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  Shin had decided to head for the current battlefield, not just to watch the fireworks but also for oher reason: to see Nagato Uzumaki.

  If events were pying out like the inal timeline, Yahiko should have already formed the Akatsuki by now.

  Of course, Shin had no i in Yahiko. The idealistic fool was bound to meet an untimely end.

  You couldn't just "talk" your way to world peace without possessiain main-character perks—like Naruto's unstoppable "Talk no Jutsu." If lofty speeches worked that well, the Shinobi world would've been peaceful ages ago.

  With Yahiko out of mind, Shin had set his sights on Nagato, more specifically Nagato's Rinnegan—teically Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan.

  Shin couldn't help but wonder if Madara might have a stroke if he learhat Shin was dropping by to visit Nagato. Even a hardened schemer like Madara might find it tough to keep his cool.

  "I should head back first asunade and the others know," Shin thought aloud. "They'll only worry if I disappear without warning."

  He hesitated a moment—then activated [Yomotsu Hirasaka] and portaled home. It wasn't like they could literally devour him, even if Kushina might try.

  --

  "Hah, and here I thought you weren't ing back," Kushina said crossly the instant Shin reappeared.

  "Shin, you havee, right? I saved some food for you." Mikoto asked sweetly, stepping forward with a pte of warm leftovers.

  "Mikoto, You're the best," Shin replied, grinning. Then he darted a g Tsunade and Kushina.

  Kushina's brows arched.

  "What's that look for? You want a beating, huh?" She raised her fists in mock threat.

  "Hmm. Maybe just feeling itchy," Tsunade added casually, giving Shin a dangerous sideways gre.

  "Ahem, I didn't mean anything." Shin coughed, quickly taking a seat to tuto the food. Rule number one around here: don't poke the hors' .

  Although they couldn't really hurt him, he didn't like being hit. And he couldn't fight back against his own women.

  When he finished, Mikoto tidied the ptes away like a perfect hostess. Meanwhile, Tsunade and Kushina lounged over cups of tea. Konan, quietly perched nearby, folded her lovely paper creations—aire menagerie she'd used to decorate the house.

  "Ugh, this tea's so bitter," Kushina pined, setting down her cup. "Mikoto's tea is much better."

  She used to hate tea altogether, but with Mikoto's skill, she'd gradually bee a fan.

  "Bme yourself," Tsunade remarked coolly. "You're the one who made it. Lucky me, I didn't volunteer, or you'd be bming me for it."

  She tried a sip and ged, quickly pushing it away. Whatever Kushina had do tasted like bck coffee times ten.

  "Still, if you brewed it, you shouldn't be pining," Shin teased. "Just tough it out."

  "I tried. It's no use—this tastes awful." Kushina stuck out her tongue in disgust. If there was a single positive thing to say about it, she couldn't find it. Too bitter was too bitter.

  "Want to try it?" She shoved the teacup in Shin's dire.

  "....."

  "I'll pass," he said lightly.

  No sense punishing himself...

  --

  Just then, a chime sounded in Shin's mind—except this time, it sounded more like a gentle female voice than aronic beep:

  [Ding! System upgrade plete.]

  Shin paused. He'd been about to announce his departure for The Land of Rain, but hearing that, he froze.

  "I just remembered something. You guys chat. I'll be back ter."

  He hurried off to his bedroom, ign the suspicious look Kushina shot him.

  Onside, he locked the door behind him. If the System was truly done upgrading—after all these years—who knew what new goodies it might bestow? That system was, after all, his greatest advantage in this world. He certainly wouldn't have gotten so far without it.

  "System, why did your voice ge?" Shin asked it mentally. He vividly recalled the old meical monotone.

  Now the voice sounded like a cheerful young woman, a far more pleasant tone. He had to admit he preferred it.

  "What exactly ged with this upgrade? You took your sweet time…eight years or more, right?"

  He tried not to let the impatience seep into his tone.

  [Master, the system ow merge Replication cards. Five on Replicate into one Advanced. Five Advanced bee one Divine.]

  Shin blinked. Well, that was…something. He recalled the simpler times when on cards felt like a godsend. But now, they were practically useless. At least he could now fuse them into better versions.

  "Anything else?"

  [No, Master. That's it. If you're not happy, please look forward to the upgrade.]

  He twitched at that. Eight years for this? Sure, it was o have a female voistead of a robot, but…eight years. Did he expeuch?

  Still, merging cards could be helpful, especially with how his backlog had grown.

  "So… that's it, huh," he murmured. "Anyway, you didn't lose my old cards, right?"

  [You verify your iory, Master.]

  He opehe System panel. Sure enough:

  on Replication Card x7

  Advanced Replication Card x4

  Divine Replication Card x1

  Twelve cards in total. The four from before (1 Divine, 3 Advanced, 1 on) plus eight more from these "missing" years. Not too shabby, though he'd hoped in vain for ara Divine from the system's generosity.

  He noticed that fusing 5 on -> 1 Advahen 5 total Advanced -> 1 Divi he could gain a sed Divine card anytime.

  "System, if I do fuse them, is it instant?" he inquired.

  [Yes, Master. Immediate.]

  Shin hen there was o bihem now. He could do it when he o.

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