That Damn System

Naruto felt a little terrified at the thought.

He had no idea how old Feng Baobao was, but if he had to stay twelve forever, he wasn't having it.

Hinata sensed the surge of chakra. The moment she turned around, her mouth fell open.

Naruto seemed to have grown a lot taller.

Naruto had originally stood at 1.65 meters, and he'd been happy with that. Growing to around 1.85 meters by the time he was sixteen or seventeen was fine. The main thing was that being too short didn't give off much of an air of strength.

Using Twin Palms, Naruto had now grown to 1.75 meters and looked about sixteen, roughly like he did in Shippuden. He was a lot more handsome.

But his face still looked a little childish. And this form couldn't be changed. He'd just tried using Twin Palms, but it hadn't worked.

His face twitched violently. He was speechless. As expected, that damn system had its flaws: once it gave him something, he had no choice but to keep it.

He used to think the system wasn't very intelligent, which made it easier to trust. But now he suddenly felt that this stupid thing was a real pain. What if it gave him Gu-Body Saint Child next time? Would he be forced to take that too? There were countless troublesome physiques across the myriad worlds.

"Naruto, what happened?"

Hinata's mouth hung open. She thought Naruto looked very handsome, but still—

"It's nothing."

Triple Inversion activated, and Naruto's body shrank until he was back to normal.

But that was the effect of Triple Inversion. From now on, he could only maintain that state, just like the sect leader.

Hinata opened and closed her mouth, wanting to ask, but not knowing how.

Naruto was the same. He had no idea how to explain it.

He also felt that the system was a headache.

I'd better avoid drawing rewards unless I really have no choice.

Naruto made up his mind. His luck couldn't stay that good forever. Take immortality, for example, or the Cinnabar Mark he'd gotten before.

That cursed thing was even more aggravating. Now that he had Twin Palms and was so powerful, Naruto had once tried to remove the restriction himself.

But for some reason, he couldn't get rid of it.

He even suspected that cutting it off and growing another one wouldn't be enough to escape it.

That was how overbearing the system was.

At the same time, he felt a little relieved. Thank goodness he hadn't drawn that character card when he was a child. He couldn't imagine how terrifying things would have been if he'd gotten Feng Baobao instead of Immortal Daying from the start.

At the thought, his palm broke out in a cold sweat.

Hinata sensed it.

"What's wrong, Naruto?"

Her voice was full of worry and confusion.

"Nothing. I was trying to train just now, but something went a little wrong."

For a moment, Naruto didn't know how to explain it.

They'd agreed to grow up together, and suddenly he'd turned into an adult.

"Then you...?"

Naruto's explanation only made Hinata more worried.

"There's a bit of a side effect. My body grew a little. Don't tell anyone."

Since Hinata had already seen, Naruto didn't hide it from her.

There was no real reason to keep this ability secret.

"So that was what you looked like when you grew up." Hearing that this was the only side effect, Hinata felt relieved. Her face flushed as she remembered what she'd just seen. He'd looked so handsome.

"Yeah, about sixteen."

Naruto was speechless. Thinking that he might have to stay sixteen forever made him scratch his head in frustration. It wasn't that it looked bad; he just felt too young. If he could be eighteen, that would be even better.

Hinata naturally didn't understand what Naruto was worrying about. As far as she was concerned, growing up quickly was great—and he really was so handsome.

"Then, Naruto, is this a Transformation Technique?"

Hinata blinked her big eyes.

"Something like that."

Naruto's voice sounded weak.

"Um, Naruto, I didn't get a good look just now. Can you show me again?"

They were in the dark, but her Byakugan seemed to shine like a sky full of stars.

With those bright, sparkling eyes gazing at him so expectantly, Naruto felt an itch all over his back and couldn't get comfortable.

He just couldn't bring himself to say no.

He released Triple Inversion, and his body instantly returned to its sixteen-year-old form.

Long hair, clear and gentle facial features, eyes as deep as the starry sky, and a tall, strong physique.

A puff of smoke seemed to rise from Hinata's head.

He was so handsome—his face, his figure, his whole bearing. He was just too handsome.

Hinata's mind short-circuited, and her eyes went hazy.

Seeing how cute she looked, Naruto couldn't help smiling. His frustration suddenly disappeared.

Maybe it's not so bad.

He might look a little young, but Hinata liked it, and that was what mattered.

At 1.75 meters, he was tall enough anyway.

Seeing how cute she was, he couldn't resist bending down and giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

Triple Inversion.

His body turned back into his current twelve-year-old form.

After the movie ended, the two of them walked out of the theater in a daze. Neither of them remembered what the plot had been about.

Naruto was still a little frustrated, but he gradually came to terms with it. He probably wouldn't dare use the system again after this.

After walking Hinata home, Naruto returned to his own place.

The next day was sunny and cloudless, perfect weather for an outing.

The team members arrived early at the gates of Konoha to meet up.

It was their first time leaving the village, and both Sasuke and Hinata were excited.

Naruto was, too.

Compared to them, Kakashi was the one who was truly nervous.

This mission would take them across half the Ninja World, and the three people under his care were each more troublesome than the last.

The Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family, the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, and Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Not one of them could afford to get hurt while they were away.

Kakashi wasn't even in the mood to read Icha Icha Paradise.

In the original story, Naruto didn't know whether Anbu had protected him the first time he left the village, but this time, no other ninja would be accompanying them besides Kakashi.

Honestly, Naruto was quite pleased about that. It felt like the greatest sign of Tsunade's trust in them.

He glanced at his two companions. They were young, but full of spirit.

This team could take on a final boss together without any problem.

Compared to Sakura, Hinata had greater potential. If he helped her get a Tenseigan later, they'd be ready to take on the bosses as a team.

Forget Kaguya Otsutsuki—even if other Otsutsuki showed up, Naruto was confident he could take them down.

"Good grief, what a pain."

Kakashi suddenly walked over and scratched his head.

"Are we setting off, Kakashi-sensei?"

The three of them looked at Kakashi expectantly.

"There's been a bit of a problem. The person we're supposed to protect ran off. Go find them, and we'll set out once you do."

Kakashi scratched his head.

The three of them instantly looked dejected.