New Friends

Xian Yu was truly helpless; he had been fully prepared to show off during the assessment to make his presence felt.

Even if he had encountered Uchiha Ishihara, while Xian Yu wouldn't dare claim a guaranteed win, he was confident he could pull off some flashy maneuvers with the Three Basic Techniques that would leave everyone in awe.

After all, the Sharingan didn't possess the same level of observational prowess as the Byakugan. Not to mention, Uchiha Ishihara hadn't even awakened his eyes yet.

Throwing a shuriken, leaving a clone in place, and then using the Substitution Technique to sneak up behind an enemy—those were all just basic operations.

But there was no helping it when facing the Byakugan... At least until he learned a few more powerful ninjutsu, and given that his taijutsu wasn't superior to theirs, it was best to stay as far away from these "cataract-eyed" kids as possible... After all, he didn't have a penchant for self-torture.

"Group Eight, Jiraiya and Yamanaka Yuri, please step onto the stage."

"Ooh, Jiraiya, it's your turn! And your opponent is a little beauty, too. Make sure you don't lose too miserably." Xian Yu chuckled with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Ah... why do I have to fight a girl? Teacher Yuichi, can you switch my opponent?" After stepping onto the stage, Jiraiya looked at Yamanaka Yuri across from him, his face immediately crumpling in despair.

"Are you looking down on girls?" Yamanaka Yuri was furious!

In an instant, she rushed in front of Jiraiya, her long, slender legs whipping out like a steel lash.

Although Jiraiya was a dead last in theory and academics, his combat instincts were not bad. Facing the whistling leg, he instantly raised his hands to protect his face.

He took the whip kick from Yamanaka Yuri head-on with his arms, and acting as if nothing had happened, he continued to complain: "Teacher Yuichi, can I change opponents? It hurts, phew, it really hurts! Yuri, take it easy! You're going to kill me!"

Yamanaka Yuri's face turned livid; the more Jiraiya wailed, the angrier she became!

I, Yamanaka Yuri, have my pride too. He dares to get distracted while fighting me, and he won't even fight back? Does he really think I don't exist?

Thinking this, Yamanaka Yuri's attacks became increasingly fierce and ruthless.

"Bang!" A strike landed right on target!

Just hearing that dull thud told you the punch wasn't light! Yet, Jiraiya only shook his head slightly before clutching his bruised cheek with both hands, running around the arena while rubbing it.

Xian Yu suddenly understood why Lady Tsunade often used her Super Strength to beat up Jiraiya in the original story.

Perhaps it was because... this guy was genuinely durable?

In the end, with several shuriken stuck in his chest and back, Jiraiya had no choice but to concede.

Seeing Jiraiya's miserable state, our kind-hearted classmate Xian Yu immediately stepped forward to offer medicine and care, helping to treat the wounds on his back.

Orochimaru helped out from the side as well.

"Disdain.JPG, nothing good ever comes from hanging out with Jiraiya," some girls remarked.

"Yeah, yeah, Ishihara-kun is still the coolest."

"That's right, and Hitomi-kun is so cute too."

These fickle women.

Xian Yu didn't care much about the disdain from these little lolis. After all, what were girls compared to bros?

On the first day of school, Xian Yu had made two friends: Orochimaru and Jiraiya. He invited them out for ramen.

Although he now had the Treasure Chest System and his future might be limitless, it was still important to cozy up to the big shots.

After all, if a man has no long-term worries, he will have near-term troubles.

Besides, Xian Yu felt quite desperate about this infuriating pay-to-win system. Perhaps he would remain a loser despite having a cheat code simply because he was too poor?

It was hard to say if Orochimaru would follow his original path, but having the identity of Jiraiya's best friend would be very useful in the future.

Come to think of it, being the son of the Hokage's assistant, Shimura Danzō, might be useful now, but it was hard to say in a few years. If he remained just a "Mizuki" by then... he would likely be finished once Danzō died.

Right, and there was Lady Tsunade...

According to his memories from his past life, Tsunade would definitely join Class Seven. Since she wasn't here now, she must be transferring in later.

As long as he was careful not to become her lackey or lover, she should be quite reliable.

"Xian Yu, you said you'd treat us to ramen—is it that newly opened Ichiraku Ramen?"

Jiraiya asked, his footsteps light as he caught up.

Orochimaru followed behind the two of them without a word.

"That's the one, Ichiraku Ramen. I heard their ramen is super delicious!" Xian Yu turned his head and replied with a smile.

"Idiot." Seeing Jiraiya bouncing around, Orochimaru gave a very objective evaluation before asking Xian Yu: "Xian Yu-kun, you have the Shimura surname—are you a noble too?"

"Oh, right! Teacher Yuichi also has the surname Shimura. Could you be Teacher Yuichi's son?" Jiraiya's eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new continent.

Xian Yu hadn't expected Orochimaru to ask this; he thought Orochimaru was only interested in immortality.

"A noble? I suppose so... My father is the Hokage's assistant, Shimura Danzō. Teacher Shimura Yuichi is my uncle from the main branch."

"..."

Orochimaru and Jiraiya exchanged a glance. A hint of melancholy flickered in their eyes.

"Ah, don't worry about that! We're all good brothers! Heroes don't ask where they come from." Having lived two lives, how could Xian Yu not guess what they were feeling? He immediately draped his arms around Orochimaru and Jiraiya and said heartily.

You two are both big shots in the future; I'm the real small fry here. What are you feeling inferior about? Xian Yu complained inwardly.

Inside the Ichiraku Ramen shop, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Xian Yu sat in a row on the bench.

Jiraiya held his bowl, slurping down the noodles without a care for his image.

Orochimaru and Xian Yu ate with refined manners.

"Boss, one bowl of ramen, please." Just then, a youth with a bowl-cut hairstyle and wearing a green spandex bodysuit plopped down into the seat next to the three of them.

"Yo, this is what youth is all about! Let's have a passionate ramen-eating contest!" The bowl-cut youth seemed to take a liking to Jiraiya, pointing directly at him as he spoke.

"..." Orochimaru.

"..." Xian Yu.

"..." Jiraiya.

"You must be the new students who enrolled today, right? My name is Might Duy, and I'm a student in Class 5 of the third year at the Ninja Academy." The bowl-cut youth appeared to be very familiar.

"Uh... hello, Senior Duy. I am Shimura Xian Yu."

"The name's Jiraiya."

"Orochimaru."

Xian Yu truly hadn't expected to run into the father of the legendary Might Guy—the man who nearly kicked the series finale into existence—by such a coincidence.

In the end, due to Xian Yu's warm hospitality, he footed the bill for the entire meal.

There was just one small episode at the end. When the Ichiraku boss tallied the bill, Xian Yu had eaten one bowl, and Orochimaru had eaten one bowl.

Might Duy had eaten twenty-two bowls!

Jiraiya had eaten twenty-three bowls!

"Junior Jiraiya is truly full of passion and youth. I acknowledge you; you are worthy of being my lifelong rival!" Might Duy said, extending a thumb as his teeth gave off a 'ding' sound, reflecting a brilliant glint.