Chapter 61 – The Fourth World 第四个世界

[Year 63 of Konoha (The year is purely fictional, please don't take it seriously. It is estimated based on the year when Naruto got married at the age of 19)]

Lin Yuan was lying unconscious on the hospital bed, and the voices of the medical ninjas, who were nervous and busy, came from around him. Although his consciousness was blurred, the voice of the Jiuchong Ring was particularly clear.

"Host, there's no need for you to complain. Being able to participate in such a top-notch combat mission already shows that you're important," the Jiuchong Ring said lazily.

Lin Yuan frowned and muttered in his mind, "Important? Not at all! My whole body aches like I've been run over by a car. Just tell me, what's my role here and how much of the plot has played out?"

Jiuchong Ring explained, "Your current identity is Lin Yuan of the Yamanaka clan, the twin brother of Ino Yamanaka. The Yamanaka clan is proficient in the Mind Body Switch Technique, Telepathy Technique, and simple sealing techniques, but your strength hasn't been fully developed yet. The plot has just reached the point where Sasuke defected from Konoha. You and Shikamaru fought Tayuya from the Sound Four. You sacrificed yourself to buy time for Temari to arrive. Tayuya was defeated, but you got seriously hurt."

Lin Yuan let out a helpless sigh, "Doing the hard work of stalling for time is really suitable for me. Is Sasuke the same as in the original work?"

Jiuchong Ring replied coldly, "Yes, Sasuke's gone. The Konoha pursuit team came back all hurt, and you're among the worst off."

...

Four days later, Lin Yuan finally woke up from his coma and found his sister Ino Yamanaka had been staying by his bedside all the time, with a frown and a face full of worry.

"You stupid Lin Yuan, you're really risking your life! If it wasn't for the quick action of the medical team, you'd be a corpse now!" Ino scolded, with her eyes slightly reddening.

Lin Yuan gave a bitter smile, "Don't worry. I'm lucky and won't die. But... has Sasuke been brought back?"

Ino's face twitched. She gritted her teeth and said, "Sasuke's defected. Kakashi-sensei and the others are talking to the Hokage about what to do next. Lin Yuan, don't worry about it. Just focus on getting better!"

Looking at Ino's expression, Lin Yuan felt a vague sense of unease in his heart. He knew that the crisis in Konoha was just beginning.

Just as Lin Yuan was about to close his eyes and rest, the voice of the Jiuchong Ring suddenly sounded in his mind:

"Host, a side mission for this plane is issued: Establish a foothold in the world of Naruto and achieve victory in a decisive battle."

Lin Yuan was startled. "What's this 'establish a foothold' supposed to mean? In my current state, I can barely walk, let alone fight!"

Jiuchong Ring explained slowly, "Establishing a foothold means that you need to become an indispensable existence in this world, not just an ordinary minor ninja. As for the specific objectives of the victory in the battle, they will be gradually unfolded later."

Lin Yuan rolled his eyes, "I'm still lying in the hospital bed, and you're already painting a big pie for me?"

Jiuchong Ring: "..."

After his injury got a bit better, Lin Yuan met Shikamaru Nara, who came to see him. Shikamaru was as lazy as usual, but his eyes showed some seriousness.

"Lin Yuan, I have to thank you. If it wasn't for you stalling Tayuya, Temari and I might not have been able to defeat her smoothly," Shikamaru said in a low voice.

Lin Yuan waved his hand, "You're welcome. It was all for the mission. But Shikamaru, what countermeasures do the higher-ups of Konoha have regarding Sasuke's defection?"

Shikamaru hesitated and whispered, "There's no clear plan yet... Sasuke's defection has brought a trust problem to Konoha. Orochimaru's threat is still there, and things will get more complex."

Lin Yuan nodded, but in his mind, he was thinking about the "decisive battle" mentioned by the Jiuchong Ring and how he could improve his own strength.

