The System Arrives

"Eh? Kakashi-senpai, what's wrong?"

Just as Kakashi was about to bleed himself dry, a Female Ninja suddenly appeared before Gu Qi and the others.

"So it's Kurenai and Asuma!" Kakashi looked toward the source of the voice and spotted two familiar figures.

"Wasn't Asuma supposed to be protecting the Daimyo? How come you're back?" Kakashi asked.

"It's my turn for leave, so I came back." Asuma took a drag from his cigarette.

"Cough, cough!" Hearing the three chatting idly, Gu Qi coughed a few times to remind them of his presence.

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Gu Qi, couldn't help hugging him, and said, "He's just so kawaii! Every time I see Gu Qi-kun, it's like seeing Kakashi as a kid!"

Blood really was thicker than water—if Gu Qi put on a mask, he'd be Kakashi's spitting image.

Feeling the two soft mounds against his face, Gu Qi's cheeks flushed a bit.

But remembering Asuma was right there, Gu Qi quickly pulled himself free.

"By the way, what's wrong with little Gu Qi?" Kurenai asked.

"Kakashi's bullying me!" Gu Qi said with a pitiful look.

"Kakashi-senpai, why are you picking on little Gu Qi?" Kurenai glared at Kakashi in displeasure.

Asuma chimed in from the side, "Yeah, Kakashi."

Kakashi looked helpless. Was this what it meant to be at a loss for words?

No choice. Kakashi could only pull Gu Qi aside and make a few promises to calm him down.

"Big Sis Kurenai, Uncle Asuma, are you two on a date?"

After squeezing some benefits out of Kakashi to his satisfaction, Gu Qi asked with a grin.

"Cough, cough. Gu Qi-kun, why do you call her 'Big Sis' but me 'Uncle'?" Asuma's face twitched.

"Because Big Sis Kurenai is young and pretty, while Uncle Asuma totally looks like an old man!" Gu Qi said matter-of-factly.

"Heh... heh." With Kurenai right there, Asuma decided not to stoop to a kid's level.

Kurenai, meanwhile, beamed at Gu Qi. The more she looked, the more she liked him.

"Gu Qi-kun is just adorable!"

After the two left, Gu Qi shot a glance at Kakashi. "At this rate, by the time Kurenai and Asuma have a kid, I bet you still won't have a girlfriend."

Kakashi's forehead darkened with lines. "You little brat, want me to hit you?"

"Speaking of which," Gu Qi said, full of gossip, "Kakashi, you're not into guys, are you?"

"..." Kakashi gave Gu Qi a blank look and started eating his grilled meat on his own.

Seeing Kakashi dig into the meat, Gu Qi panicked. Dropping the question about Kakashi's orientation, he quickly joined the fray.

After finishing the grilled meat, Gu Qi and Kakashi strolled along the streets of Konoha.

"Gu Qi, do you want to become a ninja?" Kakashi suddenly asked.

Gu Qi stopped in his tracks!

A ninja—the most honorable and most dangerous profession in this world.

Thinking back to his helplessness against the Nine-Tails and the many enemies to come, Gu Qi made up his mind. "I want to become a ninja! I want the power to protect my family and friends."

"Protect, huh? Then I'll teach you!" Kakashi patted Gu Qi's head and smiled with narrowed eyes.

Gu Qi looked at Kakashi in surprise. "Really?"

He'd begged Kakashi many times before, but Kakashi had always turned him down.

"Of course it's true!"

"Why? You always refused before, didn't you?" Gu Qi asked, puzzled.

Kakashi explained, "You were too young before. Teaching you would've done more harm than good. But now you're three, so you can start learning slowly."

"Awesome!"

Back home, Kakashi began teaching Gu Qi how to refine Chakra.

"You've been training on your own since you were little, so you've got a good foundation. Chakra comes from combining the energy of the body's cells with Spiritual Power accumulated over time.

In theory, the stronger your body and the older you are, the more Chakra you'll have." Kakashi explained.

"Chakra has many uses. For example, using ninjutsu requires Chakra."

After covering the basics, Kakashi, with Gu Qi watching eagerly, taught him how to refine Chakra and the hand signs.

"Alright, practice hard over the next few days. Only with plenty of practice can you get the hang of it." Kakashi reminded Gu Qi before leaving.

