Akihara Kagura was a transmigrator.
In his previous life, he had simply been called Akihara—an unremarkable and rather unqualified office worker.
After all, it was hard to make real money by working. Akihara never chased wealth; he only wanted something to do. With a fixed income, his life was stable enough.
Unfortunately, employees who couldn't be bound by money were always troublesome.
As a result, Akihara spent his life bouncing endlessly between employment and unemployment.
One day, after casually submitting his résumé, a strange company sent him an interview invitation, asking him to come in for an in-person discussion.
He agreed.
Then he went to sleep.
When he woke up, the world had changed.
He had arrived in the ninja world—reborn as a boy named Akihara Kagura.
Akihara Kagura was one of the orphans taken in by Orochimaru. He lived year-round inside an underground experimental base. His primary duty was cleaning the facilities.
His secondary duty was serving as expendable material for human experiments.
Fortunately, Kagura awakened a system:
[As Long as You Work Seriously, You'll Definitely Be Appreciated by Your Superior System].
The name sounded fake.
Its effect was terrifyingly real.
As long as Kagura selected a superior and earnestly completed that superior's assigned tasks, he would receive corresponding rewards.
If he ever wanted to leave this world, there were only two ways.
The first was simple—wait for the world to be destroyed. Once the company collapsed, resignation would naturally follow.
The second was harder: get fired by the world itself and move on to the next job.
Both options were absurdly difficult.
Besides, Kagura didn't want to leave yet. This was a rare life experience, and once a superior was chosen, the system would even issue a newcomer onboarding gift.
Unfortunately, as a newcomer…
He had only one choice.
Orochimaru.
From the newcomer gift pack, Kagura obtained a terrifying trait called [Ninja World Science], which allowed him to survive a Hashirama Cell transplantation experiment with a mortality rate exceeding ninety-nine percent.
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Character Panel
Name: Akihara Kagura
Gender: Male
Age: 10
Date of Birth: Konoha Calendar, Year 43, April 4
Chakra Attributes: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yang
Total Chakra: SSS
(Body greatly enhanced; strength and speed far surpass ordinary ninja; perception significantly improved. Chakra reserves reach the upper limit of normal ninja. Source: Hashirama Cell transplantation.)
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Skills
Wood Release · Wood Clone
An evolved clone technique. When destroyed, the clone turns into wooden branches that bind the enemy. Because Wood Release chakra acts as a source of life, Wood Clones are far harder to distinguish than ordinary clones—even Shadow Clones.
Wood Release · Wood Substitution
An evolved substitution technique. Upon being attacked, the body instantly swaps places with a wooden substitute.
Wood Release · Wood Transformation
An evolved transformation technique. Transformations created with Wood Release are far harder to detect than normal ones.
Wood Release · Impalement Technique
A Wood Release awakening technique. Wooden spikes can grow from any part of the body. After piercing an enemy, further hand seals cause the spikes to branch and grow, tearing the target apart from within.
Genetic Modification Technology
Allows forced genetic rewriting, engraving special abilities directly at the genetic level. Safer and more convenient than cell transplantation experiments.
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Traits
No-Seal Healing
Powerful self-regeneration without the need for hand seals.
(Source: Hashirama Cells)
Wood Release Kekkei Genkai
The legendary bloodline of the Ninja God, Senju Hashirama. So rare that even his descendants cannot inherit it naturally.
(Source: Hashirama Cells)
Ninja World Science
Any human experiment that conforms to ninja-world scientific theory is guaranteed to succeed.
(Newcomer Gift Reward)
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Superior: Orochimaru
It was obvious.
For the system, choosing the right superior mattered greatly.
Orochimaru's abilities were built entirely on ruthless science and extreme experimentation.
From Kagura's observations, the system's rewards scaled with the superior's capabilities. His future in the ninja world would likely involve frequent job changes.
Earlier, under the excuse of "losing control," Kagura had tested something important—he attacked Orochimaru.
The system did not punish him.
At all.
Perhaps…
The system actually encouraged job-hopping.
This system looked like it required many superiors.
No—more accurately, it was a system designed to squeeze labor dry, encouraging Kagura to work for as many superiors as possible.
And Kagura was already planning his next move.
After all, Orochimaru's character was… questionable.
The man had already started coveting Kagura's body.
"Kagura."
Orochimaru had no idea the boy was contemplating resignation. He was already planning the next stage.
"You'll go to Konoha."
"I have an ally there."
As he spoke of that ally, Orochimaru's lips curved into a strange smile.
"You'll learn Wood Release techniques from him—and I'll see just how far you can go."
"Also…"
"Monitor his alliance with me."
"Yes."
Kagura accepted calmly, then hesitated.
"Konoha Village… your hometown, Lord Orochimaru?"
"…Correct."
Orochimaru nodded, his voice distant.
"Go see it. The scenery there is beautiful."
The nostalgia vanished quickly.
A strange smile spread across his face.
"One day, I will return."
Kagura said nothing.
It was obvious—Orochimaru harbored no goodwill toward his homeland.
As a transmigrator, Kagura knew a little about Konoha.
The strongest ninja village in the world.
Located in the prosperous Land of Fire.
Ruled by the Hokage.
Orochimaru, alongside his two comrades, was once known as one of the Legendary Sannin. He had nearly become Hokage himself—until the Third Hokage vetoed him for having a heart "too dark."
Which was ridiculous.
What ninja was truly pure?
Instead, the Third Hokage chose a man as warm as the sun to become the Fourth Hokage.
Convincing—until tragedy struck.
The Nine-Tails Incident erupted soon after. The Fourth Hokage died to protect the village.
Yet Orochimaru's chance never came.
Instead, the Third Hokage reclaimed power, uncovered Orochimaru's human experiments, and personally ordered his capture.
Orochimaru defected.
From Hokage candidate to S-rank rogue ninja.
His downfall was inevitable—but his ally in Konoha had undoubtedly helped shoulder some of the blame.
That ally…
Was no good person either.
For Orochimaru, sending Kagura there was strategy.
For Kagura—
It was opportunity.
An official post in Konoha.
An official position in one of the Five Great Ninja Powers.
That was real job security.
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End of Chapter 2