[Ding. Conditions met. The Education System is initializing… 10… 20… 50… 80… 100.]
[Initialization complete. The Education System is now active. Mission 1: Teach all students to master the Substitution Technique. Reward: Chakra +7. Time limit: one month.]
Seeing the panel floating before him, Sarutobi Konosuke felt a little dazed. He quickly pulled up the Lazy System interface and confirmed that it was still there. Only then did he relax.
The Kizaru template was far too tempting. He wasn't about to lose it because of some so-called Education System. He hadn't even had the chance to tell an enemy, "Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
"Hey, Miss System, did you make a mistake? I already have a system. I don't need you. Why don't you go find another host? Take care, no need to see you off."
With the Lazy System in hand, who would bother putting in the effort to teach students? Wasn't lying flat and slacking off the true path to happiness?
[Host, there is no mistake. I am here to assist you. Your previous Lazy System was also me. I merely provided you with a weapon. I am the energy source of that weapon.]
"What weapon? What energy source? Say that again in terms I can understand."
[Host, due to permission hierarchies and activation mechanisms, I am the Main System. The Lazy System is a Sub-System. The Lazy System provides you with the Kizaru template. I provide the energy—Chakra. Without sufficient Chakra, you cannot easily use the Glint-Glint Fruit.]
[To put it simply: in the Pirate World, controlling a Devil Fruit consumes stamina. In the ninja world, controlling a Devil Fruit consumes Chakra.]
[This is for your own benefit. The world's rules differ. The ninja world's physique simply cannot match the durability of the Pirate World. For example, Akainu's "Great Eruption"—that magma fist weighs several tons. No one in the ninja world could even lift it.]
[By completing this system's missions, you will gain far more Chakra than others, allowing you to better wield the Glint-Glint Fruit's power.]
After the explanation, Konosuke more or less understood. Still, it felt oddly disjointed.
One moment the system encouraged him to slack off, the next it wanted him to educate the next generation. This system was a little unhinged.
Still, strength was strength. Konosuke wasn't going to complain. Worst case, he could slack off while teaching.
On his way back to the Sarutobi clan compound, he spotted Asuma on a date with Kurenai. He couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her. Such a beautiful woman, and she'd fallen for a bearded man.
Some people would probably believe Asuma was her father. Who knew what kind of spell he'd cast on her?
Along the way, Konosuke received plenty of cold stares. Members of the Sarutobi clan looked at him with open disdain. The title "Shame of the Sarutobi" had originated within the clan itself.
Outsiders wouldn't dare use such a nickname. After all, the current Hokage also bore the name Sarutobi.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi had made many foolish decisions, Konosuke was one of the beneficiaries of his favoritism. He had no right to criticize him.
Without the Sarutobi clan, he wouldn't have lived so comfortably these past few years. When Orochimaru eventually returned, he planned to save that old man.
Konosuke had a conscience. He wouldn't enjoy the clan's benefits while condemning it from the sidelines. That would be nothing short of ungrateful.
Just a few dozen meters from his home, he saw a familiar figure—Uchiha Shisui.
According to the original story, Uchiha Shisui should have already been killed by Danzo.
But Konosuke had befriended Shisui long ago. To prevent him from walking that tragic path, he had repeatedly told him that the village's prejudice against the Uchiha ran too deep. Instead of confronting it head-on, why not teach at the Academy? Let the children understand the Uchiha first. Then the next generation wouldn't grow up hating them.
Shisui was simply too pure-hearted. After a few rounds of persuasion, he had chosen to become a teacher.
Konosuke did it because Shisui was too kind. Letting him deal with people like Danzo would only get him devoured. He wasn't built for that kind of game.
Originally, Hiruzen Sarutobi had opposed the idea. But if Shisui wasn't allowed to teach, he would retire from being a ninja altogether. That suggestion had come from Konosuke.
In the end, Hiruzen relented. Shisui became a teacher—but only for civilian students. Clan students remained under the supervision of the Hokage's faction.
Walking up to him, Konosuke asked, "Shisui, what brings you here? Didn't you go spar with Itachi today?"
"Konosuke, you're finally back. I've been waiting for you for a while. Let's talk inside. There's something I need to discuss."
Seeing the troubled look on Shisui's face, Konosuke didn't press further. He led him into the courtyard. This wasn't a place for open conversation.
Suddenly, Konosuke stopped and glanced toward a large tree not far away.
Shisui followed his gaze but saw nothing. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. Just a rat."
He bent down, picked up three small stones, and flicked his wrist. The stones sliced through the air toward the tree.
A few seconds later, a shadow dropped from the branches, three stones clutched in hand.
"This time it was stones. Next time it'll be shuriken. Go tell Danzo—Shisui is my friend. If he dares to target him, I won't mind bringing this to the Hokage."
With that, Konosuke ushered Shisui inside. He wasn't afraid of Danzo. Invoking Hiruzen's name was merely to avoid exposing his strength.
Otherwise, a few laser beams and Hiruzen would lose his old friend for good.
Once inside, Konosuke poured Shisui a cup of tea. "Go on. Did the girl you like fall for someone else?"
Shisui forced a wry smile. "Konosuke, stop teasing me. I came for something serious."
Konosuke dropped the joke and sat across from him, lighting a cigarette.
"All right. What is it?"
Shisui sighed. "The clan elders came to me again. They want me to join the ANBU as an informant. If I refuse, they'll expel me from the Uchiha compound. I didn't know what to do, so I came to you. You're much smarter than I am."
Konosuke felt speechless. The Uchiha truly had no mercy, even toward their own prodigy.
If Shisui entered the ANBU, he would only repeat his canonical fate—manipulated and destroyed by those old schemers.
But Konosuke was just the so-called Shame of the Sarutobi. His words carried little weight. He had no power to change the village's stance toward the Uchiha.