Lin Fan Again?

Ars was a breath of fresh air after being sealed for so long.

"Only those who have lost their freedom know how precious it is."

Raising his hand against the glaring sunlight, he smiled broadly.

"This will be my first and last experience of being sealed. Thanks to the [Cryptic Space], no existence whatsoever can sense my arrival."

This experience has taught Ars a valuable lesson. In every world, there are powerful extensions capable of equaling or being stronger than him.

Since they couldn't kill him, they could only seal him.

It's a simple but effective method.

Fortunately in the previous world, Ars obtained a chapter of the Space Scripture, which was one of the Nine Grand Heavenly Scriptures.

That chapter contains a technique called [Cryptic Space]. This made it possible for him to hide anything from everyone, not even the heavens would be able to detect him.

Ars had comprehended and mastered the [Cryptic Space], so no one would be able to detect him if he was hiding.

"You're cultivating faster than I expected. According to my calculations, you will be in seclusion for 10 years."

As Ars was enjoying his moment of freedom, a voice that was exactly the same sounded from behind.

Turning back, he saw the clone he left before entering seclusion.

"What events happened during my absence?"

"Too much has happened in these five years, and there is one piece of news that will definitely shock you. Too long to tell, you better see for yourself."

The clone placed the grocery bag on the counter, then turned into a puff of white smoke.

*Poof*

After the clone disappeared, the five years of the clone's memory were transferred to Ars.

[Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)] is considered the top clone technique in the world. There are many advantages, but the most useful according to Ars is shared memory.

When the clone dissipates, all of the clone's memories will automatically transfer to the main body's brain.

Generally Konoha shinobi don't dare maintain clones made with [Kage Bunshin no Jutsu] for several days, because the information received by the main body will burden the brain.

But Ars is different, his brain has processed memories for five years without any side effects.

"Interesting... Yamanaka Lin Fan, Hashirama's death, Tobirama joining the war, another village attacking Konoha... It turns out that many things have happened in five years."

Ars lay down on the sofa, closed his eyes, and digested the memory he received.

"Yamanaka Lin Fan, a genius Shinobi of the Yamanaka Clan. At only 15 years old, he made many glorious achievements on the battlefield. With the Yamanaka Clan's unique Jutsu, he possessed the body of the enemy's leader and deliberately gave an order that caused the death of the Shinobi. Now, he is considered a Hero of Konoha and received a promotion to Jonin level."

"His enemies have given him the nickname 'Spectre Spirit', due to his threatening and fearsome presence."

While closing his eyes, he recited information about Yamanaka Lin Fan. Then Ars opened his eyes.

"No matter how I look at it, it's a China name. What's more, it is the standard name of the China protagonist. Why doesn't anyone question his strange and different name from the others?"

"But why Lin Fan again?!"

Before his first reincarnation, Ars also read xianxia novels and manhua. Who knows how many writers use Lin Fan's name as the protagonist.

Could they not think of another name besides Lin Fan?

In the world of High School of the Dead, the Transmigrator who possessed and took over Igou Hisashi's body was also named Lin Fan.

What's with the name Lin Fan?

Now, Ars has met another Lin Fan.

Oh, I see. No wonder no one suspected. This is most likely the doing of the Halo Protagonist normalizing everything about him."

Halo's Protagonist is so magical. For example, lowering the IQ of the people around the protagonist, worshiping him excessively, accepting his irrational behavior, etc.

Ars knew this because his clone had conducted an investigation regarding Lin Fan.

"According to the clone, Lin Fan is a Reincarnator like me. It's the first time I've met my kind."

With this, Ars had crossed paths with Reincarnators and Transmigrators, while wandering the Myriad Worlds.

Even though they were both named Lin Fan, there was a difference in how they came about.

Reincarnators are individuals whose souls or essences are transferred into a 'new body' after their death. Usually they start from infancy, or awaken previous life memories at a certain age.

Whereas a Transmigrator is an individual whose soul is transferred into a 'living person's body'. They retain their identities and memories from their previous lives and take over other people's bodies.

To be honest, Ars didn't like Transmigrators. According to him, they are like parasites that take over their host.

"99.99% of Reincarnators and Transmigrators were endowed with cheat tools to make their lives easier. I wonder what cheating device Yamanaka Lin Fan has."

Ars couldn't believe Lin Fan didn't have a cheat device.

The proof, Lin Fan achieved his achievements at a young age.

As for the 0.1%, they were the poor people and fared even more unlucky than Ars, for not accepting any cheat devices.

"I'll take a look at it later. As long as he doesn't harm Konoha, I won't do anything to him."

Even though his cheat set required killing other Reincarnators and Transmigrators, Ars had no intention of killing blindly.

As long as the other party didn't provoke him first, he was too lazy to deal with them. After all, he is not lacking in strength.

"Haaa... Let's make a pilgrimage."

Ars got up from the couch in a low mood. Then he left his house under the watchful eyes of the Anbu who were hiding.

...

The Konoha Cemetery is where the villagers are buried and is located on the outskirts.

Ars put flowers in front of one of the tombstones.

"You died too soon, Hashirama. You made Mito a widow at such a young age, and she has to take care of your children alone."

"You're called the God of Shinobi, but you're just an irresponsible bastard."

Anbu who was hiding not far from there, felt a cold sweat on his forehead when he heard his supervisor target badmouthing the First Hokage.

Ars continues to vent his disappointment.

"Fortunately Mito is a good woman. If it was another woman, once her husband died, she would marry another man. You understand, Hashirama? You fell victim to Netorare!"

He recalled one of the scenes in the Fourth Shinobi World War, when one of Sunagakure's Shinobi was resurrected through [Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation)]. The man met acquaintances and asked about his wife and daughter, then he learned that his wife had remarried and was living happily with another man.

"Forget it, there's no use cursing the dead. You didn't hear this either."

Ars stopped scolding Hashirama.

From the clone's memories, Hashirama died six months ago. The cause, the wound he received when fighting Madara in the Valley of the End for three days and three nights.

[Author's note: Hashirama's cause of death is still a mystery today. This is just the author's guess.]

"Goodbye, my friend. If fate permits, maybe we can meet again in the future."

Ars stared at the tombstone with a complex expression. Taking a deep breath, he turned away.

With this, he had lost two of his best friends in this generation.

He was used to attending the funerals of his friends.

"No matter how many times I experience it, it's an uncomfortable feeling." He muttered under his breath.