"Wait, this is Konoha! Chiba Tetsuya? That's my name?"
Inside Konoha's refugee camp, Tetsuya struggled to sit up in his hospital bed. The pain coursing through his body told him he was still alive.
His mind was a complete mess, though. He wasn't the real Chiba Tetsuya, and he had already forgotten his original name.
All he remembered was playing Naruto Mobile in his Super Kage promotion match. His opponent's plant guy had reverse-swept three of his characters, making him so furious that he slapped his computer case. Then the case exploded.
When he woke up again, he was here.
As for the unlucky original Chiba Tetsuya, he had just died.
"The current time is... when Madara Uchiha controlled the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha!"
The Konoha residents gathered inside the tent further confirmed the memories in his head.
The attack seemed to be over, though. Konoha was now being rebuilt.
"Ow... why did I have to transmigrate to this point in time?"
Tetsuya sucked in a sharp breath, wincing at the pain throughout his body.
Other transmigrators either became the golden boy Naruto, the king of show-offs Sasuke, or some descendant of the Senju or a member of the Uchiha.
Yet he had become an ordinary Konoha resident. He wasn't even a ninja.
Damn it! Since he had transmigrated, he wanted a beauty in each arm too. He wanted to experience a face wash in Tsunade's cleavage and a Hinata-and-Hanabi sister sandwich.
Now, never mind the sister sandwich—wasn't Tsunade still a flat-chested girl?
"This isn't fair, heavens! We're all transmigrators, so you've got to give me a cheat too, right? System, are you there? Come out and say something!"
[Ding! Congratulations on your successful transmigration, host. System binding complete.]
A husky-shaped system sprite appeared in front of Tetsuya.
"Nice! I knew systems came standard for transmigrators. System buddy, tell me what you can do!"
[This system keeps things simple: pay to get stronger, top up to use Card Draw! The rewards in the pools come from across the Entire Shinobi World. If the Ninja World has it, so do I. If the Ninja World doesn't have it, I still do.]
"Awesome! So, is there a beginner reward?"
[Dream on. This system never does business at a loss. A beginner reward? Why not just ask me to hand you the Ninja World's highest combat power?]
The Husky System picked its nose with a paw in a remarkably human gesture.
[There's no beginner gift pack, but I do have a first top-up reward. Want to give it a go? Try topping up six bucks first?]
"A six-buck first top-up?"
Tetsuya's eyelid twitched.
"Don't fucking tell me this dog system was made by Tencent."
[Hey, hey, watch what you say, young man. Let me correct you: this system is a husky. Dogs are dogs, and huskies are huskies.]
Aren't huskies dogs?!!!
And you didn't even deny being made by Tencent! So you really are a Tencent product! Don't tell me you're actually Naruto Mobile turned into a system! What a damn rip-off!
At that moment, Tetsuya felt as though a hundred thousand alpacas were stampeding through his mind.
Still, a rip-off was a rip-off. It was better than nothing.
As the saying went, the poor relied on mutations, and the rich relied on technology. A transmigrator without money or influence like him could only rely on his system.
He pulled a small bill and some coins from his pocket. Exactly six bucks—six ryo.
"System, top up."
[Ding! Congratulations on completing your first top-up, host.]
The Husky System immediately changed its tune, putting on a fawning expression.
Well, look at that. It perks right up at the sight of money. Is this the legendary pay-to-win dog?
[Congratulations, host. You have received the first top-up rewards: Introductory Chakra Refinement and the training methods for the Basic Three Body Technique.]
At the same time, a panel opened in front of Tetsuya.
[Name: Chiba Tetsuya Age: 16 Identity: Konoha civilian Skills: Chakra training method Chakra: 0 Items held: Substitution Technique training method, Clone Technique training method, Transformation Technique training method Credits: 120]
Looking at his panel, Tetsuya couldn't help worrying. He really was weak.
The first top-up rewards were actually this lousy. Apart from chakra refinement, which had been directly implanted into his mind, he still had to learn the three techniques himself.
"Doggo, tell me the truth. Did you skim something off the top? Why are there so few rewards?"
[What are you talking about? You only topped up six bucks. How much more do you want? Come on, this is plenty. All of that was free, and you can still use your credits for Card Draw.]
"Then I want to use Card Draw."
[Sorry, insufficient credits. You can't even afford a draw from the most basic reward pool.]
Tetsuya nearly choked on his own breath and died of anger on the spot.
Seriously, is this my cheat, or is it here to piss me off?
"How much does one draw cost?"
[See for yourself.]
The interface flickered, and three reward pools appeared before him.
The first cost 168 credits per draw, the second cost 1,680, and the third cost 16,800.
"You're ripping me off, aren't you?!"
[That's the going market rate. All right, Lord Dog is going to get some rest. Call me when you have money. Otherwise, don't contact me.]
"System, system! Husky? Pay-to-win dog!"
Tetsuya called out inwardly a couple of times, but the system completely ignored him.
His expression darkened.
"I still have money."
[Oh my, why didn't you say so sooner, master? How much would you like to top up this time?]
"Heh. Look at that attitude."
Tetsuya couldn't help rolling his eyes. Looking at the fawning husky, he took a few more coins from his pocket.
"Here, another five bucks. I want to top up."
[Tsk. That's it?]
"What? Five bucks isn't money?"
[Fine. Top-up successful.]
The coins in his hand vanished, and his credit balance rose to 170.
"Okay, that's enough for one draw. System, I want to use Card Draw."
As soon as he finished speaking, the balance before his eyes dropped to 2.
A huge prize wheel appeared and began to spin.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have received the complete production techniques for Ichiraku Ramen!]
"What a rip-off! What am I supposed to do with this?! Why is something like this in the reward pool?! Shouldn't it be ninjutsu, ninja tools, or kekkei genkai or something? Are you screwing with me?!"
[Hey, you can't say that, host. I told you right from the start: if the Ninja World has it, so do I. If the Ninja World doesn't have it, I still do.] [What, are you saying Ichiraku Ramen isn't something from the Ninja World?]
"..."
He really couldn't argue with that. After all, Ichiraku Ramen did count as something from the Ninja World, and it had a pretty strong presence, too.
[Besides, hear me out, host. Konoha has everything to rebuild right now. Isn't this the perfect time to open a ramen shop? With your Ichiraku Ramen skills, you're guaranteed to turn a profit.]
Tetsuya considered how popular Ichiraku Ramen had been in the original story. That did seem to make sense.
If I open a ramen shop, won't I rake in the cash? Once I've made money, I can draw more prizes! Whether it's 168, 1,680, or 16,800, I'll be able to draw from whichever pool I want!
Just thinking about it got Tetsuya excited.
"Okay, then I'll open a ramen shop!"
Before you continue