Sensing Gisei's astonishment, a faint smile appeared on the Third's face.
"Sakumo's strength is among the best even within the Anbu, and he is absolutely trustworthy."
Konoha's White Fang as his captain...
Gisei felt the Third's sincerity loud and clear.
"Alright, I agree to join the Anbu. But... my strength is a bit concerning."
For the past two years, he had been buried in medical ninjutsu research. Apart from increasing his chakra volume, he hadn't made much progress in actual combat skills.
With his current level of strength, following such an elite captain might just result in him becoming high-grade cannon fodder. The stronger the captain, the more difficult the missions—that was common sense.
Conversely, he would much rather have a weaker captain who wouldn't be assigned suicide missions.
"Rest assured, the missions your team undertakes will be personally assigned by me. There will absolutely be no accidents."
"Besides, don't you know medical ninjutsu? Even if you don't contribute much to the combat, ensuring the team's safety is contribution enough."
Gisei frowned. So, you're basically asking Sakumo Hatake to be my babysitter?
Hmm...
Although being looked down upon was annoying, this kind of special treatment...
Hmm, two words: so good.
As expected, he was destined to be a loafer relying on his clan connections.
The Third's intention was clear: win him over and use him to maintain the political balance of Konoha. At least for a short while, that would be the arrangement.
Once he grew up, perhaps the Third would hand him some real authority, allowing the ninja clans behind him to get a share of the benefits too. As long as he remained loyal, the Third would definitely not be stingy with power.
"As for the team members, I will give you a spot to choose someone yourself."
"No need. I'll follow all of Lord Hokage's arrangements."
Gisei didn't have any "absolutely trustworthy" candidates to begin with. The Takemoto clan could be trusted; perhaps they would even risk their lives to protect him. But he didn't want to get too deeply involved with the Takemoto family.
After all, debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay. If it really came down to it, even if he wanted to refuse a request from them later, he probably wouldn't be able to open his mouth.
Moreover, the Third was showing so much sincerity; rejecting his arrangement would just make Gisei look ungrateful or suspicious.
"I understand. Then report to the Anbu in two days."
"As for the hospital, I will explain the situation to Kaori and keep a spot open for you in the Medical Corps. When there are no missions, I hope you can go there more often too."
This result undoubtedly satisfied the Third very much.
Gisei felt pretty good about it too. He knew he couldn't possibly have any genuine "Will of Fire," nor could he ever be truly loyal to the Third. He just needed time to grow, and having Konoha's White Fang as a bodyguard was simply the best possible scenario.
Besides, the Anbu would definitely have plenty of ninjutsu scrolls, and sealing jutsu resources would surely be available there too. As long as he earned merit, learning these things would be as easy as flipping a hand.
He was now completely treating Konoha as nutrients to be absorbed, just like the butterfly seed in his body.
He didn't know what the future held, but he would walk his own path.
The Third left, but Sakumo didn't follow immediately. After taking off his mask to reveal his true face, he extended his hand to Gisei.
"I am Sakumo Hatake. We are teammates from now on. Please take care of me."
Gisei also extended his hand. "Gisei Shiraishi. Please take care of me from now on, Captain."
After Sakumo left, Gisei began to consider what persona he should maintain in the Anbu.
Because of the malice hidden in his heart, he didn't want too much information about his true capabilities to be exposed. His dual Lightning and Water nature, medical ninjutsu, secret techniques, and Lightning Body Flicker were already known.
He would definitely develop other ninjutsu in the future, but there was no need to show those cards to anyone.
Thinking of this, he decided to make a trip to Butterfly Habitat Valley to cultivate a few more types of special summoning butterflies.
In the future, his public image would be: a medical ninja plus a secret technique user. Cultivating a few more flashy summoning butterflies would help keep up appearances.
Arriving at Butterfly Habitat Valley, he found Mei sitting in the main hall, smiling as she stared right at him.
Gisei was a bit confused. It wasn't his first time meeting this woman, but this was the first time she had been waiting for him.
He didn't know how strong she was—or rather, he couldn't see through her at all. However, he still kept Eisawa's instructions in mind and remained very respectful.
"Lady Mei, I came this time to cultivate a few more types of summoning butterflies."
"Little guy, tell me which ones you want to cultivate?"
"Explosive Butterfly, Spirit Peeping Butterfly, and Rainbow Butterfly."
Mei nodded, then took out three material lists and handed them to him. "These are the materials needed. Bring them, and I can help you cultivate them."
