Lin Mo sat at his computer with a slight frown, his fingers moving rapidly between the keyboard and mouse. Every so often, his gaze drifted to the floating screen of light before him. It was the Inventory System's interface, and ever since he had obtained the system and finished editing his first video, it had followed him everywhere, always within sight. Though the screen had brought him earth-shaking benefits, having it float in front of his eyes for so long made him a little uncomfortable. Its presence was especially distracting once he had finished editing a video.
"The screen's convenient, but having it in front of my eyes all the time is really getting in the way..." Lin Mo couldn't help muttering. He tried to focus on his computer screen, but the screen of light kept drawing his attention away.
Just then, a notification suddenly popped up on the screen of light: [Host operation requirements detected. Project the system interface onto an external device?]
Lin Mo froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "I can do that? Wouldn't that be much more convenient!" He selected "yes" without hesitation.
The next moment, the contents of the screen of light vanished and appeared on his computer screen instead. The interface that had been floating before his eyes was now integrated into his computer monitor, displayed beside his video-editing software. Lin Mo tried using it and found that the system interface responded even more smoothly on the computer than it had on the screen of light.
A week later...
The room was somewhat untidy. The desk was piled with snack wrappers and empty drink bottles, and the computer screen was still on, displaying the unfinished editing interface for his third video. Ever since obtaining the Inventory System, Lin Mo had barely set foot outside, working furiously at his computer to edit videos. For an entire week, he had devoted almost all his energy to it.
At first, Lin Mo had been extremely excited and nervous. After all, the Inventory System's appearance had completely changed his life. He could earn "Dimensional Points" by editing videos, and those points seemed to have limitless potential, allowing him to exchange them for all sorts of marvelous items and abilities. As time passed, however, his mood gradually settled. He began to adjust to the new rhythm, though he was still full of anticipation and a faint unease about the future.
Now, Lin Mo sat at his computer, unconsciously drumming his fingers on the desk as he looked at the two videos he had already posted. Their views and comments continued to climb, and his Dimensional Points were accumulating far faster than he had expected. Every time he refreshed the page, the numbers jumped, as if reminding him that it was all real.
"Incredible..." Lin Mo murmured, an involuntary smile spreading across his face. He had been nothing more than an ordinary anime fan, and he had never expected to possess such a marvelous system. Though he still wasn't sure just how much the Dimensional Points could change, watching them continue to grow was enough to excite him.
Yet that excitement also left Lin Mo feeling restless. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Excessive excitement wouldn't solve anything; it might even make him lose his reason. He got up, went to the bathroom, and splashed cold water on his face. Chilly droplets ran down his cheeks, easing some of the heat and clearing his thoughts a little.
"Time to go out for a walk," Lin Mo said to himself, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He had been cooped up at home for too long, doing almost nothing but edit videos. His food supplies were running low too. All that remained in the fridge were a few packets of instant noodles and half a jar of Lao Gan Ma. If this went on, even meeting his basic needs might become a problem.
With that in mind, Lin Mo decided to go out and buy some daily necessities, and treat himself while he was at it. A week of intensive video editing had left him exhausted in body and mind, and a little relaxation and a reward were necessary.
He changed into a loose sweatshirt, grabbed his wallet and phone, and left home. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze brushed his face, and a faint floral fragrance filled the air. Lin Mo took a deep breath and felt considerably more relaxed. The streets were bustling with people, a sharp contrast to his dim, messy room.
Lin Mo first went to a nearby supermarket, pushing a cart between the shelves. He bought some instant food, drinks, and snacks, and picked out some fresh vegetables and meat so he could cook himself a proper meal when he got home. Though he rarely cooked, treating himself once in a while was a good choice.
At checkout, Lin Mo looked at his full cart and felt a little reflective. Over the past week, he had devoted almost all his energy to the Inventory System and neglected many details of daily life. Now that he had stepped outside, he realized there was more to life than Dimensional Points and video editing, and more things worth paying attention to and enjoying.
After finishing his shopping, Lin Mo didn't go straight home. Instead, he decided to have a good meal at a nearby restaurant. He chose a well-reviewed Japanese restaurant and ordered a sashimi platter and a steaming bowl of ramen. The aroma of the food filled him with satisfaction, as though the week's exhaustion had been released in that moment.
Sitting in the restaurant, Lin Mo enjoyed his meal while considering his plans. He knew the Inventory System's appearance was only a turning point in his life, and the road ahead was still long. He couldn't remain absorbed in the growth of his Dimensional Points forever; he had to learn to balance his life with the opportunities the system brought.
Perhaps I should make a proper plan, Lin Mo thought, quietly making up his mind. He couldn't focus solely on the benefits before him; he had to think long-term.
After eating, Lin Mo carried his shopping bags in both hands and strolled home. The evening sun cast its fading light over him, stretching his shadow. The trees lining the street swayed gently in the breeze, as though seeing him off.
