This Damn System Isn't About Stat Points

"The second exam will be held in three days. The content is: a live combat simulation."

Low murmurs erupted from the crowd below.

"The specific rules will be explained by the proctor of the second exam at that time," the Third Hokage continued.

"For now, you may return to rest. Remember, do not slack off on your training during these three days. The difficulty of the second exam... will far exceed the first."

After being dismissed, Qingyu walked out of the Central Tower alone.

The sun was setting, and Konoha was bathed in a golden afterglow.

People came and went on the streets, peaceful and serene, as if the life-and-death struggle in the Forest of Death had been nothing but a dream.

But Qingyu knew it was no dream.

The two Warring States souls in his mind were no dream.

The upcoming second exam was no dream.

The potential attention from within the Uchiha clan was no dream.

"So," he whispered to himself while walking home, "what should I do next?"

"Become stronger," Izuna said, "become stronger at any cost."

"Be cautious," Tobirama said, "and while becoming stronger, keep your secrets well hidden."

"And," Qingyu added, "figure out the truth of this world—why I am still alive, why you are in my head, and..."

He looked toward the distant Uchiha compound: "And Itachi, why he warned me to be careful."

Streetlights flickered on one by one.

Qingyu's shadow stretched long across the stone path.

Ahead, the gates of the Uchiha compound were already in sight.

Inside the gate lay family, bloodlines, and potential risks.

Outside the gate lay Konoha, the village, and unknown challenges.

And he, a transmigrator carrying two ancient souls, stood right on the dividing line.

Can I restart? This lousy system doesn't even let me add stat points; can I at least get a refund?

Damn it!

Why doesn't the ninja world have Pinduoduo!

Someone, get a Pinduoduo customer service agent to intervene!

Save me!

Help, help, help!

"Let's go home," Tobirama said. "We continue training tonight. The second exam must be passed."

"And then," Izuna's voice carried a hint of anticipation, "let those who underestimate you truly witness the power of the Uchiha... no, witness your own power."

Qingyu took a deep breath and pushed open the compound gate.

Three days later, the second exam.

He would be ready.

Whatever it might be.

[Ding!]

As the system's notification sound rang out...

Dad, I was just joking earlier!

[System Notification: Chunin Exams First Stage Passed]

[Task Completion Assessment: B+ (Outstanding performance, but risk of exposure is too high; points deducted)]

[Calculating rewards...]

[Unlocked: Izuna Uchiha Memory Fragment x1 (Warring States Period · Daily Life with Madara)]

[Unlocked: Tobirama Senju Memory Fragment x1 (Laboratory · Forbidden Jutsu Research Notes Fragment)]

[Unlocked: Skill Fusion Attempt Permission (Once per week)]

[New Task Issued: Pass the second stage of the Chunin Exams]

[Task Reward: Depending on performance, unlock dual-soul fusion skills or new system functions]

[Special Note: During the second exam, please try to avoid using composite ninjutsu other than the Steam Technique to avoid attracting excessive attention (Little cutie, take it easy~ Don't let Danzo set his sights on you)]

Qingyu looked at the translucent interface before him and gave a wry smile.

I really want to slash this system's developer...

"Avoid using... but the second stage is a live combat simulation! How is it possible not to use them?"

"Then use them," Izuna said, "but disguise them as 'coincidences' or 'improvisation on the spot'."

"Or," Tobirama proposed another plan, "develop new, more covert tactics, for example..."

Qingyu: aaa Ninjutsu Wholesaler and bbb Combat Maniac.

The two began to argue in Qingyu's mind again, their bickering endless.

Qingyu shook his head and pushed open his front door.

Tonight would be another sleepless night.

But this time, he no longer felt despair.

Instead... he felt a bit of anticipation.

Qingyu's home was on the edge of the Uchiha compound, a small two-story house.

After his parents passed away, he was the only one left here.

Pushing the door open, the familiar scent of staleness rushed toward him.

On the living room table lay the ninja theory textbook he hadn't tidied up when he left three days ago, and wooden shuriken for practice were piled in the corner.

In the refrigerator, the rice ball left three days ago had already grown mold.

Where were the transmigrator perks? Why didn't the fridge automatically keep things fresh?

Qingyu: Is this supposed to be left for Naruto to eat?

"I'm home," Qingyu said to the empty house.

No one responded.

His past self might have felt lonely, but now...

Qingyu touched his forehead and gave a wry smile: "It's a bit too lively now."

Qingyu: The one who felt lonely was the previous guy, definitely not me.

"Enough talk," Izuna's voice rang out immediately, "hurry up and eat, then rest. We start training in half an hour."

"We should first study the newly unlocked system functions," Tobirama countered, "the Skill Fusion Attempt permission is only available once a week; it must be used cautiously."

"Training is more important!"

"Efficiency takes priority!"

"Stop!" Qingyu raised his hands in surrender, "We'll eat first, look at the system while eating, and then train, okay?"

The mind went quiet for two seconds.

"Reasonable," Tobirama said.

"Troublesome," Izuna huffed.

Qingyu rummaged through the kitchen for his stock of Military Ration Pills and rice balls, heated up some Miso Soup, and sat down at the dining table.

At the same time, he pulled up the system interface.

A translucent screen floated before his eyes:

[Host: Uchiha Qingyu]
[Age: 12]
[Status: Dual Soul Symbiosis (Stable Period)]
[Soul Fusion Rate: Izuna Uchiha 19%, Tobirama Senju 21%]
[Available Functions: Mission System, Memory Fragment Viewing, Skill Library, Skill Fusion Attempt (1/week)]
[Current Mission: Pass the Second Stage of the Chunin Exams (Remaining Time: 71 hours)]

"The fusion rate went up," Qingyu noted, "it was 17% and 19% when the first exam ended."

"Fighting and making decisions together promotes fusion," Tobirama explained, "although we still argue, our goals are aligned when guiding you."

"Hmph, just a temporary cooperation," Izuna said.

Qingyu smiled and clicked on the [Memory Fragment] option.

Two glowing fragment icons hovered there: one was a dark red flame shape, the other a pale blue water droplet shape.

"Which one should I look at first?" he asked.

"Mine," both said simultaneously.

"..."

"Look at mine," Izuna said, "the essence of Uchiha Style lies in actual combat; the memory fragment might contain important combat experience."

"My memories contain the principles of forbidden jutsu research and chakra science," Tobirama countered, "which are more helpful for your foundation at this stage."

Qingyu thought for a moment: "Let's look at Izuna's first, after all... my surname is Uchiha."

"A wise choice," Izuna's voice carried a hint of satisfaction.

"Short-sighted," Tobirama evaluated.

[Tobirama: A life without research and the Flying Thunder God is already a relative failure!]

[Izuna Uchiha: Look at you, all worked up! Curse your fate for not having the Sharingan!]

Qingyu touched the flame-shaped fragment.

In an instant, his consciousness was pulled into a blood-red twilight.

The Warring States period, a training ground on the outskirts of the Uchiha clan grounds.

Two youths were sparring, both appearing to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old.

The one with spiky black hair was clearly stronger, his shuriken pouring down like a rainstorm, forcing the other youth with straight black hair to retreat repeatedly.

Young Madara Uchiha, Young Izuna Uchiha.

If this weren't a memory, Qingyu would have truly hallucinated a recruitment animation...

And then, a shocking price: 1.98 million taels of silver!!!