"Tian Yuan, did you hear? Gengetsu Hayate had terrible luck—he failed yesterday's graduation exam." Anko remarked beside him.
"Oh." Tian Yuan nodded; he remembered Hayate from the original storyline—a minor character who showed up now and then.
"He can't even speak now." Anko laughed triumphantly. "We're real Konoha ninja."
"Mm." Tian Yuan paused, then said to Anko, "I just recalled something—excuse me." He strode off.
"Again?" Anko puzzled, scratching her head as she watched his retreating figure. "I'll go tell everyone our mentor is Orochimaru." She turned toward the Academy, where her friends waited.
Tian Yuan, however, had sensed a video signal nearby—another Common fragment. He delighted in the unpredictability of his signal hunts.
"This must be it." He approached a residential building. The signal was strongest inside, but just barely detectable outside.
"Pikachu—come." He summoned Pikachu from its Poké Ball. The yellow creature hopped onto his shoulder.
"Let's go." He dashed to the door, then circled and hesitated. "Guess I'll have to break in."
As he reached for the door, a surprised voice called, "Tian Yuan—you found me?"
"Tsk." He recognized Shizune's voice and laughed. "Shizune! What a coincidence."
Twelve-year-old Shizune frowned. "Tian Yuan, I didn't tell you where I live. How did you find me? Did you…" She blushed, recalling his accidental entrance into the women's bath.
"Shizune, you're overthinking." Tian Yuan smiled and lifted Pikachu from his shoulder. "My pet got out. I'm chasing it—didn't know this was your house."
"Pika, Pika—chu!" Pikachu seemed to understand and responded.
"What an adorable pet. Where'd you get it?" Shizune's eyes softened at Pikachu's cuteness.
"May I hold it?" she asked, her girlish heart aflutter.
"Sure." Tian Yuan handed over Pikachu.
"It's electric enough to be dangerous." Tian Yuan smirked, noticing tears in Pikachu's eyes.
"Please come in." Shizune suddenly said. "Standing here feels awkward."
"Sure." Tian Yuan followed her inside. It was clearly Shizune's room alone. She set two cups of tea on the table and sat.
"Tian Yuan—congratulations on becoming a Konoha ninja." Shizune said.
"Thanks. But my mentor seems… unsettling." Tian Yuan sipped his tea.
"I heard from Tsunade that your mentor is Orochimaru. Though gloomy, his strength is legendary." Shizune explained.
"I know." Tian Yuan nodded. As one of the Sannin, Orochimaru was unmatched in jutsu research—though a selfish scientist at heart.
"Tsunade-sama wanted to take you as her student, but refused." Shizune hesitated.
"Oh?" Tian Yuan recalled Hiruzen's attempt to have Tsunade mentor him and his classmates. Tsunade declined, and Orochimaru was chosen. Orochimaru's jutsu mastery promised deep tutelage.
"Perhaps when you Chunin candidates graduate, Tsunade will leave Konoha." Tian Yuan mused.
"Maybe." Shizune sighed.
Shortly, Tian Yuan stood. "Thanks, Shizune. I should go."
"All right." Shizune smiled, Pikachu back on his shoulder. "Come visit anytime."
"I will." With a flash, Tian Yuan vanished. He headed back to the forest to check his fragment.
In the silent woods, he opened the video.
"Uh…" He frowned. "This looks like an advertisement?"
"Even ads are videos." the System replied.
"Of course." Tian Yuan rolled his eyes but extracted.
Ding: "You have obtained a truckload of Red Bull."
"Your energy exceeds your imagination." The ad's tagline echoed in his mind.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。