Gisei looked at the densely packed list of materials and felt his head swelling. He started to ache for his wallet.
One doesn't know the cost of firewood and rice until they run a household. Last time, Eisawa hadn't let him raise these three types because of the cost. Trying to raise them now would probably cost him at least half of his family fortune.
"I understand."
Gisei turned around, wanting to leave and check his finances.
"Little guy, wait a moment. I have something I need your help with."
Gisei froze. He turned back and pointed at himself. "Help?"
"Yes."
Gisei fell into silence. He wanted to refuse, but he had a strong premonition that if he said no, something bad might happen.
"What does Lady Mei want me to do?"
"I can't tell you right now. You are too weak."
Gisei breathed a sigh of relief. Since it wasn't right now, that was easy to handle. As for being "too weak," he just pretended not to hear it. After all, it was the truth.
"I understand. When I become stronger in the future, I will definitely help Lady Mei."
Gisei lifted his leg to leave again, but suddenly, Mei appeared right in front of him.
He looked back at the bed where no one was sitting, then back at her, falling into deep thought.
What kind of ghostly speed was this? He not only didn't hear the wind, but he didn't even sense how she appeared in front of him.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave, and no need to be so surprised. This is space teleportation. If you want to learn, I can teach you."
Gisei raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"With your current strength, it would probably take about two hundred years for you to possibly learn it."
Gisei: "..."
In two hundred years, his bones would have turned to ash.
"Lady Mei, you might as well speak frankly. No need to beat around the bush. As long as it's something I can help with, I absolutely won't decline."
Mei stared at him with a smile, saying nothing.
Sweat gradually appeared on Gisei's forehead. That strange feeling from their first meeting returned—the feeling of being completely seen through. Unfortunately, this time there was no Eisawa to block it for him.
Mei just stared at him like that for five full minutes.
Suddenly, she leaned into his ear and whispered softly, "You are indeed very special. Can you tell me what's going on with this ability to... predict the future?"
"Predict the future?" Gisei swallowed a mouthful of dry saliva. "I don't know what you are talking about."
This woman definitely had something fishy about her! And she was definitely not human!
Gisei didn't know what ability she was using, but just by staring at him, she had spotted his anomaly.
Memory reading? Probably not. If it was that, she should have discovered that he came from another world.
And she said "predicting the future." To some extent, he could be considered predicting the future, but hell, how did she know?
"Don't be afraid. Currently, you are the only one who can come here. I won't harm you, you know."
Like hell I believe you!
"Secrets, everyone has them. See, didn't I just keep my request a secret from you? I won't ask too much about yours."
"I just think you should trust me a little more. Maybe you can rely on me like you relied on your uncle."
"I absolutely won't let you down, you know."
After Mei finished speaking, she returned to the bed. Gisei turned back to look at her, falling into deep thought.
Just that movement alone was enough to make one feel despair. The Flying Thunder God Technique was simply child's play compared to her. To help someone this powerful, how strong would he have to be? Kage level?
No, at least Uchiha Madara's level, right?
"Little guy, you don't think that just because you say you'll become stronger, I'll really believe you will become stronger, do you?"
"What does Lady Mei mean?"
"You should raise a few more butterfly seeds. How about getting all five nature transformations first?"
Gisei dug his finger into his ear. "What did Lady Mei just say?"
"I never repeat my words."
Mei instantly appeared behind him again, her tone gentle. "The more butterfly seeds you raise, the stronger your chakra control becomes. Moreover, once they mature, the chakra they feed back to you will be greater."
"This is the best shortcut to increasing strength. In at most ten years, that whatever-Hokage definitely won't be your match."
Gisei's face instantly turned black.
Of course, he knew that raising more butterfly seeds would increase his strength faster. But he also knew that raising more butterfly seeds would kill him faster.
Raising one butterfly seed would shorten his life by more than ten years. If he raised a few more, he feared he wouldn't even live to see twenty.
"Lady Mei, don't joke around. You can't be unaware of the drawback that butterfly seeds devour lifespan. Do you want me to die?"
"Besides, my current chakra simply isn't enough to raise a second one, let alone all five nature transformations."
Gisei's words were as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice. He never expected this trip to Butterfly Habitat Valley to turn out like this.
Mei suddenly reached out her hand toward him. Gisei immediately tensed up and hurriedly backed away.
But he had only taken one step back when that hand was already pressed against his chest.
A green light shone.
A comfort he had never experienced before instantly spread throughout his entire body.