Jiang Ming had always been wary of Jason Welton. Even his unexpected transmigration was riddled with suspicious details.
He talked as if rules were sacred principles, yet his actions contradicted them at every turn. He exploited loopholes and used "rules" as a cover.
In the end, he had even offered so many "powerful" cheats for him to choose from.
What if he got his bones dug out or had his body possessed the moment he transmigrated? What if those so-called cheats were filled with hidden dangers?
As it turned out, Jiang Ming had been right.
The Auxiliary Chip required energy to activate. Since he had undergone a soul transmigration, its physical energy module had been removed, leaving it to rely on supernatural power instead. If he had not extracted chakra, the Auxiliary Chip would have been completely useless.
Of course, that was not even the worst part.
The worst part was that the Auxiliary Chip actually needed to be "connected to the internet."
That was something he had never expected.
The reason it gave was also completely faultless.
As for a place like the Shinobi World, it was clearly not within the scope of the "network."
As for how to connect to the internet, Jiang Ming tried asking the Auxiliary Chip's built-in AI program, the 9527 Intelligent Sprite.
The result was a whole pile of technically correct answers.
"Wired network connection..."
"Connect to a shared device..."
"Offline action network..."
"..."
Clearly, it could not connect to the internet. Its intelligence was also lacking, having directly devolved into the level of artificial stupidity.
Fortunately, the intelligent program's underlying code was intact, and the chip's assisted learning function still worked. Users could also feed it data on their own, allowing the sprite to gradually adapt to them.
Thankfully, after two years of continuously feeding it data, the intelligent program finally began to look somewhat "intelligent."
Though it seemed to have grown crooked, since it had even learned mechanical worship.
"You're my system now. We're in the same boat, so don't take anyone else's side. And if I don't call for you in the future, don't interrupt at random."
Aoba began educating his system on proper values. It had better not get its loyalties twisted.
"Understood, Lord Aoba!"
"...The Otsutsuki of this world possess the ability to cross the void of space and travel through time. Once we grasp the Otsutsuki's secrets and make our way back, you'll be the next Jason Welton—the God of Systems!"
"Yes, Lord Aoba!"
"We'll grow bigger and stronger together, and then we'll kick..."
Aoba habitually educated the system in his mind—feeding it data—when a crisp, soft voice reached his ears.
"Aoba, see? I didn't lie to you, did I?!"
Aoba turned his head instinctively and saw a doll-like little girl standing beside him.
The most eye-catching feature was her pair of ruby-like eyes.
She was none other than the child version of Yuhi Kurenai.
"I told you, call me Big Brother Aoba."
Yamashiro Aoba raised his hand in a chopping gesture and lightly tapped Yuhi Kurenai on the head.
She let out a quiet "Ow," covered her head, and looked at him with obvious displeasure.
"No. We'll be classmates from now on."
"And don't hit my head. I won't grow taller if you do. Hmph, I'm angry!"
At this time, Yuhi Kurenai was two years younger than Aoba, but only half a head shorter than him.
"Be good."
Aoba skillfully pulled a hawthorn candy from his pocket and waved it before Yuhi Kurenai's eyes.
After a fierce internal struggle, she ultimately surrendered to the sweet candy and softly said,
"B-Big Brother Aoba..."
"Mm."
Aoba handed the candy to Yuhi Kurenai, then casually rubbed her head again.
Yuhi Kurenai peeled away the wrapper and put the hawthorn candy into her mouth. Her eyes sparkled as she stared off, lost in thoughts unknown.
Yamashiro Aoba's father and Kurenai's father had been friends. Although Shinku later became a Jōnin through his outstanding Genjutsu, it had not affected their friendship in the slightest. However, Aoba's parents had both died in the Second Shinobi World War.
As the child left behind by his friend, Yuhi Shinku had considered adopting Aoba.
However, Aoba was already five years old. In the Shinobi World, five was no longer considered especially young. He already had an independent will, and many children of shinobi clans were sent to the Ninja Academy at that age.
Thus, while respecting the child's wishes, Yuhi Shinku solemnly asked Aoba for his opinion.
By coincidence, after being traumatized by his parents' deaths, Aoba had secretly cultivated chakra and awakened the memories of his past life.
With memories of his previous life, Aoba naturally agreed.
Soon afterward, Yuhi Shinku became Yamashiro Aoba's guardian.
Only then did Aoba understand why Yamashiro Aoba and Yuhi Kurenai had barely interacted in Naruto: Shippuden.
Given the original owner's mental state, he would never have accepted Yuhi Shinku's adoption. Otherwise, he would not have rashly cultivated chakra without an elder's guidance.
Aoba knew that the changes had begun here.
Still, he was more than happy with this change.
Come on, with a Jōnin backing me, why wouldn't I cling to that thigh?
Yuhi Shinku might only have been a civilian Jōnin, but Jōnin were the core strength of a shinobi village and belonged to the elite class.
As the saying went, the right choice mattered more than hard work.
This alone would save him at least ten years of detours.
By the time the Naruto: Shippuden storyline began in the future, he would be at least a Jōnin.
"Kurenai, let's go. Uncle Shinku probably has something he wants to discuss with me."
"?"
Yuhi Kurenai's face was full of question marks.
Aoba merely smiled without explaining. He took Kurenai's hand and left the Ninja Academy.
However, as they were leaving, he spotted two strange green creatures.
It could not be helped—there was simply no way not to notice them. Their style was completely different from everyone around them.
The second-to-last name on the supplementary enrollment list was Might Guy's. At the moment, father and son were hugging each other in emotional self-encouragement. They were also babbling away about things no one else understood, causing everyone around them to keep their distance.
At this point, Might Duy was still the Eternal Genin. Before the Eight Gates fully bloomed, probably no one would have realized that pure taijutsu could also be immensely powerful.
Might Guy's name had appeared on the supplementary enrollment list largely because the village needed to replenish its shinobi numbers to make up for those lost in the Second Shinobi World War. Otherwise, based on the usual admissions process, there would have been no such thing as supplementary enrollment.
Because it was an adoption, the Yamashiro Clan's house had not been repossessed by the village. Instead, it had been transferred directly into Yuhi Shinku's name.
Of course, that was only in name. Yamashiro Aoba still lived there.
The two homes had never been far apart. After Aoba demonstrated that he could take care of himself, Yuhi Shinku had not required him to move in and allowed him to continue living in his own home.
In the Shinobi World, where everyone matured early, it was not unheard of for children to go to war and kill enemies at the age of four. In Yuhi Shinku's eyes, there was nothing strange about five-year-old Aoba being able to look after himself.
With adoption as a pretext, Aoba was also spared from being bullied.
And with Nadeshiko looking after him, Shinku felt quite at ease.
Whenever Yuhi Shinku returned to the village, Aoba would also come over to eat with them.
Polite, respectful toward elders, mature, and sensible—those were Shinku's most direct impressions of Aoba.
If he had to add one more, it would be genius.
Before you continue