Inside the classroom.
Moonlight Ruyun gazed out the window as Tsunade disappeared from view.
Blue-quality equipment...
Damn it, I want it so badly.
It was the highest quality he had seen so far.
He could hardly imagine how much a piece of blue-quality equipment might transform him.
But the thought of its special condition felt like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.
In the original story, Tsunade would give the necklace to Nawaki, probably after he graduated and officially became a ninja.
Even if Ruyun went to the battlefield and, through some "fortunate coincidence," "picked up" the necklace from Nawaki...
He still wouldn't be able to bend the rules and refine it into equipment.
[Special condition: Must be personally gifted by Tsunade]
It was the same condition as Kushina's red hair.
Yet the difficulty was worlds apart.
One was just a few strands of hair; the other was a keepsake left by Hashirama Senju, its value beyond measure.
He could say to Kushina, "Your hair is beautiful. Could you give me a strand?"
But surely he couldn't say to Tsunade, "Your necklace is lovely. Could you give it to me?"
I'll have to plan this carefully.
Thinking of Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist... he calmed down.
On the bright side, at least I've confirmed one thing.
Only objects with special significance could qualify as equipment materials recognized by the system.
Judging by the few equipment materials he had encountered...
[Minato Namikaze's Kunai]
The first kunai purchased by the future master of godlike speed held extraordinary sentimental significance.
[Kushina Uzumaki's Red Hair]
Red hair was a bloodline trait of the Uzumaki Clan, the reason Kushina faced discrimination, and the catalyst for her connection with Minato Namikaze in the original story.
[Hashirama Senju's Necklace]
As a keepsake left by Hashirama Senju, the necklace contained his chakra and could suppress Tailed Beasts to a certain extent.
Beyond that, in the original story, the necklace even seemed somewhat "cursed."
Tsunade had given the necklace first to Nawaki, then to Dan Katō, hoping to help them achieve their dreams of becoming Hokage, but both had died in the war.
Tsunade developed a fear of blood and left the village. Later, she met Naruto and gave him the necklace, which was eventually crushed during the battle against Pain.
The necklace threaded through the bonds between Hashirama Senju, Tsunade, Nawaki, and Dan Katō, all the way into Naruto Uzumaki's era. Its significance was extraordinary.
That explains it.
Although it was only a guess, he was almost certain he was right.
Otherwise, there was no explaining why the system had refused to recognize any of the strange objects he had tried before.
The teacher continued lecturing.
The chirping of insects drifted in from outside.
"What are you thinking about?"
Kushina waved her hand in front of his eyes.
He came back to himself, looked at the brilliant red hair before him, and shook his head.
"Nothing much. Just my uncle's mission with Lady Tsunade."
"Huh? Really? Are you worried about your uncle?"
He nodded.
With Tsunade leading a team whose weakest members were Special Jōnin, the mission's rank had to be extremely high.
They would most likely clash with ninja from other hidden villages.
Although, according to the original story, Gekko Hayate hadn't been born yet, so his uncle should be safe.
But now that Ruyun was here, there was no telling whether a butterfly effect might occur.
Kushina tilted her head and thought for a moment before reassuring him. "Don't worry. Tsunade's really strong."
She waved her little fist.
Seeing how adorable she looked, he chuckled softly.
"Thank you."
Kushina's eyes curved into a smile. Then, seemingly remembering something, she tensed again, twisting her hair around her fingers.
"What is it?"
Recognizing the gesture, he knew she had something to say.
Kushina stammered, "Um... there's a... will you be free in two weeks?"
"In two weeks? What's happening?"
He was a little puzzled. Was there something special about that date?
"Um... Grandma Mito wants to invite you over for dinner."
Kushina steeled herself and blurted it all out, then lowered her head, afraid to look at him.
"Hm?"
He froze for a moment. Grandma Mito? Mito Uzumaki?
He looked at the visibly nervous Kushina.
Wait, isn't this moving a little too fast?
We're skipping straight to meeting the family?
In the original story, their relationship had only taken off after Kumogakure abducted Kushina and Minato Namikaze rescued her.
He still couldn't understand how Kumogakure had managed to abduct the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki despite all the security around her.
