"Seiryū, what's your dream?"
"To open a barbecue shop next to a ramen shop. It's safe and profitable."
The summer moonlight spilled into a small courtyard where two children, a boy and a girl, sat on the steps. They looked quite young, probably around six years old.
They were chatting idly.
"Barbecue? Grilled meat?"
"Mm, something like that..."
Kurenai tilted her head cutely and asked tentatively, "Shouldn't it be to become Hokage? That's many people's dream."
Hearing this, Seiryū shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"What's so good about being Hokage? You work yourself to death for so little pay. It's not as profitable as opening a barbecue shop next to a ramen shop."
"And opening a shop next to a ramen shop ensures safety!"
What's so great about being Hokage?
It seemed powerful and influential.
But Seiryū knew very well that it was a mess. Only those hot-blooded types would go all out to become Hokage. Even if someone paid him, he wouldn't do it!
Kurenai poked her chin with her index finger, looking very cute, and asked doubtfully, "But Konoha is very safe now, and the competition for barbecue shops is fierce. As far as I know, Konoha already has several, and their food is quite good!"
It's only safe for now… Seiryū muttered to himself, then explained, "Whether there's competition or profit doesn't matter. The main thing is being able to open a shop next to a ramen shop, that's the key!"
Kurenai: "?"
Not considering competition, not considering profit, then what's the point?
Even though she had been with Seiryū for two months, she still found some of his thoughts and actions hard to understand.
For example.
For some unknown reason, Seiryū hung a sign reading "Shin'ō Academy" on his door... He sat cross-legged on the floor, seriously claiming to be sensing some kind of "Space Shuttle Gate"... She didn't understand it, but she had been deeply shocked!
She had once suspected Seiryū had a few screws loose, but fortunately, he seemed normal most of the time, though he would occasionally blurt out things she didn't quite understand...
Kurenai blinked, looking very adorable, her bright red eyes fixed on Seiryū.
"But do you have money? Opening a shop requires a lot of money!"
At the mention of money, Seiryū's face fell.
"No..."
A single coin can trip a hero. Dreams are dreams precisely because they're hard to realize!
Kurenai's eyes darted around, and she giggled.
"Then become a ninja! Genin can take on missions and get paid well. Once you save enough money, you can open your shop!"
"I get it now!" Seiryū looked at Kurenai, who had clearly revealed her true intentions.
He rubbed her slightly upturned, soft black hair and said, feigning sternness,
"Tell me, did Uncle Shinku send you to do ideological work on me?"
Becoming a ninja... too dangerous!
Look at the current time. The Third Great Ninja War is about to break out. Is this a good time to become a ninja?
She swatted away Seiryū's mischievous hand, feeling a bit guilty and not daring to look directly at him.
"No, no, I... I just..."
Unable to find a good excuse... Kurenai pursed her lips, looking pitiful, and decisively played the emotional card.
"Actually, it's like this. Tomorrow is registration day for the Ninja Academy, and I want you to come with me. If I go alone, I'll be nervous..."
To get Seiryū to attend the Ninja Academy with her, Kurenai decided to make a big sacrifice. She blushed and stammered,
"At worst... at worst... I can call you onii-chan!"
She had noticed Seiryū always wanted her to call him "onii-chan." She wondered what kind of strange hobby that was?
Still, for the pocket money her father had promised, she decided to go through with it.
Of course, she truly did want to go to school with Seiryū... Seeing Kurenai's cute expression, Seiryū couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, though his face remained serious.
"I'm older than you, so I'm naturally your older brother!"
Kurenai snorted softly.
"Liar, I'm taller than you, so I'm the older sister!"
Then she put on a stern face and glared at him.
"Are you going or not? If you don't go, I won't call you anything!"
"Of course I'm going. I naturally have to agree to my little sister's request." Seiryū chuckled, then paused, drawing out the sound.
"However..."
"I'm the older sister!" Kurenai argued, annoyed by his teasing.
"However what?"
Seiryū raised his index finger.
"I want half of your pocket money!"
Kurenai was stunned.
"Eh!? You, you, how did you know!?"
"I heard it yesterday..."
"Darn it, you're so mean, Seiryū! Did you already decide to go to the Ninja Academy and were just messing with me?"
"Not at all. I only agreed because my cute little sister asked me!"
"Hmph! Liar. I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Watching the sulking Kurenai leave, Seiryū couldn't help but smile.
Sitting alone on the steps, looking up at the full moon in the sky, Seiryū sighed and mumbled with emotion.
"Becoming a ninja isn't good, but not becoming a ninja is even worse..."
He sighed, full of melancholy.
Seiryū had been in this world for two months now.
Nothing to say, really, just your average Naruto fanfic orphan.
He woke up in the Yūhi household, adopted by Yuhi Shinku.
Why not in an orphanage?
This was closely related to Seiryū's striking red hair.
In a certain ocean-themed world, red hair was impressive, and those who didn't show respect often suffered. In this world, some red-haired individuals were also incredibly powerful, tracing their bloodlines back to the Sages.
That's right, Seiryū was believed to be a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, so he naturally received special treatment.
Moreover, he was rescued by Shinku and brought back to Konoha, so of course he stayed with the Yūhi family.
Red-haired people weren't unheard of in this world, but someone going from severely injured and near death to bouncing around energetically overnight was rare. People wouldn't believe there wasn't something special about him.
As for whether Seiryū was actually from the Uzumaki Clan?
Who knew!
Anyway, Seiryū knew that his injuries didn't heal because of some Uzumaki constitution. It was simply because the system wouldn't let its Host die like that.
That's right, the system... Like many transmigrators before him, Seiryū also had a system after arriving here, but this one was so unreliable it left him completely unprepared...
It happened like this:
Seiryū still remembered the first day after transmigrating.
To help Seiryū get familiar with Konoha, Shinku had arranged for Kurenai to show him around...
At that time, Seiryū was just walking down the street when a system prompt suddenly rang out in his mind.
[Achievement Soul King System loaded!]
[This system will strive to help the Host achieve the title of Soul King.]
[As the future Soul King who governs the Three Realms, the Host will use his power to maintain the balance of the Three Realms and solve the problems of all beings within them.]
[This is a grand undertaking for the benefit of all realms, and also the responsibility of the one who rules over them.]
[Host, please report immediately to Shin'ō Academy, activate the system, and begin your legendary journey toward becoming the Soul King step by step!]
"???"
Hearing the strange voice in his mind and seeing the text appear before his eyes, Seiryū subconsciously looked around.
He saw several ninja in green flak jackets with Konoha headbands. He couldn't help but frown in confusion.
"System, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"
[Ding, this system has no errors. Host, please report to Shin'ō Academy as soon as possible!]
Seiryū: "???"
(To be continued.)