Year 43 of Konoha.
In the vast auditorium of the Konoha Ninja Academy, little groups of children gathered here and there, waiting for the graduation ceremony to begin.
"Good morning, Genya!"
The girls' sweet voices rang out.
A boy dressed in the Hyuga clan robes, with a forehead protector on his head, turned around. A smile spread across his handsome face.
"Good morning, Anko, Rin, Kurenai..."
The group naturally gathered together and started chatting, wondering who would be assigned to the same team after graduation.
I wonder if I'll be assigned to the same team as Genya. Anko thought to herself.
It would be wonderful if I could be on the same team as Genya. Yuhi Kurenai thought the same.
Genya had looks to spare and skill... well, he had looks to spare. He was also a smooth talker, so it was easy for him to win the girls' affection.
"Damn it, why won't any girls come talk to me first?!"
"Right? Genya's got nothing going for him except his looks. He doesn't have an ounce of substance. I just don't get why all the girls like him!"
"Damn you, Hyuga Genya! My lifelong rival! Aaaagh!"
Watching Genya interact so closely with the girls, plenty of the boys were green with envy.
One boy wearing goggles was by far the loudest of them all.
Genya didn't pay him any mind.
If being as handsome as you readers was a sin, then he was truly unforgivable, deserving of death a thousand times over.
*Man, I'd finally finished my graduation thesis, and before I even had a chance to enjoy life, I got transported to another world.
Maybe this is punishment for staying up all night reading the Naruto manga... I didn't even clear my browsing history.*
Thinking of this, Genya sighed inwardly.
At least he hadn't transmigrated into some old guy with failing eyesight whose clan was about to be wiped out. But being born into the Hyuga Branch Family with cataracts... that wasn't much better, was it?!
Fortunately, as a transmigrator, Genya had come with the standard-issue cheat: a system.
Though there was something wrong with this system. It insisted on waiting until he graduated before activating. Something about... an anti-addiction system?
"Bah, stupid system!"
Before long, the surrounding chatter gradually died down.
A middle-aged man strode onto the stage, clapped his hands, and announced loudly,
"Everyone, quiet down!
I hereby announce that the graduation ceremony for the thirty-sixth class of the Konoha Ninja Academy is now underway!"
The moment the man finished speaking, the system in Genya's mind finally stirred!
[Ding! God-Level Replication System is now online. Startup took two and a half years, beating 10% of all systems across the planes!]
Genya: ???
Looking at the pop-up in his mind, Genya felt that something was a little off. But he didn't dwell on it, instead asking excitedly,
"System, what can you do?"
[This system can randomly replicate one ability from a target designated by the host, including but not limited to Kekkei Genkai, forbidden techniques, ninjutsu, attributes, and so on.] [The host receives 5 replication attempts per year. Current replication attempts: 5 (binding reward).]
"That's insanely awesome?!"
After hearing the system's introduction, Genya's eyes lit up, and he immediately gave it a try.
After fiddling around with the system interface for a while, Genya discovered that he could only select living targets within a hundred meters.
After a moment's thought, Genya chose Uchiha Obito, who was standing not far away, and mentally pressed the "Replicate" option!
Obito barely knew any ninjutsu. Genya wanted to see if he could replicate the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai from him!
People said the Byakugan was the strongest dōjutsu...
What a joke. If you could have Red Eye, who'd want to be stuck with cataracts?!
[Target locked. Replicating ability... Ding! Congratulations, host. You have acquired the skill "Sewing"!]
"What the hell?!" Genya was dumbfounded.
"System, you promised me a Kekkei Genkai! At the very least, I would've settled for a ninjutsu..."
"What the hell is 'Sewing' supposed to be?!"
[Host, just tell me: does "Sewing" count as an ability or not?]
The system's reply left Genya speechless.
Was Obito just so useless that the ability I replicated from him was garbage too?
After thinking it over, Genya selected a new target: the Third, who was attending the ceremony!
I refuse to believe it. System, replicate something for me!
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have acquired the skill "Fancy Cigarette Lighting"!]
Genya: ???
"Piece-of-junk system, you'd better explain yourself, or I'll uninstall you right now! Even Jesus can't save you, and that's final!"
Genya roared furiously inside his mind.
[Here's the thing, host. The chance of replicating a good ability is related to the target's favorability toward you.] [The more the target likes you, the higher the quality of the ability you'll replicate. The less they like you, the lower the quality.]
Genya was furious. "Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier?! You made me waste two attempts!"
System: [You didn't ask.]
Genya: ...Nice.
Genya took a deep breath, too tired to argue with the artificial idiot in his head, and turned his attention back to the graduation ceremony.
Only three attempts left. He'd better think carefully. He'd wait until the next chapter to use them.
By then, the ceremony was nearly over, and the middle-aged man on stage was reading out the team assignments.
Genya felt a little nervous too.
Who would he end up on a team with?
Kakashi the prude, and Obito who charged into battle for love?
Or Asuma the walking unit of measurement, and the green-skinned kappa Might Guy?
"Team Seven: Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin!"
"Team Eight: Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Hyuga Genya!"
Wonderful!
Hearing this, Kurenai nudged Genya with her elbow and said happily, though a little shyly,
"Genya, we're on the same team again. I hope we'll continue to get along."
As she spoke, she shot Anko a discreet, triumphant look, nearly turning her red with rage.
"Absolutely," Genya replied, somewhat dejectedly.
Why'd they put me on the same team as a couple? Are they trying to mess with me?
Asuma, standing not far away, turned around too and gave Kurenai and Genya a cool nod in greeting.
That made Genya even more dejected.
Asuma was so cold. How had he managed to win Kurenai over? That was... unbelievable... Wait?!
Genya suddenly froze.
Asuma and Kurenai weren't together yet, were they? So why couldn't he...?
Hold on. Wouldn't that be kind of wrong?
Genya glanced at Kurenai, who was already breathtakingly beautiful. He hesitated for just 0.01 seconds before making his decision.
Sorry, Asuma!
This is too much for you to handle. Leave Konoha's future to me!
"Genya, why are you staring at me? Is my hair messed up?"
Seeing Genya gaze at her without blinking, a faint blush spread across Yuhi Kurenai's pretty face.
"No." Genya smiled gently. "I was just thinking how happy I am that I'll get to see you every day from now on."
"Y-You're so mean, Genya." Yuhi Kurenai ducked her head in a fluster, her heart pounding.
Beside them, Anko gritted her teeth so hard they nearly shattered. "Damn it! Damn it!"
The Hyuga Branch Family members mostly lived outside the Main Branch compound, clustered around it like stars surrounding the moon.
If disaster ever struck Konoha, they would be the final line of defense protecting the Main Branch.
Genya's house stood at the edge of the circular residential district. It was small and old, barely fit to live in.
There was no helping it. His parents had both died on the battlefield, and he himself had only average talent, so his treatment was naturally nothing special.
After returning home, Genya had just started to look into the system and prepare for the team assessment that might take place the next day when he was told to head to the Main Branch immediately.
"All Hyuga clan members currently in Konoha have to be there? What's going on?"
Genya was completely baffled and muttered to himself,
"At this point in time, nothing major should be happening in Konoha. What's wrong with the Main Branch? Why are they acting up?"
Before you continue