Two Dead-Lasts

"What's wrong, Feng Yao?"

Iruka saw that Feng Yao hadn't moved for a while and reminded him.

There was no helping it. Feng Yao could only steel himself and step into the middle of the classroom to try forming Hand Seals.

But no matter what he did, whenever he tried to use a jutsu, he couldn't successfully gather and blend the chakra inside his body.

After five long minutes of awkward attempts, the room had fallen into a deathly silence.

"This system said you can only use Senjutsu."

"You've gotta be kidding me. I've completely humiliated myself!"

The others began whispering among themselves.

"What's going on with Feng Yao? I thought he was really good at the Transformation Technique."

"Maybe he's been slacking off lately."

"Feng Yao, you'd better start paying attention in class! Otherwise, I'll have your parents come see me."

Watching Iruka fume, Feng Yao could only nod, though he had no way to explain himself. At the same time, he was trying to figure out how to complete his mission and improve his strength. Whether he became a Genin didn't really matter to him. Strength was what mattered most.

There were plenty of Jonin who were no better than some Genin. Rank was little more than a formality. Feng Yao consoled himself with that thought.

After class, Feng Yao felt drained in both body and mind. Just as he was about to leave, Naruto darted over and peered at him, squinting.

"Feng Yao, what was up with you today? You should've been able to handle that jutsu easily. Don't you dare lose to me!"

Seeing how serious Naruto looked, Feng Yao smiled. This was Naruto's way of showing that he cared, even if he didn't want to say so directly.

Looking at one of the few people in this world who cared about him, Feng Yao felt a little warmth in his heart. He draped an arm over Naruto's shoulder.

"Don't worry. I won't lose to you."

Then he picked up his bag and led Naruto outside. Along the way, Naruto kept telling him about his pranks, until Iruka caught him and dragged him off to clean the Hokage Monument. Feng Yao, meanwhile, went home, where his parents had already made dinner and were waiting for him.

"Feng Yao, you're back. Come sit down."

"Okay, Mother."

Feng Yao had never felt especially close to his parents in this world. Being so far from home, he missed his real parents even more.

But his parents here had raised him, too. If he truly couldn't return to Earth, or if he could only ever be an ordinary Genin, he'd make sure they were well cared for in their old age.

But now that he had the system, things were different. He quickly finished the food in his bowl.

"Mother, I'm done eating. I'm going out for a while. Leave the door unlocked for me."

"Just be back early. You have your exam tomorrow."

Feng Yao went to his room and took a ceramic pig from the top of a cabinet. He smashed it against the floor. Inside were bills of various denominations and a good number of coins—his savings from more than a decade. Altogether, they came to over twelve hundred ryo. For a student, that was a small fortune.

He couldn't use any jutsu, and with the mission from his ridiculous system, he had to arm himself with whatever money he had.

Taking the money, Feng Yao headed to a shop that sold ninja tools. Outside, he breathed in the chilly night air and marveled at how unpredictable life could be.

Yesterday, he'd been a trainee who could use four or five jutsu. Today, he was an ordinary person who could manage only a little hand-to-hand combat. But with the system, his potential was far greater than it had ever been before. He arrived at the ninja tool shop and pushed aside the cloth curtain.

"Welcome! Oh... Feng, what brings you here?"

The shop looked unremarkable from the outside, but its interior was quite nice. Counters lined three sides of the room, displaying Kunai, Shuriken, throwing darts, three-section staffs, needles, small backpacks, protective gear, and more.

The walls were covered with larger ninja tools, like Fuma Shuriken, chain sickles, and giant scythes. What he needed were small tools that were easy to carry. Anything too large would slow him down, and besides, he didn't have enough money for it.

"Uncle Yoshida, I'd like to buy some protective gear, Shuriken, throwing darts, and..."

"You're buying all this for yourself? You haven't graduated yet. These could be dangerous."

Seeing that the shopkeeper didn't seem eager to sell to him, Feng Yao hurried to explain.

"Well, after the graduation exam, if I become a Genin, I'll have to go on missions. I thought I'd prepare early, just in case."

"Ha! You're already getting ready for Genin missions? You sure are confident. I like your spirit! Uncle Yoshida will get everything for you."

