Kushina Uzumaki was visiting Arima in his hospital room.
Although Arima was still unconscious, his mind remained fully aware.
He could hear every word Kushina spoke with perfect clarity.
When he heard her say that she had made up her mind — that she didn't care what others thought and wanted to be friends with someone as universally disliked as him — his heart began to race uncontrollably.
Thump, thump — the unmistakable feeling of a budding affection.
Aside from the four happy years he had spent with his parents, Kushina was the first person to show him genuine kindness.
Since Kushina had made such a bold decision, how could Arima find it in himself to turn her away?
He began to consider his plans for the future.
From what he understood, witness points were earned by witnessing important people and events in the shinobi world.
And Kushina Uzumaki was undoubtedly one of the most important individuals.
After all, the future of the shinobi world would revolve around Naruto Uzumaki.
In other words, simply staying close to Kushina early on could earn him a large number of witness points.
However, if his speculation was correct, Kushina had been caught in a web of deception spun by Konoha from the moment she arrived.
If he truly wanted to be friends with her, then he had to change her fate.
But if he succeeded in doing that, Kushina wouldn't die — and that meant Naruto Uzumaki wouldn't be born. Arima would lose a major source of witness points.
Yet, those points were crucial for him to establish any standing in this world.
Originally, his plan had been to stay in Konoha temporarily, leave after the Nine-Tails' incident, and then return once Naruto had become a genin to earn witness points through him.
But that clearly wouldn't work anymore.
Arima would now have to change his plans — start preparing to leave Konoha sooner, and find other events to witness and gather points wherever he could.
There was also another issue to consider — the Nine-Tails.
If Kushina was willing to become the jinchūriki, then he wouldn't need to worry.
But if she wasn't, then he would need to prepare in advance.
He was finally about to gain a friend — one who was willing to be hated by everyone else just to stand beside him. He had to be worthy of that decision.
Just then, a voice echoed in Arima's mind — the system.
[Attention, Host: witness points are not obtained solely by witnessing upcoming events.]
Arima asked with confusion, "What do you mean?"
**[Any event that impacts the shinobi world can grant witness points. It doesn't have to be one you remember as being 'important.'
For example, if you were to declare war on Konoha right now, you wouldn't receive any points — because you lack the strength to be taken seriously, and Konoha wouldn't see you as a threat. Therefore, no witness point would be awarded.
But if your power were great enough for Konoha to consider you a major threat, then it would be classified as an event, and you would receive witness points.
Furthermore, because you would be a direct participant in that event, you'd receive an even greater amount of witness points once it concluded.]**
Arima was instantly excited by this explanation. "So you're saying... I can earn witness points through my own actions!?"
[That's one way to look at it. However, be advised — some major events are destined to occur.]
Arima's excitement quickly faded. He asked solemnly, "So... Naruto Uzumaki has to be born?"
[Correct. But the person may not necessarily be the Naruto you remember.]
Arima's thoughts grew heavy as he contemplated the implications. He murmured, "You mean, Naruto must be born — but he may not be Kushina's child. He could be someone else's. Yet whoever it is, they'll fulfill the role Naruto was meant to play. Is that right?"
[That's exactly correct.]
Arima fell into deep thought.
In a way, this was actually good news. It meant he didn't need to force anything. These predetermined major events would still occur — and bring him witness points.
So now, all he had to do was proceed step by step, build his strength, and help Kushina change her fate.
The thought brought him a sense of relief — and even sparked a newfound hope for a future that had once seemed utterly bleak.
Kushina continued chatting with him, recounting her life over the past few days.
For some reason, everything she said tugged at Arima's heartstrings.
When she talked about a group of kids trying to corner her and pick a fight, he felt a surge of anger.
But when she described how she beat them down until they begged for mercy, he couldn't help but feel a rush of joy.
"All right, Arima, it's getting late. I need to head back or Grandma Mito will start to worry. I hope tomorrow we meet at the Ninja Academy — not in the hospital. See you tomorrow!"
After Kushina said her goodbyes, Arima silently replied in his heart: "See you tomorrow, Kushina."
Once she left, Arima longed to awaken — to meet her at the academy the next day.
Perhaps it was his powerful desire that finally stirred his body — his finger twitched.
He felt it, and joy immediately bloomed in his chest.
Pouring all his effort into regaining control of his body, his toe moved next. Then his hand. His leg. His neck…
Bit by bit, he reconnected with his body — and finally opened his eyes.
A harsh overhead light forced him to shut them again on reflex.
His body ached — sore and painful. Clearly, he hadn't fully recovered yet.
When he opened his eyes again, he vaguely sensed movement outside the window.
Turning his head, he saw the branches of a tree swaying slightly.
"…The ANBU, huh…"
His eyes darkened.
He knew full well that the damage caused by his use of the Thunder Breathing technique in the forest would have caught Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.
So, being under surveillance didn't surprise him in the slightest.
He assumed that once he was discharged, Hiruzen would summon him to ask how he managed to cause such destruction.
But what he didn't expect… was for Hiruzen to personally visit his hospital room just half an hour later.
The moment Arima saw the Third Hokage walk in, he froze.
Sure, the level of destruction he'd caused was shocking for someone of his age — but was that really reason enough for Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had always shown him nothing but indifference, to visit him personally?
.......
Per 100 Power stones = 2 bonus chapter's
Support me at patreon.com/ISSOR and read upto 30 Advanced Chapters!