But the fact remained that Minato Namikaze had defeated several Kumogakure ninja all by himself.
If you round it up, chasing off a few rude local boys counts as rescuing a damsel in distress... right?
Konoha's little hooligans aren't any worse than Kumogakure ninja.
Those few seconds felt as long as centuries.
Kushina lifted her head and looked at the silent Moonlight Ruyun. The light slowly faded from her eyes, and her spirits sank with it.
She forced a smile. "Ah, it's okay if you don't have time."
"I have time."
"I don't blame you... no, wait. You agreed?"
He shrugged as though it were obvious. "I don't know why she's inviting me, but I think you'd like me to go, right?"
His gaze and voice were perfectly calm.
Yet Kushina suddenly grew excited, her eyes sparkling.
She nodded over and over like a chick pecking at grain, her long red hair bouncing gently.
"Yes!"
He voiced his question. "Why in two weeks? Which day, exactly?"
"Well, it was actually supposed to be today."
Kushina still hadn't settled down. "But Tsunade has a mission, so Grandma Mito decided to wait until she gets back before inviting you over."
Moonlight Ruyun nodded. So that was it.
He had arranged a match with Minato Namikaze, and learning ninjutsu had brought his uncle into the picture. The leader of his uncle's mission was Tsunade.
For some reason, Mito Uzumaki wanted to meet him, but Tsunade's mission had pushed the date back.
At that thought, a subtle feeling suddenly stirred within him.
He couldn't quite describe it.
It was as though this world had gained a little more tangible reality.
Before he knew it, a soul from another world had entered the notice of Konoha's highest authorities.
By now, his file was probably already sitting on the Hokage's desk...
I was already prepared for this when I first happened to come into contact with Kushina Uzumaki, wasn't I?
This was bound to happen sooner or later.
All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind.
Whatever the case, this was a good thing.
As long as he passed muster with Mito Uzumaki, Danzo wouldn't be able to touch him, even if he did something a little out of line.
After school.
Moonlight Ruyun politely declined Kushina's invitation to train together.
He had important business to attend to.
Carrying the manuscript he had rushed out during classes over the past two days, he entered a publishing house on Konoha's shopping street.
It was called the Ninja Literature Publishing House.
After finishing the manuscript, the owner looked surprised and eager for more. "Full of emotion, with the characters' feelings captured just right. It's only a little short. Which renowned author wrote this?"
Even with three heads and six arms, he couldn't have finished an entire novel in two days.
This was only a small portion.
"A friend of mine."
"A friend?" The owner nodded.
Everyone in this line of work knew better than to pry.
After all, although they were a legitimate publishing house, they catered to the lower end of the market...
"Does he have a pen name?"
Moonlight Ruyun thought for a moment, then said casually, "Toad Literary Master."
I choose you, Jiraiya!
There was no shame in making money.
But for material that would be mortifying if his involvement ever came to light, he'd let Jiraiya bear the fans' "praise."
"Strange name," the owner muttered, then asked the question that mattered most to him. "Is there more?"
"More... ahem. I'll have to go back and ask my friend."
"All right."
The owner's eyes shifted thoughtfully. "If possible, please hurry. We can offer you a more favorable royalty split."
"Oh?" He sized up the owner. He had never seen anyone do business like that.
Noticing his confusion, the owner said helplessly, "Ever since the Land of Snow came up with those movies, publishing hasn't been doing too well. We desperately need good manuscripts, especially ones like yours... er, your friend's."
Ruyun didn't blush or miss a beat. It didn't matter if the owner had figured it out.
Three-year-olds could go to war, so what was wrong with a nine-year-old writing a book?
But one particular term caught his attention, and his gaze shifted.
The Land of Snow?
One of the movies had told a story set in the Land of Snow.
If he remembered correctly, the Land of Snow had a remarkable invention called Chakra Armor.
It could amplify chakra and increase the power of ninjutsu.
Chakra amplification. Now that's something good!
I'm short on chakra, and Chakra Armor just happens to amplify it. Could there really be such a perfect coincidence?
The Land of Snow has a connection to Naruto, at least. Could it qualify as equipment material recognized by the system?
He made a note of the information about the Land of Snow's Chakra Armor.
Before you continue