In Konoha: I will spread the will of conquest throughout the ninja world.

Scratching his head, puzzled, confused.

I feel like something's wrong.

As I watched Hyuga Mizuki disappear into the Hyuga clan's territory, Igogen thought to himself.

However, he quickly put that aside and turned his attention to another important matter.

[Fifty Strings and Remaining Songs]

Age: Eight years old

[Yin attribute: 14]

[Yang attribute: 16]

Skills Mastered: Shadow Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, Transformation Technique, Leaf Village Fluid Technique, Basic Pharmacology, Basic Drug Preparation

Through his tireless efforts, the Yin-Yang attribute finally increased by one digit.

It may seem like a small amount, but its Yin-Yang attributes are different from others. Every improvement in spirit and body is accompanied by countless drops of sweat and effort, often without any reward.

After all, the world is unfair. Some people are talented and can become stronger over time, while others spend their whole lives struggling and finally achieve something, but due to age limitations, they can only watch their hard-earned results gradually decline.

Qi and blood deficiency leads to lethargy.

But these principles of prosperity and decline that apply to ordinary people are useless to him!

As a despicable outsider, his status would become stable with each level he gained, making each level up crucial for him.

However, there are conditions for obtaining attribute points, and he can't just randomly pick someone dressed as a ninja on the street and start bullying them.

He might dare to do it if it were a well-known strongman with a good temper who appeared in the story, but Konoha is so big that the ninja rankings are in the five digits. Who knows how many of them have fiery tempers?

The ninja's ninja ninja is the ninja who endures.

However, living in a high-pressure environment of killing and being killed year after year, ninjas are human, and it is impossible for them not to experience the mental stress that comes with it.

Even though this is Konoha Village, it is, in some ways, the most peaceful, safest, and most tranquil place in the entire Naruto world.

Otherwise, if Konoha is so good, how could there be ninjas who defect?

Being able to raise his attributes to their current state so soon after receiving the "Gifts from Hometown" is already the result he deserves after countless hours of hard work and sweat.

"Five times in total. The first two were the most effective, with the results gradually decreasing afterward. Is this because of the bloodline limit ninja?"

Fifty strings pondered silently in his heart.

He dared not speak of such an important matter, for who knows what strange and unusual ninjutsu Konoha possessed?

Based on the tests conducted on Hyuga Mizuki, it is boldly speculated that the number of times a bloodline ninja receives the caress of the Will of Conqueror is approximately five. There may be fluctuations, but it should remain within this range.

are you happy?

of course.

This means that his future growth rate could be several levels higher than initially estimated.

But I wasn't that happy.

The ninja academy has few bloodline ninjas and secret technique clan ninjas, but not too few either. This is because the ninja academy has ninjas of almost every age group from the various bloodline and secret technique clans that were recruited when Konoha was founded.

However, his initial targets were only ordinary students, and he only encountered such people occasionally under special circumstances.

There's no particular reason; it's simply because these two types of contact with ninja training generally begin earlier than with civilian students at ninja academies.

In layman's terms, they're generally good at fighting.

At that time, he was just a nobody in the ninja academy. His panel had just awakened, and his Will of Domination was not yet mature enough to let them bask in the brilliance of the Will of Domination.

In fact, even now he is not confident in facing those talented clan scions head-on. After all, this is not the era of Naruto, the chosen one. At this stage, he does not know most of the people in the Ninja Academy. Otherwise, he would not have painstakingly studied pharmacology.

Fortunately, even among the family members, only a few possess exceptional talent.

Fortunately, fate is fair.

His lonely background gave him an unparalleled will, and all the skills he possesses now are the result of his hard work and sweat!

Thanks to his powerful laxatives, which even the Uchiha Police Department purchased, he had a certain reputation at the Ninja Academy.

"I've never tried using the Will of Conqueror on bloodline ninjas and secret technique ninjas five times in a row in one day before. Now... I'll try it more when I'm stronger."

Having made up his mind, Isogen smirked, turned his head, and the huge Hokage Rock carved on the towering cliff came into view. Looking into his eyes, it was as if he were looking across time at a cheerful and sunny little boy who had grown up under the Konoha sun.

Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The fifty strings stand in solemn reverence.

He saw it; it was the tenderness and expectations that a senior had for a junior. In order not to let down those expectations, he made a decision.

"My will to dominate will surely stand tall in this world!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Hinata.

Hinata Mizuki, who had been relaxed earlier, walked timidly down the somewhat empty corridor.

Soon after, she stopped in front of an open doorway.

"..."

"Come in." An aged and dignified voice came from the house, which resembled the gaping maw of an abyss.

Hyuga Mizuki trembled at first, her heart pounding, but she still stepped inside.

The room was simply furnished, its rustic style revealing the profound weight of the Hyuga clan's ancient heritage.

Besides Hyuga Mizuki, there was only one dignified old man kneeling before the table, dressed in clothes embroidered with the Hyuga clan crest.

Hinata Mizuki stepped forward timidly, her lips trembling as she swiftly typed: "Grandpa."

"Hmm." Hinata Arashi nodded slightly, his eyes in the dim light falling on Hinata Mizuki's shrugging shoulders.

"You came home a little later than usual today."

[A private Marseille!]

A one-stop service for bowing and apologizing.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Hinata Arashi's eyes.

"Alright, go do your own thing, and remember not to fall behind in your studies."

After Hinata Mizuki left, a figure emerged from the darkness, knelt on one knee, and calmly recounted everything that had happened during the day.

When Hinata Arashi heard that Hinata Mizuki was being bullied, he remained unmoved. When he heard that someone had stepped in to help Hinata Mizuki, he took it all in stride. But when he heard that person's cowardice... and was encouraged by Hinata Mizuki to bravely confront the bully, Hinata Arashi finally took action.

"Did she really do it?"

His eyes held a mixture of surprise, a hint of delight, and excitement.

"To be precise, Miss Mizuki only pushed me with a gentle push technique."

"That's enough."

If Hinata Mizuki were still here, she would be surprised to find that her usually serious grandfather was actually showing a relaxed and happy expression.

Although not much, there is some.

Hinata Arashi's originally calm mood was gradually filled with joy.

He knew his granddaughter's personality best. Because of her congenital defect, inferiority and timidity were almost the underlying traits of his only granddaughter, Hinata Mizuki.

He had tried countless times to correct it, but the helplessness caused by his congenital defect was evident in every aspect of his life.

The most direct example is the crucial friendships formed during childhood.

Children's world is not simple.

The situation of Hyuga Mizuki is undoubtedly at the very bottom of the social hierarchy.

Even if she has Hyuga Arashi behind her, the elders of the Hyuga clan cannot change that. They can't keep a child from leaving the house from birth, can they?

Moreover, even so, given the situation of the Hyuga clan, there must be many branch families secretly eyeing the potential rival of a special case like Hyuga Mizuki, a girl with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence.

If we can't afford to mess with a fully developed main family member, how can we not afford to mess with this cowardly one who can't even speak properly?

In addition, the child lost both parents at a young age and was only cared for by his grandfather. However, while grandparents may be very close to their grandchildren, there are many things that he simply cannot handle, and the child is also insecure and sensitive.

So the more you try to take care of them, the more deadlocked it becomes, a one-track mind blocking both ends.

"Has the child's identity been verified?"

"He's a child from an orphanage who moved out a month ago to live alone. According to the information we've gathered, he's had several interactions with Uchiha Fugaku from the police department. He used to be just an ordinary student, but recently he's gained some fame at the Ninja Academy."

"Orphanage..."

Hinata Arashi's eyes were gleaming.

The dark significance of the orphanage is known to all the ninja clans, and in principle, they should avoid interacting with it to prevent attracting the dark attention of Konoha.

But then again.

The Hyuga clan's Caged Bird Seal is no secret among the upper echelons. Allowing the branch family to join, given that the main family would never join the darkness, is less a persecution of the Hyuga clan and more a display of malice. The malice lies with the branch family itself.

"Give that child some money under the guise of sponsorship, not too much at first, and don't reveal your identity. You can handle the rest."

"Yes."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.