Footsteps echoed softly from the shadowed corner at the end of the street.
Uchiha Sasuke emerged from the darkness, his hands buried deep in his pockets. He stopped several steps away from Heavenly Dao, his posture straight, his gaze sharp and unwavering. The streetlamps cast long shadows across his face, accentuating the cold composure that rarely left him.
"I want to become stronger," Sasuke said. His voice was calm, but beneath that calmness lay something far heavier—an obsession forged in blood and loss.
Heavenly Dao raised an eyebrow slightly, studying the boy before him. "Have you mastered the little tricks I taught you during class?"
Sasuke took a step forward. His eyes darkened, and for a brief moment, the faint outline of the Sharingan surfaced within them, spinning subtly before fading again.
"Stop talking about those boring things," Sasuke snapped. "I want you to guide me. I want real strength."
Heavenly Dao looked at him quietly.
Since acquiring both the Sharingan and the Byakugan, his perception had undergone a qualitative leap. Without even consciously focusing, he could sense hidden presences lingering nearby—cold, disciplined, and unmistakably dangerous.
Anbu?
No… Root.
Given that it was Danzo Shimura who had orchestrated the deal with Uchiha Itachi, it was only natural that Sasuke would be under constant surveillance. Every move he made, every word he spoke, was likely being recorded and evaluated.
Guiding Sasuke would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention. It would place Heavenly Dao directly in Danzo's line of sight.
But so what?
Let Danzo come.
After a brief silence, Heavenly Dao's lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile. "I can guide you."
Sasuke's eyes flickered.
"But," Heavenly Dao continued casually, "this tone of yours doesn't sound like someone asking for a favor."
Sasuke froze.
For a split second, pride flared within him like a wounded beast. His instincts screamed at him to turn around and leave, to preserve what little dignity he had left.
But then that familiar sensation crept back into his chest.
Powerlessness.
The memory of being crushed without resistance. The overwhelming gap that no amount of anger or effort seemed able to bridge.
Sasuke's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His nails dug into his palms, drawing faint lines of blood. His jaw tightened, teeth grinding together as if he were biting down on his own rage.
Deep within his pitch-black pupils, the Sharingan stirred once more. The patterns rotated faintly, and for an instant, a second tomoe flickered in and out of existence.
He saw Itachi.
That calm, merciless back.
The man who had effortlessly crushed him into the dirt. The man who had reduced the entire Uchiha Clan to ashes in a single night.
Finally—
Sasuke dropped to one knee.
The sound of his knee striking the stone road echoed sharply through the quiet street.
Dust rose into the air. His head hung low, black hair obscuring his expression. But his trembling shoulders and the darkened stone beneath him told a far more honest story.
"Teacher Heavenly Dao," Sasuke said.
His voice was hoarse, as though each word had been dragged up from the depths of his throat.
"Please… guide me."
Each syllable tasted of blood and humiliation.
At that moment, a mechanical voice rang clearly within Heavenly Dao's mind.
[Mission Completed: Fire Attribute Chakra enhancement has been distributed. Please claim it promptly.]
[New Mission Issued: Train Uchiha Sasuke, improve his strength, and gain his initial recognition.]
[Mission Reward: Two-Tomoe Sharingan.]
Heavenly Dao looked down at the kneeling boy for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
Night fell like spilled ink over the rooftops of Konoha.
The village grew quiet beneath the moonlight, its familiar warmth settling into a gentle stillness. In a small courtyard belonging to the Inuzuka clan, paper lanterns swayed lightly beneath the corridor, casting soft halos of golden light against wooden beams.
Inside, the air was warm and comforting.
The hearth fire burned low, its faint crackling blending with the subtle aroma of brewed tea. Inuzuka Akita knelt beside a low table, her sleeves rolled up slightly as she worked with focused intensity. Sheets of paper lay scattered before her, each covered in meticulous sketches and notes—the evolving design of the wind-release harvester.
Unlike Heavenly Dao's more opportunistic mindset, Akita had poured genuine effort and care into this project.
When the door slid open, a gust of cool night air swept into the room.
Heavenly Dao stepped inside, closing the door behind him and sealing out the chill. The warmth enveloped him almost instantly. He paused near the entrance, his gaze lingering for a moment on Akita's focused profile—and, briefly, on the lowered neckline exposed by her posture.
A trace of helpless fondness flickered through his eyes.
He moved quietly toward the table.
Akita's ninja dog, Hanamaru, lifted one eye lazily at the sound of his footsteps. After identifying the intruder, the dog huffed softly and closed its eye again, clearly unbothered. Heavenly Dao had long since been categorized as "one of their own."
Hanamaru was a fortunate dog. Though training was still required from time to time, Akita spoiled her far more than most shinobi would dare spoil a ninja beast.
Heavenly Dao sat cross-legged beside Akita without disturbing her. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused inward.
"Claim Fire Attribute Chakra enhancement," he muttered silently.
A warm current surged through his body.
It flowed along his meridians like a living flame, spreading outward from his core. Heavenly Dao could clearly feel the transformation taking place—his chakra growing denser, purer, and more volatile.
If he were to perform a Fire Release technique now, its power would undoubtedly increase.
Of course, his actual mastery of Fire Release was still abysmal.
But Heavenly Dao was confident. With time, effort, and the System's assistance, that gap would soon be filled.
His thoughts shifted again.
After an entire day of careful consideration, he had finally decided on his summoned beast.
The Slug of Shikkotsu Forest.
The toads of Mount Myōboku were versatile and powerful. The serpents of Ryūchi Cave were dangerous and profound. Each had undeniable advantages.
But Heavenly Dao had another concern.
Legitimacy.
A summoned beast was not something one could hide forever. If he intended to use it openly, he needed a believable explanation.
That was why the Slug was the optimal choice.
All slugs summoned from Shikkotsu Forest—regardless of size—were fragments of the Slug Sage itself. This unique nature made their appearance far easier to rationalize.
All he needed to do was handle the Slug Sage.
As for the current contractor of Shikkotsu Forest—
Tsunade of the Sannin.
Heavenly Dao already had a rough plan in mind.
Without hesitation, he focused his thoughts.
"Select—Slug."
[Self-selected Summoned Beast confirmed: Slug.]
[Contract signed.]
Heavenly Dao opened his eyes.
A subtle yet unmistakable connection stretched across the distance, linking his soul to the depths of Shikkotsu Forest. Knowledge flooded his mind—summoning formulas, chakra pathways, and contract seals—as if they had always been there.
He could even summon the Shikkotsu Forest contract scroll if he wished.
But not yet.
Some matters needed to be resolved first.
Just then, Akita finally set down her pen. She rubbed her brow and looked up at him, a faint smile playing in her eyes.
"What are you spacing out about?" she asked teasingly. "Thinking about another woman?"
"I didn't want to disturb you," Heavenly Dao replied calmly. He reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lingering just long enough to graze her warm earlobe.
Akita's ears reddened slightly, though she maintained her composure. She snorted softly. "Don't tell me you're thinking about Yūgao again."
Heavenly Dao raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?"
"I wouldn't do something so petty," she said—then leaned closer to him anyway.
The room grew quiet.
Only the faint crackle of the fire remained.
Heavenly Dao pulled her gently into his arms. After a brief struggle, Akita relaxed and rested against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
Nearby, Hanamaru rolled over, turned her back to them, and flicked her tail as if to say:
Here we go again.