"Heh... yeah... exactly."

As if! He couldn't even use jutsu anymore, so he needed these to protect himself. There was no chance he'd pass the exam. He'd better figure out a way to steal the Scroll of Seals.

A short while later, the shopkeeper had gathered all the ninja tools Feng Yao needed. Feng Yao checked them and, with a heavy heart, handed over all his savings from the past decade. It felt like his heart was bleeding. By the time he stepped outside, his pockets were empty, but he was fully equipped.

As he walked home, he heard a commotion from Ichiraku Ramen and couldn't help smiling.

Naruto was talking with Iruka. Stubbornly, he was asking Iruka to give him a Forehead Protector.

"Iruka-sensei, can't you lend me your Forehead Protector for a little while?"

"I can't. You'll only get one after you graduate from the Ninja Academy and become a ninja who can stand on his own."

"Hmph! Stingy!"

Unlike Iruka, Feng Yao knew Naruto was bound to fail the exam tomorrow.

The Nine-Tails was sealed inside Naruto, and its chakra rampaged through his body, making it impossible for him to gather his chakra properly.

Feng Yao had decided to skip tomorrow's exam and forfeit. He wouldn't pass anyway, so why embarrass himself twice?

"Naruto, Iruka-sensei."

"Hey, Feng Yao! Are you here for ramen, too?"

Naruto greeted Feng Yao first. To Naruto, Feng Yao was a precious childhood friend, one of the few people in the village who had treated him kindly. Iruka greeted Feng Yao as well.

"Make sure you get home early and rest. Give it your all in tomorrow's graduation exam."

"Aw, I don't want to go home. No one's there."

Naruto grabbed his hair in frustration. Iruka had been about to give him a rap on the head after hearing the first part, but he froze when he heard the rest.

His expression softened, too. Iruka was an important guide in Naruto's life. He was strict with Naruto, like a father, while also protecting him. If it weren't for people like him, Naruto would have turned bitter long ago.

"Then, Naruto, why don't you come home with me? At least you'll have someone to walk with."

"Well, if you put it that way, I guess I have no choice! Hehehe. Let's go."

Feng Yao and Naruto said goodbye to Iruka, then walked through Konoha's streets, shadows covering one side of the road. Suddenly, the system spoke.

"New mission activated. Mission: Two Dead-Lasts. Earn the title of Dead-Last in tomorrow's Ninja Academy graduation exam to complete the mission. Reward: One lower-grade physical enhancement potion. Motto: How can you experience the protagonist's mindset without going through life's greatest highs and lows? Go get humiliated, get trampled, and then grow stronger!"

"You've gotta be kidding me! You're clearly trying to make me look bad. What kind of mindset am I supposed to experience? And Dead-Last counts as a title now? Did you just make that up on the spot?"

"Please show some respect, Host. This system has always been fair and impartial. Missions are randomly selected according to the Host's current situation. If you don't want to complete it, just say so. This system won't mind finding another host."

"Let's not do that. I mind. Besides, I guess this title isn't so hard to accept... after all."

Naruto noticed that Feng Yao's expression had suddenly changed, as if someone had slapped him.

"Feng Yao, what's been going on with you lately? You seem really different."

"It's nothing. Someone just managed to pull one over on me. No big deal."

Honestly, seeing how much Naruto cared about him made Feng Yao feel a little guilty. He'd approached Naruto with a certain purpose in mind.

That was a little cruel to Naruto. People were selfish, and Feng Yao was no exception. Ever since he got the system, his ambitions had outgrown Konoha.

"Naruto, if someday I do something that might hurt Konoha or you, promise me you won't hold back. Give it everything you've got."

Naruto stopped and looked at Feng Yao in confusion. He didn't understand why Feng Yao would say something like that, but he raised his right thumb toward himself and answered:

"If you do that, then I, the man who'll surpass every Hokage one day, will beat you up and bring you back!"

"...Hahaha, that's quite a line. I was just kidding. Let's go home."

Feng Yao finished speaking, then left Naruto behind and headed in the opposite direction, disappearing into the night.

The next day, at the Ninja Academy.

