt the scene before him shift abruptly.

The familiar drill field vanished, replaced by an endless, deep ocean.

Cold seawater flooded his throat, choking him into a guttural gasp.

His body sank uncontrollably.

He was fully trapped in the illusion.

The Kuma clan’s kekkei genkai?

Instantly, information from yesterday’s file flashed through Shan Cheng Qingye’s mind.

He tried to channel his chakra—but it vanished like a clay ox into the sea, unresponsive.

Could he not use ninjutsu?

This was troublesome.

Was he about to fail?

That’d be too embarrassing.

Shan Cheng Qingye could almost see his friend, Nanzu Reitong, laughing at him.

He’d become a joke among his colleagues.

Just as his consciousness began to fade...

A thunderous crash shattered the illusion instantly.

At the same time, in a patch of shrubbery somewhere in the drill field, Kuma Kumo’s body trembled uncontrollably.

Her face was as pale as paper, her forehead slick with fine sweat.

Just as she was about to collapse, Rojie appeared beside her in a flash and steadied her firmly.

"Kuma Kumo, stop forcing your kekkei genkai."

Unlike the original story, since Kuma Kumo had never developed intense hatred due to misunderstanding, she had not birthed the monstrous Idō.

With her current strength, she still couldn’t properly control the immense Yin chakra within her.

Moreover, to prevent her condition from worsening, she had long suppressed her kekkei genkai’s power.

Thus, she could not effectively wield it.

Kuma Kumo sensed Rojie holding her, lifted her head slightly, and nodded obediently.

Meanwhile, Shan Cheng Qingye, having barely escaped the illusion, exhaled deeply, secretly relieved.

Saved.

Looks like I won’t become a laughingstock.

But before Shan Cheng Qingye could fully relax, several glinting shuriken sliced through the air with sharp whistles, hurtling toward him.

Two of them struck with pinpoint accuracy, piercing his vital points.

Blood gushed violently from Shan Cheng Qingye’s neck.

Got it?

Lei Menyue looked at this scene, his face filled with shock, his eyes brimming with disbelief.

But just as he believed he had struck his target, a cloud of smoke suddenly spread out.

The mountain city Qingye, struck by the shuriken, vanished instantly, leaving only a stump of wood in his place.

Almost at the same moment, Qingye’s figure appeared behind Lei Menyue.

Yet he did not strike immediately; he stood still, waiting for Lei Menyue’s reaction.

Lei Menyue reacted swiftly.

He spun around, clutching his kunai tightly, and thrust it without hesitation toward Qingye’s left waist.

“Bang bang bang.”

After a few light impacts, Lei Menyue’s body flew backward like a severed kite, crashing heavily to the ground.

These strikes carried personal grudges.

At that moment, Qingye lifted his head and his gaze swept upward.

There, Luo Jie’s figure appeared in the sky above.

(End of Chapter)