"Just a Leaf Genin?"
"This subordinate is foolish!"
"How did the test go?"
Kabuto Yakushi thought for a moment. A full ten seconds passed before he replied, "I don't know."
The answer surprised Orochimaru. He had never heard Kabuto use those words before.
"Focus on our plan. Don't cause any unnecessary complications."
"Yes."
"Have you really made up your mind to carry out that plan?" Kabuto Yakushi asked again.
Orochimaru was about to answer when his gaze suddenly flicked behind him. An old acquaintance was approaching.
"Well, if it isn't Aburame Tatsuma. Have you come to capture me?" Orochimaru cackled, as if he didn't care in the slightest that he'd been discovered.
"On Lord Danzo's orders, I've come to help you carry out your plan."
"He doesn't even know what plan I intend to carry out. That's not like his usual cautious self."
"I'm simply following orders to have Root cooperate with you. I don't know anything else."
Orochimaru gazed at the dazed, wooden Aburame Tatsuma with a penetrating stare. Then he noticed something unexpected and looked surprised before falling into deep thought.
"My lord?" Kabuto Yakushi wondered why Orochimaru had been silent for so long.
"Alas, a poor wretch controlled by Sharingan Genjutsu, stripped of even his sense of self. He can't stir up the slightest interest in me." Orochimaru sighed and gazed up at the sky, as if he could already see a great fire sweeping across all of Konoha.
My teacher, the funeral I've designed for you is about to begin. Are you ready?
Chapter 49: Shoring Up Weaknesses
The moment Hiruzen announced the matchups, everyone began whispering among themselves. Some looked dejected, while others were visibly excited.
Neji Hyuga turned his gaze to Keiichi. He'd seen that his opponent was, just as expected, Naruto Uzumaki.
Could he really see the future? Was this some kind of Kekkei Genkai ability?
What he didn't know was that Keiichi's brow had already furrowed. Perhaps because he had made it into the finals too, the matchups had changed.
Naruto Uzumaki vs. Neji Hyuga.
Gaara vs. Shino Aburame.
Keiichi vs. Dosu.
Temari vs. Sasuke Uchiha.
Shikamaru Nara vs. Kankuro.
Aside from Naruto's match, every matchup had changed!
Since he'd gotten a free pass into the finals, he'd already had an unfair advantage. To demonstrate Leaf Village's fairness, the bracket meant that even if he beat Dosu, he'd still have to face the winner between Temari and Sasuke to qualify for the final four.
He'd have to fight one more round than everyone else.
The problem was that, according to the original plot, Temari was supposed to face Shikamaru, and the first sparks of romance were supposed to fly between them.
Now he'd changed things so much that he might have split up a destined couple for nothing.
Don't underestimate the significance of that pairing. The marriage between the Nara Clan and the Kazekage's family had kept the two countries from going to war and even gradually warmed relations between them.
Now, who knew what would happen?
Of course, it was all just speculation for now. Shikamaru was smart enough that he might have been willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good by getting together with Temari. Maybe he still intended to become Leaf Village's prince consort?
After Hiruzen dismissed them, the others left the tower looking worried. Of the ten finalists, only Keiichi seemed completely relaxed, without a hint of pressure.
Seeing him like that, the others thought he'd already given up and decided to coast through the competition. Their eyes filled with disdain.
You're a humanities student. You should stick to intelligence work. You're still a long way from being a fighter!
Only Keiichi knew that the exams would be interrupted halfway through in a month. The only enemies he'd have to deal with were Dosu, Temari, and Sasuke at most.
When you looked at it that way, it was really just Sasuke.
Temari might have looked impressive in the arena, but she'd had the advantage of being a good match for her opponent. Once Sasuke mastered his skills, there wouldn't be many people his age who could beat him.
Even if Keiichi couldn't beat Sasuke, he could raise his hand and surrender. Sasuke wasn't going to take things seriously, was he?
Just think about who'd been working himself ragged over your growth plan.
Then the Crisis of Konoha would erupt. Shukaku would go on a rampage, Hiruzen would die, and who'd care about the Chunin Ninja Exams then?
Since he couldn't stop Orochimaru from launching the Konoha Crush Plan, he might as well join in. Then he could drop a huge black pot right onto Danzo's head.
You wanted to recruit me as a subordinate?
Go be a rogue ninja!
The chaos in Leaf Village would be quelled quickly, but the invaders from Sunagakure would still come, and a fight would be inevitable. So the moment Keiichi got home, he opened the system, ready to boost his strength.
By now, he'd accumulated 120 Magic Modification Points, and with July's arrival, his monthly gift had refreshed.
Since opening a gift pack could only be a good deal, he didn't think twice before spending 50 Magic Modification Points to redeem it.
"Congratulations, host. You have received the following reward:"
"Obito's Goggles (permanent cosmetic)."
And?
What else?
That's it?
What happened to getting my Magic Modification Points back?
What happened to opening a gift pack and making a fortune?
All I got was some lousy cosmetic?
This goddamned system!
Keiichi was furious. He'd never been ripped off like this before. What the hell was he supposed to do with a cosmetic? Aside from looking good, could it make him stronger?
