Generous Rewards 1/2

Setting aside his jumbled thoughts for the moment, Hayato noticed that the system prompt said "fuse" rather than "learn"—just two words apart.

"Fuse!"

"Compatible skill detected: Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. Fusing... Fusion successful."

Along with the system prompt, something extra appeared in Hayato's mind. It felt just like when he had fused with the String-String Fruit. Looking at his status panel again, he found an additional entry: "Gentle Fist Art: Thirty-Two Beasts Wave Palm."

Gentle Fist Art: Thirty-Two Beasts Wave Palm condensed wind blades in the user's palms while striking acupuncture points, cutting through the enemy.

If striking acupuncture points was magical damage, then the Beast Wave Palm was physical damage. Thirty-Two Beasts Wave Palm combined both types of damage, making it even more powerful. Hayato was quite satisfied.

Then he checked his inventory.

There was an additional mask inside. It was mostly white, with three slanted red stripes around the right eye socket. The lower half featured two rows of teeth, giving it a somewhat ferocious appearance.

As he focused his thoughts on the mask, a line of information appeared—Ichigo Kurosaki's Mask (First Stage): Chakra amount +0%, chakra recovery speed +10%.

Oh-ho!

Hayato actually exclaimed, then quickly covered his mouth. His eyes narrowed into slits from smiling.

A ninja's chakra reserves depended on many factors:

Age—chakra naturally increased as the body matured.

Physical talent—the Uzumaki Clan and Senju Clan were born with vast chakra reserves, while the Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan were considered average.

Training and modification—the Strength of a Hundred Seal, Earth Grudge Fear, fusing with other people's cells, and so on.

The ninja world was full of oddities, and there were quite a few ways to increase chakra. However, very few were normal. With Hayato's current chakra reserves, 0% chakra was enough to cast two or three C-rank ninjutsu. Furthermore, chakra was increased by percentage, so the greater Hayato's base chakra reserves became, the more he gained. Simply put, this was equipment he could use from the newbie village all the way to the final boss.

To others, Hayato's reaction seemed a little excessive. Someone muttered softly, "There's no need to be that happy, right? He's just first place. There's one every year."

Hayato heard it but did not care. The Ninja Academy students were not united as one, and some people were probably unhappy that he had taken first place. Still, unhappy as they were, they did not have the strength to challenge Hayato one-on-one, so they could only make snide remarks to annoy him.

Back on Blue Star, Hayato had worked as a neighborhood officer. Without the mentality to wipe spit from his face and carry on, he would have suffered a mental breakdown long ago from dealing with all kinds of middle-aged women.

When it came to annoying people, these guys were not even fit to carry those aunties' shoes.

Hayato did not take it to heart. Instead, Feifei, who had always had the best temper, stepped forward and shot that person a fierce glare.

With Feifei stepping up, Neji naturally would not fall behind.

The person immediately cowered, lowering his head and scurrying far away.

Feifei complained, "Hayato, aren't you going to do something about these people? All they do is make sarcastic remarks."

Hayato was still in high spirits and casually said, "Let them. It's not like I'm the one bothered by it. My favorite kind of person is someone who can't stand me but can't do anything to me. If they're upset, they can just hold it in."

Feifei was still sullen.

After thinking about it carefully, Hayato understood. Feifei was a civilian ninja, and by hanging around with clan children like Hayato, she had secretly suffered exclusion from some civilian ninjas. Those people could not do anything to Hayato, Neji, or Shishin, so they vented even more of their resentment on Feifei.

In truth, the divide between civilian ninjas and clan ninjas was gradually disappearing. However, some people remained stubbornly old-fashioned, always eager to flaunt themselves and seek attention.

That little incident ruined Hayato's mood to continue examining his rewards.

The Third Hokage, busy with countless affairs, soon departed, leaving behind a group of excited newly promoted genin to cheer to their hearts' content.

Aburame Shishin's Kikaichū were so excited they started falling off him. He was just like Sister Feifei when she had seen boobs last time. Holding his forehead protector, he ran over and asked, "Hayato, Hayato, where are you going to tie your forehead protector? Your forehead, neck, chest, waist, or...?"

Hayato kicked Aburame Shishin. He really kicked him, because this guy had the nerve to hold the forehead protector up against his crotch.

Aburame Shishin chuckled. "Just kidding. It's not like I'm tired of living."

Hayato glared at him without saying anything.

Hyuga Neji silently tied his forehead protector around his forehead, covering the Caged Bird curse mark. White bandages had originally been wrapped there. Perhaps the memory had been stirred again, because Hyuga Neji's gaze turned sorrowful.

After trying several times, Aburame Shishin suddenly had an idea. He found a strip of cloth, extended the forehead protector's ties, and strapped it diagonally across his chest like a heart-protecting mirror.

Aburame Shishin smugly said, "So handsome. As expected of me."