Seeing Kakashi off, Gu Qi couldn't wait to get back to his bed and start training to refine Chakra.

Like a kid with a new toy, Gu Qi was fascinated by this novel power.

Time ticked by, and finally, at dawn, Gu Qi refined the very first Chakra of his life.

But before he could celebrate, the pitiful amount of Chakra in his body suddenly vanished.

Meanwhile, a mysterious voice suddenly appeared in Gu Qi's mind.

[Ding!]

[Conditions met. System starting up.]

[Ding! Welcome to the Science and Non-Science System.]

Huh...!?

"System!"

Hearing that voice, plus the semi-transparent interface appearing before his eyes, Gu Qi was overjoyed.

He never expected that as a transmigrator, he would actually have this legendary cheat—a system.

"Science and Non-Science System? What does that mean?"

But as for this system, Gu Qi was now full of question marks.

[Literal meaning. Isn't the world you're in one where science and non-science coexist?]

Gu Qi thought about it—that was true. The world of Naruto actually had technology too. But with the existence of an unscientific power like Chakra, this world was indeed one of science and non-science.

"Alright, so what do I get? And what do I need to do?" Gu Qi asked.

[You can gain knowledge from this system. What you need to do is simply use that knowledge to survive.]

"That's it?" Gu Qi was skeptical.

[Yes.]

"Then hurry up and teach me some knowledge!" Gu Qi said impatiently.

[Per tradition, the beginner's gift pack is now being distributed.]

[Ding! You have an unclaimed gift pack!]

Gu Qi's mouth twitched. For some reason, he always got the feeling of playing a cheap online game.

Still, Gu Qi eagerly opened the beginner's gift pack the system had given him.

[Ding, congratulations! You have obtained Secret Dried Meat Recipe (Blue), Secret Brew Recipe (Red), Crimson Pill.]

[Ding! System Mall unlocked.]

With the system's prompt, a gift pack appeared before Gu Qi.

After opening it, he saw two scrolls—one red, one blue—and a beautiful bead.

Picking up the scrolls, Gu Qi asked, puzzled, "Hey, what do the red and blue in parentheses mean?"

[Haven't you played games? Blue is a blue potion, used to replenish Chakra. Red is a red potion, used to heal injuries.]

Whether it was an illusion or not, Gu Qi felt a hint of disdain in the system's words.

"I see!" Gu Qi suddenly understood.

"Then," Gu Qi asked again, "what is this Crimson Pill?"

[You don't even know the Crimson Pill, one of the Three Ancient Divine Beads?]

"...If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you!" Gu Qi shouted in exasperation.

[Crimson Pill, one of the Three Ancient Divine Beads. Long-term wear grants the effect of rebirth and transformation.]

Hearing the system's explanation, Gu Qi was stunned. He never expected the system to be so generous.

But Gu Qi noticed a certain word, so he said, "Long-term wear? I'm curious—how long is that?"

[At least ten years.]

"..."

Gu Qi couldn't help rolling his eyes. He thought to himself, Just as I expected. He knew the beginner's gift pack wouldn't give out anything too overpowered.

"By the way, didn't you say you'd teach me knowledge? What kind of knowledge?" Gu Qi asked again.

[Ding!]

[Quest issued: Complete the study of Elementary Mathematics, Elementary Chemistry, and Elementary Physics.]

[Quest reward: Scientific blueprints and unscientific items.]

With the quest issued, Gu Qi saw three thick textbooks appear before him.

Staring at them, Gu Qi's mouth twitched. "This is an unscientific ninja world. Why do I have to learn this stuff?"

[Question: An enemy is standing on a tree ten meters high, one hundred meters away from you. Assuming gravity is 9.8 N/kg.

Question: At what angle should you throw a shuriken?]

"...Fine, I'll study!" Gu Qi rolled his eyes.

[Once you learn this knowledge, you'll understand what it means that knowledge is power.]

Gu Qi ignored the system and opened the two scrolls in his hands.

After jotting down the materials needed for the Secret Dried Meat and Secret Brew, he took some money from home and prepared to go shopping.

Before leaving, Gu Qi didn't forget to put the sign back up.

Some time later, when Kakashi arrived at Gu Qi's house and saw that familiar sign, he couldn't help rolling his eyes again.