Chakra Rewards

So, it turns out the blame lies with me.

Nebula Kotetsu quickly recalled his girlfriends to see if any of them had an ex-boyfriend named Sarutobi, or a current one.

The first person he thought of was Asuma Sarutobi, but he immediately realized that wasn't right! Asuma Sarutobi liked Kurenai Yuhi, but Kurenai Yuhi had always been cold toward him, and he hadn't tried to steal anyone's girl, had he?

However, there were quite a few people with the surname Sarutobi at the academy, and he had so many girlfriends and ex-girlfriends that it was truly impossible to keep track of them all.

While he was silent, Kotetsu Hagane spoke up: "Don't worry, you don't need to get involved in this; I'll handle it myself."

Nebula Kotetsu: "How are you going to handle it?"

Kotetsu Hagane raised his right fist and clenched it in front of his eyes: "I'll train hard and win it back next time."

"Rest assured, I don't take a few punches and kicks to heart. I just need to train harder."

"If I can't even handle one Taiga Sarutobi, how can I become a Jonin and restore the Kotetsu clan?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"The Kotetsu clan isn't just left with you; aren't I still here?"

Kotetsu Hagane gave him a speechless look.

You?

A dead-last student who has been held back for two years, how are you going to restore the Kotetsu clan?

By having a hundred children?

The thought flashed through his mind, but Kotetsu Hagane didn't say it out loud.

After all, he was his own brother, and he was afraid of hurting him too much.

Although this brother had terrible talent, a weak constitution, had failed to graduate for two consecutive years, and had spent the last two years wallowing in debauchery and chasing skirts.

But two years ago, he had always tried his best to play the role of a good older brother.

He provided balanced meals three times a day, took meticulous care of the house, and practiced diligently morning and night. If not for his weak strength, he would have been a perfectly good brother.

It was a pity that starting two years ago, he had changed.

He became neglectful of the home, stopped working hard, and only knew how to spend his days with all sorts of girls.

He had tried to persuade him, but unfortunately, it was of no use.

Kotetsu Hagane knew that he must have been devastated by his own poor talent.

The glory of the Kotetsu clan would have to be carried by him from now on.

In order not to let his big brother worry, he simply said: "Alright, I understand."

"I'm turning off the lights to sleep now."

Lights out, time to rest.

Just as he was lost in thought, Nebula Kotetsu's voice drifted from outside the room.

"Don't try to shoulder everything on your own if something happens."

"With the two of us brothers here, the Kotetsu clan will surely regain its glory."

"Also, if you get beaten up and can't take it, tell me, and I'll go find the Third Hokage."

In the darkness, the corners of Kotetsu Hagane's mouth curled up, and he felt a touch of warmth in his heart. However, the next second, the warmth was extinguished by a bucket of cold water.

"By the way, don't save me any dinner tomorrow night; I'm going on a date. Besides, I should be quite busy for a while, so take care of yourself."

Kotetsu Hagane: ...

Nebula Kotetsu, of course, didn't know this, as Kotetsu Hagane kicked his quilt several times.

After going to the living room to finish the delicious chicken soup, he returned to his bedroom.

He checked the system.

[Bound Target: Rin Nohara (Instance - Obito Uchiha).]

[Current Task: Breaking the Ice (Completed).]

[Task Reward (Choose one): 1. A pair of goggles identical to Obito Uchiha's; 2. Shuriken Jutsu proficiency increased by 50%; 3. 0.3 Kak of Chakra.]

The notification that the task was completed had sounded while he was studying the principles of fishing nets with Senior Ririko, but he had been too busy at the time to check it, and only now did he have some free time.

"Claim Reward 3."

As Nebula Kotetsu muttered in his heart, 0.3 Kak of Chakra was automatically credited, and the task content began to refresh.

[Host: Nebula Kotetsu]

[Charm: 99]

[Equipped Title: Hand of the Succubus]

[Chakra: 0.31 Kak, Status: Healthy]

[Taijutsu: Big Slap Lv1 (Can cause minor mental damage)]

[Ninjutsu: Three Basic Techniques Lv0, Basic Chakra Extraction Lv0]

[Genjutsu: None]

[Inventory: None]

[Bound Target: Rin Nohara (Instance - Obito Uchiha).]

[Current Mission: First Contact (Complete physical contact with the bound target for three seconds in front of Obito).]

[Mission Rewards (Choose one): 1. 100 bottles of Rin Nohara's exclusive face paint; 2. 100 high-quality kunai; 3. Medical Ninjutsu 100x upgrade card.]

Staring at the refreshed mission, Nebula Kotetsu frowned. Seeing the words "in front of Obito," a trace of doubt couldn't help but rise in his heart.

"System."

"Tell me, is the target I'm bound to Rin Nohara, or is it Obito?"

"System?"

[...]

The next day, at the Ninja Academy.

As Nebula Kotetsu walked into the classroom, the gazes of both male and female students were mostly focused on him. Nebula Kotetsu was long accustomed to the attention of the crowd; to the female students, his existence was a magnet for their eyes, while to the male students, he was a target of hostility.

However, today was particularly different. A gaze overflowing with hostility made Nebula Kotetsu instinctively go on guard.

Following the sense of danger, he looked over, and sure enough, it was Obito Uchiha, whom he had stood up.

"You guy." Obito Uchiha panted heavily, faint dark circles still visible under his eyes. Yesterday, he had waited at the back gate of the school until dark before realizing that this guy, Nebula Kotetsu, had actually played him for a fool. Because of this, he had been so angry he hadn't slept well for half the night.

"Why didn't you come yesterday?"

"Oh." Nebula Kotetsu replied indifferently, "Something came up yesterday."

Obito Uchiha: "What kind of thing? More important than our duel?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "My family's rooster laid an egg."

Obito Uchiha: "[○･｀Д´･○]!!"

He stood up abruptly, ready to challenge Nebula Kotetsu on the spot, when the teacher walked in.

"Everyone."

"Go to the training ground, morning sparring session."

Obito Uchiha's eyes lit up instantly!

Great! Another sparring session! Now he could rightfully take care of Nebula Kotetsu!

He was the first to leave his seat. As he passed by Nebula Kotetsu, he snorted coldly and strode toward the training ground.

Seeing this, Nebula Kotetsu knew that this battle could not be avoided.

Sure enough, upon arriving at the training ground and standing in formation, when the male teacher took out the roster to call names, Obito Uchiha stepped forward voluntarily.

"Teacher."

"Can I initiate a challenge?"

The male teacher put down the roster in his hand and asked, "A challenge? Who do you want to challenge?"

Obito Uchiha said, "I want to challenge Nebula Kotetsu."

The male teacher frowned slightly. Regarding challenges between students, the teachers' attitude was generally neither to forbid nor to encourage them, unless the gap in strength was too great.

He certainly knew of Nebula Kotetsu. He had heard the boy was a bit of a playboy, with poor talent and weak strength.

Although Obito Uchiha wasn't a top student either, compared to Nebula Kotetsu, the gap in strength seemed somewhat large. Just as he was about to reject the proposal, Obito Uchiha added immediately.

"Teacher, during yesterday's sparring session, student Nebula performed excellently, and I was careless for a moment, so I didn't win."

"This time, I want to challenge him again."

"Oh?" Hearing this, the male teacher looked at Nebula Kotetsu, who was vaguely surrounded by girls.

"Student Nebula, what is your opinion?"