[Ding! Host detected successfully altering Naruto Uzumaki's fate. Reward points: 1,000.]
The sudden system notification secretly thrilled Shinichi.
He hadn't expected his actions to actually change Naruto's fate. Then again, with him and Kakashi looking after Naruto, the boy would no longer suffer the miserable childhood he had in the original story.
A thousand points might not look like much, but it was actually an extremely generous reward.
After all, converting talent traits cost 100, 200, 300, 500, and 1,000 points, from lowest to highest, corresponding to the five talent trait ranks.
In other words, the reward for changing Naruto's fate was enough for Shinichi to convert a gold talent trait!
Of course, he hadn't obtained a gold talent trait yet, but converting two purple talent traits would still give him a massive boost!
"System, convert [Asura's Kindness] and [Nine-Tails Incarnation] for me!"
Shinichi gave the order.
[1,000 points consumed! Talent traits successfully converted!]
As the text on the system panel changed, Shinichi couldn't help marveling.
The stat bonuses from both [Asura's Kindness] and [Nine-Tails Incarnation] had actually doubled after the system converted them!
Physical attributes +2,000%! Recovery +2,000%! Chakra +2,000%! Chakra +2,000%! Ninjutsu power +2,000%!
"Holy crap!"
Feeling the tremendous surge of chakra inside him, Shinichi suddenly had the illusion that he held heaven and earth in his grasp. He couldn't help wondering whether he'd become invincible if he kept growing like this.
With a full fortyfold chakra bonus, along with powerful abilities such as a sage body, his strength had reached a terrifying level even without awakening his Sharingan!
"No, I'm still not strong enough!"
Shinichi silently warned himself. The Shinobi World is far more dangerous than I imagined. Better physical attributes and more chakra aren't that big a deal. They still won't save me from those world-shattering techniques and abilities. I'm still too weak. I need to get stronger before I fight anyone...
Accustomed to keeping his head down, Shinichi still instinctively considered himself far too weak despite possessing such terrifying strength.
A sense of security wasn't something a few cold numbers could give him.
At the very least, he'd need something like Susanoo, Sage Mode, or Space-Time Ninjutsu such as Kamui before he could feel a little more at ease.
If other shinobi knew what he was thinking, they would probably cough up buckets of blood in outrage on the spot!
"Five skewers of Three-Color Dango, please."
On their way home with Naruto, Shinichi and the others happened to come across two children standing outside a small shop.
Both children wore Uchiha Clan clothing, and the conspicuous red fan emblems drew plenty of glances.
What a coincidence! Could this be the bond between the two protagonists?
Something stirred in Shinichi's heart.
The two children before him were none other than Uchiha Itachi and his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.
It was rare to run into Uchiha Sasuke and his brother. How could Shinichi possibly pass up this chance to extract biological information?
Ignoring Kakashi's bewildered expression, Shinichi dragged him and Naruto over to say hello.
"Hey, the Three-Color Dango here looks pretty good!"
Shinichi once again put on his harmless smile.
Itachi froze for a moment, clearly not expecting anyone in the village to approach members of the Uchiha Clan of their own accord.
Ever since the Night of the Nine-Tails, suspicion toward the Uchiha Clan had taken root among the villagers, and the clan had even been forced to relocate to the village's outermost edge.
Of course, the Third Hokage and Danzo had secretly helped push things along, but hostility toward the Uchiha Clan was already widespread throughout Konoha.
This had also laid the groundwork for the Uchiha Clan's eventual destruction.
"Senior Kakashi."
Seeing a familiar face, Itachi greeted him instinctively, then looked in confusion at Shinichi, who was trying hard to make his presence felt beside him. "And who might this senior be?"
At this point in time, Itachi had only recently joined the ANBU, so it was perfectly normal for him to know Kakashi, a fellow member.
"I'm his older brother, Hatake Shinichi."
Before the reserved Kakashi could explain, Shinichi spoke first. "And this little blond brat is our younger brother too, Naruto Uzumaki! By the way, is this little guy beside you your younger brother?"
Kakashi wore a strange expression. Since when had his older brother become so talkative?
