Uzumaki Kushina sat in the empty seat next to Shiranui Riku.
As soon as she sat down, she felt an odd tension in the air.Many students were casting strange glances at her and Riku.
Masada Hayabusa clapped his hands. "Alright, let's start class."
During the lesson, Kushina couldn't help but glance over at Riku from time to time.She figured that if this boy was being avoided by everyone, he must have a bad attitude or something.But… he didn't seem that way at all.
He had a clean, handsome appearance—definitely not the fierce or cruel type.And he paid close attention to the lesson, sitting upright and focused.Though it was their first meeting, Kushina found herself having a surprisingly good impression of him.Most importantly—Riku hadn't laughed at her earlier when everyone else did.
Logically, a guy with Riku's looks should've been pretty popular.So why was he being isolated like this?
Kushina sighed. This wasn't the time to be worrying about someone else.It was her first day in Konoha, and she was a bundle of nerves. She'd already been ridiculed the moment she stepped into class.The road ahead wouldn't be easy.
Meanwhile, Riku was in a very unusual mood.
He had noticed that Kushina kept glancing at him.Maybe it was just curiosity, since no one else ever sat next to him.But that sigh… what did it mean?Was she already tired of sitting beside him?
Riku could understand if the others acted this way—he was used to it.But Kushina had only just arrived in Konoha. She shouldn't know anything about him.He couldn't figure it out.
Still, he didn't dwell on it.
Because at that very moment, Riku had something else on his mind—Kushina's arrival had finally triggered the system.
[You have witnessed the significant event: Uzumaki Kushina's enrollment. +50 Witness Points.][Witness Point total: 100. Activation threshold reached. Would you like to activate the system?]
Riku's heart pounded with excitement.After three years of collecting, he'd finally hit the activation mark.
"Yes," he responded immediately.
A translucent virtual panel appeared in front of him.
Riku flinched in surprise and instinctively looked around—Kushina, right beside him, had her chin propped on her hands, eyes glazed over, clearly daydreaming.The other students also looked normal.
Riku exhaled. Even though he assumed the panel was invisible to others, it was hard not to panic the first time.
On the screen, his stats were displayed:
[Name: Shiranui Riku][Bloodline: Uchiha Clan, Senju Clan][Bloodline Limit: None][Chakra Level: One-fifth of Kakashi (Sharingan state)][Ninjutsu: E-Rank – Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, Transformation Technique][Genjutsu: None][Taijutsu: Basic Shuriken Technique, D-Rank Physical Combat]
Riku: "...One-fifth of Kakashi in Sharingan mode? Seriously?"
He noticed a new tab labeled Exchange Store.
Opening it, he was overwhelmed—There were countless techniques, from silly jutsu like Transformation Seduction to powerful bloodline abilities.Everything from small tricks to legendary techniques was available.
Then the system spoke again:
[Reminder: If the host lacks prerequisites for a technique, the Witness Point cost will be multiplied by five. For major witnessed events, the system will randomly offer three rewards to choose from. Rewards are not limited to the Ninja World, but will never exceed its power scale.]
Riku frowned. "So… if I want to get Ice Release but I don't have both wind and water chakra, I'll have to pay five times the price. But if I do have them, it's the regular cost?"
[Correct. As this is the host's first system activation, you are granted a one-time bonus: choose one of the following three rewards.]
[Reward 1]: Awakening both eyes to Double-Tomoe Sharingan.[Reward 2]: Complete mastery of all Thunder Breathing sword forms, with lightning chakra nature + form transformation included.[Reward 3]: Devil Fruit – Yoyo Fruit (side effects removed; user can swim).
Riku fell into deep thought.
The Yoyo Fruit was out. It let the user run along walls and surfaces like a yo-yo, but… what use was that here?
As for the Sharingan—while tempting—Riku already had Uchiha blood.Even if he wasn't sure whether he'd awaken it naturally, at least the exchange price in the store would be normal.Plus, if he awakened it himself later, that'd be even better.
What he needed most right now was a boost in real strength.
The Thunder Breathing reward was incredibly practical.In the world of shinobi, sword techniques were rare but devastating when combined with chakra.And lightning-based chakra transformations would elevate his fighting ability dramatically.
Besides—In Konoha, he currently had access to little more than the Three Basic Jutsu and some shuriken practice.
He remembered a phrase he once read:
"A new sword for every season, and each sword makes you shine brighter than the last."
"System, I choose reward two!"
[Claim reward now?]
Riku narrowed his eyes. "What happens if I claim it here?"
[Host possesses lightning-natured chakra but lacks chakra form and nature transformation knowledge.The system will temporarily take over the host's body to simulate both processes.Additionally, all sword forms of Thunder Breathing will be uploaded into your mind and performed once through your body to ensure mastery.]
"Absolutely not!" Riku said, panicking.
[Reward stored in system space. Can be claimed at any time.]
Riku let out a long breath.If the system had taken over his body right now and started swinging swords mid-class, he'd be toast.
He now had access to every Thunder Breathing sword form.For the first time in years, he felt secure.
Riku had no intention of hiding his strength.
Pretending to be weak and waiting to "shock" everyone with a big reveal?That kind of performance wasn't his style.
In Konoha, strength was everything.If you were strong, your life got easier. You didn't have to tiptoe around people's opinions.
But revealing everything would be reckless.He needed to show his strength gradually, so as not to raise red flags with Konoha's ever-watchful elite.
For now, he suppressed his excitement.
When class ended and he got home, then—he'd finally unlock the power of Thunder Breathing.