It's normal to get a kaleidoscope as a first deposit of six yuan, right?

Dislikes: sticky, slippery, wet things, menstrual blood, bitter chocolate, alcohol, and troublesome things.

Strength: Super Shadow.

Patience: 10, Body: 8, Illusion: 8, Seal: 8.

Chakra: 100 calories.

Chakra natures: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Yin, Yang. (Arranged in order of mastery.)

Bloodline Limit: Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, Wood Release.

Specializes in: Fire Release, Water Release, and swordsmanship.

Ninja tools: Kusanagi sword (fire), Flying Thunder God kunai (pure version).

As night fell, Zhixue sneaked into the virtual training ground, saw her simple control panel, and pondered for a moment.

This panel isn't comprehensive in some areas, but isn't it a bit too comprehensive? It even includes things as embarrassing as exploring forbidden knowledge. (Annoying)

*Ding* This is to help the host better understand themselves. Please do not try to escape reality.

Stop Snow: ...

After training in the virtual training ground for a while, Zhixue picked out a good knife for Zhishui in the store and went to bed early. By the time dawn broke, it was already the last day of the year.

Having just woken up early, Zhi Xue was still wearing her little dragon pajamas and vaguely heard the voice of that old man, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Huh? When did my house become so popular?"

In the living room, Hiruzen Sarutobi handed Shisui a certificate, a document proving that Shisui Uchiha had been promoted to Jonin as an exception.

Theoretically speaking, since Zhixue is still a Konoha ninja, Konoha naturally has the right to do so.

Holding the certificates in his hands, Zhishui's lips twitched as he looked at the two items.

One document was naturally a certificate of being a Konoha Jonin, while the other was an appointment report for the squad leader of the security force. Fugaku had brought it over this morning, and it was said that Tobirama Senju had personally gone to him to make the request. Judging from the Third Hokage's actions, Shisui roughly understood what it meant.

He wanted to use a sense of responsibility to bring Shisui back to Konoha's side, but Shisui probably wouldn't be able to do it.

"Lord Hokage, this..." Shisui looked over with some difficulty, but Hiruzen Sarutobi only showed a kind smile and then stood up.

"The teacher seems to really like this little girl, Zhixue. You should try to persuade her. It's not good for Konoha to force her, so you're the only way to break through."

After watching Hiruzen Sarutobi leave, Shisui placed the two certificates on the table and fell into deep thought.

"What happened?" Zhi Xue ran out of her room and her eyes widened instantly when she saw the two items on the table.

That damned Tobirama Senju! It seems they already know he's in Konoha, and they even want to use their power to keep her there? How could she possibly submit so easily?

Zhi Xue resolutely refused the reward of a position, shamelessly refusing to admit that she was still in Konoha. She claimed that she was just a missing person who had never returned to Konoha, and Zhi Shui was somewhat ashamed of Zhi Xue's actions.

It feels like the Second Hokage is at odds with his own sister.

When Shisui went out to take out the trash in the afternoon, Tobirama Senju secretly came over and asked him, "So, is Yuki interested?"

Shisui shook his head.

It seems that he was not only unmoved, but also disliked this tactic of unjustly bestowing official titles to recruit people.

"Damn it, what does this brat even like?" In the Hokage's office, Tobirama Senju propped his head up with his hands, still pondering how to get Shiki to stay in Konoha willingly.

He doesn't want forbidden techniques, and he doesn't want a position either. He's just too capricious.

"How about we try it with money? That seems to be what most people would want, right?" Konoha's strategist, Nara Shikaku, said, standing in the Hokage's office.

"That estimate probably won't work, right? Shisui's family is quite wealthy, and Shisui had a pretty good childhood. They probably wouldn't like something as worldly as money, would they?" Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment and then rejected Shikaku's statement. Of course, he also had some considerations of his own. After all, Shisui Uchiha was a certain danger to Konoha. If it weren't for Tobirama-sensei's request, he wouldn't have discussed this issue.

After a moment's thought, Tobirama Senju decided to change his strategy.

Since Shisui doesn't want to stay in Konoha, then so be it. You can't force a relationship. But as long as Shisui is still in Konoha, this kid will probably lend a hand when Konoha is in trouble.

Around 5:30 pm, the sky had already darkened, but many bright fireworks were still blooming in the sky, which was both beautiful and delightful.