Once home, Lin Mo put away his purchases one by one, then sat down at his computer and opened the Inventory System interface. His Dimensional Points were still slowly increasing, but he was no longer as excited as before. He knew this was only the beginning, and the road ahead was still long.
The real Shinobi World
Three days had passed since the last Heavenly Screen video, and the people of the Shinobi World were gradually returning to their usual routines. Though the Heavenly Screen's appearance had caused a tremendous stir across the Shinobi World, people had begun to grow accustomed to its presence as time passed. Life had to go on, after all. Ninja missions, training, clan affairs, and even ordinary daily life couldn't come to a halt because the Heavenly Screen had appeared.
In the Hokage's office in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi was bent over a pile of documents, writing quickly with the pen in his hand. Occasionally, he looked up through the window at the Heavenly Screen in the sky. The numbers on it continued to tick slowly, showing the time until the next video played. Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze lingered on the Heavenly Screen for a moment before he lowered his head and returned to his busy work.
"Four more days..." he murmured, a trace of complicated emotion in his voice. The videos shown on the Heavenly Screen had made the situation in the Shinobi World even more delicate. Though no direct threat had appeared so far, as Hokage, he had to remain vigilant at all times. The atmosphere in the Shinobi World had not calmed with the passage of time. Instead, the contents of the first two videos had sparked even more speculation and rumors. In particular, the main figures who had appeared in those videos—Naruto, Hashirama Senju, and the others—were all ninja from Konoha, without exception. This had aroused suspicion among the people of the other ninja villages and even given rise to various conspiracy theories.
Meanwhile, at the village training ground, Naruto and Sasuke were engaged in a fierce fight. The two moved rapidly across the field, trading punches and kicks as waves of Chakra surged through the air. Dodging Sasuke's attacks, Naruto shouted, "Sasuke, don't think you're going to beat me easily this time!"
Sasuke snorted. "Hmph, dead last, you'd better worry about yourself first!"
Their fight grew ever more intense, their attacks striking the surrounding trees and ground and leaving deep marks. Just as they were about to clash again, however, Naruto suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.
"Hey, Sasuke, look!" Naruto pointed at the numbers on the Heavenly Screen, a hint of surprise in his voice. "There are four more days until the next video plays!"
Sasuke stopped attacking and looked up at the Heavenly Screen as well. His brows knitted slightly, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes. "It seems the Heavenly Screen's playback times aren't fixed... They seem to be adjusting according to some pattern."
Naruto scratched his head and said in confusion, "What's going on? Could someone be controlling the Heavenly Screen from behind the scenes?"
Sasuke didn't answer. He merely watched the Heavenly Screen in silence, faintly uneasy. Its appearance had undoubtedly introduced a tremendous new variable to the Shinobi World, yet they knew nothing about it.
The scene shifted...
"This is definitely Konoha's doing!" In a tavern somewhere in Sunagakure, a Sunagakure ninja slammed the table, his voice full of unmistakable dissatisfaction and suspicion. His voice was particularly grating amid the noise of the tavern, and the Sunagakure ninja around him stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him.
"That's right. The first two videos were full of people from Konoha. How could that be a coincidence?" another ninja chimed in, distrust written all over his face. "Konoha's always pulling little tricks. Maybe this time they're trying to use the Heavenly Screen to show off their strength and suppress the other villages."
"But can something like the Heavenly Screen really be controlled by people?" a young Sunagakure ninja asked hesitantly. His question quieted the tavern somewhat, but soon someone else broke the silence.
Similar conversations were taking place not only in Sunagakure. People in Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, and even those in the smaller ninja villages and wandering ninja, were all talking about it. The Heavenly Screen's appearance had been unsettling to begin with, and the contents of the first two videos had made the other ninja villages deeply suspicious of Konoha.
Tsuchikage Ōnoki sat in his office, holding a cup of hot tea. His gaze, too, rested on the Heavenly Screen as he watched its constantly ticking numbers. As an older ninja who had weathered countless storms, he knew that the appearance of the content shown on the Heavenly Screen could completely change the balance of the Shinobi World, and he had to prepare for any changes that might arise.
"Lord Tsuchikage, there are more and more rumors in the village. Many people believe Konoha is controlling the Heavenly Screen from behind the scenes," an Iwagakure ninja reported quietly.
Ōnoki was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Konoha is certainly suspicious, but we can't jump to conclusions. The Heavenly Screen's existence is far beyond our understanding. If we act rashly, we could cause unnecessary conflict."
"But Lord Tsuchikage, if we do nothing, the other villages may think we're weak..." the Iwagakure ninja said anxiously.
Ōnoki shook his head. "The most important thing now is to remain calm and wait for the Heavenly Screen's next video. If Konoha really is controlling it from behind the scenes, they'll slip up sooner or later."
The Heavenly Screen's existence had quietly changed the rhythm of the Shinobi World. Kage and ordinary ninja alike were waiting for the next video to play. And as they waited, the people of the Shinobi World were quietly changing too. Perhaps when the Heavenly Screen's next video played, the future of the Shinobi World would reach an entirely new turning point.