"Today's graduation exam will be on the Clone Technique. When I call your name, come into the classroom next door to take the test."

Iruka addressed the students in front of him, holding the class roster. Some of them were happy to hear the news, while others looked worried. The students filed into the classroom next door one by one.

Nearly everyone who came out was wearing the Forehead Protector that symbolized Konoha. It was proof that they could stand on their own as ninjas. Unfortunately, Naruto had failed. He sat listlessly in the classroom.

"Next, Feng Yao."

When Feng Yao entered the classroom next door, he saw the two Chunin conducting the exam: Iruka and Mizuki. Mizuki was the first villain in Naruto's story. He was cruel and envious, and the one who tricked Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals.

"Go ahead, Feng Yao."

"All right, Mizuki-sensei."

Feng Yao began forming Hand Seals, though he was only going through the motions. After all his attempts, he knew he couldn't use any jutsu. After several failures, Iruka told him to stop.

"That's enough, Feng Yao. You failed. If you can't even perform the most basic Clone Technique, I can't let you graduate. Have your parents come see me."

Iruka's voice carried deep disappointment. Feng Yao had once been a student he'd had high hopes for, but he hadn't expected him to slack off so badly lately.

Mizuki said nothing, tacitly agreeing with Iruka. Feng Yao could only manage a wry smile. This time, he really was a dead-last—he couldn't even make one clone, which made him worse than Naruto right now. Before leaving, though, he glanced at Mizuki.

Back in the classroom, Feng Yao looked at his classmates excitedly discussing their futures. He quietly sat down beside Naruto.

"Hey, no way. Feng Yao failed, too?"

"The two dead-lasts are sitting together! Hahaha!"

"Feng Yao's always hanging around that... guy. No wonder he brings bad luck to everyone."

Naruto saw Feng Yao's bare forehead and realized he'd failed the graduation exam, too. He was just about to speak.

The voices around him seemed to block his throat, keeping him from making a sound. He silently lowered his head, but then he heard Feng Yao speak.

"Keep your chin up, Naruto. The road ahead is going to be amazing."

The taunts around them only grew louder. Could two people who hadn't even passed the graduation exam really have a future?

Naruto's mouth fell open in surprise. His eyes met Feng Yao's. The others couldn't see Feng Yao's eyes, but Naruto could. They were calm, and there was even a trace of a knowing smile at the corners of his mouth. It encouraged Naruto. Feng Yao said nothing more. He patted Naruto on the back and walked away.

"Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission: Two Dead-Lasts. Reward: One lower-grade potion. Use it now?"

"Use it."

A surge of wild energy flooded into his body. Feng Yao felt his bones and muscles tremble, and after several muffled sounds, the enhancement finally came to an end. His mind and body felt much lighter, and his body felt stronger. He wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but he thought he'd grown a little taller.

"Well done. That's my boy."

"From now on, we'll be ninjas who can stand on our own!"

The area outside the school was crowded with people. Parents praised their children, while Naruto was still sitting on that familiar swing.

Feng Yao had also joined his father. His parents had taken the graduation exam very seriously.

"Did you hear? Only two students failed. He's one of them."

"Hmph. Of course he failed. He's always hanging around that fox demon."

"Hey, don't say that here."

"Feng Yao, what's going on with you? Is something bothering you? You've always trained hard."

After seeing that his son had failed, Feng Yao's father furrowed his brows and sighed inwardly.

"I'm sorry, Father."

Feng Yao apologized to his father in this world, solemnly and sincerely. Not only for failing the exam, but also for what he was about to do.

His father was taken aback by Feng Yao's serious expression. His son had always seemed more mature than other children his age, but he'd never seen him look like this before. He patted Feng Yao on the shoulder.

"Never mind. Just do better next time. I believe in you."

By then, the swing nearby was empty. Naruto had already left. This was when he would run into Mizuki, who would trick him into stealing the Scroll of Seals. Under normal circumstances, Feng Yao would never be able to steal it himself, but if Naruto brought it out, that was a different story.

"Father, I need to go somewhere. You... take care."

With that, Feng Yao took off in a few bounds. Now he had to follow Mizuki and Naruto.