God-Tier Bloodline (Tips and Monthly Tickets Appreciated)

By the time the sun set, Sasuke still hadn't reached the top of the tree. His pride had taken a serious blow.

In the original story, Sasuke and Naruto had spent ages practicing this during their mission in the Land of Waves.

But things were different now. Naruto had become an even more overpowered cheat, so he had mastered this basic training early.

As for Sakura, she had a gift for it. Unfortunately, that talent wouldn't be fully developed until Tsunade became Hokage.

"Sasuke-kun, I... I'm going home," Sakura said, looking at Sasuke apologetically. "Mom will get mad if I don't."

Sasuke was panting too hard to answer her.

Sakura sighed. After a moment's hesitation, she walked away, looking back every few steps.

"Haha, Sasuke, still not done? I'm exhausted!" Naruto called from a distance.

He sprinted up the outside wall of the school building, reached the roof, then leaped down onto a large tree beside it.

From there, he bounded across the treetops toward them and landed next to Sasuke.

"Keep at it, Sasuke. After tomorrow's exercise, how about I come over and take a look at your Ninjutsu Scrolls?" Naruto said, patting Sasuke's shoulder.

He had told Sasuke what he wanted that morning.

Sasuke hesitated, glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then mumbled, "Fine, but you have to tell me the trick to Tree-Walking."

"You want to learn? I'll teach you!"

"Oh, and Sasuke... you don't mind if I make a move on your girl, do you?"

On her way home, Sakura replayed the day's events in her mind. Naruto's face kept coming back to her.

First, he had beaten Sasuke with over a hundred Shadow Clones at the Training Ground. Then he had reached the treetop so quickly.

Have I really misjudged Naruto all these years? Maybe he isn't stupid. Maybe he just doesn't like reading? Sakura wondered, lost in thought.

Then she remembered how cold Sasuke had always been toward her. With a sigh, she found herself sitting on a bench by the path.

It was a quiet path on the school grounds. Whenever she came here, she felt at peace.

What can I do to make Sasuke like me? At least there's no rush. We'll be on the same team from now on.

"Sakura!"

A rich voice came from behind her.

Sakura's heart skipped a beat. She spun around and saw Sasuke leaning against a tree trunk, holding a bunch of red flowers and gazing at her tenderly.

"Wow!" Sakura clasped her hands over her heart. All her worries vanished as she looked back at him, blushing.

Sasuke came over, sat beside her, and took her hand.

Her heart fluttered wildly.

"S-Sasuke-kun, did you come to confess your feelings to me?" Sakura asked, thrilled and hopeful as one daydream after another filled her head...

Lost in them, she closed her eyes and leaned in toward Sasuke's lips.

A sly smile appeared on "Sasuke's" face. How could he turn down a kiss offered so freely?

In the original story, Naruto had missed this chance because expired milk had given him diarrhea. That wasn't happening this time!

He would call it fulfilling the original Naruto's dream.

Besides, the original Naruto had spent so long chasing Sakura. Surely collecting a little interest wasn't too much?

And hadn't Sakura always wanted to do this with Sasuke? He was making her dream come true too!

Half an hour later.

"Sasuke, we can't keep... I really have to go, or Mom will search the whole village for me," Sakura said reluctantly.

"Mm, all right." Sasuke smoothed Sakura's tousled hair and said softly:

"Sakura, starting tomorrow, I'll still act like I don't care about you. But that's just the image I show everyone."

"Huh?" Sakura looked at Sasuke curiously.

"I'm Naruto's underling now. He's strong and better-looking than me, so I have to act aloof to seem strong myself."

"Sasuke-kun, you..." Sakura was even more confused.

"Shh! Don't say anything, and don't come bothering me! I'll find you when we're alone!" Sasuke covered Sakura's mouth and went on:

"Remember, you absolutely can't mention what happened today in front of anyone!"

"Mm!" Sakura nodded, her cheeks red. How could she possibly tell anyone about something so embarrassing?

Covering her burning cheeks, Sakura ran off shyly.

Sasuke watched her go, licked the lingering cherry-blossom taste from his lips, then took a deep breath and headed home.

With a poof, Sasuke released the Transformation Technique and returned to Naruto's appearance.

Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the special [Female Lead] mission! Special rewards: one [Skill Upgrade Scroll] and one [Bloodline Upgrade Scroll]!

Naruto's eyes lit up at the rewards. "A [Bloodline Upgrade Scroll] and a [Skill Upgrade Scroll]? Both are great!"

First, he opened his Personal Status Panel:

Host: Naruto Uzumaki (Sunglasses Man)

Age: 12

Strength: Genin

Chakra attributes: Yang, wind, water, earth (granted by Sage Body)

Bloodlines:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body (Level 3)

Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai (Level 1)

Skills:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body abilities (Proficient) (Huge Chakra Amount, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Physical Healing, sealing technique aptitude)

Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai abilities (Novice) (clay Ant)

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (Proficient)

Transformation Technique (Masterful)

Clone Technique (Proficient)

Super Chakra Control (Novice)

Flying Thunder God Technique (Uninitiated)

Impure World Reincarnation (Uninitiated)

Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags (Uninitiated)

Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Uninitiated)

Hashirama Senju's Wood Release Ninjutsu (Uninitiated)

Tobirama Senju's Water Release Ninjutsu (Uninitiated)

His Personal Status Panel showed that he currently had two bloodlines: the Level 3 [Uzumaki Clan Sage Body] and the Level 1 [Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai].

Naruto studied the two bloodlines and fell into thought.

The latter had helped him cause two explosions. Its strengths were its formidable attack power and the ability to control the air. Its weakness was that he couldn't use it openly, at least not yet.

The former was superb support. Its accompanying abilities were excellent, but it couldn't give his combat strength a massive boost, and he couldn't reveal it either.

Still, it had one enormous advantage for him: one more upgrade would bring it to Level 4—a [God-Tier Bloodline]!

"A God-Tier Bloodline!" Naruto swallowed. It should be a qualitative leap!

"System, use the [Bloodline Upgrade Scroll] on the [Uzumaki Clan Sage Body]!"