Faced with this situation, the Namikaze couple found themselves in a dilemma.
They couldn't quite tell whether these people truly wanted to buy something, or if they were simply trying to build connections.
In the end, it was Shin who stepped in, saying he welcomed everyone to shop normally at his foster parents' supermarket.
However, anyone who tried to get closer to him or his foster parents with ulterior motives would be put on his personal blacklist. Only then was this unhealthy trend stamped out.
One could only say that Shin truly worried himself to pieces for Tsunade's sake.
If Tsunade weren't the Hokage, he wouldn't care about these effects, he'd naturally just focus on making money however he could.
When Konan and Yahiko, the two transfer students, arrived at the Ninja Academy, they immediately caused a stir.
Especially Konan, her looks were already outstanding, and her gentle, adorable demeanor combined with her aura made her stand out.
From the moment she appeared, the boys in her class couldn't keep calm, their minds far from the lesson.
During breaks, countless boys swarmed around her to play and fawn over her.
It could only be said that children in the shinobi world really did mature early.
This scene infuriated Yahiko, who immediately turned into her protector, getting into several fights on his very first day.
When the Academy teachers reported this to Tsunade, she said they were simply too idle and doubled their training load. Only then did things improve.
After all, once they were completely worn out, they didn't have the energy to bother with other things.
Fortunately, first- and second-year students at the Academy could receive daily measured doses of medicinal packs for herbal baths, so no matter how tough the training, it wouldn't harm their bodies.
Though the children's parents felt some heartache, they could only silently accept it, and even felt grateful.
---
"Is what you said true?" In the underground fourth-floor secret laboratory, Orochimaru asked in surprise after hearing Shin's description of Konan.
"When have I ever lied to you?" Shin replied irritably.
"I just can't believe that there's actually a secret technique in this world that can create explosive tags more easily than the methods we've developed."
"That's talent, nothing can be done about it!" Shin sighed. "As long as we provide enough paper, we can have as many explosive tags as we want."
"In that case, we won't need to keep producing explosive tags anymore, right?" Orochimaru said with a smile.
"Shut down the production line completely," Shin decided. "We need to put more energy into that research instead."
At the mention of that research, Orochimaru frowned deeply and asked uncertainly, "Are you really sure you want to continue? That's a forbidden domain, you're not afraid of summoning some unspeakable taboo existence?"
"Are you actually afraid of research? Now that's rare," Shin teased.
"It's different." Orochimaru shook his head. "That kind of taboo has already gone beyond the realm of science, it's not something you or I can touch right now."
Orochimaru's words left Shin silent.
Three months earlier, Shin had taken Orochimaru to Uzushio, to the Mask Hall, where they saw the 27 masks inside.
After a few days of study, Orochimaru used the shinigami mask to find a way to undo the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, declaring it to be nothing special.
But when the two delved deeper into their research, they seemed to trigger some sort of switch, touching upon an immense terror that nearly killed them on the spot. Even now, neither spoke of it.
After they returned, Orochimaru was so shaken he spent days in a slump before resuming his work. Shin, however, couldn't stop thinking about those masks.
Although their research was forced to pause, it wasn't without results.
At the very least, it proved that true gods do exist in this world, and the two had even uncovered a few of their secrets.
Mortals cannot see them because the gods choose to look down from on high, and they are not as rare as one might think.
As for the secrets about the gods they had uncovered, they were related to the evolution of life itself.
The beings from that dimension had already transcended, existing on a completely different level of life.
If that were all, Shin wouldn't have been so determined to study them. After all, they seemed to have nothing to do with each other, and the gods would never spare so much as a glance at ants like them.
But when he peered at the mask, he unexpectedly caught a clear glimpse of a fragment of the future.
Roughly two hundred years later, the Ōtsutsuki clan finally became enraged. One of the Ōtsutsuki gods would personally descend upon the shinobi world… and in the blink of an eye, the shinobi world would be reduced to ruins, with not a single living soul remaining.
At that time, even Shin and Orochimaru, along with Tsunade, Minato, and the others, had no power to resist such might and were killed instantly.
Shin could not determine whether the God of Prophecy was toying with him, or if that was truly the future.
If the prophecy were true, it meant that even by that time, they would still be utterly powerless before that Ōtsutsuki god.
If the prophecy were false, it meant he was completely powerless before the God of Prophecy itself.
Either way, the message to him was the same, he was still far too weak.
If he didn't pursue immortality, it wouldn't matter.
After death, who cared if the world drowned in disaster? If the shinobi world were destroyed, so be it.
But if he did undertake research into eternal life, then a long lifespan would simply mean waiting around for the enemy to come and kill him.
Having personally witnessed Tsunade and Minato dying right before his eyes, he knew all too well the helplessness and despair that came with it. That was why he had to defy fate.
As for this prophecy, he told no one.
Frowning in thought for a long while, he finally sighed and said, "You're right. The time isn't ripe yet."
"Let's make immortality research our top priority for now."
"Been waiting to hear you say that!" Orochimaru exhaled heavily in relief, then immediately became excited again.
---
The next morning, Minato went to report to the Hokage's office.
To his surprise, Tsunade didn't, as usual, immediately throw work at him. Instead, she herself, in a rare move, began handling some official duties.
"Did the sun just rise in the west?" Minato asked in astonishment.
"Believe it or not, I'll tell Kushina you brought back a pretty girlfriend?"
"No, please!" Minato panicked instantly. "I was wrong! Please forgive me!"
"That's more like it," Tsunade said smugly.
The next moment, her expression grew a bit more serious. "The reason I'm taking care of some of your work for you is because you have another, more important matter to attend to."
And it was definitely not because she was bored.
"A new mission?" Minato's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly.
"Yes, but it's an internal village mission."
"An internal mission? Is there a spy in the village again?"
"If there were really a spy, it wouldn't be your turn to act. Your brother would've dealt with it already."
"Then what kind of mission is it?" Upon hearing there was no spy, Minato's interest immediately waned.
After all, what challenging task could there be inside the village?
Tsunade, however, became even more serious. "You and Hizashi have been apart since you got back, right?"
"Uh… yeah. We went straight home after returning," Minato replied, confused.
"Go see him."
"What's wrong with him?" Minato instantly tensed up, asking urgently.
"You'll find out when you get there," Tsunade reminded him. "It's also time to begin the plan targeting the Hyūga clan."
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Completed at Chapter 278!
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