Godlike Reflexes

"Battle over. You obtained High-Tier Neural Reflexes."

Shangguan Yue felt his mind clear and a coolness wash over his mind's eye. When he opened his eyes again and looked up, everything seemed unchanged, yet somehow different.

Shangguan Yue reached out and swiped across the screen. Watching the display move before him, he felt puzzled.

"What's going on? Why is the screen moving so slowly? It shouldn't be!

Chuuni, did you change the swipe speed? It's so slow—are you trying to let my grandma use it?"

"I didn't! I'm innocent! Just try a challenge yourself and you'll understand."

Shangguan Yue opened Battle Mode again.

"Select: Uchiha Fugaku."

He appeared on the Challenge Platform once more. This time, Shangguan Yue stood perfectly still as Uchiha Fugaku charged forward and swung his blade.

Shangguan Yue dodged with ease again, but—

"Everything's changed. So slow, so slow!

So this is the reflexes that can keep up with the Flying Thunder God? They're incredible."

Shangguan Yue could clearly see every detail of Uchiha Fugaku's swing. It felt as if everything had slowed down, just like when he used the Sharingan.

But he hadn't activated his Sharingan. This was simply his normal state—in other words, his dynamic vision now rivaled that of a One-Tomoe Sharingan.

Most importantly, his body could respond perfectly to what he perceived, moving as soon as he willed it.

"In that case, let's try the Sharingan."

A tomoe appeared in each of Shangguan Yue's eyes. As expected, the effect multiplied. It wasn't a simple one-plus-one; it stacked several times over.

The next moment, from Uchiha Fugaku's perspective, Shangguan Yue seemed to still be standing where he'd been. But Uchiha Fugaku's awareness grew increasingly hazy.

He collapsed to the ground. Watching Shangguan Yue sheath his sword, he had no idea when his head had been severed.

"Battle over. You obtained Fire Style: Great Fireball."

"Hm? I didn't expect to get Great Fireball on my first challenge in half a month. That'll save me quite a few Luck Points."

Satisfied, Shangguan Yue left the Challenge Space. "Chuuni, explain why the newly refreshed opponents are so awful. I haven't seen a single Chunin."

"You're too weak right now. The refreshed opponents can only be like this. Come back and see once you're stronger."

"How boring. Looks like I'll have to graduate from the Ninja Academy quickly if I want to raise my strength without restrictions.

"And the Challenge Platform only gives you a watered-down version of your opponent's abilities. Bloodlines are no exception.

"To get better rewards later, I'll have to wait until I'm strong enough to use the Ōtsutsuki Clan's Devour Space.

"Fortunately, I have a Devour Space of my own. I can throw those bloodline-wielding ninja inside and absorb their bloodlines.

"That's the only way to revive my bloodline quickly and achieve a true Ōtsutsuki bloodline."

Looking at his Luck Points balance of only around 300, Shangguan Yue felt a little helpless. He'd become the first-year top student and even received a bonus of 50; otherwise, he'd have had even less.

There was no helping it. Against clan children, he could fight for a round or two, and if he was in the mood, he could take his time sparring with them.

If he wasn't in the mood, he'd finish them off instantly. The civilian students were even worse: he took them out in a flash. He couldn't stand watching a bunch of weaklings bicker and trade blows.

As a result, his Luck Points dwindled. Shangguan Yue had noticed that the way Luck Points were awarded based on overall performance was strange.

It was as if he were a clown, putting on a show for an audience. Perform well, and they gave him more; perform poorly, and—sorry—he got little or nothing.

For instance, if he toyed with someone his own level for a while before beating them, he could earn two or even three points.

But when it came to civilian students, he usually took out a whole group in an instant because he couldn't be bothered to waste time.

The result was that even if there were thirty or forty of them, he could earn no more than twenty points.

On top of that, few people attended the Ninja Academy during this period. Most clans preferred to train their own children rather than send them to the academy.

But times had changed. Hiruzen Sarutobi was gradually expanding the academy's role, with all kinds of competing interests and political maneuvering.

That was what had gradually increased enrollment at the Ninja Academy year after year. This year, the most notable students were the young leaders of the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan, along with the heirs of both the Main Family and the branch family of the Hyuga Clan.

They had all enrolled at the same time. The powerful factions they represented inspired countless people to seek their favor and connections.

Those with ambitions had hurried to enroll their own children at the same time, which was why this year's enrollment was so high.

It was a good start, at least. But aside from Class A, the students in the other classes were truly unimpressive.

Compared to someone like him, who had entered the academy already a Genin, they were worlds apart. Fortunately, Balance had somehow managed to communicate with the Naruto world.

At any rate, as long as the requirements were met, he could earn Luck Points regardless of strength. So Shangguan Yue wasn't picky; he'd take every head he could get.

Unfortunately, he could usually challenge each person only once. To challenge them again, he had to wait until they advanced in strength.

For example, from trainee to Genin, or from Genin to Chunin—those kinds of milestone breakthroughs.

As for ordinary people, they could only reach the Genin stage when they graduated.

So for Shangguan Yue, most of his classmates were a one-time deal. Only the clan children could be challenged over and over.