[ Ken Shimura POV ]
I stood before Iruka-sensei and Mizuki, fingers already forming the hand seals. Chakra coiled through my system, splitting itself into distinct pathways. The sensation felt like water dividing around stones—familiar after months of practice, but still requiring concentration.
Three perfect copies materialized beside me in bursts of white smoke. Each wore my face, my academy uniform, my carefully neutral expression. I could feel the chakra drain barely noticeable, now that I have chunin level chakra reserves it was barely a effort on my end.
Iruka-sensei's stern features softened. The scar across his nose creased as he smiled "You did well, Ken. You passed"
Relief washed through me, though I kept it off my face. I let the clones disperse and nodded "Thanks, Iruka-sensei"
The compliment wasn't empty flattery. Between Iruka's patient instruction and Lee's relentless training philosophy, I'd improved faster than I had any right to expect.
"I'm proud to see you grow, Ken." Iruka held out the forehead protector "I expect you to continue doing so after becoming a genin as well"
I walked forward and took it.
No wonder there were only a few chunin. The genin exams are almost a joke to pass.
The thought flickered through my mind as I stepped outside the room.
The academy courtyard buzzed with celebration.
Parents clustered around their freshly-graduated children, voices mixed in congratulations and pride. A mother swept her son into a crushing embrace while he laughed. A father ruffled his daughter's hair as she beamed up at him, forehead protector shining in broad daylight.
I held my own protector, thumb running across the engraved symbol as I smiled.
Becoming a genin will get me more quests now.
The system would likely offer new opportunities. More danger, certainly, but also more chances to grow stronger.
I walked past the celebrating families, their joy a sharp contrast to what lied near the old swing set.
Naruto sat alone, legs dangling, head bowed. The swing creaked beneath him—a slow, lonely sound that cut through the surrounding noise. No family waited for him. No celebration. Just isolation wrapped in the shape of a twelve-year-old boy.
I can't imagine carrying that kind of pain. Having no one who cares for you is less painful than others around hating your very presence. It's a miracle that he didn't fall into an abyss, after facing such a thing at a young age.
Being hated for something beyond your control is indeed traumatic.
I changed direction, boots crunching against gravel.
Naruto's head snapped up. His blue eyes widened with genuine surprise—we'd shared ramen a few times over the past months, enough to be on good talking terms but not enough for him to expect this.
"Come on. Let's have ramen." I jerked my thumb toward the village "And think of a way to get you graduate"
His eyes widened in disbelief wondering if I was really telling the truth.
[ Ichiraku Ramen ]
Steam rose from our bowls, carrying the rich scent of miso broth and roasted pork.
Naruto's frustration spilled out between mouthfuls of ramen noodles "Why didn't Iruka-sensei pass me?!"
I picked up my chopsticks, considering my response carefully. "I agree with you on this. There should be like two more jutsu to perform and I am sure you would have passed it"
Naruto nodded vigorously, attacking his ramen with renewed energy. He came up for air, eyes bright with desperate hope. "So what's the plan? How do I graduate?!"
I set down my chopsticks and met his gaze. "Hokage-sama would be your best option."
His head tilted in confusion.
"He could teach you a different clone jutsu," I explained. "The graduation requirement is a clone technique, but it never specifies which clone technique"
Understanding dawned across his face like sunrise breaking over the Hokage monument. His entire expression transformed—hope replacing despair in an instant.
"You're right, Ken!" He shot to his feet with enough force to nearly topple his stool. "Wait for me! I'll be back in a moment!"
He bolted out the entrance before I could respond, leaving the curtain swaying in his wake.
I stared at my remaining ramen, already reaching for my wallet to cover both meals. Ayame would expect payment, and Naruto had dashed off without settling his tab.
The system notification appeared before my fingers touched the coins.
[ Hidden Quest Complete: Become the Genin ]
[ Reward: Gold Gacha Ticket ]
My hand froze.
A gold ticket. For a quest I hadn't even known existed. It looks like Hidden quests operated on different parameters than standard objectives—rewarding actions that aligned with broader narrative currents rather than specific tasks.
After paying, I left quickly. My mind was already racing ahead to what that gold ticket might contain.
Back home.
The gold gacha ticket floated in my vision, glowing with soft amber light.
I sat on my bed, door locked, curtains drawn against the night. My finger hovered over the glowing interface. This ticket was the first one I got and to think I will get it from a hidden quest is even more baffling to me.
The system never told me about hidden quests, but maybe they're called hidden for a reason.
I pressed on the ticket.
Light exploded across the screen, spinning and condensing into words that made my breath catch.
[ Multiverse Chat Group ]
I blinked. Rubbed my eyes and stared at it again.
What is this?
I thought aloud, though I knew the system would respond regardless of whether I spoke or thought the question.
[ The host has been given access to a Multiverse Chat Group. Since you are the originator, you are the admin. Members can be added from different universes such as Marvel, Demon Slayer, Genshin Impact, Chainsaw Man, Dragon Ball, and much more. ]
[ Available Sending Requests: 4 ]
[ Members can share items, weapons, and other information. ]
[ You can go on quests with or without them in their worlds and other worlds, and get rewards based on difficulty and achievements. ]
My mind went blank for several seconds.
