Naruto: The Black-Mark Sage, Surviving in the Land of Iron

After transmigrating into the Hyuga Branch Family with a Caged Bird Seal, Hyuga Zang vowed to keep his head down until the end of time. His chakra talent was so lousy he could barely manage even a C-rank jutsu, so all he could do was grind away at the Gentle Fist and get by. At nine, strange black markings appeared on his body, and by a twist of fate he awakened Sage Mode. But he refused to reveal his hand. Even when taking C-rank missions, he planted minefields everywhere, then blew an elite Cloud ninja squad sky-high by throwing money at the problem. Turning to Asuma Sarutobi, he put on a pitiful face. "Boss, could I cash in this merit? Two hundred thousand ryo, take it or leave it." When Jiraiya eyed the blasted battlefield suspiciously, Hyuga Zang pulled out a VIP card for the Konoha bathhouse. "Just a small token from your junior." Jiraiya immediately warmed to him and promised to look out for him from then on. When Asuma returned, all he found were craters and Cloud ninja corpses. He was completely floored by Hyuga Zang's status as a "Genin." Even more absurdly, Hyuga Zang had no desire to get ahead at all. When a Chunin tried to persuade him to take the Chunin Ninja Exams, he waved both hands. "Being cannon fodder is great. Nothing beats taking it easy on D-rank missions." Yet he turned around and crouched in a corner, clutching a black-market order for more Explosive Tags as he calculated, "Once I've saved enough, I'll buy land in the Land of Iron and retire. They don't fight over there."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.