Wearing their New Year's clothes, Zhixue and Zhishui stood together on the balcony, marveling at the beautiful scenery.

"Fireworks...it feels like it's been so long since I've seen them," Zhixue said nostalgically, looking at the brilliant fireworks in the sky.

Just as Zhixue was still staring blankly at the sky, Zhishui handed two long tubes to her.

"Want to play a couple of times? Like when we were kids..." Shisui looked at Shisui gently and smiled.

He hadn't spent much time with Zhixue because of the Uchiha clan and the Anbu, so today he would spend some quality time with her.

Chapter 143, Leaving Konoha

On New Year's Eve, around 2:30 a.m. the next day, Zhi Xue had already dressed in her room. After taking one last look at the house, she was about to leave through the window when Zhi Shui's voice suddenly startled her.

"Sigh, it's so late. It's easy to catch a cold while traveling at night. You should wear an extra coat." Zhi Shui opened the door and sighed as she looked at Zhi Xue, who already had one foot out the window.

Stop Snow: ...

Zhishui draped a thick woolen coat over Zhixue's shoulders, and there were 100 million taels of silver notes in his pocket.

"I don't know when you'll be back next time... Remember to take good care of yourself while you're away, okay?" Zhi Shui said with a touch of sadness as she watched Zhi Xue leave in the darkness.

Looking at Shisui, who seemed somewhat lonely, Shiyuki felt a pang of sympathy. However, she really didn't want to stay in Konoha. She wanted to finish her business in the Land of Wind and officially retire from Akatsuki before making any decisions.

"Don't worry, I've always been good to myself, haha, don't make it sound like a life-or-death separation. Come on, smile. I'll come back to Konoha to see you often in the future. Don't listen to what that white-haired guy is saying. You're not a left-behind child." Zhixue stood on tiptoe and used her hand to make a smile on Zhishui's face.

Seeing Zhixue still so lively, Zhishui felt much better. If they could meet often in the future... that would be nice. At least she came back for the New Year, didn't she?

Zhi Xue left under the cover of darkness in the early hours of the morning, and even glanced at the streetlights nearby.

Under the shadow cast by the passing snow, Tobirama Senju emerged from the shadows and leaned against the lamp.

"In the end, I couldn't keep it. Brother, I'm afraid I can't help your Konoha continue to prosper..." Tobirama sighed as he looked at his palms, which were covered in cracks like parched ground.

"Konoha's future looks bleak. It all depends on the development of the next generation. Hopefully, they can produce a few more geniuses."

Looking around at the Uchiha clan compound where faint lights still lingered, Tobirama turned away, his body dissolving into fragments of earth along with the darkness, vanishing into the world.

……

The next afternoon, Shiki, who had already returned to Amegakure, stared blankly at the few white cloths hanging at the Akatsuki's meeting place, and then her pupils dilated in shock.

"Masaka, am I too late? Could it be that Uncle Strange has already..." A trace of sadness flashed across Zhixue's face. She hadn't expected Kakuzu to make his move at this crucial moment. She had been so careless...

"Hey kid, where did you go slacking off during the New Year holidays?"

Hearing the voice behind her, Zhi Xue froze, then looked at the uncle carrying the Executioner's Blade not far behind her and said with some surprise, "So you didn't turn into money?"

Loquat Ten Treasures: ? ? ?

What is this kid talking about? Although he is well aware of his own strength in the organization, he shouldn't be so bad as to be captured by bounty hunters and exchanged for money, right?

"Do you think I, an old man, would die so easily?" Looking at the white cloth fluttering in the wind in the distance, Pipa Juzo seemed to understand something, sighed and said.

Zhi Xue nodded in agreement.

Loquat Ten Treasures: ...

This kid is back and he's not cute at all.

"Forget it, I'm not going to argue with you about these things anymore. It's good that you're back. We have another long mission in 5 or 6 days. If you're still not back by then, I'll have to split the money all by myself."

"A long-term mission? Hmm, how come it's so soon?" Upon hearing what Shizuku said, Shizuku scratched her head in confusion.

She had originally planned to go to the Land of Wind to do development work, but it seems the plan will have to be postponed for a while longer.

"Ah, it seems the buyer is in a hurry to use it. Speaking of which, this is also a headache for me." Pipa Juzo and Shiyuki sat on the iron pipe next to them and talked about the special mission issued by Pain.

