The Unlucky and the Awakening

"Alright, I've been teaching you for three years now. What you learn at the Ninja Academy will shape your entire lives, but never stop learning—this world is vast, and never be satisfied with your strength or your current state..."

"From now on, eat and sleep on time, don't make your new teachers angry, and work hard at learning ninjutsu. You have good talent—don't waste it. Train diligently and practice hard..." Takeshi Goda rambled on with his instructions to Zi Xu and the others, like a nagging mother watching her child leave home for the first time.

Though he felt no attachment to Konoha's creed, though he hadn't received the inheritance he was owed, and though his monthly allowance was often docked, it was true that Konoha had taken him in and raised him. It was also true that he'd made a few decent friends here—friends who could even change the course of his life.

And Takeshi Goda's clumsy but genuine dedication to teaching them was real too. At this moment, Zi Xu realized he might have misunderstood some people before, letting preconceptions cloud his judgment. The fault lay only with the ruling Hiruzen Sarutobi faction and the Will of Fire that had strayed from its origins. The people here weren't wrong—at least, many had shown him kindness.

The excitement Hatsumi had felt from graduating smoothly began to fade under Takeshi Goda's plain but grounded words, tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"Come on, it's not like we'll never see each other again. Why does the teacher have to make it so sad?" Chino turned her head away. She was too emotional for scenes like this. Though Takeshi Goda was strict on the surface, it was a strictness born of love.

He firmly believed one thing: "Strictness in peacetime reduces losses on real missions." He'd rather his students make countless mistakes in training than a single one on the battlefield.

"No, becoming a ninja comes with privileges and honor, but also responsibility. Any of us could encounter accidents during missions. No one can guarantee war won't break out the next moment, no one can guarantee whether accident or tomorrow will come first. That's why we should treat every parting as if it might be the last..."

Takeshi Goda spoke with full concentration. He'd seen too many partings and accidents—not far off, there was the example of the Uchiha Clan's annihilation. That's why he treasured every second with his students.

"Nag, nag, nag. We won't die that easily. You're the one who'd better not kick it before us—I don't want to collect your corpse." Chino's words were cold, even harsh, but she was just putting up a front. She wasn't good at expressing her feelings, so she showed her concern for Takeshi Goda in her own way.

"Don't worry, teacher. We'll remember your lessons. Your figure will live forever in our hearts. We'll carry on your will—no, your resolve—we definitely will..." Zi Xu couldn't stand this atmosphere either and wanted to end the topic quickly.

"Alright, alright. Seeing you like this, you don't seem like you'll die easily. Go do what you need to do, but don't slack off on training from now on." Takeshi Goda caught the meaning in Zi Xu's words and quickly waved his hand to "shoo" them out.

"Oh, and next Monday—the day after tomorrow—your superiors will assign you to teams. Don't forget."

"Got it, got it." The door closed from the outside as Zi Xu shut it. Takeshi Goda leaned quietly back in his chair. He'd always wanted them to finish the graduation exam, but now... he was a little reluctant to let go.

"Since we graduated smoothly, shouldn't we celebrate? I think we definitely should celebrate." Once the heavy atmosphere of the classroom was gone, Hatsumi smiled and tried to lighten the mood.

"Hope you don't end up unable to pay for the meal like last time." Chino mercilessly exposed her, a hint of teasing in her eyes.

"That... that was an accident... How could there be people like you two? Is that really a human's appetite?! Now that I'm a ninja, the barbecue place has discounts—eat as much as you want. If you can bankrupt me, you win."

Hatsumi stammered her explanation, her eyes full of confusion and disbelief. She couldn't imagine how their stomachs were built—did they have a Sealing Scroll inside? Even the Akimichi clan wasn't like that.

But this time, Hatsumi regained her confidence. Becoming a ninja meant responsibility, but there was no denying the perks were great. Discounts and exemptions aside, even medicine and advanced products were prioritized for ninjas. Once you became a ninja, you left the civilian class behind—they were on completely different levels.

"Then I'm eating until I drop. Zi Xu, don't hold back either. Hatsumi said so—we have to respect her will..." Watching Chino smile and Zi Xu stay silent, Hatsumi felt her little wallet let out a faint wail, trembling as if facing some disaster.

"Tomorrow. I have something today..." Zi Xu, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, but his words dampened everyone's spirits.

"Why? What could you possibly have to do..." Hatsumi didn't understand and started to ask. Three years ago, she'd never have done something like this. Maybe she'd changed a lot in those three years, or maybe she was just letting her true nature out?

