Mizuki led the three Genin from Team 8 and walked slowly along the road to Taki Country. The journey was so peaceful that it was boring.

"Teacher Mizuki, why don't you leave quickly?" Inuzuka Kiba couldn't help but say.

It would be fine if they walked slowly. For ninjas, there was no need to avoid dangerous places that were difficult for ordinary people to pass through. It would be much faster to walk in a straight line, but Mizuki still moved forward slowly along the road step by step.

"Be patient." Shuimu replied with a smile, "It doesn't matter how fast we go. We have to coordinate with the daimyo's travel schedule. This is different from other missions to protect important figures where the client will listen to our advice. Our duty is to cooperate with the daimyo in carrying out the protection mission."

"A great name! I didn't expect to meet such an important person."

It was good enough for a new Genin to receive tasks other than weeding, farm work, and cleaning. The most famous tasks in Konoha - finding the fat cat of the daimyo's wife and cleaning the river - had stumped several generations of Genin. It was a great reward to be able to see more high-level tasks before becoming a Chunin.

"Teacher Mizuki." Hyuga Hinata, who usually doesn't talk much, suddenly asked, "The Chunin Exam is about to begin, right?"

"Well, after this mission, that's about it." Mizuki replied, "Originally there was one more preliminary selection, because you are Genin who performed well in the last Chunin Exam, so whether you can participate in the Chunin Exam will be decided by the leading Jonin. By the way, Team 7 and Team 10 are exceptions because they have changed their team members!"

"There are still preliminary selections?" I thought it was a done deal, but I didn't expect there would be any surprises.

"So Mizuki-sensei, do you think we can take part in the Chunin Exams?"

"It depends on my mood. As long as it's not too bad, I'll let you participate. Preliminary selection and the like are not important!"

Shuimu didn't intend to care about this kind of nonsense. What kind of test is needed for the justice partner of the child of destiny? What a waste of time.

…

At night, in the hotel where they stayed, Shuimu exchanged memories with his clone who had rushed over, and digested the news he had just received.

"That's the result. It's not bad. There's no need for the Sharingan for now. It's not the Mangekyō Sharingan, so it's of no use to me."

Before getting forbidden techniques like Izanagi and Izanami, the three-magatama Sharingan is useless. The Mangekyō Sharingan still has Susanoo to withstand the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and Mizuki can't think of any benefit from staring at the Sharingan except wasting more chakra.

"But your way of dealing with the aftermath is really hypocritical."

"Are you making fun of yourself? You need to correct this bad habit!" the clone retorted bluntly.

The clone of Uchiha Sasuke, although his life span was not long, the erosion and overdraw of the curse seal, as well as the burden of the Sharingan, would accelerate the speed of his body's collapse. However, after the experimental subject awakened its independent consciousness, it was left alone, and it was even called letting it feel the last glory of life. It was really hypocritical. Obviously, super cells could be cultivated for the clone of Uchiha Sasuke, and then his life span could be appropriately extended.

Although his body was in extremely poor condition, he could at least be saved. But now he was left to fend for himself. The clone was not a good person. Although Shuimu's original body was replaced, it was estimated that the same treatment would be given.

"A hypocritical life needs no explanation."

Shuimu's original body was also troubled by the many things on hand. Even though there were more clones to assist in the research, the focus had actually never changed. The idea of ​​"self-centered" was extremely clear from the beginning.

"In addition, there is one more thing!" The clone reminded, "We are out of money, and it is difficult to get the many resources needed for the experiment. We have only trained four clone assistants at present, and we will not be able to support it if we have more."

"Including the one I have, there are only seven clones?"

The Clone Wars, Impure World Reincarnation, and the White Zetsu Army were all just an illusory dream from the beginning. It is difficult to feed so many people, and it is also very difficult to produce a large number of clones. Only a country can fully support such a thing. It is a joke to rely on a ninja family to support it.

"Save that clone." Mizuki said decisively: "A pair of Sharingan may have potential for development and may be a useful helper."

"How to control it?"

"There's no other way!" Shuimu said bluntly, "I've already used the caged bird and the curse seal, what else do I need to control it?"

"Do you believe that love and justice can influence 'ignorant' young people?"

Mizuki smiled and replied, "Stop joking here. I don't think a boy with a mind like a baby needs to be controlled too much. Just treat him as an ordinary subordinate. Orochimaru controls the Sound Ninja not only by intimidation and curse seals, but in fact, most of the Sound Ninja are loyal. There is no need for Orochimaru to worry too much."

"You want to convince him with emotional ties? It seems that you really want to train him as a real human being. Unlike clones like us, knowing too much would be a huge trouble."

"I finally found a reason to save a life. Shouldn't you applaud me for having a change of heart?"

"It's up to you. You are the real one and you have the final say."

"A mere Uchiha clone can't make any big waves. Rather, I really hope he can bring some surprises!"

"Your way of thinking is very dangerous!" Mizuki's clone warned, "Your way of thinking is becoming more and more like Orochimaru's!"

"Really?" Shuimu replied thoughtfully, "Wasn't it like this before?"

Thinking back carefully, there doesn't seem to be any particular difference.

"Take your time to think about it. I still have to rush to save the clone. Oh, I should give him a name!"

Mizuki thought for a moment and then said, "Just call him Yukimura."

"You are really perfunctory. Did you survive by using homophonic names, or did you plagiarize the names of generals from the Warring States Period?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared without waiting for Shuimu to refute, leaving Shuimu alone in deep thought!

…

The next day, the three high-spirited Genin looked at Mizuki, who looked tired, with some surprise. They thought Mizuki had not slept well the previous night, but he was in a good mood that day. Could something have happened? Thinking that their qualification for the Chunin Exam depended on Mizuki's thoughts, the three Genin began to feel uneasy, worrying about what they had not done well enough.

Four days later, the Konoha team finally arrived at Takikuni before the Daimyo set off. Without doing too much preparation, after verifying the mission, they immediately prepared to return. After all, there was not much time.