Naruto: Choosing from Birth

"Here's the deal. The five of you can slap each other five times. Control the force yourselves. Maybe then you'll remember this lesson."

Uchiha Cheng said calmly.

"Slap!!!"

"Slap!!!"

"Smack, smack, smack..."

A series of slapping sounds rang out.

"How dare a commoner like you insult Cheng-bro's sister-in-law?"

"Get lost! You insulted her too, so why are you hitting me? I'll slap you to death!"

"A great clan cannot be insulted. You've got a filthy mouth."

"Hiss, o-okay, that hurts... You just wait. Let me spin around three times and slap you to death."

The few people who had been getting along so well just moments ago immediately turned on each other, slapping one another with loud smacks.

There were five of them, and they only needed to take five slaps each. But they got heated.

They actually went all out for an entire round. Everyone took twenty slaps and turned into a bunch of pig heads.

Passersby on the street stared at them strangely.

"Cheng-bro... and sister-in-law... I-I was wrong. I'll never dare again..."

The five of them had slapped each other until they wept bitterly. Just now, they had suddenly felt a surge of anger rise within them, making them slap with all their strength, unable to stop. Fortunately, they had trained in taijutsu since childhood and could take a beating...

"Alright, get lost! I've never seen anyone enjoy slapping each other as much as you do. You've got potential."

"You'd better be careful in the ninja world from now on. Don't provoke just anyone."

Uchiha Cheng waved his hand.

"We'll remember Cheng-bro's teachings."

The five quickly rolled away.

"Ding! You have obtained a ninja technique: Shadow Clone Technique!"

Uchiha Cheng had stayed up last night studying the newly acquired genjutsu: Naraku Vision Technique and Fox Mind Technique.

He had overslept this morning.

After getting up, he could only sprint over as fast as he could.

Knowing full well how important the basics were, he had spent the past eight years choosing rewards that improved his foundational strength.

His Chakra control, Chakra reserves, physical fitness, and hand seal speed had long surpassed those of ordinary people.

His overall strength had reached Elite Chunin level, while his Chakra reserves had reached Special Jonin level. Yet the ninja techniques he had learned were only—

Three Basic Techniques!

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

Lightning Release: Earth Walk.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.

As well as the Shadow Clone Technique he had just acquired and two genjutsu.

Compared to other powerful ninja, he truly did not know many techniques, nor were they particularly powerful.

But among ninja academy students, he could certainly stand above the crowd.

As for tree climbing and water walking, he had mastered them with ease long ago.

That was why the earlier scene had occurred, with Uchiha Cheng swiftly darting between rooftops and tall trees.

He only stopped when the system prompt sounded upon spotting Kushina Uzumaki and the others.

Looking at the activated selection rewards—

Uchiha Cheng directly chose option three based on his own needs:

Intimidate the troublemaking students, make them apologize, and have them slap each other five times. Reward: Shadow Clone Technique!

Although the Shadow Clone Technique was not the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique from the forbidden techniques and could only create one shadow clone—

It was still extremely useful. Many things could be entrusted to a shadow clone in the future.

For example, the best way to skip class was to have a shadow clone attend in his place.

Especially during theoretical lessons like the sleep-inducing Introduction to the Will of Fire's Nindo.

Kushina Uzumaki stared at everything in stunned silence. She had been furious just moments ago and had wanted to teach those people a lesson.

Yet as soon as Uchiha Cheng arrived, after only a few words, the five of them had started fighting among themselves and slapping each other. Was this the influence of Leaf's Great Clan?

"Um... th-thank you, Cheng-nii. I caused you trouble again." Kushina looked at Uchiha Cheng's handsome face and thanked him with a slight blush.

Although he seemed to have only stomped on the ground and said a few words, doing nothing else—

Still, it was precisely because he had driven away... no, scared away those annoying people.

I've only been here two days, and he's helped me twice already. This is so embarrassing. I'm not actually that weak.

I have to find a chance to show Cheng-nii my strength someday!

"It's nothing. Even if I hadn't helped, you could have dealt with them yourself, right?" Uchiha Cheng asked with a slight smile.

"I did want to beat them up. Hmph! I'm going to become Hokage in the future. How could I be afraid of such minor setbacks?"

"But there were so many of them. I definitely would've suffered a bit if we fought, so I still have to thank you, Cheng-nii."

As expected, the Uchiha Clan's eyes are sharp. He actually saw that I had the strength to handle them.

"Um... Cheng-nii, do you really not think my hair is ugly?" Kushina suddenly lowered her head, clasped her hands behind her back, and asked shyly.

"Ding! Faced with Kushina Uzumaki's question, please choose!"

"1: Ugly! I only helped you because I see you as a pet! Reward: Hand seal speed doubled."

"2: Not ugly! On the contrary, it looks rather cute. Reward: Hand seal speed increased by fifty percent."

"3: Do not answer. Directly hold Kushina and kiss her. Reward: Hand seal speed doubled."

Uchiha Cheng smiled softly and walked step by step toward Kushina.

Kushina heard no answer. With her head lowered, she watched Uchiha Cheng's feet draw closer step by step.

When he stopped in front of her, she clearly felt him lean down. His warm breath brushed against her face.

Not understanding why, Kushina raised her head and was just about to speak. Her lips seemed to touch something—cool, yet warm.

Looking closely, she realized her lips were pressed firmly against the lips that had been waiting for them.

Her eyes widened instantly.

Then she felt herself being pulled into his embrace.

One second?

Three seconds?

Thirty seconds?

Or had it already been a lifetime?

Kushina only felt as if time had stopped.

Her breathing grew heavier and heavier. Her head felt as though she had a high fever, or as if she had been drowning for a long time, filled with a buzzing sound.

A gentle whisper came to her ear. "That is my answer."

Her head seemed ready to steam. Her face rapidly turned as red as her hair, and the blush spread to her ears.

When Kushina Uzumaki finally came back to her senses, all she saw was Uchiha Cheng's slowly receding back.

An indescribable mixture of embarrassment and anger clogged her chest. A faint mist clouded her sparkling eyes. A thousand words became one furious shout:

"Uchiha Cheng, you... you bully!"

A reply drifted back from afar. "That's right. Listen carefully: from now on, I'll be the only one at school allowed to bully you."

"You... Aaaah... bastard, don't run..."

Behind the two receding figures in the morning light—

Minato Namikaze stood facing the wind, blending into the frozen picture of time like the backdrop of a colorful oil painting.

At this moment, the joy he had felt from acquiring a new technique had vanished without a trace. He felt as though he had lost something.

Standing alone in the wind in utter disarray, Minato Namikaze's once-peaceful heart began to ripple...

They didn't even look at me...