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"Telescope Technique!" Following Hiruzen Sarutobi's ninjutsu, the crystal ball began to display a panoramic view of Konohagakure.
However, when Hiruzen directed the Telescope Technique towards the All-Purpose Shop, the image remained blurry, making it impossible to see anything clearly inside.
"Shinji, hmm... I hope you don't do anything that makes things difficult for me." Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a file from his drawer, which documented Shinji's life story.
...
...
"Lord Shinji, what are we doing here?" Inside the Music Hall, Shinji sat in the same second-floor seat as before, with Karin and Deidara flanking him.
"Listening to music." Shinji reclined in his chair, eyes slightly closed, listening to the singer's performance below.
Karin was relatively patient, as long as Shinji was nearby.
But Deidara was clearly getting restless.
Given his personality, sitting here listening to incomprehensible opera was the greatest torture imaginable.
Finally, Deidara waited until Shinji stood up, then quickly went aside to pay the bill.
The past two hours of listening to music had nearly given him a heart attack.
For someone who didn't appreciate it, this was truly top-tier agony.
[Ding!]
[Action conforms to Zhongli's principles. Proficiency increased by 0.1%]
[Current Roleplay Progress: 10.5%]
Yes, after spending these few days together, Shinji's roleplay progress had reached 10.5%. This speed was certainly not slow.
"Karin, let's make a deal." Seeing Shinji walking ahead carrying the birdcage, Deidara quickly approached Karin and whispered.
"What is it?" Although Karin asked, her gaze remained fixed on Shinji.
Yes.
She was practically ready to pounce on him.
"In the future, when we go out with Lord Shinji... uh... Lord Shinji, can I leave everything to you?" Deidara asked hesitantly.
If Shinji asked him to fight someone, that would be much simpler. But if it was always like this, it would be absolute torture for Deidara.
"Regarding Lord Shinji's matters, you should talk to him yourself." In truth, Karin really wanted to agree.
If Deidara pushed all these tasks onto her, wouldn't that mean she'd basically be alone with Shinji when they went out?
Having Deidara tagging along as a third wheel was already quite uncomfortable.
However, Karin didn't dare agree directly, as the final decision still rested with Shinji.
"Ah!" Deidara clutched his head in anguish. Talk to Shinji?
He didn't dare.
"Alright, I agree. But in return, you'll have to do something else," Shinji said. Although he was walking ahead, he could still hear the conversation between Deidara and Karin.
"What is it! As long as it's not making me listen to music, anything's fine!" Deidara declared confidently.
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Then... Karin is four years old now. In another two years, she'll be old enough for school. In that case, her studies will be your responsibility." Shinji glanced at Karin, then at Deidara.
If he remembered correctly, Deidara was a genuine genius when it came to ninjutsu.
He felt confident entrusting Karin's training to him.
"Teach me?" Karin seemed stunned.
"Yes, teach you ninjutsu. After all, in this world, strength is the greatest reliance. You'll have to stand on your own eventually," Shinji stated calmly.
"I'm willing... to follow Lord Shinji forever! I will never leave! I will become... Lord Shinji's strength, so... please don't send me away..."
Karin thought Shinji intended for her to leave after learning, so she blurted this out in panic.
"Send you away?" Shinji was a bit baffled. When had he ever said he wanted to send Karin away?
Thinking back on his words, Shinji suddenly understood.
Ah, so that was the misunderstanding.
"It's alright, Karin, it's alright. I won't send you away." Shinji gently stroked Karin's hair, the color of fiery red chili peppers.
He knew Karin effectively suffered from a form of PTSD; her heart was extremely sensitive, and she could have reactive thoughts about things she firmly believed.
"Really?" Karin's slightly reddened eyes stared intently at Shinji, looking as if she had just narrowly avoided abandonment.
"Of course. But Karin also needs to study and work hard. I'll be relying on you in the future," Shinji smiled, his hand movements gradually becoming more vigorous, messing up Karin's hairstyle.
"I will! Lord Shinji!" Karin declared resolutely.
"That's good."
Watching the interaction between Shinji and Karin, Deidara suddenly felt like he shouldn't be there.
"Deidara, how about it? What I just proposed?" Seeing that he had successfully placated Karin, Shinji turned around and looked at Deidara with amusement.
"I... agree. But I just don't know if Karin can keep up with my pace!" Deidara said somewhat proudly.
Back in Iwagakure, he was a genius!
Not just in mastering ninjutsu, but his academic performance was also top-notch. Otherwise, Ōnoki wouldn't have taken him as his final disciple.
"Hmph!" Karin could hear the doubt in Deidara's voice regarding her. How could she possibly lose to this seemingly lazy person in terms of learning?
"Alright, alright. It looks like there won't be any customers today. In that case, let's pack up. You must be tired after traveling for so long. Let's rest early today."
Shinji clapped his hands.
Traveling? You?
Deidara looked at Shinji, somewhat astonished. Didn't you just teleport back instantly?
What's this talk about traveling?
Isn't that a bit much?
...
...
Ring ring ring~
Just as Shinji was about to send the two kids off to their respective rooms to sleep, the door of the All-Purpose Shop suddenly opened.
"Boss Shinji~ You're finally back." A figure appeared at the entrance of the All-Purpose Shop. The somewhat unsettling tone of voice suddenly cast a chilling feeling over the shop.
