The old man left "home" in a huff, cursing.
According to him, he was going to sever ties with Sean for two days.
Sean wished those two days would turn into two years. He enjoyed a rare moment of peace, scanned the two installments of line art for the week, and sent them to Studio Bones.
As expected, Ms. Matsuki Nanako from the editorial department called after receiving them. "Mr. Hon'an, thank you for your hard work. Double chapters in one week! I believe the readers will definitely praise your diligence when they find out."
"Making up for a lack of talent with hard work. That's about all I'm good for," Sean said with a modest laugh.
"You're too humble." Nanako glanced at her colleagues in the office, covered her mouth, and said to Sean carefully, "Mr. Hon'an, because of your double chapters, the other manga artists have... quite a few complaints."
"There's no shortage of extreme people who might cause trouble for you."
"Even... I heard someone threatened to hire an assassin from the Zoldyck family to kill you!"
'Hm? Hire me to kill myself?' Sean was stunned for a moment, then smiled with amusement.
"What are you laughing at?" Nanako grew anxious, her expression serious. "Mr. Hon'an, you may not realize the severity of the situation."
"That's the Zoldycks! The number one assassin family in the world! They never fail a mission!"
"So, you're in big trouble!"
"Is that so... How scary..." Sean cleaned his ear. "Ms. Nanako, would it be convenient to reveal who wants my life?"
"This... I only heard about it..." Nanako said, looking troubled. "I don't know the specific situation yet, but as soon as I have news, I promise I'll inform you immediately."
"No need." Sean glanced out the window.
Illumi walked in with a human head in his hand, his face expressionless.
"Father said to bill you for this commission fee."
Sean nodded and waved Illumi closer. Then, with an "Expanded" foot, he kicked him flying out!
"That was my colleague, my dear friend, my brother! You just killed him like that? Did you even ask me?"
'He's just helping his big brother solve a little problem, and he wants money? Does he have any sense?'
"Hello? Moshi moshi? Mr. Hon'an, are you alright?" Nanako's voice was clearly nervous, as if she had heard some terrible commotion.
Sean retracted his foot, picked up the phone again, and chuckled. "Sorry... for making you worry, Ms. Nanako."
"It's my duty." Nanako sighed in relief, her tone clearly much lighter. "Mr. Hon'an, if you encounter any trouble, please contact me immediately."
"In an emergency, I will ask the company to intervene."
"Mm, thank you."
"You're very welcome."
The call ended. Matsuki Nanako quietly poked her head out, scanned the area, and seeing nothing amiss, picked up her water glass from the desk and took a sip.
Unexpectedly—
Before the water had even gone down her throat... a scream, accompanied by the sound of a chair falling to the floor, exploded throughout the office!
"What? Mr. Kishida is dead?"
"Impossible! I just saw him yesterday!"
"Clack..." The water glass slipped from her hand and shattered...
Matsuki Nanako's cherry-like mouth fell open. Sean's words, "No need," suddenly flashed through her mind.
She froze on the spot.
Meanwhile, our "assassination target," after hanging up the phone, received a notification from "Sage" as usual.
[CONGRATULATIONS, HOST, ON RECEIVING A NEW ROUND OF READER FEEDBACK. YOU HAVE GAINED 50 "READER FEEDBACK POINTS."]
[CURRENT FEEDBACK POINT BALANCE: 230 POINTS.]
The old issue was out, the new one was in. The "Chunin Exams," this major early-story climax, was fermenting among the readers at a terrifying speed.
In just one month... Sean's "Reader Feedback Points," which had just been emptied by exchanging for the "Expansion Jutsu," were full again.
'This time... "If I remember correctly, it should be enough to exchange for the 'Shadow Clone Jutsu,' right?"' Sean silently asked "Sage."
[YES.]
[SKILL: "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU." REQUIRED "FEEDBACK POINTS": 200.]
["MULTI SHADOW CLONE JUTSU": 500 POINTS.]
[DOES THE HOST WISH TO EXCHANGE FOR "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU" AT THIS TIME?]
'Don't bite off more than you can chew...' Sean looked at the "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu" with envy, suppressed the agitation in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Exchange."
[YES]
The familiar white light sank into his mind.
Sean closed his eyes, immersed in his sea of consciousness, and looked up—
The churning, misty waves gradually converged into a human figure.
It was a man with sharp eyes, possessing white hair similar to the Zoldyck family head.
The moment he appeared, those blood-red eyes stared at Sean, as if trying to see right through him, inside and out.
"Second Hokage—Tobirama Senju!"
Sean recognized him at a glance. He met the other's gaze without fear, stuck his hands in his pockets, and raised an eyebrow. "Please, begin your performance."
"Boy, you are brave." Tobirama Senju let out a low, suppressed laugh. "An interesting space, an interesting person. I can feel that this 'conscious body' is completely at your beck and call."
"Oh? Is that so?"
'Are consciousness constructs all this amazing nowadays?'
'It feels... just like he's alive.'
[REMINDER TO HOST: AS THE HOST'S "AURA" AMOUNT INCREASES, CONSCIOUSNESS CONSTRUCTS WILL GRADUALLY BECOME MORE 'ALIVE,' INCREASINGLY APPROACHING A REAL PERSON.]
'I see...'
A gust of chakra wind blew past.
Tobirama Senju looked deeply at Sean, formed hand seals, and said in a cold voice, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The hand seals were perfectly displayed, and then—
"Poof!"
A clone identical to Tobirama appeared beside him.
"'Shadow Clone Jutsu,' using chakra to create a corporeal clone..."
"Each clone evenly splits the original's chakra."
"It possesses consciousness independent of the caster and a certain amount of durability. After being dispersed, the clone's memories and experiences return to the original body."
A wave of understanding rose in Sean's heart. He clapped and praised, "To be able to create such a ninjutsu, the Second Hokage is truly strong. Worthy of the name 'Scientific Ninja.'"
"It seems you know me well." The two Tobiramas looked at Sean simultaneously and said, "Boy, can you tell me which village's ninja you are?"
"To be able to pull my consciousness construct into an independent space, you can't possibly be a nobody."
'A nobody, huh...' Sean winked at Tobirama. "The next time we meet, I'll tell you... predecessor!"
"And I promise you, it won't be long."
After all, the "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu" was still lying quietly on the "Sage" panel, waiting for him to exchange for it.
"Next time, hm?" Tobirama gave a rare smile.
"Very well. I'll be waiting for you."
"Whoosh" The clouds of the consciousness sea surged, drowning Tobirama.
Consciousness returned. Sean opened his eyes and looked...
Gotoh was waiting outside the door, having arrived at some point. He knocked. "Young Master, I've come to help you with your electro-therapy."
"Mm," Sean said faintly. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Creak" The door opened.
Two Seans appeared in front of Gotoh and chuckled lightly. "But, this time, it seems I won't be needing it."
T/n:
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