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A System mission! Shin was finally seeing another mission, the first one since arriving in Konoha five years ago.
And a chance to get another Replication Card! Even a Common card was valuable to him.
Currently, he had three Replication Cards.
The System gifted him one card annually. In the past four years, he had received four cards: one Advanced and three Common.
He hadn't used the Advanced cards yet. They were precious, capable of copying Kekkei Genkai. He had used the Common cards to copy Sharingan prowess.
That was how he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. By accumulating enough ocular power through repeated copying, he had forced his Sharingan to evolve.
He had copied the Sharingan prowess of Uchiha Jōnin seven times. Combined with his own training, that was enough to push his Sharingan to the next level.
Shin immediately accepted the mission. He was going on this mission anyway; getting a Replication Card was a bonus.
"System, will you issue missions that match the missions I take on?"
Shin was excited by the possibility.
If that were the case, he could become a mission master, grinding missions to farm System rewards.
"Do not get your hopes up, Master. There is no pattern to the System's mission assignments."
The System's response dashed his hopes, leaving him disappointed.
"Shin, let's go. What are you daydreaming about?" Kushina nudged him.
Shin snapped back to reality and followed Kushina and Mikoto. They didn't know he had been communicating with the System.
"Tsunade-san! What a coincidence! We meet again."
A ninja with light blue hair, a handsome face, and a Jōnin vest greeted Tsunade.
Tsunade frowned. "Kato Dan, this is the fifth time this week. The first time was a coincidence. The second time, maybe. But the third, fourth, and fifth? Really?"
Her bluntness made Dan's smile falter.
'That's Kato Dan? Why is Tsunade so cold to him?'
Shin observed Dan.
Dan looked at Shin and the others, seemingly trying to deflect the awkwardness. "These must be your students."
"You're Uzumaki Shin, right? I'm Kato Dan. Nice to meet you." Dan smiled at Shin.
But Shin sensed malice. He trusted his instincts.
After awakening the Mind's Eye of Kagura, he had gained the ability to sense negative emotions directed at him.
Dan might be smiling, but his malice was clear to Shin.
Shin frowned. He had never interacted with Dan before. Why the hostility?
Was it because of Tsunade?
Was he jealous of Shin's closeness to Tsunade? But that didn't make sense. Who would be jealous of a ten-year-old?
Whatever the reason, Dan clearly disliked him. Shin wasn't going to be polite.
He glanced at Dan, then ignored him completely.
Dan's smile became strained. His eyes flashed with anger, then he turned and left with his team. He was also a Jōnin-sensei, leading a team of Genin who had graduated last year.
"You don't seem to like him very much."
Tsunade looked at Shin with amusement. "Are you jealous that he's talking to me? Do you have a crush on me, little Shin?"
"Even though you're young, if you confess your feelings, I might be impressed by your courage and give you a chance."
Shin's lips twitched.
"Tsunade, you're so self-centered. I was rude to him because he was giving me bad vibes. It has nothing to do with you."
"Yeah, Tsunade, you're so full of yourself! Shin likes me, don't you, Shin?" Kushina suddenly clung to Shin's arm.
"Brat, I gave you a chance, and you didn't take it."
Tsunade raised her fist playfully, aiming for Shin's head. He dodged easily.
"Tsunade, with that violent temper, you'll never get married," Shin teased.
Tsunade scowled. "If I can't find anyone else, I'll marry you. And if you refuse, I'll castrate you."
Shin quickly backed away, feeling a chill in his nether regions.
Kushina's expression changed. Shin didn't like violent girls. Should she try to be more gentle?
She glanced at Mikoto, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Mikoto was gentle. Would Shin like her? And from Kushina's observations, Mikoto seemed to like Shin. She was a rival!
She had thought Tsunade, the "cougar," was her biggest threat, but it seemed Mikoto was the one to watch out for.
Mikoto was confused by Kushina's sudden hostility. She had no idea what was going on in Kushina's mind.
"Shin, you said Dan was giving you bad vibes?"
Tsunade looked at Shin.
"Yeah, don't you believe me?"
Tsunade shook her head. "I believe you. And there's something else that's been bothering me."
"What is it?" Shin asked curiously.
"Want to know?"
A mischievous smile spread across Tsunade's face. Shin had a bad feeling about this.
"If you want to know, come here and let me pinch your cheeks."
"On second thought, I don't need to know that badly," Shin rolled his eyes.
"Brat, don't try to weasel your way out of this. You promised to let me pinch your cheeks if I kept your strength a secret."
"What promise? Sorry, I have a bad memory. Kushina, did I promise Tsunade anything?" Shin asked innocently.
"Nope, I don't remember anything," Kushina shook her head. She wasn't going to let Tsunade take advantage of Shin.
Tsunade glared at them. These two brats!
"Fine, I'll tell you. Kato Dan asked me about you a while back. I thought it was strange, but I didn't think much of it at the time," Tsunade said, giving in.
Shin frowned. Dan had asked about him? They had never even interacted. Why would he do that?
Had he met Dan before? Shin thought it over, but he couldn't think of anything. He had been keeping a low profile in Konoha.
He didn't know enough about Dan to understand his motives.
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