First Arriving in Konoha

First Arriving in Konoha

On a trade road carved through the forest, a massive caravan moved forward slowly. The fresh air after the rain carried a faint earthy fragrance, making people feel relaxed and intoxicated.

The hard dirt road had turned muddy from the rain, slowing their progress.

Puddles of standing water lay everywhere.

Among the caravan headed for Konoha, the dozen or so Reincarnators had been arranged separately. By identity, they were all orphans from the Second Shinobi World War who had been deemed to possess the aptitude to become ninjas.

Though their appearances had not changed yet, the merchants seemed to see them as children already.

According to the Mission Space's prompt, when they reached their destination and got off the carriage, they would truly take on the appearance of children. They would retain their adult strength while gaining a beginner BUFF that doubled their physical attributes.

According to the mission rules, after the "explainer" finished his briefing and left, all newcomers could freely choose which ninja village to go to. However, because of Xiong Tao, a well-connected insider, who had made grand promises and offered generous rewards—

Combined with the herd mentality born of their confusion, aside from three people who followed the first scholar to react and headed to other ninja villages, everyone else chose to follow Xiong Tao, who had connections, intelligence, and backing, to Konoha.

Xu Yue was naturally among them.

Based on the information implanted by the Mission Space, along with his earlier questions and analysis of the "explainer," gaining power in the Reincarnation Space was no simple matter. The first three missions could all be considered the beginner phase.

According to him, if one could reach the level of a Genin by the fourth Promotion Mission, then so long as their luck was not terrible, they could advance successfully.

Judging by that information, even veteran Reincarnators would find it extremely difficult to alter the course of the plot. More often than not, they could only go with the flow and give the existing momentum a push. The protagonists of the Mission Space were still those "natives."

At least, that was the case in a mission world at the level of Naruto.

Of course, Xu Yue would never underestimate the strength of so-called Genin. Do not be fooled by the fact that, upon arriving in Konoha, they would all become five- or six-year-old children and receive a beginner BUFF that doubled their adult physical attributes.

With their qualifications, they would merely possess the abilities of Ninja Academy students. At the beginning of Naruto, Naruto—the genuine dead last at the time—could already leap around on rooftops.

As for Genin, setting aside Sasuke, who had cheats and beat the Ghost Brothers to a pulp right after graduating, one need only look at the nameless Rain Genin whom Gaara casually crushed to death during the Chunin Exams. Even that nameless Genin's "Ninja Art: Thousand Needles Like Rain" would have been enough to instantly kill every enhanced newcomer present.

Those Genin who lacked talent, bloodlines, and cheats, and had slowly climbed their way up through accumulated experience, were the most standard kind of Genin. Using them as a benchmark, obtaining that level after three missions was actually quite difficult for ordinary people.

After all, the newcomers' physical attribute BUFF would disappear after the second mission. Whether ordinary people could even obtain starting conditions like these when the second mission began was still uncertain...

"Hey, hey, brother, I'm talking to you. What are you thinking about?"

Xu Yue was summarizing the information he had obtained when someone else's call interrupted him.

He looked up and saw that everyone else on the open carriage was watching him. The one speaking to him was Xiong Tao, who had vaguely become the group's leader.

In response, Xu Yue instinctively put on the signature expression he had grown so used to that it had become numb, then spoke in a gentle voice tinged with bitterness.

"Sorry, I got lost in thought. Thinking about how I'll have to sink into these endless missions from now on has left me a little lost."

Even his bitter smile carried a trace of warmth. Coupled with his sunny disposition, somewhat handsome face, and that final flicker of despair and sorrow that evoked sympathy—

It was easy for him to win others' favor. His words also resonated with them, and similar expressions appeared on quite a few faces.

"Oh, that's only natural. But as long as everyone follows me, the endless Reincarnation Space can be even better than reality. Think about those big shots in the real world, where their strange technologies come from. We can return to the real world, and if you truly don't want to continue, there's even a chance to leave the Space forever."

Xiong Tao spoke with an air of hearty confidence. The fat on his slightly bloated face even quivered, but he had voiced what many people hoped for deep down.

In short, follow him and those who wanted a life of luxury could have one, while those who wanted a peaceful life could leave the Space and live peacefully. He painted quite an appealing picture.

At the very least, in this confusing and uncertain environment, together with the confidence he had shown before, many people instinctively chose to believe him.

"Can we really go back?" A pretty young married woman still dressed in pajamas looked excited.

"So we don't necessarily have to fall into endless reincarnation." Another middle-aged man, even fatter than Xiong Tao and dressed like a merchant, also looked relieved.

Seeing the excitement on several faces, a trace of barely perceptible disgust flashed through Xiong Tao's eyes. Still, he smiled.

"Of course! As long as you have enough points, newcomers have one chance to withdraw. Your relevant memories will simply be erased."

"But those points are not something you can obtain by following the usual steps. You'll have to join my plan."

Xu Yue quietly watched them chatter away without any intention of joining in.

Perhaps Xiong Tao truly had some mission intelligence in his hands, but Xu Yue did not believe it contained anything he wanted.

Only after Xiong Tao had calmed everyone down and proposed spending 100 points on credit to sign a newcomer confidentiality contract did Xu Yue speak up to interrupt him.

"Brother Xiong Tao, I'm truly sorry, but I'm still feeling rather lost. I want some quiet. Once we reach the village, I just want to live a peaceful life. I don't want to do any missions."

After saying that, he put on a deeply sincere, apologetic expression.

