The bell had rung three times, but the sixth-year classroom at the Konoha Ninja Academy was still noisy.
Only the window seat in the back row was eerily quiet.
A new transfer student, Kambara Sogetsu, lay there.
Not only was he fast asleep, leaning back in his chair, but he also had both legs propped high on his desk.
Clack.
The classroom door opened, and Iruka walked in carrying a stack of handouts.
He immediately spotted the figure sleeping with his feet up in the back row, and a vein at his temple throbbed twice.
"Hey, look. That guy's asleep again."
"He's that famous Sleep God, right? Sleeps through all eight classes a day and comes last in every exam."
"Tch, how did a dead-last like him get transferred into our class?"
"Shh, keep it down. Iruka-sensei looks furious."
Several students whispered among themselves. Their voices weren't loud, but every word reached Iruka's ears.
Iruka pressed a hand to his forehead, sighed deeply, and revealed the truth:
"Yeah, I bet none of the other classes wanted him."
He knew a dead-last was being "transferred" into his class today. He had also heard of this infamous Sleep God.
But he couldn't really turn him away. All the other classes were rejecting him. If he did the same, the kid would have nowhere left to study.
"I'll try to keep him in line." Iruka felt exhausted already.
"Sensei, this guy even sleeps with his feet up. He's cockier than me!" a blond boy in the front row chimed in.
"Naruto, shut up. You're the last person who should be criticizing anyone." Iruka shot him a glare.
The class burst into laughter.
Iruka wasted no more words. He snatched the chalkboard eraser from the lectern and, with a flick of his wrist, hurled it with all his strength.
"Kambara Sogetsu! Wake up this instant!"
The eraser traced a swift, straight arc toward the back row.
Several students had already covered their mouths, waiting to see the Sleep God's ridiculous face after he got smacked.
A second later, every smile froze.
The boy sleeping so soundly didn't even lift his head. He merely extended two fingers lazily.
Smack.
He caught the eraser firmly between his fingers.
The entire classroom fell silent.
Iruka's eyes widened. His mouth hung open, refusing to close.
He had taught for years and seen plenty of geniuses.
But very few could catch a chalkboard eraser with their eyes closed.
After all, he had put some force into that throw, intending to knock the kid awake.
In the dead silence, Kambara Sogetsu finally opened his eyes slowly.
He glanced down at the eraser between his fingers, then lazily raised his gaze toward Iruka, who stood frozen beside the lectern.
After a long pause, he spoke.
His voice was languid, yet frighteningly clear:
"Here, none may disturb my peaceful dreams."
With that, he flicked his fingers.
The eraser flipped through the air and landed squarely on the lectern.
Iruka clenched his fists, a vein bulging at his temple.
"You little brat! Sleeping in class, and you still dare act so arrogant?"
"Get outside and stand in the hall!"
Tap.
Only then did Kambara Sogetsu slowly straighten up. His gaze swept across the class before settling on Iruka.
"Sensei, you should know that I wasn't sleeping just now."
"I was training."
Iruka: "..."
The entire class: ???
Unhurried, Kambara Sogetsu continued:
"You mortals could never understand..."
The room fell deathly silent.
The faintest hint of a smile curved Kambara Sogetsu's lips. His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck everyone's eardrums.
"How could mere mortals like you understand?"
"Remember my name. I am Kambara Sogetsu."
"Beneath the moonlight, there is nothing I cannot catch."
"From today onward, I call the shots in this classroom."
An instant later, the whole class erupted into an uproar.
Sasuke leaned back in his chair with his arms folded and gave a cold scoff.
"What a poser."
Yet a trace of interest had clearly appeared in his eyes.
This transfer student's manner was actually somewhat like his own.
No, perhaps he was even cockier.
Naruto sprang straight out of his seat, his eyes wide as he pumped his fists excitedly.
"That was awesome! How did you do that just now? I couldn't even see it!"
"And you said there's nothing you can't catch beneath the moonlight. What about during the day?"
Beside him, Sakura immediately rolled her eyes and poked Naruto in disgust.
"Idiot, the moon's there during the day too. You just can't see it. But that's obviously a load of nonsense."
"And what's so impressive about that anyway? He's nowhere near Sasuke-kun."
After speaking, she sneaked a glance at Sasuke, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably.
Shikamaru propped his chin on his hand, looking utterly done with life, and let out a long sigh.
"What a drag. Showing off the moment he gets here. A weirdo like him is bound to cause endless trouble."
Choji didn't even lift his head. His mouth was stuffed with potato chips, crunching away as though none of this had anything to do with him.
Ino hid half her face behind a textbook and groaned quietly.
"Oh my god, he actually dared to say that. I'm too embarrassed to keep listening..."
"Is there something wrong with his brain?"
For a moment, chatter rose from every corner.
"'Beneath the moonlight, there's nothing he can't catch'? Who does he think he is?"
"No idea, but he sure knows how to show off."
"Shh, stop talking. We're toast if he hears us."
Kambara Sogetsu remained utterly unruffled, as steady as a rock.
It was as though those outrageously melodramatic lines had nothing to do with him.
But only he knew the truth.
Inside his shoes, his toes had already curled hard enough to carve out three Hokage Rocks.
Awkward.
So damn awkward.
The embarrassment made his scalp tingle. It made him want to drop dead on the spot.
He had spent his entire previous life with social anxiety. In this life, he had finally managed to become invisible-until yesterday.
[Ding!] [Bold Hero System successfully bound!] [Function description: Every unconventional action the host takes that attracts others' attention will be converted into Valor Points.] [Valor Points can be exchanged for any ability, including ninjutsu, kekkei genkai, secret techniques, and physical enhancements.] [Core rule: The more you show off, the stronger you become.]
This Bold Hero System had ruined him.
After transmigrating to Konoha, he had planned out his life early on.
He would be an ordinary nobody, coast through life, and ride everyone else's coattails to the ending.
After all, Naruto was guaranteed to win the war in the Shinobi World.
He only needed to lie low safely in Konoha and avoid getting himself killed, and he could coast all the way into an era of peace.
So, all these years, he had slept every day and come last in every subject, making himself a complete and utter nobody.
But who could have imagined it?
Just yesterday, this damned system had activated all on its own.
And it was a Bold Hero System that insisted on forcing him to show off.
Wasn't this just throwing him straight into the fire?!
Kambara Sogetsu took a deep breath, unwilling in every fiber of his being.
But the system's rewards were simply too tempting.
Ninjutsu, kekkei genkai, secret techniques.
Those were all assets that could let him do whatever he wanted in the Shinobi World.
There was no helping it.
He could only show off.
So, as soon as the system activated, he submitted a transfer request.
His old class had long been desperate to get rid of him and approved it immediately.
Kambara Sogetsu's target was the class that would soon shake the entire Shinobi World.
Naruto Uzumaki's class.
Come on. If I have to show off, of course I should pick the place with the biggest audience and the most exciting plot.
Like right now.
"Since I can't avoid it, let the storm rage even harder."
Kambara Sogetsu muttered those words inwardly, while his face remained inscrutable.
Meeting the class's varied gazes, he sat back down and casually propped his legs up on the desk again.
That single action sent another stir through the class.
[Valor Points +1] [Valor Points +1] [Valor Points +1] [Valor Points +1] [Valor Points +1]
Before you continue