Where's my harem? I'm asking you, where is it?! Huh?!
It took me forever to transmigrate into the Hokage World. If I don't flirt with the local girls, am I supposed to flirt with you, a person wearing someone else's skin?
If I had that kind of interest, why wouldn't I go flirt with a Coser?
Wait, Coser... That might work too?
Ahem!
After sorting through the turmoil in his heart, Naruto opened his mouth, but suddenly had no idea what to say.
"We'll talk about it in detail later." Sakura interrupted Naruto's spellcasting and gestured for Sasuke to begin his self-introduction.
Kakashi scratched his eyebrows, and the look he gave the two grew increasingly strange.
He had originally expected to hear Naruto's high-spirited ambitions, or perhaps the soft affection of a girl in love.
But at this moment, it seemed he wasn't facing newly graduated students at all, but a jaded, world-weary, slack-off jonin at about his own level.
Why was this so different from what Lord Hokage had told him?
What had he missed?
The four of them each completed their self-introductions in this strange atmosphere, and Sasuke's declaration of revenge became increasingly toothless amid everyone's silence.
Kakashi was filled with frustration.
It wasn't just that Naruto and Sakura had reacted blandly throughout. When he announced that they would be conducting a wilderness survival exercise the next day, repeatedly emphasized its extremely high elimination rate, and warned them in a threatening tone not to eat breakfast because they would throw it up later—
Naruto rubbed his nose, then said in a deadpan voice as if suddenly waking from a dream, "Wow, what a terrifying mission. I have absolutely no idea what might happen tomorrow!"
Sakura adjusted her hair and chimed in, "This is a trial of love. I'm so nervous!" Then she gave Sasuke an extremely deliberate sidelong glance.
Of the four, it seemed Sasuke was the only one who remained tense from beginning to end. His fists were clenched so tightly that his fingers had gone white.
Kakashi scratched his eyebrows, feeling that things were not so simple...
Before long, Team 7 disbanded.
Naruto and Sakura found an unoccupied place. Sakura paused first, then calmly said:
"Sasuke is most likely a native. I observed the other major characters as well, and for now, there are no signs that any of them have been possessed."
"What we can confirm now is that the two of us have taken the male and female protagonist slots respectively."
Naruto was slightly stunned. "You think things through pretty thoroughly."
"Mm. Right now, we need to figure out the rules governing transmigration. If this is a group transmigration, then the plot of the Hokage will be completely overturned, and the two of us could also die horribly."
"No way," Naruto said, his expression turning tense. "No matter what, I'm a Jinchuriki. Even without the Six Paths cheat in the early stages, I still have Kurama to keep me alive. Protecting you too shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Sakura shook her head. "It's not that simple. It's like the multiplayer mode in Elden Ring. You can run wild in single-player, but once you go multiplayer, there are shady players everywhere, and you can never guard against them. Not to mention that you and I are the protagonists of the story."
Naruto's brows drew tightly together after hearing that.
It wasn't that Sakura's words were wrong. It was the example she had used...
Elden Ring? Had she ever seen a female player who could breathe playing a hardcore single-player game?
In Naruto's previous life of more than twenty years, the only thing he had ever seen online was a video of Ziyu defeating Sekiro bosses without taking damage.
"Ahem. Tell me honestly," Naruto said, looking at Sakura with suspicion written all over his face. "You're not physically male but psychologically female, are you?"
Thinking back to what Sakura had just said, she had mentioned that she came from Chongqing.
Everyone knew that Chongqing produced not only plenty of fresh-faced beauties, but also a kind of feminine organism known as a zero...
"What, you doubt my gender?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Can't a physically female person play Elden Ring?"
"Of course not. By the way, do you play Black Myth: Wukong?"
"Mm. I specifically bought the collector's edition... But this isn't the time to discuss that, is it?"
"Ahem, right." Naruto forcibly dragged his thoughts back to the main topic, but couldn't help imagining a bearded, unkempt man.
Tsk, hard to say.
But it didn't matter. Anyone willing to buy the collector's edition of Black Myth: Wukong had to be a decent person, right?
Naruto asked, "So what are you planning to do now?"
Sakura said, "I'll cultivate Super Strength as quickly as possible and learn a few techniques for self-defense. You need to hurry up and negotiate with Kurama. If you can collect the rent, collect it."
"So, we just speed up the progress."
"Right. We have to race against time."
"But at the same time, we should follow the plot as much as possible, right? That way, we can always stay on top of the latest information."
"Mm."
Sakura nodded, then added, "That's enough for now. We shouldn't stay together too long. You're a Jinchuriki, so the Third Hokage may have people monitoring you."
"You're really cautious," Naruto said with a tsk. "By the way, if I later establish close 'comforting' relationships with other kunoichi, you won't mind, right?"
Sakura was expressionless. "Is this all you men think about after transmigrating?"
"Tsk, don't be so rigid. I can also help you flirt with Sasuke, Sai, and Kakashi."
Sakura glared fiercely at Naruto. "Scumbag!"
Naruto spread his hands helplessly. "Big sis, don't tell me you have some obsession with virginity?"
Sakura replied coldly, "I don't think that means anything. Instead of thinking about all this nonsense, you should think about how we're going to survive here."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Hey, wait!"
"What?"
"What about tomorrow's exercise? Should I borrow some of Kurama's Chakra and play around with Kakashi?"
"Is that necessary?" Sakura turned her head. "Just go step on the traps early tomorrow, then we'll go through the motions. After moving Kakashi, we can wrap things up and scatter flowers."
"Brilliant!" Naruto grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. "But I really want to play around with Kakashi. After all, I never got into a fight with anyone in my previous life."
Sakura thought for a moment, then said, "You can fight him if you want. We'll have to go through the motions in the end anyway."
"Got it."
Evening.
After eating instant noodles, Naruto sat cross-legged on his bed, his mind completely immersed.
In a daze, he sensed his body slowly sinking. The surrounding space began to grow damp, accompanied by the sound of dripping water and waves of chilly wind.
Naruto opened his eyes and walked forward while curiously looking around.
Before long, he reached a towering gate. He could vaguely sense heavy breaths blowing toward him, carrying a trace of foulness.
Naruto looked ahead and said blandly, "Stop pretending to sleep. Let's talk."
"Roar—"
A powerful roar swept over him as a pair of scarlet eyes slowly moved closer to Naruto.
"Boy, why have you disturbed my slumber?"
Kurama's deep voice spread through the cramped space, causing the surroundings to tremble.
Naruto said, "I'll come looking for you tomorrow. When I do, lend me some Chakra."
Kurama's enormous eyes narrowed slightly. "Why should I listen to you?"
"Because I'm the only one who can help you undo the seal." Naruto let out a low laugh. "It's a transaction. You give me Chakra, and I give you freedom."
"Boy, do you think your lie is clever?"
"First, my name isn't 'boy.' My name is Naruto Uzumaki. You'd better remember that, damn it."
"Second, believe it or not, it makes no difference to me."
After saying that, Naruto left without looking back, his consciousness quickly returning to reality.
Perhaps because of his transmigration, Naruto could clearly feel that his control over his soul was far stronger than that of the original Naruto.
Meanwhile, as Kurama savored Naruto's words, he fell silent.
Before you continue