The summer of Konoha's forty-second year seemed hotter than usual.
With only one day left before the Chunin Ninja Exams officially began, the whole village was immersed in a subtle mix of excitement and tension.
All anyone talked about in the streets and alleys was the upcoming exam.
At the training grounds, Genin could be seen pushing themselves through extra practice everywhere.
Even the air seemed to carry a faint smell of smoke.
The Uchiha Compound, private training ground in the back mountains.
Liuyu sat cross-legged on a slab of bluestone, eyes closed as he focused.
The system panel unfolded in his mind. His Karma Point balance showed a striking figure: 11,000.
That was the generous reward for saving Hatake Sakumo, and the confidence behind his plans for what came next.
"Even if I beat a Jonin who's holding back tomorrow, I probably won't get any Karma Points."
"System," Liuyu silently said. "Do an Elite ten-pull."
[Confirm spending 10,000 Karma Points on a ten-pull from the Elite Card Pool?]
"Confirmed."
[Understood. Beginning card draw—]
Hum!
Ten brilliant beams of light shot into the sky, one after another, in the space of his consciousness!
Unlike the uniform colors of the ordinary card pool, the light of the Elite Card Pool was even more dazzling.
The beams intertwined and collided in midair, then finally transformed into ten cards, their backs etched with mysterious patterns.
They lined up in a row, floating before Uchiha Ryūha.
The first card flipped over—
[SR · Hadō #33: Sōkatsui] [Description: An intermediate Hadō that releases an explosive flame forward. Its power far exceeds Red Fire Cannon, and its range is wider, but it takes slightly longer to chant.] [Quality: Purple]
The second—
[SR · Way of Destruction No. 54: Abolishing Flame] [Description: Releases high-temperature purple flames with exceptional adherence and sustained burning power. They are difficult to extinguish.] [Quality: Purple]
The third—
[SR · Bakudō #37: Tsuriboshi] [Description: Summons a hanging net of light that can be used to restrain enemies or cushion impacts.] [Quality: Purple]
The fourth—
[SR · Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō] [Description: A high-level Bakudō that summons six enormous beams of light to pierce the enemy's body, locking down their movements and Reiatsu (Chakra). It is virtually inescapable for targets below Kage Level. (Can affect Kage Level targets.)] [Quality: Purple]
The fifth—
[SR · Ten Directions Sealing] [Description: A wide-area sealing Bakudō that instantly forms a cubic barrier to contain a designated area. All energy within the barrier (Chakra, Natural Energy) is forcibly suppressed. Its range and strength increase with the caster's Reiatsu.] [Quality: Purple]
Five cards in a row, all SR-grade Kido!
"Karma Points are hard to come by, but the odds aren't bad."
Uchiha Ryūha was delighted.
Now that was a generous gacha!
The Kido system was profound. Before this, he'd only had Red Fire Cannon, leaving him with few ways to attack.
Now he'd gained two Hadō techniques at once: Sōkatsui and Haien.
And with three Bakudō—Tsuriboshi, Rikujōkōrō, and Ten Directions Sealing—his options for offense, defense, and control had expanded dramatically.
What's more, these Kido techniques paired perfectly with his Complete Hypnosis. He could use illusions to disrupt perception, then strike with pinpoint Kido attacks or take control of the fight. His options for dealing with enemies had multiplied.
The sixth card flipped over—
[R · Responded No. 4: Healing Body] [Description: A basic healing Kido that accelerates wound recovery and relieves fatigue. Highly effective against minor injuries.] [Quality: Blue]
Healing, even at a basic level, could prove useful at a critical moment. Liuyu nodded.
The seventh—
[SR · Incantation Abandonment] [Description: A technique that shortens Kido casting time by bypassing the incantation.] [Quality: Purple]
It was something he could do without, but couldn't afford to be without.
Though Uchiha Ryūha had always felt that casting Kido with an incantation was more satisfying.
The eighth—
[SR · Reiatsu Training Method: Blut Vene (Beginner)] [Description: A simplified training method for the Quincy's advanced defensive technique, Blut Vene. By using a special method to concentrate Reiatsu (Chakra) on the body's surface, the user forms an invisible armor that greatly boosts physical defense and resistance to ninjutsu and genjutsu. Once fully mastered, it can withstand a direct hit from an A-rank ninjutsu.] [Quality: Purple]
Liuyu's eyes lit up!
Blut Vene! It was one of the Quincy's core defensive techniques!
It was only a beginner's training method, so he'd need time to practice before he could master it.
