Chapter 2
Sakuya Senxuan practically fled the Hokage Tower.
After weaving through several alleys and confirming that none of those nosy kids from Minato's team were tailing him, he ducked into his modest little courtyard.
Bang! The door slammed shut. He leaned against it, exhaling a long, heavy breath.
Chunin exam… and paired with that genius Hatake Kakashi, no less.
The old Third Hokage had definitely done this on purpose.
He could already picture the scene on exam day: the entire village turning out to gawk.
"Look, it's that super repeating student—actually taking the exam with Lord Kakashi!" "Isn't this just asking for humiliation?"
So annoying.
What was so great about becoming a chunin anyway?
Missions jumping from D- and C-rank straight to B- or even A-rank. Opponents shifting from wandering samurai and bandits to properly trained ninja from other villages.
The tiny pay bump wouldn't even cover a few explosive tags.
It was basically trading lifespan for pocket change.
All he wanted was to coast safely through the Third Great Ninja War, then figure out how to win over Tsunade and retire to a life of casual drinking and counting his wife's assets.
"System."
Senxuan muttered inwardly.
A faint blue light screen only he could see unfolded before him.
[Host: Sakuya Senxuan]
[Secret Technique: Asura Mode (Self-Created)]
[Evolution Points (EP): 3500]
[Ding! C-rank mission "Scout the Land of Earth's Border" completed with outstanding results. Evaluation: Perfect. Reward: 1000 EP.]
Seeing the points he'd painstakingly saved up finally tick higher smoothed some of his irritation.
This was his real foundation.
"System, lottery draw."
[Each draw consumes 1000 EP. Confirm?]
"Confirm."
The screen shifted instantly. A massive spinning wheel appeared, whirling at high speed.
The prizes were all over the place—from "Ichiraku Ramen Lifetime Pass" to "Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo Sharingan," and even "Ryūjin Jakka," the world-destroying flame blade.
Of course, after so many draws, the best he'd ever gotten was a chakra-conducting kunai that cut through iron like butter.
The pointer slowed gradually, teetering between "Better Luck Next Time" and a glowing golden skill icon.
Senxuan's heart leaped into his throat.
Please, anything but "Better Luck Next Time"—give me something useful!
The pointer trembled… and finally settled on the golden light.
[Congratulations, Host! Obtained rare skill—[Recovery]!]
[Skill Description: By consuming your own chakra, restore the target's condition to its absolute peak before injury.]
[Special Effect 1: During treatment, the Host will fully and synchronously experience all pain and memories the target endured at the moment of injury.]
[Special Effect 2: Each time you successfully treat a ninja with special abilities or kekkei genkai, there is a chance to copy one of their abilities or talents. (Note: Each target can only be copied from once.)]
Senxuan froze.
His first reaction wasn't joy—it was a chill down his spine.
Experience their pain?
If he healed someone who'd been sliced to pieces a thousand times, would he have to feel every single cut?
But then he zeroed in on Special Effect 2.
Copy… abilities?
This was god-tier!
His pitifully low chakra reserves had always been his biggest weakness. "Asura Mode" packed insane burst power, but the drain was monstrous—like charging five minutes for two seconds of talk time.
If he could copy something like the Uzumaki clan's massive chakra pools, or the Senju clan's Sage Body…
His mind wandered even further.
Healing Tsunade—could he copy her monstrous strength?
Healing an Uchiha… cough, way too risky.
Used right, this skill was a staircase to the pinnacle of the ninja world. Used wrong, it was a mental torture device that could break him.
Either way, with it in hand, his survival odds in the coming war had just jumped several notches.
...
Meanwhile, back in the Hokage's office.
Minato and his team had already left. Only Hiruzen and Danzo—who'd emerged from the shadows—remained.
The atmosphere was heavier than before.
"Orochimaru's experiments must stop," Hiruzen said, voice tinged with exhaustion.
He still couldn't bring himself to execute his own student.
"The risks of transplanting First Hokage cells are too great. So many children sacrificed, and no signs of success. It can't continue."
Danzo leaned on his cane, expression blank. "Hiruzen, sacrifice is necessary for Konoha's strength. You're still so naive."
"This isn't naivety—it's a底线!" Hiruzen's tone sharpened.
"As Hokage, I order you to immediately cease all cooperation with Orochimaru and destroy every piece of experimental data!"
Danzo's bandaged eye narrowed. After a moment, he nodded.
"…Understood."
His words were compliant, but inside he sneered.
Stop? As if.
The First Hokage's world-calming power was his lifelong obsession.
Hiruzen seemed to read his thoughts but didn't call him out. He changed the subject.
"Hatake Kakashi is excellent talent."
"Indeed," Danzo replied instantly.
"His resolve is strong—he'd make perfect material for Root. Hand him to me, and I'll forge him into the sharpest blade."
"No!" Hiruzen rejected without hesitation.
"Kakashi is Konoha's future, not a tool in your shadows! His path should be his own choice—not molded into an emotionless weapon by you."
Shot down directly, Danzo's face darkened.
"Sentimental weakness."
He snorted coldly.
"Then what about that Sakuya Senxuan kid? His secret technique unleashes devastating power in an instant. Sure, his chakra is low, but as a surprise weapon, he's ideal. Give him to me—I can maximize his value."
"Even less acceptable!" Hiruzen's stance hardened further.
"That boy reached where he is through sheer willpower. I won't let you ruin him."
Twice rejected in a row—the air in the office nearly froze solid.
Danzo radiated icy killing intent, staring down Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, you're weakening Konoha! The four great villages are about to encircle us, yet you're still coddling these so-called 'seedlings'!"
"Protecting them is protecting Konoha's future."
Hiruzen didn't budge an inch.
Sakuya Senxuan had no idea he'd just narrowly escaped death's door—twice.
He was lying on his bed, pondering the road ahead.
This wasn't a game.
Kannabi Bridge, Kikyo Pass, the Grass Country battlefield… familiar, deadly names flashed through his mind.
Countless geniuses and powerhouses would fall in that war.
He had to survive.
At minimum, make it to the Nine-Tails attack—witness the night that reshaped the entire ninja world.
The new [Recovery] gave him some confidence, but it wasn't enough.
In the face of absolute power, schemes were meaningless.
He needed to get stronger—strong enough to handle any surprise.
The chunin exam… maybe it was an opportunity.
A chance to reasonably display some strength, gain more resources, and—conveniently—"copy" a few useful abilities.
Like Kakashi's, for example…
...
At the same time, Danzo left the Hokage Tower with a face dark enough to drip water.
Two masked Root ninja appeared silently behind him.
"Lord Danzo."
He stopped without turning, voice like it came from the underworld.
"Sakuya Senxuan."
"Go. Dig up every scrap of information on him. Background, relationships, abilities—nothing left out."
"Yes, sir."
"And also…"
A chilling smile curved Danzo's lips.
"This chunin exam is meant to test his strength, isn't it?"
"Arrange a special 'test' for him. I want to see for myself just how much weight this 'genius' Hiruzen values so highly really carries."
"Yes!"
The two Root ninja vanished into the darkness once more.
A cold wind swept through as Danzo, cane tapping, walked deeper into Konoha's shadows.
If he couldn't have it… then he'd destroy it.
He never tolerated chess pieces outside his control on the board.