Knock, knock, knock!
A rapid series of knocks at the door jolted Uchiha Sogetsu from his slumber.
"Who is it?" Sogetsu, irritated at having her morning dream disrupted, rubbed his temples, feeling the pounding headache, then threw on a robe and opened the door.
"I'm sorry, Brother Sogetsu!" Obito, standing outside, flinched at the grumpy look on his face. He bowed quickly, offering an apologetic smile, his voice laced with guilt. "I didn't mean to wake you up. It's just... well, it's almost noon, and I thought you'd be awake by now."
Sogetsu let out a heavy sigh. This is why he couldn't stand kids who couldn't sit still. He stepped aside to let Obito in, gesturing for him to enter. "Come in, Obito. Just give me a minute to freshen up, alright?"
"Okay, sure, Brother Sogetsu," Obito replied, bowing his head as he entered. He sat cross-legged on the tatami, looking like he was caught red-handed, his eyes glued to the floor.
Sogetsu nodded and headed to wash up. When he returned, he noticed that Obito's good behavior didn't last long. He was already fidgeting, shifting around on the tatami, glancing about the room, and occasionally breaking into goofy grins.
It was like watching a kid who had a crush but didn't know how to handle it.
"Ahem." Sogetsu cleared his throat, bringing Obito back to reality.
"Y-yes, Brother Sogetsu?" Obito looked up, startled.
"Thinking about Rin again?" Sogetsu sat down across from him, resting his chin on his right hand with a sly grin. "You know, Obito, I could help you with your little wish, but I should warn you: we have rules about protecting the innocence of minors. No indecent stuff allowed."
"What? No! I wasn't thinking about anything like that!" Obito's face turned bright red as his eyes widened in shock.
"Oh really?" Sogetsu sat up and looked at him with a knowing stare. "You're saying you've never had those thoughts, even a little bit?"
Obito's face turned a bright shade of red, veins bulging on his forehead as he frowned and stiffened his neck. "No way, absolutely not! I'm a ninja! How could I think about such... indecent things?"
He then stammered over some awkward phrases, mentioning terms like "The Three Forbidden Ninjas," "The Pride of Uchiha," and "Invincible Pure Love."
This made Sogetsu burst into laughter, filling the room with a cheerful atmosphere. It wasn't until Obito's face grew as red as a cooked shrimp, with smoke practically coming out of his head, that Sogetsu stopped laughing and waved his hand. "I get it, I get it. So, do you have the money ready, Obito?"
100,000-ryo notes were slid over to him. Obito, assuming the perfect formal kneeling posture, pleaded, "Brother Sogetsu, please!"
Sogetsu took out 50,000 ryo from the bundle and handed back the rest. "I told you I'd give you a discount last time. But since you made me laugh, I'm giving you a 50% discount this time."
"Really? Thank you, Brother Sogetsu!" Obito bowed low, knocking his forehead against the ground in gratitude.
"No need for that," Sogetsu replied, his eyes shifting to a blood-red Sharingan. "Prepare yourself, Obito. Don't resist; keep your mind relaxed. I'm going to pull you into a genjutsu."
"Okay, I got it, Brother Sogetsu." Knowing his wish was about to be granted, Obito took several deep breaths to calm his excitement.
"Genjutsu: Wish Fulfilment!" A vortex swirled within Sogetsu's eyes.
In reality, Obito's gaze went blank as the genjutsu took effect, leaving him as unresponsive as a coma patient with only the automatic rhythm of his breathing.
"Let's see... What kind of dream should I create for him?" Sogetsu pondered, rubbing his chin. After a moment, he lit up with a grin. "Oh, I've got it! Let's go with this scenario!"
"He chases her, but she eludes him, and then she disappears into the wind!"
"Oh, and let's add a manipulative best friend and a perfect second male lead!"
"Right, since we're aiming for an 'unforgettable love story,' we need some tragic elements, like a love-hate relationship."
"Kidney transplant, eye-gouging... let's give him a full course."
"After all, in the ninja world, organ compatibility isn't an issue. Just pop it in and out!"
"What else could we add?"
"Chasing his wife? Gastrointestinal issues? Let's throw in a bit of everything to give Obito a true sense of 21st-century drama!"
Sogetsu, pleased with his concoction, nodded with satisfaction. "Perfect! Once he experiences this, Obito will know the true depths of love and heartbreak!"
With his illusionary script ready to go, Sogetsu smiled and said, "Alright, business is taken care of. Now it's time for some fun."
Give Obito a discount?
No way, that's not Sogetsu's style.
Forget about the things Obito did later; he wasted his spirituality and chakra with nothing to show for it, not even a couple of coins.
For Sogetsu, money isn't a motivator.
He sets high prices to filter out the unworthy customers.
If anyone could afford his services, he'd be spiritually drained and lose control in no time. A fee of 100,000 ryo sets the bar, ensuring the clients are capable enough and have that value. After all, A-rank tasks commission rate is slightly higher than 100,000 ryo.
The focus now shifts to the point of contact.
Sogetsu used his spirituality to open the door to Obito's Body of Heart and Mind, then discreetly planted a subtle suggestion deep in his soul.
Over the past few years, Sogetsu has done this several times.
While each suggestion was too weak to alter beliefs or thoughts, secrecy was key. Over time, a drop of water could carve a path through stone.
Once Sogetsu reached Sequence 4, these buried suggestions could become a hidden plague, ready to explode at any moment.
"Huh..." Sogetsu murmured, looking at Uchiha Obito. "Don't blame me for being underhanded. In this world, everyone's out for themselves. If we're talking about who's worse, you've got me beat by a long shot."
The treatment ended.
Obito seemed disoriented as he stumbled out of the room, his steps uncertain and eyes filled with despair.
Sogetsu scratched his chin, pondering, "Did I go too hard? Nah, I was just getting started."
But Obito's mental state was no longer Sogetsu's concern.
His mission was finally complete.
[Main Mission: Promotion to Sequence 5 - Dream Walker (Incomplete)]
[Objective: Find the human-headed harpy in the spiritual realm, form a contract with it, and then obtain one of its tail feathers. After that, take the Beyonder potion while experiencing intense emotions, such as joy or anger, to promote to Sequence 5 - Dream Walker.]
[Reward: Creeping Hunger (can only control one soul at a time and can only use the Beyonder ability corresponding to that soul and its own abilities)]
[Side Mission: Qualified Psychiatrist (Incomplete)]
[Objective: Provide psychological treatment to at least 100 people or fulfill their wishes (Progress: 2/100)]
[Reward: Leymano's Travels]
[Side Mission: Teenagers' Troubles (Completed)]
[Objective: Obito, who has tried to win the heart of a girl through various performances but failed, has finally made a decision.]
[Reward: Destiny Doll (blocks fate, allowing the holder to defend against curses and resist detection)]
********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.
https://www.patreon.com/Unique_Writer