But once he did, his survivability would make a qualitative leap.
Combined with the illusion that Complete Hypnosis provided and Flash Step's mobility, he'd truly become a well-rounded fighter who could attack, defend, and control the battlefield.
The ninth card began to spin, its light noticeably more intense than that of the first eight—
[SR · Special Item · Hōgyoku Fragment (1/100)] [Description: Senses the host and amplifies the deepest, strongest desires in their heart. By altering the laws of the world, it forcibly turns wishes into reality. This is a form of "probability manipulation."] [Quality: Purple (Special)]
"False alarm."
When the words Hōgyoku first appeared, Uchiha Ryūha had nearly lost control of his expression.
The fraction in parentheses brought him back to reality.
"Gacha games really are a menace. At this rate, with one fragment per ten-pull..."
"I feel like the odds of drawing the whole Hōgyoku are better."
As an important item in Bleach, the Hōgyoku could break the boundary between Soul Reapers and Hollows.
In Aizen's hands, its power had been terrifying.
It could "reject" damage.
It could bestow power without conditions during the final battle between Aizen and Ichigo.
And it could guide evolution.
Now, only the last card remained.
Since none of the previous cards had been filler, the guaranteed pull should be an SSR.
The card slowly flipped over.
The light wasn't gold as he'd imagined, but a dark red.
Brilliant golden edges crisscrossed it, like dried blood mingling with roaring flames!
The image on the card wasn't of a specific item or skill.
It was a blurred figure, wild and fierce, wearing a Captain's Haori.
He carried a battered Zanpakuto over his shoulder, and his single eye gleamed with a light that seemed capable of cutting through anything.
[UR · Limited Character Summon Card · Zaraki Kenpachi (Three Minutes)] [Description: Summons Zaraki Kenpachi, captain of the 11th Division of the Gotei 13 from the world of Bleach, into the current world for three minutes. During the summon, Kenpachi possesses approximately 90% of his peak overall strength (adjusted to fit the current world's energy system).] [Summon Traits:] Independent Will: The summoned being has full autonomy and combat instincts. He cannot be directly controlled by the host, but is absolutely loyal to him by default. Fighting Spirit Unleashed: The summoned being is extremely battle-hungry. Upon appearing, he automatically targets the strongest enemy in range (as determined by the system) and attacks. If the host wants him to attack a specific target, they must designate it at the moment of summoning. Time Limit: Strictly three minutes; cannot be extended. When time runs out or the summoned being is "destroyed," he will automatically return. Energy Cost: After each use, this card enters a 30-day cooldown. Special Notice: Kenpachi fights with extreme ferocity and may cause indiscriminate, large-scale destruction. Choose where to use him carefully. [Quality: Red (Limited UR)]
Liuyu's breath hitched for a moment.
A UR card!
Not an SSR, but an even higher UR!
And it was a limited "Character Summon Card"!
Zaraki Kenpachi!
In his Shikai state, he'd sliced a meteorite tens of kilometers across to pieces with a single strike.
The strongest Kenpachi in the history of Soul Society.
A monster who could overwhelm most Bankai-wielding captains through sheer Reiatsu and swordsmanship, a madman who pursued the ultimate thrill of battle!
Even if he only lasted three minutes, and only had 90% of his original strength...
In the world of Naruto, at this point in time, he was a nuclear-deterrent-level trump card capable of turning any battle around!
"What an... unexpected surprise." Uchiha Ryūha murmured, unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
The ten-pull had yielded far more than he'd expected.
Five SR Kido, one SR Blut Vene training method, and one special SR Hōgyoku Fragment.
Incantation Abandonment, basic healing Kido, and... a UR summon card powerful enough to serve as his ultimate trump card.
With a thought, all the cards he'd just acquired turned into streaks of light and merged into his body.
The Kido incantations, the paths for channeling spiritual power, and the key points of Blut Vene training became instantly clear to him.
The Hōgyoku Fragment transformed into a crystal the size of a fingernail, giving off a barely perceptible dark-purple glow. It appeared in his hand.
Liuyu thought for a moment, then took out a sturdy black cord, threaded the crystal onto it, and put it around his neck, hiding it against his skin.
As for the UR Summon Card, it took the most prominent spot in his system inventory.
The dark-red card face looked as if it might drip blood at any moment.
Everything was ready.
Liuyu opened his eyes and looked toward Konoha beyond the training ground.
The Chunin Ninja Exams...
I hope you'll give me a good fight.
Before you continue