'A Character Gift Pack?' Yuichi frowned at the system's reward. 'What even is that?'
The other option was Wind Style Rasengan. A terrifying jutsu, though flawed—its destructive power was so great it even damaged the user. Later, Naruto would refine it by adding Sage Mode, creating the Wind Style Rasenshuriken, a ranged attack that solved that weakness.
But for now, Yuichi glanced at Naruto's hopeful expression.
"Can't you teach me ninjutsu?" Naruto asked, almost pleading.
Yuichi's lips curled. "Of course I can. I just need to decide which one suits you."
Naruto's face lit up. "Really? You'll teach me? That's awesome!" He practically jumped for joy.
'Character Gift Pack… I wonder what reward that'll be.'
"Then let's start right away!" Naruto said impatiently.
"Not yet," Yuichi replied. "We need to reach a certain place first."
"Where?"
"You'll see. Just follow me."
Naruto didn't care where—they could go to the ends of the earth if it meant learning ninjutsu.
"When then? When will you teach me?"
"As soon as we reach the next town. I need to buy a few things."
"Things? Like what?"
Yuichi didn't answer. In truth, he needed balloons, water spheres, and rubber balls—the same training tools Naruto had once used in the original timeline to master Rasengan.
"Let's go. Keep up. If you fall behind, I won't teach you anything."
With that, Yuichi leapt into the trees, moving at speed.
Naruto scowled. "Tch! Like I'd ever fall behind!" He launched himself after him, determined not to be left.
But Yuichi suddenly vanished, reappearing ten meters ahead, then again even farther. His pace quickened.
Naruto's jaw dropped. "What the—!? That speed…!?"
Two hours later.
Yuichi stood at the entrance of a small town, calm and steady, not even his breathing disturbed.
"Let's go," he said casually.
Beside him, Naruto staggered forward, drenched in sweat, face pale. His furious eyes glared daggers at Yuichi.
'Is this guy even human? Two hours at full speed, and he's not even tired!?'
Naruto prided himself on stamina, but Yuichi had crushed that pride completely.
"Your endurance still needs work," Yuichi said simply.
Naruto nearly collapsed.
Inside the town, Yuichi purchased balloons—dozens of them. Naruto blinked, baffled, but Yuichi's mind was already working through the steps of Rasengan training.
The system, meanwhile, remained quiet. Normally, after triggering a character event, there would be two daily choices. But with Naruto, the second never appeared.
'So I won't get another choice until I actually teach him Rasengan,' Yuichi realized.
Once he finished shopping, Yuichi opened the system and retrieved the weapon he'd earned earlier: the Kusanagi Sword.
The blade shimmered into reality, its scabbard and hilt pure white, the sword itself black with scarlet patterns rippling like flames.
Yuichi's eyes lit up. "A black blade…"
Injecting Wind Style chakra into it, the weapon began to hum. Whirlwinds swirled along its edge, the air trembling with every motion.
He gave it a casual swing.
The space ahead shuddered, air splitting with a sharp hiss. Even that simple cut was enough to tear the air.
'If I strike with full strength… I could probably split a hill.'
Satisfied, Yuichi sheathed the sword and tied it at his waist with a black cord. Unlike Sasuke, who wore his weapon across his back, Yuichi preferred the side carry—quicker to draw.
Carrying his new sword and a bag of balloons, Yuichi set off again, Naruto trailing reluctantly behind. Their next destination: the first place Tsunade might be found.
Meanwhile, back in Konoha…
On an empty street, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, and Might Guy watched two figures walk away.
Itachi Uchiha and Hoshigaki Kisame had left Konoha openly, unscathed.
No one dared pursue.
If the Third Hokage were still alive, such a scene would have been unthinkable.