Besides, these stupid goggles didn't even look good!
With the resignation of someone who'd already lost everything, he opened the item description. His frustration eased a little.
He realized that cosmetics here weren't quite what he'd expected.
Apparently, as soon as he put on these Obito's Goggles, his entire appearance would change to match Obito Uchiha's. No one would be able to tell the difference.
It was basically a Transformation Technique that didn't consume chakra and lasted forever!
But when he thought about it, he realized it wasn't much use. It was already the year 61 of the Leaf calendar. How many people were left who knew Obito?
Besides, even if someone recognized him, if he couldn't say where he'd been all these years or what he'd been doing, even an idiot would know something was wrong!
So, in the end, this thing was pretty useless.
Could the system have found out that I'd originally planned to use the goggles to get under Kakashi's skin?
"Plot modification rate: 1.19350%"
After causing trouble relentlessly during the Chunin Ninja Exams, his plot modification rate had finally passed one percent. It was still slowly increasing as time went by.
The reason was obvious. Orochimaru still hadn't placed a Cursed Seal on Sasuke, which was already a major plot-changing event. Everything that followed had gradually veered off its original course.
As long as things continued like this, the plot modification rate would keep rising. Either he'd change the story beyond recognition, or Timeline Convergence would begin to take effect.
But none of that was under Keiichi's control. What he cared about now was how to spend his remaining 70 points.
"Spent 15 Magic Modification Points. Speed +1."
"Spent 15 Magic Modification Points. Speed +1."
To raise one of his eight attributes from 1 to 2 required 10 points and a plot modification rate of 0.1%.
To raise an attribute from 2 to 4 cost 15 points per level and required a plot modification rate of 1%.
With that, he raised his speed from 2 to 4, finally patching up one of his more dangerous weaknesses.
In his previous fight with Kabuto Yakushi, his opponent had closed in on him with such ease. It had made him realize where he fell short.
"Spent 15 Magic Modification Points. Body +1."
"Spent 10 Magic Modification Points. Genjutsu +1."
"Spent 15 Magic Modification Points. Genjutsu +1."
Now, with his Sharingan activated, his peak attributes were as follows:
Ninjutsu: 4 Body: 4 Genjutsu: 3→5 Intelligence: 8 Strength: 4 Speed: 4 Stamina: 3→4 Hand Seals: 5 Chakra Natures: Fire: 6→7 Water: 1 Earth: 2 Wind: 3 Lightning: 2 Yin: 1→2 Yang: 1
In other words, he no longer had any glaring weaknesses among his eight attributes. His lowest values were now at least 4.
But the points had gone by way too fast. They'd been used up in the blink of an eye.
He couldn't help regretting it. If only he hadn't redeemed the monthly gift pack. Wouldn't it have been better to spend those 50 points on a bloodline?
Cause trouble!
I still have to find a way to cause trouble!
Where else will I get Magic Modification Points if I don't cause trouble?
How can I get stronger without Magic Modification Points?
How can I save the Shinobi World if I don't get stronger?
At the thought, Keiichi's eyes practically turned red. For the future of the Shinobi World, I have no choice but to cause trouble. You all have to understand!
He went to the foot of his bed and opened a hidden compartment that was extremely difficult to find. From inside, he pulled out a notebook.
It contained notes on the original plot that he recalled from time to time. Now he needed to study them carefully and figure out how to use his knowledge of the future to stir up trouble.
Chapter 50: A Showdown Between Gluttons
"Begin!"
Four people sat on the long bench inside Ichiraku Ramen. It creaked and groaned under their weight, because one of them was considerably larger than average.
"Choji, I'm absolutely not going to lose to you at ramen! Slurp, slurp!" Naruto slurped up his noodles and pointed his chopsticks at Choji, sitting beside him, his competitive spirit blazing.
Choji ignored Naruto's taunt and kept his head down, eating. In less than a minute, he raised his bowl and drained the broth in one go.
"Another bowl!" Choji held up his spotless bowl, brimming with confidence.
On Naruto's other side sat the demure Hinata. Since the preliminaries had ended yesterday, she and Naruto had grown closer, and he'd invited her out for ramen.
She ate quietly, without Naruto and Choji's exaggerated movements. Her cheeks were flushed, and she fed the noodles into her small, cherry-red mouth one bite at a time—though she did it a little quickly.
"Could I have another bowl?" Hinata asked timidly, her head bowed.
"Of course!" The owner of Ichiraku was more than happy to oblige. He'd already set a fresh bowl of ramen in front of Hinata, grinning from ear to ear.
Every employee at Ichiraku Ramen was pitching in. Ayame, Nishi, and Matsu were all at their stations, churning out bowl after bowl of excellent ramen at full speed and sending it to the "front lines."
The three pint-sized gluttons devoured their "enemies" like a whirlwind, and empty bowls began piling up high. Ichiraku had staked his professional reputation on this. He'd never make his customers wait.
Watching the three of them devour food like mad, Keiichi's expression stiffened. He'd never imagined things would turn out this way. Naruto really didn't treat him like an outsider!
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