Chapter 18: Full of Gains

Under Mirai's watchful gaze, Kurenai and Asuma picked up their kunai and finished off the remaining bandits.

Once the task was done, Kurenai carefully approached Mirai.

"Mirai, I won't do that again. Please don't be mad, okay?"

Mirai gently patted her on the head. "I'm not mad. As long as you've learned from today, that's what matters."

He wasn't particularly upset with Kurenai or Asuma. They were both only teenagers, facing something like this for the first time. It was natural to hesitate. Learning the lesson was enough.

"Thanks a lot, Mirai," Asuma said, still shaken. "From now on… I'll listen to you."

Mirai raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?"

"I said thanks. From now on, I'll listen to you."

"Say it louder. Didn't you eat?"

"I said, thank you for saving me! I won't go against your orders again!"

Mirai chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder. "I actually prefer the defiant version of you. Try to keep that attitude, alright?"

Asuma gritted his teeth. "Figures I can't get along with this guy…"

While they were talking, Shinku also arrived, nodding in gratitude as he clapped Mirai's shoulder. If it hadn't been for Mirai's timely intervention, things might have gone south.

"Give them a bit of discipline for me, will you?" Mirai said, casually strolling to a clear spot nearby. He sat down and opened up his system panel.

Name: Uchiha Mirai

Physique: 45

Mental Strength: 42

Chakra: 29

Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan

Ninjutsu: …Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Other: …

Compared to before, he had gained 7 points in stamina, 8 in mental strength, and 1 in chakra. Sixteen points in total, plus a new jutsu: the Wind Release - Great Breakthrough. This was practically a bonus from two weeks of battle training.

Taking a deep breath, Mirai felt the surge of power within him. He suppressed the flicker of bloodlust that rose with it. Sure, he wanted strength, but he wouldn't harm innocent people unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, he'd just become a mindless machine.

He needed the system to grow stronger, but that didn't mean he'd be a slave to it.

Originally, Mirai had intended to lay low during the looming Third Shinobi World War, but today had changed his mind. If he could harvest strength by fighting, why not use the chaos of the war to his advantage?

"Wonder if killing White Zetsu would trigger the system's reward?"

If it did, that would be perfect. A hundred thousand White Zetsu… how much could that yield? The best part? They weren't even human. He could wipe them all out without a second thought.

For some reason, a line came to mind, something that seemed to fit him perfectly:

"I bloom amidst slaughter, like a flower at dawn." One day, the entire shinobi world would know his name.

...

Konoha Village

After submitting their mission report, Mirai and his teammates collected the mission's 70,000 ryo reward. Shinku took 40,000, leaving the remaining 30,000 for Mirai and his friends to split.

After parting ways, Mirai bought some fresh meat and headed back to the Uchiha compound. Just as he entered, he spotted a boy with a bandaged arm helping an old lady cross the street. The boy wore goggles, but it didn't take long for Mirai to notice the dark bruise around his eye.

"Well, well," he called out. "Obito, what's with the new look?"

Obito turned, irritation flashing across his face. "Mirai! Don't act so smug!"

"This," Obito declared, "is my shinobi badge of honor!"

On a recent mission to clear out bandits, Obito had charged ahead recklessly and found himself surrounded. If it hadn't been for Minato, he would've been sliced to bits. But to Obito, the injuries felt like proof of his bravery.

Unable to train while he recovered, he'd been wandering around the village, making sure everyone knew he was a true shinobi who'd faced danger.

"Ah, a badge of honor. Very unique." Mirai gave him a thumbs-up. "Shame I don't have a trophy for you. I'd hand one over."

"Argh! Mirai! I'll kill you!" Obito snapped, fuming as the old lady by his side chuckled gently.

"Now, now, Mirai. Don't tease him," she said. "Obito's a kind boy."

Mirai shrugged. "I'm not teasing. I was just saying hi, but he's the one acting like he wants me dead."

"You! I'm so angry!" Obito stomped his foot, trying to contain his frustration. Somehow, Mirai always managed to push him over the edge.

"A shinobi who can't control his temper isn't going to last long, Obito~" Mirai taunted, before turning away.

Watching Obito, Mirai couldn't help feeling contempt. This was the guy who'd one day betray his own mentor, destroy his own clan. A complete lunatic.

If he hadn't gained this system, he'd probably already be looking for an opportunity to take Obito out.

Back home, Mirai got to work preparing his meal. He whipped up a feast: sweet-and-sour cabbage, spicy chicken, twice-cooked pork, braised pork belly, and even roasted a whole rack of lamb. After roughing it out on missions, he was more than ready for some real food.

As he lounged in bed afterward, thoroughly satisfied, he realized something. The biggest gain from this mission wasn't the stats he'd picked up from the bandits, but the knowledge that he could grow stronger through fighting.

The ninja world was tense, like the calm before a storm. Before it all went up in flames, he'd use this time to strengthen himself as much as possible.

No more slacking off!

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