Chapter 9: The Fault Is Not Mine, But This World

Inside the Hokage’s office.

Warm sunlight streamed through the clean windows, spilling unreservedly across the large desk.

The Third Hokage sat upright at the desk, surrounded by piles of documents, reviewing them one by one, his pipe occasionally puffing thin curls of smoke.

At nearly seventy, he still labors on the front lines—truly full of energy.

Indeed, power is the best aphrodisiac.

At that moment, the office door was gently knocked.

Shanfeng Aoba entered and handed a report to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

“Third Hokage, this is our class’s recent training progress and mission execution report.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the sound, set down the document he was reviewing, and reached out to take the report.

His eyes swiftly scanned the paper.

When he saw Rojie’s section, his expression paused slightly, then his brows furrowed gently as he sank into deep thought.

Did Rojie’s file contain an error?

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt puzzled.

Previously, he had personally taught Rojie Wind Release ninjutsu.

But Rojie’s performance had been truly disappointing.

Yet according to Shanfeng Aoba’s report, during the recent drill, Rojie had unleashed a hand-seal-less Fire Release technique, and his recent displayed talent in Fire Release had deeply shaken Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Perhaps this child hides even more astonishing talent in Fire Release ninjutsu.

His talent in Wind Release, by contrast, is ordinary.

And because his parents are dead, he has had no access to ninjutsu.

That is why he has struggled to stand out in school, performing merely averagely.

If so, this hand-seal-less Fire Release technique is likely Rojie’s own creation.

This also matches his outstanding theoretical scores.

Although in the ninja world, there are indeed geniuses who are poor at theory but can create their own techniques.

Yet figures like Hiruzen Sarutobi’s teacher Tobirama Senju, and his own student Orochimaru—these ninjutsu prodigies—

Also excelled in theoretical studies.

“Aoba.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.

“Itachi are skilled in Fire Release. Focus on cultivating Rojie’s Fire Release ninjutsu. I believe Rojie will surely shine in the future and become a ninja no less than Itachi.”

Shanfeng Aoba immediately nodded, his tone sincere: “Yes, Third Hokage. I will give it my all.”

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gaze fell on Kamaru Yagumo’s file: “Yagumo is a child with poor health, yet she carries the Kamaru clan’s Kekkei Genkai—this power is no less significant.”

“Originally, I planned to assign Kurenai to train her, but Kurenai has another class to lead.”

“Aoba, help her master this power.”

“Understood. I will closely monitor Yagumo’s condition,” Shanfeng Aoba replied.

Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi also mentioned Lei Menyue.

Lei Menyue’s parents are major merchants, essentially the Hidden Leaf’s financial backers.

That is why Hiruzen Sarutobi placed him in Shanfeng Aoba’s class, alongside Rojie—whose mindset is solid—and Yagumo, a direct heir of a ninja clan.

…

In the following days, Rojie, Kamaru Yagumo, and Lei Menyue, under Shanfeng Aoba’s leadership, plunged into a variety of D-rank missions.

Though the tasks differed, they were all menial chores with little danger.

One day, they arrived beside a river at the village’s edge.

The river’s surface floated rotten wood, tattered clothing, and all kinds of household waste, emitting a nauseating stench under the sun’s heat, drawing swarms of buzzing flies.

“Today’s mission is to clean the garbage from this river.”

Shanfeng Aoba’s gaze swept over the three, finally settling on Lei Menyue.

“Menyue, this is also a good chance to practice your water-walking technique.”

After the mission began, Lei Menyue stared at the river, took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and carefully gathered chakra to his soles, slowly stepping onto the water’s surface.

At first, his steps were weak and unsteady, his body swaying violently; after only a few steps, he tumbled into the water.

Rojie and Kamaru Yagumo had already moved skillfully across the water, swiftly gathering garbage while occasionally glancing at Lei Menyue.

“Don’t rush. Control your chakra output and maintain your balance,” Rojie advised.

Back on shore, Lei Menyue listened to Rojie’s reminder, took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and felt the flow of chakra within him before attempting again.

This time, his steps were steadier, and he walked a short distance steadily across the water.

As time passed, Lei Menyue gradually mastered the technique, moving more naturally on the water’s surface.

He moved toward the distance, gathering scattered debris, coordinating seamlessly with Rojie and Yagumo, slowly clearing all the trash from the river.

They worked through the morning.

Finally, by noon, the three successfully cleared all the garbage.

After changing out of their soiled clothes, they went to the shade beneath a tree at a training ground to eat lunch.

Lei Menyue took out a rice ball wrapped in lotus leaves, ready to properly reward his empty stomach.

Just as Lei Menyue bit into a large mouthful of the rice ball,

He suddenly cried out: “Why is a crow stealing my rice ball?”

Rojie and Yagumo turned to look and saw a glossy black crow perched on a nearby tree branch, clutching Lei Menyue’s rice ball in its beak, flapping its wings.

Lei Menyue was furious and desperate, wanting to leap onto the tree to retrieve his rice ball, but the crow had already flown away.

At that moment, a lazy voice came from nearby.

“A ninja must always guard his supplies.”

Rojie looked up and saw Shanfeng Aoba casually standing on a tree branch, a faint smile on his face.

Shanfeng Aoba flashed his figure and landed steadily before them.

“Sensei Aoba, why are Itachi here?” Kamaru Yagumo asked, puzzled.

Shanfeng Aoba smiled: “I came to check on your mission progress and brought a new one.”

“I’ve taken a C-rank mission. Tomorrow, I’ll take Itachi outside the village to destroy a bandit hideout near the Land of Fire’s border. They frequently harass villagers and steal property—we’ll eliminate them.”

Hearing it was a C-rank mission, Yagumo and Menyue were excited.

After all, this was their first mission outside the village.

Rojie, however, fell into thought.

Will there be blood?

Though he had been reborn in the Naruto world, he had never truly killed anyone.

Yet Rojie the pirate, as a Marine, had personally killed pirates.

Rojie had those memories.

Though they were the same person, this was not his own hand that had acted.

Upon careful reflection, he felt a faint thrill.

Why was he thrilled?

Am I a little mad?

Rojie took a deep breath.

Confirmed: his mental state was fine.

If the fault is not mine,

Then the fault lies with this world.

Should I destroy this world?

Never mind. Let’s go see Obito at the Memorial Stone first.

“Go back and prepare well. Check your ninja tools and gear. Remember to bring enough ration pills.”

Shanfeng Aoba interrupted Rojie’s thoughts and continued his instructions.

Lei Menyue clenched his fists, his eyes resolute: “Sensei Aoba, we won’t let Itachi down.”

(End of Chapter)