Chapter 13: The Game of Hide and Seek

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 "S-Class..."

 Hashirama narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing that this difficulty level wouldn't be so easy. Otherwise, this useless system wouldn't emphasize it so much.

 "The task can only be rated after it's issued, right?"

 Hashirama pondered. Given his current status, the other task rewards held little appeal; only Hashirama cells were useful to him.

 If it weren't for the mention of Hashirama cells...

 He wouldn't bother with this nonsense at all.

 Even a 1% increase would be worth it!

 "Yingying~"

 "You're not ordinary, Host!"

 "Your questions are too advanced!"

 "I..."

 "I don't know, quack!"

 The Yingying Monster stared at its adorable pink flip phone, unable to find the relevant information. It blinked its big eyes innocently.

 "..."

 Hashirama saw the Yingying Monster's deliberate cuteness and wanted to retort, "What a useless piece of junk!"

 But...

 Forget it!

 After all, it did make him Hashirama.

 Out of respect for the max-level account, he decided to show minimal respect.

 "Yingying Monster, are you the system, or is this phone the system?"

 Hashirama increasingly felt there was something off about this system.

 It didn't even know its own functions.

 It was practically useless from the start.

 Now, after some effort, it was barely functioning.

 The result...

 Was beyond words!

 Hashirama suddenly felt that the system was afraid of him becoming too invincible, sticking around just to torment him.

 "Can a task be canceled after it's issued?"

 Hashirama tried to keep his voice calm as he asked another pertinent question.

 The logic was simple.

 If tasks could be canceled, he could issue one as a trial. If it wasn't an S-Class task, he could simply cancel and reissue it.

 "Yingying~ I don't know either!"

 The Yingying Monster pouted, feeling a bit embarrassed after speaking. It made a heart shape with its hands, trying to win Hashirama over.

 Just as expected!

When Hashirama asked the question, he already guessed the likely answer.

So, when the Yingying Monster responded, he felt no surprise.

"If the task fails, are there any penalties?"

Hashirama asked again.

After a moment's thought, he added before the Yingying Monster could answer,

"For example, would the system be destroyed if a task fails? Do you have that function?"

After speaking, Hashirama couldn't help but smile, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction.

Come on, useless system.

Let's hurt each other!

"Ying!"

The Yingying Monster glared at Hashirama with a deeply resentful and pitiful look, tears welling up in its eyes.

"Alright, I get it. You don't know the answer to this either."

Hashirama quickly changed the subject, deciding not to torment the useless system any further.

This anthropomorphized system could even cry in front of him.

Unheard of.

Unlike any system he'd read about in novels!

Those systems were always powerful and invincible, purely tools without any unnecessary chatter.

His system...

Damn it...

Just keeps whining!

Hashirama was silent for a moment. Within his field of vision, he spotted Kabuto supporting Orochimaru as they fled.

Swish!

In an instant, the wood clone tracking the two returned to his body.

"Yingying Monster."

"Let's try issuing a task."

"Capture Orochimaru!"

Hashirama was completely unfamiliar with this task function.

But since it involved Hashirama cells, it was worth a try.

Start with a simple, easy task!

"Okay!"

The Yingying Monster's expression changed dramatically in an instant, from crying to grinning.

It picked up its cute flip phone.

With its chubby little hands, it began pressing buttons.

Pressing...

Pressing...

Pressing...

"Hasn't it been issued yet?"

Hashirama's face darkened. If this delay continued, he would catch Orochimaru himself. Kabuto and Orochimaru were less than five hundred meters away, easily reachable with a quick burst of speed.

"Wait!"

The Yingying Monster continued pressing buttons on its phone with a serious expression.

A few seconds later, it announced, "Yingying~ Done!"

"Task issued: Host, catch Orochimaru!"

"Task rating: F-class."

"Task reward: A rusty shuriken."

"That's it..."

"No other details."

The Yingying Monster looked up, blinking its large eyes at Hashirama, displaying an especially cute smile.

"Host."

"It seems you can't cancel tasks!"

"And it appears there are no penalties for failing a task!"

The Yingying Monster patted its flat chest and sighed heavily, as if it had been genuinely worried about the possibility of the system exploding if the task failed.

"Issue another task: Capture Kabuto!"

Hashirama's dark eyes focused on Kabuto and Orochimaru, who were not far ahead. He deliberately kept a certain distance, not pursuing them directly.

"Yingying~"

"That's not possible!"

"The task issue button has disappeared!"

The Yingying Monster checked its phone in various odd positions, unable to issue another task.

"I see."

Hashirama said no more, having gained a preliminary understanding of the task function from this test.

Tasks must be issued by him.

No penalties for failure.

Tasks can't be canceled once issued.

Only one task can be active at a time.

That about summed it up!

Swish!

In the next moment, Hashirama's foot pressed firmly against the tree branch, propelling him forward like a missile. He accelerated rapidly towards Kabuto and Orochimaru.

The distance of five hundred meters vanished instantly.

Hashirama raised both hands, aiming to grab the necks of both targets.

With Kabuto in his left hand and Orochimaru in his right.

Smack! Smack!

However.

At that moment, with two sharp sounds, both Kabuto and Orochimaru transformed into two over a meter-long snakes. The snakes stared at Hashirama with their cloudy yellow eyes, flicking their tongues.

"Substitution Jutsu?!"

Hashirama's hands tightened instantly, crushing the two snakes. Blood dripped from his hands.

Standing on the branch, Hashirama suddenly realized a crucial problem.

He had lost them!

"As expected of Orochimaru!"

Hashirama's lips curled into a slight smile. He felt no frustration at losing his targets; instead, he found the game more interesting.

If everything was a straightforward sweep from the beginning, where would the fun be?

In that moment, Hashirama's interest was fully piqued!

"Orochimaru."

"The game of hide and seek..."

"Starts now!"

Hashirama clapped his hands together. From his back emerged several pieces of wood. These pieces fell from his body and instantly took on his appearance.

"Wood Style: Wood Clone Jutsu!"

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Each wood clone quickly spread out in different directions.

But that wasn't the end.

More wood clones emerged from behind Hashirama, scattering into the surroundings.

And again.

Another set of wood clones formed and spread out.

Hashirama used the Wood Clone Jutsu three times in succession, ensuring a thorough search of the forest.

"Orochimaru, you better hide well. It wouldn't be fun if you're found too early!"

(End of Chapter)