In Konoha, you get one evolution point every day.

Terutaro Shimura readily agreed.

—In addition to sending people, he, the current head of the Shimura clan, will also make a personal appearance.

......

Lin Fan then visited the Mitarai clan, the Haruno clan, and other small, family-like clans similar to the Yuhi clan.

The team is growing stronger.

......

He visited every clan he could, and recruited every Jonin and Chunin he could.

Lin Fan's gaze fell upon some of the lower-ranking ninjas.

Lin Fan inquired about an older man and then arrived at the back mountain of Konoha.

Lin Fan saw a middle-aged man with his hair tied up cleaning a fish on the bank of a clear stream.

"Uncle, are you eating fish?"

Lin Fan waved his hand and then stepped forward, but the next second, the uncle raised his head.

A fishbone flew out from the chopping board the uncle was using to process the fish.

Lin Fan caught the white fishbone, while carrying a box of tea gifts in his other hand.

He smiled and said, "Kousuke, this is an attack on a high-ranking member of Konoha... a serious crime."

When Lin Fan said "serious crime," the fishbone was thrown back at him.

Clang!

The fishbone hit the back of a large black pot with a clanging sound and fell onto the shore.

"Assistant, I'm just a genin, I can't get involved in your affairs." Maruboshi Kosuke turned to look at Lin Fan. He could charge into battle to kill the enemy, even to the front lines, but to kill his own people... he couldn't do it.

Lin Fan smiled and stepped forward to put the gift box down.

"Don't get agitated, don't get agitated, we can talk things over."

Maruhoshi Kosuke watched Lin Fan sit down warily.

Lin Fan looked at the fish that Maruhoshi Kosuke had prepared—the fish was cleaned very well, and the knife skills were no less than those of some master chefs.

"Impressive. Uncle, it's a real shame you're not a chef."

Maruhoshi Kosuke took the blame.

"If Assistant-sama needs Kosuke to be a chef, Kosuke can do it."

Lin Fan didn't respond directly, but nodded first, and then said, "...But can you really calm down the feelings you had back then, Kosuke Genin?"

Maruboshi Kosuke was silent for a moment.

He glanced at the fish that had already been processed on the cutting board and said:

"Fate sometimes leaves us powerless, and being a ninja is no exception."

"Having experienced failure, all I want now is to live a quiet life as an ordinary genin, contributing my strength to the village and protecting more comrades... So, Assistant, please don't force me."

"I didn't force you," Lin Fan said.

Maruhoshi Kosuke didn't speak; the expression on his face seemed to say, "You're just forcing him by coming here now."

Lin Fan thought for a moment.

This uncle named Maruboshi Kosuke received instruction from the Second Hokage and the Third Hokage. In the later part of the original work, there are even scenes of Minato Namikaze in his memoirs... It is said that if Minato Namikaze hadn't died during the Nine-Tails' attack, this uncle might have even learned the Flying Thunder God Technique.

However, Lin Fan thought it was an exaggeration.

How could Kosuke Maruboshi possibly learn the Flying Thunder God Technique at his age?

But the Rasengan should be fine, right?

My thoughts returned to reality.

The reason this older man is refusing him is simply because he captured the Third Hokage.

But what if he were to release the Third Hokage?

"Fousuke genin."

"if."

"I mean, if."

Lin Fan turned to look at Maruhoshi Kosuke, who was now looking very serious:

"If you join me and attend the conference on April 24th, I'll help the Fourth Hokage release the Third Hokage and give him a peaceful retirement... What do you think?"

Maruhoshi Kosuke's eyes lit up slightly.

But in an instant, his eyelids drooped again:

"no."

"The Third Hokage did help me a lot, but that's not a reason for me to turn against my comrades."

Lin Fan scratched his head. Fine, since the negotiations have broken down... then so be it!

"You can just stand there and not do anything."

Lin Fan gave his final condition with a helpless expression.

Maruhoshi Kosuke was about to refuse when he heard Lin Fan's words and froze: Huh? It's okay if I don't make a move? Then why did you call me over?

......

When Maruboshi Kosuke heard that he didn't have to take action, he readily agreed.

Lin Fan pinched his chin, took the last gift box, and went to the last seat—after all, there were only a handful of ninjas among the lower-ranking ninjas who could fight.

Might Guy's house is located in a remote wooden cabin in the back mountains of Konoha. However, the house costs almost nothing; all that's needed is to make it by hand and pay a small land fee each year. The land fee is much cheaper than the rent in the village's town, much like the price of leasing a piece of land in the countryside from a modern city.

Lin Fan explained his idea to Matt Day.

Matt Damon paused, then pointed to himself:

"Huh? Me? You want me to attend the conference?"

Lin Fan nodded.

"Might Guy, I think you're very qualified. Just look at your outfit; you'd definitely be the center of attention the moment you appeared at the tournament!" Lin Fan said with a smile to Might Guy.

Matt Day: "..."

He always felt that Lin Fan was criticizing him.

"But," Might Guy scratched his head sheepishly, "my strength probably isn't enough to participate in such a tournament... after all, I'm just a genin."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan stood up and said:

"What's wrong with the genin?"

"I'm a genin too! And I still became the Hokage's secretary!"

Matt Dae's eyes widened.

"So you're a genin too, Assistant? I thought you were a jonin by now."

Lin Fan waved his hand.

"Genin and Jonin are just identities. Just like now, I plan to let you participate in the tournament as one of the Seven Colors of Konoha. Whether you fight or not is entirely up to you. You can fight if you want. Or you can just stand there and be a spectator!"

Standing there without moving...

Matt Day paused for a moment.

Wouldn't he just be a background character then? What would he be doing there?

Seeing that Might Guy remained unmoved, Lin Fan could only point out the last benefit of becoming one of the Seven Colors of Konoha:

"The Seven Colors of Konoha will give you an extra 50,000 ryo every month, making you comparable to a regular Jonin or a Genin. Why don't you consider it... *slap*!"

Might Guy moved swiftly and instantly grabbed Lin Fan's hand, leaving Lin Fan momentarily stunned.

Just moments ago, Might Guy had looked reluctant, but now he was beaming with excitement, his eyes practically bulging with greed: "Assistant, are you sure you won't hit me?"

"Of course." Lin Fan's lips twitched. If he had known that money could solve the problem, why did he say so much?

"But if you are attacked or killed without hitting anyone, we will pay your medical expenses or provide compensation, so you don't need to worry about that."

Hearing Lin Fan's assurance, Matt Day gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I agree. I'll be there on time on April 24th."

"OK."

Lin Fan nodded and pried open Matt Dai's enthusiastic, sweaty hand.

......

After leaving Might Guy's house, Lin Fan walked back to the Hokage Building.

"Six of the Seven Colors of Konoha are already there, but unfortunately, we're still missing one."

Lin Fan thought for a moment, but couldn't find any special candidates in the village. He couldn't very well just pick out the mountain tribe from among the three: Pig, Deer, and Butterfly, could he?

At that moment, he looked up and suddenly saw a group of ninjas from the security department passing by. When they saw him, they snorted coldly and left.

Lin Fan suddenly noticed a splash of blue on the uniform of the security guard.

He seems to know who the last person is looking for!