After observing the marketplace for a long time and finding no hidden dangers, Mishu's Shadow Clone stepped out of the alley. He walked right up to Takano Ishi's stall and reached out to grab a fish.
"This fish isn't fresh; it's already dead. A dead fish has no value," the Shadow Clone said coldly. "You're so naive to actually dream that someone will buy it."
Hearing the deeply familiar voice, Takano Ishi whipped his head up. He was startled for a moment by the stranger's face before him, but quickly caught on and answered with a resolute tone.
"Even a dead fish has someone who can find value in it! As long as I persist, I will eventually find a buyer!"
The Shadow Clone dropped the fish and looked deeply into Takano Ishi's eyes.
"Every choice has a heavy price. Are you entirely sure you want to choose to persist?"
Takano Ishi nodded decisively, his eyes burning. "I am sure!"
The Shadow Clone smiled faintly. He said nothing more, simply turning around and walking away, quickly disappearing into the dense crowd.
Takano Ishi desperately wanted to speak to him, but suddenly realized the crowded, public situation was highly unsuitable. He suppressed his overwhelming anxiety and forced himself to work the rest of the day as if nothing were wrong, before rushing straight home.
"Why is no one here?"
Seeing his empty, dilapidated little house, Takano Ishi's mood rapidly plummeted. He had thought Mishu would be waiting for him.
However, he quickly gathered his frantic emotions. "It's fine, he will definitely appear! I will never spend my life in mediocrity!"
Meanwhile, in a busy restaurant on the other side of the village, Mishu was leisurely eating BBQ when he received the memory report from his dispelled Shadow Clone.
Tsk tsk, Takano Ishi, you're so cutely stupid! Mishu laughed to himself. I need an assistant exactly like you!
After finishing his massive plate of BBQ, Mishu strolled casually onto the main street, only to immediately spot two highly recognizable acquaintances walking his way.
Kisame Hoshigaki and Terumi Rinko? Why are they appearing together? Mishu wondered. Could they be dating? Hahaha, how interesting. If Hozuki Naoto saw this scene, he would definitely be fuming with jealousy.
In his heart, Mishu mentally placed a bright green hat of cuckoldry squarely on Hozuki Naoto's head. However, his physical face remained perfectly cold and aloof as he brushed right past Kisame Hoshigaki.
Terumi Rinko suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned her head to glare at Mishu's retreating back.
Kisame Hoshigaki stopped beside her, asking in confusion, "What's wrong, Rinko?"
As Mishu's figure disappeared smoothly into the crowd, Rinko shook her head, looking annoyed. "I just felt like that guy was really, inexplicably obnoxious. I really wanted to punch him in the face."
Kisame Hoshigaki was entirely speechless. I thought you liked him because he's handsome! Women are so confusing.
"Stop thinking about random civilians," Kisame grunted. "We still have to go hand in our mission report to the Mizukage."
Mishu didn't go to see Takano Ishi immediately. Instead, he cautiously continued to monitor the boy's house with a concealed Shadow Clone for the entire night, ensuring it wasn't a trap, before finally deciding to show himself.
"Father, mother, brother, please don't worry. I will definitely live a good life! I will definitely make something of myself and trample those arrogant Ninja Clans under my feet!"
The burial site was very remote, filled with overgrown weeds and scattered, broken rocks. Takano Ishi stood solemnly before three fresh mounds of earth, pouring out his heart.
Mishu stood quietly behind Takano Ishi. Hearing his passionate words, he couldn't help but feel it was a bit cliché.
Isn't this the standard, textbook vow before a Shonen protagonist's epic comeback? Why is it coming out of his mouth? Does this kid actually have the fate of a protagonist?
Mishu thought about it seriously, and it really seemed to be the case.
A struggling student with absolutely no ninja talent, bullied every single day by elite clan ninjas, his entire family tragically dead, and he had even met a mysterious, overpowered NPC willing to help him unlock his potential.
Perfect. Takano Ishi possessed all the critical elements of a true protagonist!
Wait a minute... how did I become the tutorial NPC?!
Mishu coughed awkwardly to interrupt his own thoughts. The sudden sound alerted Takano Ishi, who immediately spun around and saw the handsome stranger.
"Lord Mishu, is it you?"
Mishu nodded and said with a welcoming smile, "Since you didn't give up on me, I naturally won't give up on you! This is Kirigakure, so we could be in immense danger at any moment. For absolute safety, let's leave the village separately and meet up at the Land of Waves."
After speaking, Mishu vanished into a swirl of mist. Takano Ishi immediately returned home, packed a simple bag, and headed swiftly toward the civilian docks.
Tens of minutes later, standing on a high hill overlooking the village perimeter, Mishu stopped running and looked back into the trees.
"Come out!"
"You're definitely not a simple civilian. Hurry up and tell us who you are, and what your purpose is for infiltrating Hidden Mist Village!"
Kisame Hoshigaki and Terumi Rinko leaped from the branches, landing in front of Mishu and staring at him warily.
"Haha, you two big idiots!" Mishu struck a pose. "I am Rukawa Kaede! My hobby is sleeping, and my ultimate dream is to dominate the nation!"
Mishu fully immersed himself in the ridiculous role, perfectly performing Rukawa Kaede's cold, dismissive arrogance.
"Complete nonsense!"
