Konoha's Status Bar Ninja

"So he has been working hard."

"Turns out all that classroom slacking was just an act."

"You think someone's just coasting, but they're actually grinding where no one can see."

From atop a tree, Hajime's face slowly emerged from the bark as he observed Inoichi Yamanaka diligently training in the distance.

This was Yamanaka clan territory, a private area used for raising various animals and cultivating flowers.

It was also a great place to practice the Mind Body Switch Technique—plenty of animals to use as targets, and minimal danger.

Hajime had been observing Inoichi for over an hour now.

The sun was already dipping toward the horizon.

After repeatedly using the Mind Body Switch Technique on different animals, the kid was mentally exhausted, lying on the ground and panting heavily.

That was when Hajime stepped out from the tree trunk and formed a hand seal.

Dreamwalker Technique.

Lying in the grass, Inoichi instantly felt his eyelids grow heavy. Within a second, his eyes closed, his breathing steadied, and he slipped into a deep, dreamlike sleep.

The next moment, his eyes snapped open—glassy and blank. His body moved stiffly as he stood up, walked like a sleepwalker straight toward Hajime, and began reciting the secrets of the Mind Body Switch Technique in a mechanical voice.

Just like that, a secret clan jutsu was acquired.

After the explanation ended, Inoichi returned the same way, lay back down, and resumed his original position.

Hajime carefully erased any traces of their activity and only then released the Dreamwalker Technique, retreating into the tree once more.

A moment later, Inoichi groggily woke up, having no memory of what had just happened. Stretching with a yawn, he sluggishly made his way home.

Once the boy was out of sight, Hajime stepped out from hiding and looked in his direction with a faint smile.

"Man… I actually feel a little guilty messing with a kid."

"I'll make it up to you once your daughter's born."

Sigh… What can I say? I'm just a good person.

As his soft sigh dissolved into the wind, Hajime's body turned to wood, growing and reshaping itself into a tree—blending seamlessly into the surrounding forest.

...

Meanwhile, in a Konoha restaurant, Hajime paused briefly between bites.

The Wood Clone's memory had returned—the mission was a flawless success.

A satisfied smile curled at his lips, and he resumed eating, appetite more vigorous than ever.

After finishing his meal and paying the bill, he stepped outside, ready to return and begin studying the Mind Body Switch Technique.

But just as he exited, two familiar figures walked out of a shop across the street.

Their eyes met—and both spoke at the same time.

"Alpha!"

"Jiraiya!"

Smiling, Hajime stepped forward.

Beside Jiraiya, a young Minato Namikaze looked curiously at the approaching figure.

"That name… must be a code name, right?"

"An ANBU operative?"

"But even among ANBU, surely Jiraiya-sensei wouldn't need to use codenames like this…"

"Wait… maybe he's from Root?"

Minato had deduced all this in just a moment.

As Hajime drew near, Minato respectfully bowed.

"Senior, I'm Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya-sensei's student."

Hajime's eyes naturally settled on Minato.

"I know who you are."

"Tsunade mentioned you. Said you were quite exceptional—too good for that guy Jiraiya."

Minato scratched his head shyly, smiling modestly.

"Lady Tsunade is too generous."

Jiraiya, on the other hand, burst out laughing and clapped Minato on the shoulder.

"Well, she's not wrong! You are pretty exceptional, Minato!"

"Of course, still not quite on my level."

Minato gave a polite, if slightly awkward, smile at his master's typical narcissism.

Hajime chuckled.

"Tsunade also said letting this kid train under you was a waste, Jiraiya."

His poisonous tongue came out without warning.

"You're too much of a pervert—you'll corrupt the poor kid."

Jiraiya's face darkened instantly, and even Minato looked a bit embarrassed.

He wanted to defend his teacher… but didn't really have any valid arguments.

Hajime continued his venomous jabs.

"Minato's too pretty—already barely looks like a ninja. If you mess him up, Jiraiya, that's on you."

"How about giving him to me instead? You know I'm a professional when it comes to training shinobi. What do you say, Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya immediately looked indignant.

"Tsunade clearly has no taste. Hmph. Minato here is the 'Child of Prophecy' I found—guided by none other than the Great Sage Jiraiya of Mount Myōboku."

"And you, Alpha—snatching students the moment we meet? That's a bit shameless, isn't it?"

Then, with a light-hearted grin, he added,

"Besides, even if I were willing, Minato would never become your student."

Hajime of course understood what that meant.

Minato wasn't just someone Jiraiya had taken a liking to—he was also a promising talent handpicked by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.

Hajime's comments were nothing more than venom-laced jokes.

However—

A playful smile tugged at Hajime's lips once again.

He might not be able to take Minato Namikaze as a disciple, but maybe… he could mentor Kushina Uzumaki instead!

"I've got other things to do. Let's chat again another time."

"Oh, and Jiraiya—next time you go peeping on girls playing in the water, at least be a little more discreet."

With a wave of his hand, Hajime turned and left, light as the wind.

"Hey! You bastard! Explain yourself! Don't go slandering me like that—that's just outrageous!"

Jiraiya jumped up, fuming, his face black as a pot bottom.

Minato stood quietly to the side, already used to it.