He was chosen as the best candidate to spy on Kirigakure in the Land of Water because he was a native of the village, while Shiki also benefited from being paired with Juzo Biwa because they were partners, and thus were given this seemingly simple but actually extremely dangerous mission.

"The Land of Water spying?" When Zhi Xue heard this, she recalled that in the Naruto anime of her previous life, it seemed that when Juzo Biwa was carrying out this mission, the blade of his sword was broken by the Tailed Beast Ball fired by the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, and he was left in that homeland along with the Executioner's Blade.

However, with her as a partner now, let alone a Three-Tails, even the Gedo Mazo with all seven and a half tailed beasts would have to think twice about how sharp Susanoo's spear blades are.

"Kid, this mission is different from the previous ones. Going deep into the Water Kingdom to gather intelligence is extremely dangerous. If anything unexpected happens, remember to run away as soon as possible, understand?"

Pipa Juzo stared intently into Shiyuki's clear eyes and spoke seriously.

"Hmm, if I run away, what will you do?" Zhi Xue asked rhetorically. Abandon your teammates and run away? She didn't have that habit. If one came, she would slap him back. If two came, she would slap them back.

"Ah, I naturally have my own plans. If conditions allow, I will definitely run away with you. If I can't escape, you don't need to worry about me. Well, that's all I wanted to say. We can discuss the specifics when the mission begins." Pipa Juzo bid farewell to Shiyuki and left.

Zhi Xue returned to her residence and saw an oversized box placed at the door, giving her a sense of déjà vu, like receiving a package in her past life.

"This is..." After entering the house, Zhixue carried the box into the basement next door. Only after opening it with scissors did she see the true appearance of the contents inside.

It's the Loulan Iron Golem that I found during a mission with Scorpion. However, there seem to be some changes in the details. For example, the rust has been wiped clean, and some unusable parts have been replaced with new ones. It seems that Brother Scorpion has finished studying it.

“Hmm…” Zhi Xue stared at the puppet in front of her and scratched her head.

Because she had advanced puppet-making knowledge as a system reward, she could understand a lot of the things on it. However, since she didn't need them for the time being, Zhi Xue temporarily stored them in the system space.

Having system space is indeed very convenient. Although space scrolls and virtual rings also have storage functions, their limitations are too great.

After returning to her lodgings, Zhixue yawned, tidied up quickly, and fell asleep. She really needed a good rest after traveling such a long distance, and hoped for sweet dreams tonight…

Chapter 144, The Mission Begins

In the few days since returning to Amegakure, Zhixue has not been idle. She has practiced her Wood Release ninjutsu in the virtual training ground and also disassembled the Loulan puppet to play with it. It looks very ingenious, but she can understand it. It is indeed the power of the system.

Time flew by, and the deadline for starting the mission had arrived. In the morning, the weather was still gloomy with light rain. Wearing a straw hat, Shiyuki had already run to the old spot at the entrance of Amegakure and saw Juzo Biwa waiting for her in the distance.

"Looks like you're in good shape today. You got up at 7:30. I thought I'd have to wait until after 9 o'clock again." Looking at Shisue wearing a long robe, Pipa Juzo said with a smile.

"Alright, I was just occasionally delayed by something. Let's get going now."

"Okay, but how are we going this time? By boat or by flying like you always have?"

"Of course we'll take a boat, and then fly over to the area under strict surveillance." Last time, Zhi Xue only took Pipa Shizo across the entire Land of Fire and the sea because of time constraints. Normally, it's better to take a boat for missions. Flying all the time isn't very tiring, but it's also quite boring.

"Ah, is that so? That's a good idea. I happen to know a pretty good port there." Pipa Juzo took out a map, marked a location with a pencil, and then set off with Shiyuki on their long journey to the Land of Water.

After traveling for about two or three days, Zhixue and Pipa Juzo arrived at the harbor of the Land of Fire. It seemed that they had met here before. After many twists and turns, Zhixue met a familiar captain.

"Oh, it's Mr. Juzo from the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. It's probably been several years since we last met. Time really flies." Looking at the person talking to Juzo Biwa on the shore, Shiyu put her hand on her chin and began to think.

Hmm, hasn't she seen this guy somewhere before?

After Juzo had a smooth conversation with the captain, he called Shiyu over from the side.

"Kid, we have a boat to ride, but it probably won't be until the afternoon..."