"Brother, that won't do. My uncle told me that people like you, who give up struggling and striving, absolutely won't survive past three missions. Don't think every mission will be like the first, where we have time to adapt and there's no real danger."

Seeing Xu Yue refuse, Xiong Tao quickly turned back and tried to persuade him earnestly.

"I'm truly sorry, but I've already made up my mind. Even if I really have to keep going, I'm prepared to enjoy whatever time I have left."

Xu Yue's dazed, lifeless expression, coupled with a smile that carried a faint warmth even in its bitterness, was incredibly deceptive.

When someone could wear a mask for their entire life, there was nothing wrong with treating that mask as their true character.

If false kindness lasted a lifetime, then it became genuine kindness.

Xu Yue's words did not arouse anyone's suspicion.

To maintain his image, though Xiong Tao was quite dissatisfied inside, he still encouraged him.

"Since you've made your decision, brother, I respect your choice. We'll be in the same village anyway. If you run into trouble, come find me. If I can help, I definitely will."

"Um, I don't plan to participate either."

Just as Xu Yue's matter had been settled, another unexpected person also declared that he did not wish to participate. It was the plump merchant who had been the second to express relief at having a chance to return to the real world.

He wore an awkward smile and did not explain why.

But after seeing his expression, Xiong Tao's face changed slightly. Still, he said nothing, not even a word of encouragement.

After that, the others all huddled on the other side of the open carriage and began whispering among themselves. Perhaps because of that newcomer confidentiality contract, not the slightest sound could be heard.

The plump merchant, however, moved beside Xu Yue and whispered to him.

"My name is Liu Shengcai. May I ask your name, little brother?"

"Xu Fu."

Xu Yue naturally gave him a false name. Who knew whether the other man's name was real or not? They were merely codenames, and since they all had ties in the real world, it was best not to expose themselves carelessly.

"Hehe, Brother Xu is a sensible man too. As a merchant, I never believe pie falls from the sky. The bigger he boasts, the greater the risks and problems hidden within. We're grasshoppers tied to the same rope now, so I hope you'll look out for me in the future."

Liu Shengcai put on an earnest, confiding expression as he spoke to Xu Yue, but Xu Yue still looked lifeless and unconcerned.

"Whatever. One more day alive is one more day."

That choked off what Liu Shengcai had planned to say next. What he had said was half true and half false. He did indeed believe that, but his purpose was also to use this familiarity to win over this foolish kid. When necessary, if the kid trusted him, it might give him another opportunity.

He did not want to remain in this damn Space, but leaving required enough points.

"Ahem, I wonder if you've noticed that everyone here is Chinese?"

Liu Shengcai did not seem discouraged and tried to draw Xu Yue's attention. Xu Yue really was a little surprised.

It seemed this man had noticed as well. As expected of a merchant.

It was difficult to call it a coincidence that over a dozen newcomers were all Chinese. That meant the Reincarnation Space was divided into regions. Although Xu Yue had only arrived in this world recently, he knew that China was not much different from its historical state during this era. The Qing government had not yet collapsed and was barely maintaining its rule.

Foreign mech corps and Jedi Knight corps had already appeared, while China remained in a semi-colonial state. It was truly speechless. No matter what spacetime it was, Great Qing seemed more than capable of ruining its own fortunes.

Of course, it was also possible that the Reincarnation Space had specifically targeted them somehow.

But for this beginner mission, that information had no significance.

Sure enough, Liu Shengcai then began talking at length about his analysis. It was broadly similar to Xu Yue's, except he seemed to want to trade this information for Xu Yue's trust and spark his interest.

But clearly, his plan failed. Xu Yue remained completely unmoved, as if he were thinking, I don't have many days left anyway, so why care about anything else? No matter how eloquently Liu Shengcai spoke, until his mouth was nearly dry, he could not stir any reaction.

In the end, he could only give up resentfully.

"Brother, come find me once you've thought it through. Right now, only the two of us can be relied upon."

He did not forget to leave one last hint.

Well, in Xu Yue's eyes, both Xiong Tao and Liu Shengcai were no different from modern-day pyramid schemers—the kind who promised that an investment of sixty-six thousand would yield eighteen million in three years.

Perhaps this era still lacked that sort of information. It was rather amusing...

Maintaining that detached attitude, Xu Yue quietly planned things out at the side during the otherwise uneventful days, until the caravan finally reached its destination.

Konoha.

When the gate appeared before them, bearing the same appearance as in the anime but far more majestic and awe-inspiring, a voice echoed through every newcomer's mind.

Newcomer Trial Mission activated.

Mission: As this is a Newcomer Trial Mission, there will be no compulsory requirements. As new Reincarnators, make the best use of this precious time of peace to learn knowledge and refresh minor missions.

Mission Prompt: Newcomers may choose to enroll in the Ninja Academy. At the same time, use extracurricular hours to accept D-rank missions within the village. Ninja Academy performance, mission completion, and interactions with plot characters will all count toward the final evaluation.

This is a standard mission. Combat between Reincarnators carries neither penalties nor rewards.

Mission Duration: Three months.

Mission begins. Newcomer bonuses have been applied.

Amid one another's astonished gazes, the group began transforming into the childlike forms that outsiders had seen all along. A group of young boys and girls appeared at Konoha's gate.

After the mission information appeared and he heard that they had only three months, Xu Yue could not help frowning. The time was shorter than he had expected.

To achieve his goal within three months, he would have to take certain risks. So, he would have to go straight for it.

Interesting...

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