Hayato took a look. It actually did look pretty good, and it could even be used as protective gear.

Still, daily verbal beatings had to be delivered.

Hayato patted Aburame Shishin's shoulder. "Whether you're handsome depends on your face. What does that have to do with a forehead protector? Look at you. Your collar covers your chin, your sunglasses hide your eyes, and your hair covers your forehead. Your whole face only has a nose left. You can only compete in looks with people who wear masks, eyepatches, or bandages around their faces."

Used to bickering with Hayato, Aburame Shishin immediately struck back and sneered, "Heh, who says handsomeness only depends on the face? Height matters too, you short runt. A second-class cripple."

The Hyuga clan was generally not very tall. At twelve, Hayato was 1.55 meters, which was not short, but Aburame Shishin had apparently eaten some kind of growth hormones and reached 1.6 meters.

Hayato smiled and pointed at Hyuga Neji and Feifei.

Neji was 1.53 meters tall, while Feifei was 1.5 meters tall. Both of them glared at Aburame Shishin.

Aburame Shishin hurriedly said, "Nonsense, nonsense! Ah... have mercy, don't hit my face! I'm a dignified genin, after all. Hey!!! Hayato, if you dare use a monkey steals peaches, we can't be friends anymore!"

"Secret Technique: Thousand Years of Death!"

"Ah-oh~~~"

It was not monkey steals peaches, so there was nothing wrong with it, bro. They could still be friends afterward. Wahahaha...

Genin was a new starting point, but also a crossroads.

Different choices would guide ninjas down different paths.

Some would become conventional ninjas, advancing from genin to chunin, then from chunin to jonin. Jonin was the endpoint for most ninjas.

Some would enter Konoha Hospital and become medical ninjas.

Some would enter the Science Division.

Some would enter the Sealing Division.

In short, companions who had spent every day together might go their separate ways. If someone died on a mission, then they would be separated forever.

As the excitement cooled, the joyful atmosphere froze, and some people began to cry softly.

Hayato could not stand that atmosphere and said, "Let's go to the hospital. We need to give Lee his forehead protector."

Familiar with the way, they returned to Room 04.

This time, Morita Tomomi was not there. Rock Lee lay on the bed, repeatedly clenching and opening his fists as he performed simple exercises.

"Lee!"

"You came to see me." Rock Lee said happily, then pretended to be angry. "Why did you only come today!"

Heh!

The four of them exchanged teasing looks.

Hayato said, "Shishin!"

Their eyes met, and Aburame Shishin instantly understood. He posed as though he were lying in a hospital bed.

Hayato pretended to hold a bowl and shyly fed him one bite at a time, perfectly recreating yesterday's scene.

No matter how slow Rock Lee was, he understood now. Stammering, he said, "This... that... you guys!"

Rock Lee's brain overloaded. His eyes turned into spirals, his face reddened like a cooked shrimp, and steam practically rose from his head.

Bang!

A collision sounded from outside the door.

Feifei looked outside, then came back while holding back laughter.

Aburame Shishin asked, "What happened?"

Grinning, Feifei said, "That girl from yesterday probably saw everything just now. She got embarrassed and panicked so badly that she walked into a pillar."

"HAHAHAHA...!"

This time, they could not hold it in any longer. Laughter erupted throughout the hospital room.

The four of them stayed in the room until nearly noon before leaving.

They had to leave because the school was holding its customary graduation banquet.

The banquet was held in the school's tiered classroom. The food was supplied by students' parents and sponsored by businesses, served buffet-style.

When they heard Hayato was going to join the ANBU, everyone else was surprised.

Aburame Shishin was very envious, because the ANBU were the Hokage's direct forces, which was pretty cool.

No one from the Hyuga Clan had ever served in the ANBU before. Hyuga Neji fell silent for a moment before asking, "Did the Main Branch agree?"

Hayato nodded.

It was a win-win arrangement—internally, the Hyuga Clan could tell everyone else that they loved Konoha, were willing to unite around the Third Hokage, and contribute their strength to Konoha's prosperity; externally, Konoha could tell the other ninja villages that the clans in the village were sensible and united, so they should weigh their own worth before stirring up trouble.

Besides, the Third Hokage had personally stepped in. If he was still refused, where would the Hokage's dignity go?

[PS] The reward in Chapter 18 has been changed to Beast Wave Palm.

Thanks to the big shots "Shouxin" and "Shouqing" for the eight recommendation votes. You guys stay up late—where are you having fun?

The contract has been received. I don't know when the status will change to signed, and I have no experience with this, so all I can do is wait.

If you have recommendation votes, leave some for Directionless Fungus. If you have not bookmarked this yet, please do. If you already have, go buy a lottery ticket, because someone as handsome as you has a high chance of winning. Once you win five million, come back and tip me a bottle of soda—a 50-liter bottle of nerd happiness water will do.