After spending enough time around him, he understood.

Seeing Minato remain unfazed, Jiraiya awkwardly stopped his performance. He stared at Hajime's departing back, recalling that brief mischievous smile from earlier. A chill crept down his spine.

"That guy's always so strange and unpredictable…"

Minato asked, "Jiraiya-sensei, is that 'Alpha' senior from Root?"

Jiraiya withdrew his gaze and walked alongside Minato, nodding. "That's right."

"Even I don't know his true identity."

"And the face you just saw—might not even be his real one."

"I've told you before, haven't I? Root is the ANBU's shadow within the shadows."

Minato nodded, then asked curiously, "So that senior must be really strong?"

Jiraiya nodded, then answered seriously, "Yeah, a formidable guy."

"Master of kenjutsu and Wind Release."

"Of course," he added with a grin, "still not quite as amazing as your dear ol' teacher."

He burst out laughing.

...

Back at the Root base, Hajime had already put Jiraiya and Minato out of mind, fully focused on studying the Mind Body Switch Technique—hoping to improve his own Dreamwalker Technique.

In the blink of an eye, an entire night passed.

When he finally concluded his research, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

His choice had been the right one.

The Mind Body Switch Technique played a critical role in enhancing the Dreamwalker Technique.

Because when using Mind Body Switch, the user concentrates their consciousness to enter a target's body—simultaneously suppressing the target's mind to control them.

Hajime didn't need to actually project his own consciousness into others. He just needed a way to suppress his targets' minds more effectively—to make up for the limitations in the depth and precision of his hypnosis.

And so, over the next few days, Hajime dedicated himself fully to refining the Dreamwalker Technique.

Unnoticed, four days flew by.

On the 29th of October, Year 36 of the Hidden Leaf calendar, Hajime was summoned by Danzo.

"The village has received a covert bounty mission. The targets: the entire leadership of the Ancient Land of Zen within Wind Country."

Danzo laid out the mission.

Hajime pondered, "A political assassination."

Danzo neither confirmed nor denied it. "According to intelligence, there's been conflict between the Land of Zen and the Daimyō of Wind Country. But there's a trap hidden in this mission."

"Still, this is an opportunity for us."

"Alpha, you'll lead this operation. Eliminate the leadership of the Ancient Land of Zen, and at the same time, ensure that Nonō Yakushi successfully infiltrates Sunagakure."

A diversion on the surface, a secret move behind the scenes...

Hajime lowered his head slightly. "Understood."

Upon leaving Danzo's office, he immediately dispatched a clone to gather Nonō Yakushi and the still-training Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Ryōma from the Forest of Death.

Half an hour later—

The four of them assembled outside the Root base, then set out from the Hidden Leaf Village.

Once they were safely out of the village, Hajime briefed them on the mission objectives.

Inuzuka Ryo was the first to speak. "Captain, Wind Country assigning us this mission—it's obviously shady, right?"

Hajime replied coolly, "Cerberus, don't waste time thinking about things like that in the future. Just follow the mission parameters precisely."

Inuzuka Ryo instantly fell silent, inwardly cursing himself for forgetting just how sharp-tongued their captain could be.

Then Hajime turned to Nonō Yakushi. "Nonō, what's your assessment?"

Nonō analyzed calmly, "Captain, this might not be a political assassination from within Wind Country. It could be a mission issued by another nation, intentionally stirring internal unrest within Wind."

"Even if it was issued by the Wind Daimyō, outsourcing to another village isn't that unusual."

"Have another village carry out the kill, let Suna 'protect' the target—it becomes political theater for the other feudal lords of Wind Country."

"There are many possibilities."

Aburame Ryōma added, "For us, every mission carries potential danger."

"This trap—it's just one of those potential risks."

As shinobi surviving on mission payments, abandoning a well-paid job over possible danger was unthinkable.

Unless, of course, the danger was no longer theoretical—and the risk outweighed the reward.

But for now, payment wasn't the priority. The real goal was to use this opportunity to insert Nonō Yakushi into Sunagakure.

Beneath his mask, Inuzuka Ryo let out a gloomy sigh and asked in a resentful tone, "Captain, are we using the same infiltration method we used on the Sky Ninja Village?"

Hajime answered flatly, "Cerberus, you should learn from Kurotama."

Ryo glanced at the silent Kurotama resting on his shoulder and looked like he was about to cry.

Aburame Ryōma said, "Captain, Sunagakure probably knows the Ancient Land of Zen well."

"Especially its few remaining shinobi."

"If Nonō wants to enter Suna's scope of attention, she can't go as a shinobi."

"She should be an orphan who lost her family in the war—resilient and kind-hearted. That's the type that draws Suna's attention. Still, no guarantees they'll actually bring her into the village."

Nonō nodded. "I can demonstrate some basic medical techniques—not the kind used by med-nin, but enough to be useful."

Inuzuka Ryo's eyes lit up. "Suna's not like the Sky Ninja Village. If they decide to take Nonō in, they'll probably investigate her background."

"But in the Ancient Land of Zen… they're unlikely to find anyone who knows her!"

Woof woof!

Kurotama immediately barked in agreement.

Nonō and Ryōma both fell into thoughtful silence.

(End of Chapter)

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