Before she could finish, Chino tugged at her sleeve and pointed at Hatsumi's waist. Hatsumi understood that Zi Xu probably really did have something to do, so she stopped pressing.

"Fine then. Tomorrow night, same place." Hatsumi gave in, though she didn't get it.

"Yeah, okay. Sorry if I ruined the mood." Zi Xu nodded and headed toward his small house.

Hatsumi still didn't get it. Her brows furrowed, her cheeks puffed out, and her little fists rested on her hips, looking angry. "Why now? What could he possibly have to do? Zi Xu isn't trying to avoid me, is he?"

Chino's expression remained calm, her gaze following Zi Xu's retreating figure, her eyes tinged with a hint of sadness and sympathy. She explained unhurriedly:

"We all have someone to share our joy with—family or friends. Usually, we'd share good news with our parents, right? But Zi Xu..."

Hearing this, Hatsumi's temper vanished instantly. Looking at Zi Xu's departing figure, she seemed to see a trace of loneliness, and even felt a bit of guilt. As a friend, she hadn't noticed her companion's distress right away, instead getting lost in her own thoughts. She still had a lot to learn.

But that wasn't the case. The real reason Zi Xu was in such a hurry to get back was that he still had reward points and draws from his completed mission to use.

He couldn't afford to delay the draws. But just now, he couldn't resist using one of his four draws—a single pull that didn't yield a miracle, but instead gave him [Buggy's Stinky Socks]. It stung badly. He decided he'd keep that thing at the bottom of his box forever. He'd never have a use for it. Never!

"Come on, come on, three consecutive draws—give me a miracle. I'm not asking for much, just a Supreme Grade Blade or a Tremor-Tremor Fruit or something. I'm easy to please." Zi Xu rubbed his hands together, eager to start. Once back in his room, he flopped onto the bed in a tiger-pounce pose—the same position he'd used when he drew the Silent Fruit last time.

"Let's draw!" Even if it was just three draws, he had to max out the ritual. A virtual roulette wheel materialized out of thin air, the pointer spinning endlessly. Zi Xu didn't look at it—he believed that if he did, he wouldn't get anything good. Only the unknown could bring surprises.

[You obtained Barbecue ×1]

[You obtained Crowbar ×1]

[You obtained Expired Snacks ×1]

A surprise indeed. After his earlier single draw netted him a fruit, Zi Xu couldn't help but have some expectations for this one. But it was like spending 500 bucks on a buffet only to find the ingredients were from street stalls, the service reminded you of your mom, and the "sea cucumber fried rice" was just rice—the letdown was huge.

"System, how many points for one draw?"

"1000 points."

"Hmm... forget it. I've seen plenty of people go broke from gacha before..." Zi Xu reined in his rising excitement, remembering his past self as a gacha addict.

"Every time I whale, that regret, that self-blame, that determination to quit—even I'm scared of myself. But before every draw, that confidence, that arrogance, that 'I won't stop until I get it' attitude—I don't even know who I am..."

"System? Can I just dump all my points into raising Fusion Level?"

[Not recommended, Host. Your body's current Fusion Level has reached its limit. You need time to settle before further fusion.]

Seeing he couldn't max out the fusion in one go, and after talking himself down, Zi Xu hesitated for a long time between saving up to unlock his fruit ability or unlocking Haki directly. In the end, he gritted his teeth and decided to unlock the Haki System first. After all, he already had a fruit ability, even if it wasn't lethal.

"Unlock Haki System!"

"Boom~" Zi Xu felt something explode in his head. This Awakening wasn't as gentle as before—it was simple and violent.

[Host, hold on, or this Awakening will fail.]

Hearing the system's message, Zi Xu's heart tightened. Failure wasn't a big deal—he could try again—but those 30,000 points would be wasted. That was enough for 30 draws! He couldn't bear that kind of extravagant waste.

Wave after wave of impact crashed into him like an endless tide. He felt like a tiny, helpless boat in a raging storm, or like he'd returned to the embryonic stage, drifting helplessly in amniotic fluid. That primal sensation made him deeply uncomfortable—the powerlessness of knowing everything but being unable to act stirred a flicker of anger.

That spark of anger spread like dye poured into water, inevitably staining the entire ocean red. The pressure from this uncontrollable rage seemed to push back even the ocean's crushing force. Amid this fury, Zi Xu felt the surrounding pressure slowly fade, everything returning to normal. The seawater receded, the storm calmed, and the system's prompt reappeared.

[Haki System unlocked. You have awakened Conqueror's Haki.]