[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the following traits: Blue - 'Silent Walker,' Green - 'Master Sidekick,' Gray - 'Complete Childhood.']
"Huh?!"
Yamanaka Shinno's eyes lit up the moment he heard the system notification. Without hesitation, he focused on the details of his newly acquired traits.
Silent Walker (Blue): Moving through the shadows, blending into the night, unseen and unheard. Enhances stealth, concealment, disguise, and movement speed while lowering the chance of being detected by sensory ninjutsu.
Master Sidekick (Green): A true professional in playing the supporting role never lets a conversation fall flat. Slightly enhances eloquence and debate skills during conversations. When speaking with superiors, flattery and sycophantic skills improve slightly. When speaking with subordinates, encouragement, praise, and comforting skills improve slightly.
Complete Childhood (Gray): A full childhood isn't complete without a little tough love. Until the age of eighteen, the probability of causing trouble, making mistakes, encountering non-lethal accidents, and acting rebellious increases. Additionally, the likelihood of getting beaten up by parents or elders significantly rises.
"Not bad at all!"
Shinno grinned widely, clearly pleased with his rewards.
When he had entered the Graveyard of Mountains, he had been sneaking around from five kilometers away, maintaining stealth the entire time. Not only had he used the sensory suppression technique taught at the Academy to conceal his presence, but he had also activated Ninja Art: Hiding with Camouflage Technique to blend into the surroundings.
Even so, while he had managed to evade the dormant White Zetsu scattered across the area, the moment he stepped into the cave, he was instantly discovered by Uchiha Madara.
Now, he was about to head to Kumogakure to assist the wandering priestess, Yakushi Nono, in assassinating key figures from rival ninja villages. A stealth-oriented trait was exactly what he needed at this moment!
After all, Kumogakure had no shortage of sensory ninjas. While he could always use the Flying Thunder God Technique to retreat instantly if caught, that would mean his mission had completely failed.
As a top-tier shinobi who had stepped into the ranks of super Kage-level powerhouses, failing a mere assassination mission was simply unacceptable!
The more Shinno read the description of Silent Walker, the more satisfied he became. The name sounded impressive, the effect was powerful, and it didn't carry the risk of completely ruining his personal image.
Absolutely flawless.
"System, activate 'Silent Walker.'"
The moment his command fell, an enigmatic force surged through his body. Just like when he had fused with the blue trait Water Release Mastery, a flood of memories related to stealth techniques rushed into his mind, rapidly integrating into his mental archive.
Already familiar with this process from previous experiences, Shinno simply sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly absorbing the influx of knowledge.
Advanced Sensory Suppression, Breath Control, Absolute Silence Techniques…
There was even a specialized jutsu that slowed heart rate and blood circulation by more than tenfold, completely masking life signals.
Ninja Art: Odorless Smoke Prison—a technique to eliminate one's scent entirely.
Polarized Sand Formation: Heat Mirage Camouflage—perfect for dry climates.
Frost Concealment Technique—ideal for snowy conditions.
Straw Cloak Invisibility Technique—best suited for rainy weather…
Well… in rainy conditions, the Hydrification Technique was probably more effective anyway.
In just a few moments, Shinno felt as though he had undergone years of rigorous stealth training. When he finally opened his eyes again, the sharp, blade-like gaze he once carried had softened, appearing utterly unremarkable.
Even without activating Hiding with Camouflage Technique or other stealth jutsu, his presence had already become far fainter than before, almost indistinguishable from an ordinary tree in the background.
"This eerie sense of detachment… Root shinobi?"
Shinno furrowed his brows slightly.
A weak presence, faint chakra signature, and an utter lack of hostility until the moment of attack—this was just like the operatives from Root.
As for why it didn't resemble the ANBU…
Well, the Hokage's ANBU often had to make public appearances and work in the open. Over time, their stealth abilities naturally fell behind those of Root operatives, who specialized in absolute secrecy.
Testing his newfound enhancements, Shinno casually glanced at the remaining traits—Master Sidekick and Complete Childhood.
The former was utterly useless to him. While he wasn't an expert in verbal finesse, he was more than capable of handling conversations without tripping over his words. Besides, he had no intention of wasting energy on flattery or sucking up to others. This trait was completely unnecessary.
The latter, though…
Were there any particularly obnoxious brats in Konoha right now?
Shinno pondered for a moment.
Among the Ino-Shika-Cho families, there was Yamanaka Santian, Yamanaka Kaze, Akimichi Toudou, Akimichi Shidou, Nara Taku, and Nara Makoto…
All of them were well-behaved, obedient kids.
Giving them this trait would be a complete disaster!
What about Obito?
Shinno instinctively thought of Uchiha Obito. Out of all the younger generation he knew, Obito was definitely one of the most mischievous.
Wait…
He almost forgot about Sarutobi Asuma! That little rascal was just as troublesome. It was just that he didn't see Asuma as often, and compared to Obito, he wasn't as openly rebellious.
Who else…?
Mitarashi Anko? Umino Iruka? Uchiha Shisui?
Well, except for the fact that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and had terrible judgment when it came to recognizing Danzo's true nature, most of Konoha's younger generation seemed relatively stable.
Wait a second…
Hadn't he heard recently that Uchiha Fugaku had a son?
Apparently, the mother was the daughter of an Uchiha elder—not Mikoto—but the child's name was still Itachi?
Damn, the world's correction force is strong…
No, no, this wasn't the time to nitpick!
More importantly, he had found the perfect candidate for this trait!
They say some people use childhood to heal for a lifetime, while others spend a lifetime healing from childhood trauma.
In the original timeline, Itachi went down a dark path precisely because he was forced to mature too quickly. At just four years old, he had been taken to the battlefield by Fugaku, witnessing the carnage firsthand, which led to severe psychological issues.
And Fugaku? That man had serious issues of his own.
What kind of lunatic takes his four-year-old son to a blood-soaked battlefield?
Overzealous parenting was one thing, but this was just absurd.
If Complete Childhood made Itachi cause a bit more trouble and take a few extra beatings, maybe—just maybe—it would prevent him from becoming the ultimate executioner of his clan.
Perfect.
Shinno smirked.
"I truly am a saint."
"I wonder if this counts as altering Itachi's fate. Since he's an important character, the reward should be worth it, right?"
With that thought in mind, Shinno turned his gaze back to his system interface.
[...]
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+170 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo