"Well, as far as I'm concerned, being on my own is actually pretty nice. I told you those guys would only hold me back." Yang Xing pouted, looking unconcerned. Now that he had that phone, he really didn't need any other teachers. He didn't understand some of its functions yet, but if he tinkered with it for a while, he'd probably make some progress. When that happened, his growth would surely take off. Besides, going solo was better for keeping a low profile.
Unfortunately, that was only Yang Xing's own opinion.
The bespectacled teacher's expression visibly changed. He raised one hand and couldn't resist patting Yang Xing on the head. "Haha, I've always thought you had a big mouth, but you can't joke about something like this."
Watching the teacher's face shift from a smile to a serious expression, Yang Xing could only sigh and spread his hands. "All right. If there's a group that suits me, I'd be happy to join."
"Good, good. That's the kind of good kid Konoha needs." The bespectacled teacher took his hand away, his face beaming. Then he propped his chin on one hand and looked Yang Xing up and down, muttering, "Let me think. You're arrogant, and you're so weak. It wouldn't be right to put you in just any squad. And the students here..."
He glanced around. It was obvious from the strange looks on the students' faces that they thought Yang Xing was odd.
The bespectacled teacher could only smile wryly. "Well, anyway, I'll find an environment that suits you. Oh, right, I just remembered!"
The teacher clapped his hands, and his eyes lit up like stars.
Huh? Why did I suddenly get a pain in my ass?
No, it must be my imagination. Just my imagination.
Faced with the kind teacher's creepy grin, Yang Xing couldn't help swallowing nervously as he waited for him to speak.
"That's right. That person—that person can teach you properly. I'm sure of it." The bespectacled teacher muttered to himself, as if he'd finally made up his mind. He kept nodding at Yang Xing, clearly treating it as settled.
Suppressing his curiosity, Yang Xing cleared his throat. "Ahem. If you've decided, I don't have anything to say. But can I ask one question first?"
"What is it?" The bespectacled teacher seemed pleased by Yang Xing's response. He happily patted him on the shoulder. "Go ahead. Whatever you need, I'll do my best to help."
Yang Xing put on a solemn face and said with unprecedented seriousness, "First, let me make this clear: I'm not joking. This is serious and important."
The bespectacled teacher: "?"
"Will there be any cute girls on the team?"
The bespectacled teacher: "..."
"I'm serious. I really am."
Faced with Yang Xing's earnest expression, the teacher didn't know how to respond. "Well, how should I put this...?"
"You're not going to say there aren't any, are you? There aren't any, are there? Ah, I suddenly feel a terrible pain in my chest. I might have a terminal illness. Teacher, faced with a terminally ill patient, don't you have even a little compassion?"
"You brat, don't make jokes like that with a straight face." The bespectacled teacher broke into a cold sweat. Looking at Yang Xing clutching his chest, he could only explain helplessly, "All right, all right. Every team gets one girl. It's to encourage you to work hard and improve together. Don't get the wrong idea—hey, kid, let me finish! You have to let your teacher finish at least once! Aah!"
Little did the teacher know that as soon as Yang Xing heard there'd be girls, he'd already spun around and slipped out of the classroom. No matter how hoarse the bespectacled teacher shouted, he didn't look back.
That afternoon, classes at the academy were very short. Since the teachers also had to be assigned, graduation basically meant there was nothing left to learn.
Or rather, the teachers had already taught everything they could. Whether anyone understood it was up to their own talent.
In a fairly open area near the back of the academy.
Thwack!
A dull sound rang out as a five-pointed star-shaped weapon—namely, a shuriken—sank into a tree.
Of all the skills a ninja needed, throwing weapons were probably the only thing Yang Xing could show off. The only thing.
"After a whole year, I'm decent with shuriken, but terrible at everything else. Am I even from this world?" After tossing a few shuriken with practiced ease, Yang Xing couldn't help muttering, "Whose body is this, anyway?"
He remembered how to use chakra, but he couldn't put it to use perfectly. That had always been a headache for him. Take the Transformation Technique, for example: succeeding once in ten tries was practically a feat. It was also why the whole class had nearly forgotten about him.
"Looks like ordinary training won't cut it." Yang Xing pulled out his phone and stared solemnly at the screen. "I'd better try this."
Activate?
The instant he tapped Yes, the screen changed, and lines of text flashed across it.
Fingerprint, DNA, chromosomes, and genes identified; host confirmed. Strife Game activated. System level: 1. Upgrade available.
Several panels appeared, each containing a brief description of a feature.
Special Aura: None.
Achievement System: No achievements.
Items Owned: None.
Random missions available to claim: 5 (Trigger conditions hidden; refreshes and resets according to the number of years and attempts.)
Although five missions were available to claim, the claim button was grayed out. That gave Yang Xing a headache. The description said the trigger conditions were hidden. Did that mean he had to trigger something before he could claim a mission?
This phone really was all about luck.
Although he couldn't claim any missions, the changes to the phone still intrigued Yang Xing. It didn't need charging, for one thing, and if he lost it, it seemed to return to him automatically. He'd tried it the night before. Somehow, the phone had returned to his pocket on its own. That saved him some trouble, at least.
After glancing over the few simple functions, none of which seemed to be activated, Yang Xing turned his attention away from the phone and slipped it back into his pocket.
But a faint sound nearby made his nerves tense.
"Who's there? Come out!" Acting on instinct, he tightened his grip on a shuriken.
A little kid came over from not far away. He had a blank, snotty look on his face and stared stupidly at Yang Xing, as clueless as ever. "Yang Xing, what are you doing here?"
"I mean..." Yang Xing glanced at the little tagalong and sighed helplessly.
He seemed to remember that the younger class had lessons today, too. At this crucial stage, those kids were learning all kinds of ninja techniques. They might even graduate earlier than he did.
But... but still...
Heaven, Jade Emperor, Guanyin, almighty Jesus!
Damn it! I didn't want a little kid tagalong! I wanted a cute little girl! Fuck you!
Before you continue