Game

Wang Yan cleared his throat, his tone unhurried: "The Council recently achieved a breakthrough in technology, and based on that, we developed the first Virtual Reality game, named 'Shadow Breaking the Firmament.'"

"The core concept of this game is—to give everyone the possibility of becoming a ninja! At the same time, it cultivates strong individuals with good character and a love for life!"

Rasa was a bit confused.

What necessary connection did playing a game have with the possibility of becoming a ninja?

He didn't interrupt Wang Yan's speech, just listened silently.

"This game can adjust the speed of human brainwaves, accelerating consciousness. Any player spending a year in the game equates to just one day in reality."

"This is almost equivalent to extending one's lifespan in a roundabout way."

Hearing this, Rasa was already starting to feel tempted.

Wang Yan gave a faint smile and made a rubbing motion against the Coiled Dragon Ring on his pinky.

Shua!

A Game Helmet with a strong Sci-fi atmosphere appeared in his hand.

"Finally, while playing this game, the player's body and mind both get ample rest."

Rasa stared blankly at the exquisitely crafted matte black helmet, his mind swaying.

If Wang Yan hadn't just demonstrated the miraculous feat of an Ordinary Person tearing apart a Jinchuriki, he would never have believed such a wondrous item existed in the world.

"Is this something left by the Sage of Six Paths?"

His brain short-circuited, and he couldn't help Complaining.

"As I said earlier, this is a new product from the Council, mass-producible on an assembly line. The goal of this trip of mine is: to ensure that at least Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Konoha, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure—these major ninja villages—each hold a sample helmet."

Wang Yan smiled warmly: "As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. I've been talking myself hoarse here, and you still don't really know what it's all about, right? Luckily, there are five Game Helmets here, all standard models. You can give them a try."

Five helmets naturally corresponded to five people.

Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Rasa.

And who else?

The Kazekage's gaze fell on his most troublesome son.

Gaara's blood-red short hair swayed in the wind, his expression blank, silent and still as a statue.

He wasn't "soon returning to normal" as Wang Yan had claimed earlier.

But this state was at least worry-free—he wasn't shouting about wanting to kill people all day.

"Four people should be enough, right?" Rasa looked like he had something difficult to say.

Wang Yan only said coldly: "Don't worry, nothing will go wrong."

His gaze landed on Gaara, and he couldn't help but Sigh with emotion.

This poor kid, because the One-Tails Shukaku was sealed inside him as a child, was feared by the villagers, and due to betrayal by his own family, his personality became cold and ruthless, fond of killing.

One could say Gaara and Naruto were twins of light and shadow—seemingly similar experiences, yet Completely different fates.

Sighing, Wang Yan explained: "As everyone knows, ordinary sleep is divided into five stages: onset, light sleep, moderate sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep."

"Your son has been in a state of pseudo-sleep for a long time, meaning he's always stuck in light sleep. This causes endocrine imbalance, his body affects his mind, warps his personality, and makes him... a bit irritable."

"According to Council research, beyond REM sleep, there exists a stage called Subconscious Sleep. In my homeland, this sleep is called Fetal Breathing—only those whose spiritual realm has reached an extremely profound level can enter it."

"Now, by entering the Virtual Reality game through our Game Helmet, we can simulate the state of Fetal Breathing. Though the effect is only one-twentieth as strong, it's still far better than ordinary sleep."

"In this state, your son's mental strength far exceeds when he's awake, so there's no need to worry about the One-Tails Shukaku causing a riot."

As soon as he said this, Wang Yan knew he had Rasa convinced.

His Resource Points stock was rapidly recovering; the earlier expenditures on gold bricks and Game Helmets were all recouped in an instant.

The fate of the Fourth Kazekage had already begun to change.

Rasa didn't say much more, just put helmets on himself and his son.

Naruto hugged a fiery red Game Helmet: "Heh heh, I wonder if what the teacher said is true..."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a glance, then obediently followed suit.

"Gain great power, control my fate, revive Father and Mother..."

As he put on the helmet, Sasuke Mutered these words under his breath to strengthen his resolve.

Though the "Naruto" manga mentioned that Nagato's forbidden technique, Rinne Rebirth, could also revive people, Sasuke didn't think Nagato would be willing to sacrifice himself for him.

Soon, all five present were ready. Wang Yan nodded in satisfaction and snapped his fingers.

Snap!

The five instantly lost consciousness and logged into a bizarre, dazzling virtual world together.

The game world named "Shadow Breaking the Firmament."

Ninja Continent.

Here there is no magic, no Dao arts, no fighting spirit—only ninjutsu evolved to its extreme.

People grade ninjutsu of various power levels and store them in Scientific Ninja Tools. As long as one's Chakra capacity reaches a certain threshold, they can unleash any technique at will!

If Chakra is strong enough, one can use Scientific Ninja Tools to display earth-shattering might!

Gaara was born into such a world.

Shadow City, the Sunagakure clan.

Early morning, moon bright and stars sparse, the sun not yet risen.

Training ground, before the test platform.

"Chakra, Lower Second Stage!"

Gaara expressionlessly pulled his hand away from the testing crystal, bitterness flooding his heart.

Three years ago, he had been the strongest genius in all of Sunagakure—under ten years old, his Chakra capacity had already reached the peak of the Middle Stage, only a single step away from Upper Stage ninja!

But from that day on, his Chakra began to drain. No matter how he trained, he couldn't reverse the decline of his strength.

The cold mockery of former companions rang in his ears, and Gaara's heart bled.

"I will never give up."

Gaara swept a cold glare over the gloating wastes around him, killing intent surging.

Once he returned to his peak, he would slaughter these scum!

As Gaara silently resolved himself, in the Konoha clan of Shadow City, three youths simultaneously awoke from their slumber.

"Wow... so this is the game world!"

Naruto blinked his watery blue eyes, looking like a curious child. "It doesn't feel fake at all!"

"Tch, idiot."

Sasuke sneered coldly. "Do you really think Wang Yan sent us here to play? Think carefully about the instructor's message."

Before entering this virtual game world, Wang Yan had transmitted a message to all three, leaving behind some instructions.

"I'll help you break through the game's block on your real-world memories, but you must play your roles well in the game. This will affect the final score I give you."

To the three youngsters, Wang Yan had taken on a subcontract from the Main God for rookie Reincarnators, so his final evaluation would surely be proportional to Reward Points!

Thus, even though Sasuke didn't want to talk to Naruto right now, he still spoke up to remind him.

"My mission is... to become close friends with Gaara, the Young Master of the Sunagakure clan."

Naruto blinked his azure eyes, seeming somewhat eager. "Sakura, what about you?"

Sakura Haruno's face darkened, her pale pink hair drooping listlessly. "My mission is to go to Sunagakure..."

After hesitating for a long time, she bit out those Two Words with full resentment.

"Break off the engagement."

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