He could even strike up such a conversation with children he happened to see on the street?
"Yes, he's my younger brother, Sasuke."
At the words "younger brother," a faint, gentle smile appeared on Itachi's otherwise expressionless face.
The Uchiha had always produced men who doted on their younger brothers.
Meeting for the first time, in a sense, Naruto and Sasuke both widened their curious eyes and studied each other.
The paths of their fates began to converge.
Simple by nature, Naruto was almost frighteningly straightforward. He flashed a brilliant smile and stepped forward. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and my dream is to become Hokage! Want to be friends?"
"I'm Sasuke Uchiha."
Under Itachi's encouraging gaze, Sasuke pursed his lips and rather reluctantly shook Naruto's hand.
At only three years old, Sasuke was already showing signs of becoming aloof. Only in front of Itachi did he turn back into an innocent little child. Even so, the innate bond between Naruto's two protagonists made him steal a few more glances at Naruto.
For some reason, he felt that this blond boy was different from everyone else.
"Haha! Who knew Sasuke was such a little tsundere?"
Deliberately acting boisterous and easygoing, Shinichi gave Uchiha Sasuke's head two vigorous rubs and laughed. "You're adorable, little guy!"
"Big brother, that hurts..."
A look of grievance crept onto Sasuke's miserable little face.
Of course it hurt.
To make sure he got some of Sasuke's hair, Shinichi had actually tugged hard twice on purpose.
"Senior Shinichi!"
Seeing his younger brother's distress, Itachi's expression darkened.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Shinichi withdrew his hand without betraying a thing. Under Kakashi and Itachi's nearly speechless gazes, he immediately scooped Naruto up and called out, "It's getting late. We'd better hurry home and make dinner!"
He already had Uchiha Sasuke's hair. Of course he needed to make a quick getaway!
Otherwise, certain people might see him hanging around members of the Uchiha Clan and get all worked up again.
Yes, he meant that old bastard Danzo.
"Senior Kakashi..."
Watching Shinichi rush away, Itachi's mouth twitched as he offered a decidedly mixed assessment. "Your older brother really is... quite a character."
Itachi's bizarre expression practically spelled out every bit of his displeasure.
Kakashi pressed a hand to his forehead with a bitter smile, feeling too embarrassed to face him.
Shinichi, however, couldn't be bothered with what they thought. All he knew was that he'd definitely hit the jackpot again!
[System has detected Sasuke Uchiha's biological information. Extract immediately?]
"Extract immediately!"
[Ding! Biological information successfully extracted. Congratulations, host! You have obtained the talent traits: "Indra's Grudge (purple)," "Cursed Eye (purple)," and "Lone Avenger (purple)."]
Fuck!
Another three purple talent traits! The two protagonists really were something else!
Even though Shinichi had already prepared himself, seeing those three conspicuous lines of purple text nearly made him jump with excitement!
[Cursed Eye (purple): The Sharingan, feared by the world, contains the power of a curse. When these eyes truly awaken, your strength will strike fear into everyone. Eye-awakening efficiency +3,000%! Dōjutsu power +500%!] [Lone Avenger (purple): You are a lone avenger, walking a path no one understands. The flames of vengeance will make you ever stronger and unmatched. Ninjutsu training efficiency +1,000%! Chakra control +1,000%!] [Indra's Grudge (purple): His father's excessive favoritism toward his younger brother Asura filled Indra with jealousy. After dozens of reincarnations, his resentment has only grown, becoming a force to be reckoned with! Dōjutsu power +1,000%! Susanoo size +300%! Dōjutsu strength +1,000%! Additional ability: Mangekyō Sharingan!] [Friendly reminder: As the host has not yet awakened the Sharingan, this additional ability is not yet active. Once the host successfully awakens the Sharingan, it can evolve directly into the Mangekyō Sharingan.]
Under the moonlight, Shinichi silently put away the system panel and slowly walked to the center of the courtyard.
If he hadn't been afraid of disturbing the neighbors' peace, he would have gathered his breath in his lower abdomen and roared, "Fuck! Who else wants some?"
From this moment on, the entire Shinobi World would tremble at the name Hatake Shinichi!
Before you continue