Kisame Hoshigaki swung his massive blade and charged violently, while Rinko rapidly formed hand seals to coordinate.
"Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!"
Mishu continuously and gracefully dodged Kisame's heavy blade and Rinko's crashing Ninjutsu. But just as he landed softly on the ground, a second Kisame Hoshigaki burst from a puddle directly behind him.
"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
In just a split second, Mishu was perfectly trapped within the dense sphere of water. However, he didn't panic in the slightest and calmly began to form Hand Seals with one hand.
"I am Rukawa Kaede, the super rookie! Mere Kirigakure trash can't hope to stop me. Just wait until I return with my fan club to take my brutal revenge on you!"
Poof!
After speaking, Mishu dispersed into a cloud of white smoke. Kisame Hoshigaki frowned deeply, lowering his hand.
"It was just a Shadow Clone?"
Rinko said seriously, her eyes scanning the forest. "We are currently at war with the Cloud Ninja. Since a strange, highly skilled ninja has infiltrated and bypassed our sensors, we must report this 'Rukawa' to the village elders as soon as possible."
Kisame Hoshigaki nodded grimly. "That's right! Rukawa Kaede... offending us Kirigakure is the biggest mistake you'll ever make!"
At this exact moment, the real Mishu had already boarded a ship heading out to sea. Watching the coastline of the Land of Water gradually recede into the fog, he curled his lips into a wicked smile.
Rukawa Kaede offended you Kirigakure, what does that have to do with me, Mishu? If you're so incredibly capable, go find the real Rukawa Kaede! While you're at it, say hello to Akagi Haruko for me, hahaha!
"You two guys are ridiculous. One used Hanamichi Sakuragi as a disguise, and the other used Rukawa Kaede! If I need to go undercover in the future, should I transform into Hisashi Mitsui?"
In the shared dreamscape that night, Ooka Shin was completely speechless after hearing about Kiichiro and Mishu's absurd actions that day.
Kyosuke laughed loudly. "Hehe, you could just transform into Takenori Akagi. Or even better, Akagi Haruko!"
Ooka Shin countered immediately. "You're the one who should transform into Akagi Haruko or Ayako! Actually, it would be best if you just created the Sexy Jutsu right now; then you could go straight to Jiraiya to learn Senjutsu. That perverted Toad Sage wouldn't ever refuse you!"
Mishu fully agreed with Ooka Shin's logic. "Not just Jiraiya, I bet even the Third Hokage couldn't resist that move. This is an absolute shortcut to getting rich and powerful! We can use so many different styles; there are countless beautiful girls in the anime we've watched before transmigrating."
Kyosuke righteously refused the idea. "No way! I would never use my looks to trade for your benefits! Unless... you guys actually figure out how to teach me the Sexy Jutsu first!"
Chisuke sighed heavily. "The few of us are really pathetic. With all our combined brains, we can't even figure out how to create a single Sexy Jutsu."
Kyosuke quickly found an excuse for his lack of progress. "This just shows that we are morally upright and don't have so many filthy thoughts! By the way, Chisuke, your chest injury is almost healed, right? Do you have any big plans for your grand return?"
Chisuke immediately perked up. "Actually, I do. I heard from Pakura that during this period of intense war, the Sand Ninja's casualties have been far too high. So, the Kazekage decided to have the main force completely distract Konoha's main strength at the front lines, while I personally lead an elite team to raid Konoha's rear supply lines! The official order will probably be given in a few days."
Ooka Shin was highly curious. "Why did they pick you for a stealth raid?"
Chisuke explained proudly. "Because I can freely use Shukaku's Chakra, my combat endurance is absurdly high. Plus, since the Kazekage and the other heavy hitters absolutely need to maintain the battle lines to keep Konoha distracted, they had to send me."
Kyosuke heard this and immediately became energized, offering a brilliant suggestion.
"Hey, how about we tightly coordinate this? Once you've caused enough chaos in the rear, I'll 'coincidentally' arrive and defeat you! That could gain me a massive amount of prestige in Konoha!"
Chisuke directly and violently refused. "You idiot! If I, a grand Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, am supposedly defeated by a mere Chunin like you, how can I ever face anyone when I go back to the Sand?! Besides, if you suddenly reveal your full, overpowered strength, won't you instantly be suspected? Don't forget, you also offended Danzo not too long ago!"
Kyosuke was a bit disappointed, but he didn't entirely give up on the idea of milking the situation.
"Yeah, I guess that's a pity. Then how about this: when the chance arises during your raid, I'll 'heroically' rescue a few Konoha Ninjas from your deadly hands. That should be totally fine, right?"
Chisuke agreed easily. "That's no problem at all. As long as we coordinate our scripts well, neither of us will be suspected of treason."
At this time, Kiichiro chimed in with an urgent request.
"By the way, if either of you encounters any Kekkei Genkai ninjas on the battlefield, trap them and capture their bodies if you can. I'm about to purchase high-end research equipment, so I need you to find me some raw materials. Things like the Rinnegan or Byakugan."
Kyosuke heard Kiichiro's casual request and frowned deeply.
"That's going to be extremely difficult. There are highly specialized cleanup squads operating on the battlefield at all times, and one of their absolute top priorities is to recover bodies—especially those of Bloodline Limit ninjas. If a high-value body disappears without a trace, they will officially record it and investigate us relentlessly."