Word about Zhou Cheng had spread through the Hidden Leaf once again. Everyone who had received a reward or watched the Arena firsthand—ninja and civilians alike—was talking to those around them about him.
He let people attack him without pursuing them for it, and even gave them rewards based on how much damage they dealt.
Several people sat around a bonfire in the courtyard where Zhou Cheng had once lived.
"Boss, you're serious? Your injuries healed just from taking one pill?"
"That's incredible!"
"Do you have any of those pills left? Could you show us one?"
The man they called Boss was the same one Zhou Cheng had gravely injured with a Great Fireball Technique, and who had later drawn a Healing Pill from a Blind Box.
"Don't be ridiculous. Getting even one pill that miraculous means I must've been blessed in a past life. How could I have another?"
He remembered everything he had seen that day, and sweat prickled across his back.
Thank goodness I hadn't gone too far before. Otherwise, I'd be nothing but a pile of dirt by now.
"Boss, is Zhou Cheng really that strong?"
"Have you heard of Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin? Or Hatake Kakashi, the Copy Ninja?"
The underlings nodded like pecking chickens. Those two were renowned throughout the Ninja World. Even if they'd never seen them, they'd certainly heard of them.
"They attacked Zhou Cheng, and he didn't even get hurt!"
"Tell me, isn't that terrifying?"
"Good thing we never went too far with him!"
"Otherwise, we'd be corpses by now!"
The thugs exchanged uneasy glances, still shaken by how close they'd come.
"I'm going back to the Arena tomorrow. I'll keep opening Blind Boxes until I get something that can make me a ninja."
"Boss, don't forget about us!"
"We want to go, too!"
"Fine. We'll all go!"
"Someday, every one of us will become a ninja!"
In the dead of night, a small figure wandered aimlessly along a street in the Hidden Leaf.
He had bright blond hair, but his face was swollen and bruised from a beating.
He swung his fist in frustration, grumbling angrily:
"Damn that smug Sasuke! He hit way too hard!"
"But he's so strong. I couldn't even bring myself to fight back!"
He recalled what had happened at school. Sasuke had sent him flying three meters with just one punch.
No matter how many times he got back up, Sasuke knocked him down again and again!
"Ah, this sucks!"
He clutched his hair with both hands, nearly going crazy.
"How can I get as strong as Sasuke?"
Before he knew it, he had reached a food stall, and the aroma wafted into his nose.
He looked up in surprise and gave a helpless smile. Somehow, he'd ended up right outside Ichiraku Ramen.
He suddenly realized how hungry he was, so he lifted the curtain and went inside.
It was already late at night, and there weren't many customers.
Two people sat in adjacent seats, chatting as they ate. Their voices carried, and Naruto heard their conversation clearly.
"Let's go to the Arena together tomorrow. Maybe we can get a Chakra Fruit, too!"
"Then we'd better drink less tonight and get up early tomorrow!"
"If we go late, we won't even get in line!"
Just then, Uncle Ichiraku brought over two steaming bowls of ramen, rich with fragrance.
"What were you talking about just now?"
"Someone named Zhou Cheng has set up an Arena. We can attack him however we want, and he won't hold us responsible. He even gives out Blind Boxes with all kinds of rewards?"
"Are you sure you haven't been scammed?"
A ninja accepted his ramen, took a few sips of the broth, then set the bowl down on the table.
"Of course it's true. You know Itachi Uchiha, right? And Shisui Uchiha? And that kid, Sasuke Uchiha?"
"They got a Chakra Fruit from a Blind Box. Eating it increases your chakra!"
"And those aren't the only rewards. There are plenty of others."
"Like pills that instantly heal external injuries, and all sorts of other incredible things!"
"We're not making this up. We saw it with our own eyes!"
Teuchi still looked unconvinced. How could anything so miraculous exist in the world?
Even the legends of the Ninja World had nothing like that.
He looked up and saw Naruto standing frozen in the doorway.
"Naruto, what are you doing here so late? Hungry?"
Naruto snapped out of it and grinned at Teuchi. "Uncle Ichiraku, I'll have a bowl of miso ramen."
Teuchi answered and headed into the kitchen to get it ready.
Naruto walked over to the two men, his eyes full of curiosity.
"Hey, you two. Where's this Arena you were talking about?"
No wonder Sasuke had gotten so much stronger so quickly. It was because of the Chakra Fruit.
I have to get one, too, and give that Sasuke a serious beating!
"It's in the Uchiha Clan's plaza!"
"Hey, kid, you want to go, too?"
Naruto nodded emphatically. I'm not just going—I'm going to get a Chakra Fruit!
Naruto thanked the two men, then sat down by himself.
A moment later, Teuchi came out with a bowl of ramen and placed it in front of Naruto.
"Here you go. Eat it while it's hot!"
"Judging by how battered you are, you must've lost another fight."
Naruto gave a rueful nod, then looked at the ramen. Its rich aroma made his bad mood vanish in an instant.
"Let's eat!"
He picked up his chopsticks and polished off the entire bowl.
"Delicious!"
"Ich iraku Ramen is always this good!"
Naruto patted his belly in satisfaction, paid, and headed home.
On the way, his spirits had already lifted. He was filled with determination.
After tomorrow, I'll never let anyone call me a dead-last again!
At the hotel where Zhou Cheng was staying, he thought about what lay ahead.
I should provoke them a little more, really get under their skin!
That way, they won't keep holding back because they're afraid of actually killing me!
They're slowing down my Shield Breaking progress too much!
It's only the second day, but I can hardly wait.
He opened the System Space and took out the Super Giant Chakra Fruit he'd obtained.
It looked about the size of two adult fists.
He'd save the fruit in case he needed it later.
Then he picked up the Advanced Ninjutsu Experience Card and shook his head.
I only know C-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu right now. It'd be a waste to use this card. I'll wait until I've learned a high-level technique.
Hopefully, more powerful people will come to the Arena tomorrow. Otherwise, there's no point in using my silver tongue.
Even provoking a hundred ordinary people wouldn't compare to one Heavenly Pain Kick from Tsunade.
If I can get 500,000 damage points in one day, that'd be amazing!
In any case, I'm one step closer to breaking the shield completely. The Sage of Six Paths' body and strength—those are the pinnacle of the Ninja World!
It still couldn't compare to the Ōtsutsuki Clan, but it'd be more than enough!
He shifted into a more comfortable position and got ready to sleep.
The night passed without incident. The next morning, Zhou Cheng woke up naturally!
Before you continue