In the following days, Lin Yuan began to secretly try to use the help of the Jiuchong Ring to stimulate the potential of the secret techniques of the Yamanaka clan. He found that his spiritual power was much stronger than that of ordinary people, and he could control the Mind Body Switch Technique more accurately. He could even try doing "multi-target control" briefly.

Although this ability wasn't perfect yet, if fully developed, it could be a trump card.

====================

[木叶63年 （年份纯粹虚构,勿要当真,以鸣人19岁结婚往后估算年份）]

林远昏迷在病床上,周围传来医疗忍者紧张忙碌的声音.他的意识虽然模糊,但九重戒的声音却格外清晰.

"宿主,你没必要抱怨,能参与这种顶尖的战斗任务,已经说明你很重要." 九重戒懒洋洋地说道.

林远皱眉,在脑海中吐槽道: "重要个鬼!我现在全身痛得像被车碾过一样,你倒是告诉我,我在这个世界到底是什么角色,剧情发展到哪一步了?"

九重戒解释道: "你现在的身份是山中林远,山中井野的双胞胎弟弟.山中一族,擅长心转身术,心灵感应术和简单的封印术,但你的实力尚未完全开发.剧情刚好到佐助叛逃木叶,你和鹿丸刚刚与音忍四人中的多由也对战.你牺牲自己拖延时间,为手鞠的支援争取了机会.最终虽然多由也被击败,但你却身受重伤."

林远无奈地叹了口气:"拖时间的苦力活,真是太适合我了.那佐助是否和原著一样?"

九重戒淡淡回答:"是的,佐助已经离开,木叶派出的追击小队全员负伤返回,你算是伤得最重的之一."

...

四天后,林远终于从昏迷中醒来,发现自己的姐姐山中井野一直守在床边,眉头紧锁,满脸担忧.

"笨蛋林远,你真是不要命了!如果不是医疗班的速度够快,你现在已经变成一具尸体了!" 井野一边骂着,一边眼眶微微泛红.

林远苦笑:"放心,我命大着呢,死不了.不过...佐助他,追回了吗?"

井野的表情微微一变,咬牙道:"佐助已经叛逃了,卡卡西老师他们正在和火影大人商量下一步对策.林远,你别再乱想了,好好养伤吧!"

林远看着井野的表情,心里却隐隐生出一种不安感.他知道,接下来木叶的危机才刚刚开始.

就在林远准备闭目养神时,九重戒的声音突然在脑海中响起:

"宿主,发布本次位面支线任务:在火影忍者世界中立足,并取得一场决定性战斗的胜利."

林远愣了愣:"立足是什么意思?我现在的身体状态,别说战斗,走路都费劲!"

九重戒慢悠悠地解释:"立足的意思是,你需要成为这个世界中不可或缺的存在,而非只是一名普通龙套忍者.至于战斗胜利的具体目标,稍后会逐步展开."

林远翻了个白眼:"我现在还在病床上呢,你就开始画大饼了?"

九重:"..."

伤势略微好转后,林远见到了来探望自己的奈良鹿丸.鹿丸一如既往地懒洋洋,但眼神中却有一丝凝重.

"林远,我得感谢你.要不是你拖住了多由也,我和手鞠可能没办法顺利打败她." 鹿丸低声说道.

林远摆摆手:"不用谢,这都是任务需要.不过鹿丸,佐助的叛逃,木叶高层有什么对策吗?"

鹿丸犹豫了一下,低声说道:"暂时还没有明确计划...但佐助的叛逃,已经让木叶村上下陷入了信任危机.大蛇丸的阴影还笼罩在我们头上,未来的局势只会更复杂."

林远点了点头,脑海中却在思索九重戒提到的 "决定性战斗",以及他该如何提升自己的实力.

接下来的时间里,林远开始偷偷尝试利用九重戒的帮助,激发山中一族秘术的潜能.他发现,自己的精神力比常人强大得多,能够更精准地操控心转身术,甚至能尝试进行短时间的 "多目标控制".

这一能力虽然尚未完善,但如果开发到极致,或许会成为一张底牌,杀手锏.