Shinji turned to look at the entrance. A pale-faced person was currently looking at Shinji with a sinister smile. Dressed in a kimono, with purple markings around his eyes, the vertical pupils in his yellow eyes evoked a sense of chilling unease.
"It's the dead of winter. Why, enjoying rare leisure, yet instead of resting, you come looking for me? Do you wish to hear me tell stories, Lord Orochimaru?"
Yes, the person before him was Orochimaru. According to the historical timeline, in the year following the Nine-Tails attack.
Orochimaru's secret laboratory would be discovered by Hiruzen Sarutobi, which would be the trigger for Orochimaru's defection from Konoha.
The current Orochimaru must have already begun his research into forbidden techniques, specifically concerning the human body and Kekkei Genkai.
"Oh? I didn't expect Boss Shinji to actually know me." Orochimaru glided over lightly, almost like a snake, making no sound as he moved.
"One of the Sannin, the Cold Lord Orochimaru. As a member of Konoha, I naturally know of you." Shinji seemed utterly unfazed by Orochimaru's aura, instead starting to pour tea leisurely.
"Orochimaru?" Deidara, who was about to return to his room to research his Exploding Clay, narrowed his eyes. He was all too familiar with this person's name.
After all, he had heard information about the Sannin from Ōnoki more than once, and Orochimaru was described by Ōnoki as one of the most inscrutable individuals.
"Oh? I didn't expect Boss Shinji to have two more people here." Orochimaru's gaze swept over Karin and Deidara.
Naturally, his gaze lingered longer on Karin's face. After all, red hair was rare in the shinobi world, and her conspicuous hair color instantly reminded him of Kushina Uzumaki.
"Cut it out. Lord Orochimaru should be perfectly clear about my situation here, shouldn't he?" Shinji wouldn't believe a word this man said.
This man was capable of surviving from the first episode to the finale, and even managed to avoid being nerfed by the author in the notoriously non-flammable Boruto series.
Orochimaru's greatest strength wasn't combat power, but his survivability and intelligence network.
If such a person came here claiming ignorance of Shinji's situation, Shinji wouldn't believe it for a second.
"My, my, is Boss Shinji really so wary of me? How hurtful," Orochimaru said, licking his lips with his long tongue, seemingly taking a strange interest in Shinji.
"Speak. Lord Orochimaru, what business brings you to my humble shop?" Shinji expertly brewed the tea and offered a cup to Orochimaru.
"Mm, good tea. Though, the aroma... it should be from Master Hiruzen's private collection, correct?" Orochimaru concluded immediately after taking just a small sip.
"That, I wouldn't know. However... Lord Orochimaru, is your appearance here truly just a coincidence?" Shinji stated calmly.
"What do you mean?"
"Speak. What business do you have with me?"
"Since Boss Shinji puts it so bluntly, I do indeed have an impudent request," Orochimaru said, staring at Shinji's body, a ripple seeming to pass through his eyes.
"Hmm?"
"What if... I merely came out of curiosity, to see the person Master Hiruzen is wary of?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, Shinji's reflection appearing in his yellow, vertical pupils.
"Oh? I'm actually being watched by Lord Third Hokage?" Shinji chuckled as if completely unconcerned. He paid no mind to Hiruzen Sarutobi's supposed wariness, after all...
"Indeed. When I went today, I saw that file on Master Hiruzen's desk," Orochimaru said with a smile.
"Oh? Then should I be thanking Lord Orochimaru?" Shinji looked at Orochimaru with a half-smile. He could basically confirm Orochimaru's true purpose for being here.
"It's nothing. However, Boss Shinji, there is something I wish to obtain from you," Orochimaru stated his objective directly.
"What is it?"
"Your flesh and blood..."
Before Orochimaru could finish his sentence, a kunai was pressed directly against his neck. Looking back, Karin was glaring furiously at Orochimaru!
"My, my, little girl, this is a very dangerous item," Orochimaru remarked, seemingly completely unfazed by the kunai Karin held to his neck.
"If you try to harm Lord Shinji, I definitely won't let you go!" Karin said fiercely, although to Shinji, her expression looked more endearingly fierce than truly threatening.
"Karin, stand down. Lord Orochimaru means no harm," Shinji said calmly. The current Karin was no match for Orochimaru at all.
No, rather, even in the late stages of the series, Karin still wouldn't be a match for Orochimaru...
The difference in strength was simply too great.
Of course, things were different now. The vast array of items in the roleplay system could turn Karin into a powerful ninja.
"Hmph!" Hearing Shinji's words, Karin finally lowered the kunai in her hand and followed Deidara upstairs towards their rooms.
Naturally, before disappearing up the stairs, Karin shot another indignant glare at Orochimaru.
"Hahaha, what an interesting little girl," Orochimaru laughed heartily, seeming quite amused, looking towards where Karin had vanished.
"Alright, Lord Orochimaru, now can we discuss business?" Shinji poured himself another cup of tea.
"Boss Shinji seems quite indifferent to Master Hiruzen's wariness towards you, doesn't he?" Orochimaru looked at the black-haired young man.
Orochimaru had been probing him from the start, but Shinji had deftly deflected each attempt.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi's wariness? While troublesome, before me, the one he needs to be fully wary of isn't me. It shouldn't be my turn by a long shot."
Shinji had a good sense of perspective.
His appearance was merely an uncertain factor at most, but...
Others were different.
Like Orochimaru right in front of him.
Judging by the timeline, wasn't this the person Hiruzen Sarutobi needed to be most wary of right now?
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