Then the implications crashed down. Different universes meant different power systems. Different people. Some of those universes contained beings who could erase planets with flick of their fingers.
I stared at the "Available Sending Requests" option. Four members to add the random individuals across infinite realities.
My finger moved before I could overthink it.
The counter dropped to zero. Four requests sent into the multiverse to whoever—or whatever—the system deemed appropriate recipients.
I waited, watching the interface for any response.
[ It will take a day or days for others to join. Please be patient. ]
I leaned back as I sighed that it's gonna take some time.
Did I make a mistake sending those invites so early?
The question gnawed at me. I was weak—barely stronger than an academy graduate with some tricks up my sleeve. If the chat group members turned out to be people like Aizen or Esdeath, the first mandatory quest would crush me before I understood what was happening.
The system hadn't steered me wrong yet. Every reward had been powerful yet not unreasonable. Quests were challenging but not impossible. I had to trust that the pattern would continue, even as warnings whispered in the back of my mind.
Let's get some training. Worrying here by myself won't be serving me well.
Dusk painted the sky in shades of orange and purple as I walked home. Lee had been away on some mission involving a merchant's lost cat, so I'd trained alone.
"Ken! Ken!"
I turned to see Naruto sprinting toward me, waving frantically.
He skidded to a stop, chest heaving "I'm gonna graduate tomorrow! Believe it!"
Despite everything I knew was coming, I smiled "Yeah? Did Hokage sama teach you some other clone technique?"
He shook his head.
"Mizuki-sensei told me about a place where there's a scroll!" Naruto bounced on his heels, practically vibrating with excitement "He said if I learn one jutsu from it, I'll graduate!"
So, Mizuki got to him before. Why am I not surprised that he won't let Naruto meet Hokage, he is not someone who would give up on getting Scroll of Seals so easily afterall.
The Scroll of Seals contained forbidden techniques—dangerous, powerful, far beyond my current capabilities. But with the system's enhanced memory, just reading them could prove invaluable later. The chances of actually performing any of them were low, but knowledge itself was power.
"If that's the case" I said "where is this place you're going?"
Naruto grinned as he jumped off to the roof "Follow me!"
[ Deep Forest - Night ]
Moonlight filtered through the stream of endless large trees.
We stood near a small cottage, its wooden walls weathered and old. Naruto held the Scroll of Seals with both arms wrapped around it, leaning where the scroll shifted.
"I'll learn it in no time!" He set it down and began unrolling the scroll.
Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. The technique Naruto had learned in canon, perfectly suited to his absurd chakra reserves and terrible control.
I knelt beside him, peering over his shoulder "Mind if I look?"
I unrolled the scroll further, glancing at the more sections. My eyes scanned rapidly across each technique, absorbing information like a curious cat.
Reaper Death Seal.
Impure World Reincarnation.
Strength of a Hundred Seal.
My system-enhanced memory catalogued every word, every diagram, every warning note scribbled in margins. Even if I couldn't use these techniques now, understanding their mechanics and requirements would serve me later. Who knows what sort of a predicament I might end up in the future.
"What are you both doing here at this hour?!"
I looked up to see Iruka sensei standing at the clearing's edge. His expression shifted rapidly through relief, confusion, and dawning horror as he took in the scene—Naruto covered in dirt from repeated practice attempts, the forbidden scroll spread across the ground.
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto jumped up, grinning despite obvious exhaustion "I learned one of the jutsu! Just like Mizuki-sensei said!"
Iruka's face drained "Mizuki did?"
Multiple Kunais whistled through the air.
Iruka moved on instinct, shoving Naruto aside with enough force to send the boy sprawling across the dirt.
The blades found their mark. Five kunai pierced Iruka's body, pinning him against the cottage wall. Blood splattered across his uniform, as it dripped down on to the ground.
"What's happening?!" Naruto's voice cracked in horror.
I stood slowly, closing the scroll with deliberate care. My eyes tracked upward to the figure perched on a branch above us.
Mizuki stood there casually, moonlight glinting off the two massive fuma shuriken strapped to his back. His smile remained pleasant, friendly—completely at odds with the violence he'd just unleashed.
"Ken" His voice carried easily across the clearing "Hand over that Scroll to me"
"Don't!" Iruka gasped, blood trickling from his mouth "Ken, don't give it to him!"
"What's going on?!" Naruto looked between us, completely lost.
I stepped forward, positioning myself beside Naruto. I handed him the scroll, then moved toward Iruka. My fingers found the first kunai embedded in his flesh.
Mizuki's expression hardened as he saw complete negligence from me "I can't believe you consider someone like him a friend, who's responsible for your parents' deaths, Ken"
Both Iruka and Naruto turned towards Mizuki in disbelief.
I pulled out the first kunai. Iruka bit back a scream as blood welled fresh from the wound. I helped him brace against the wall.
"That's right" Mizuki continued, his voice taking on poisonous sweetness "Naruto is the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Spirit. The beast that destroyed our village twelve years ago. The monster that killed your parents, Ken"
I removed the second kunai. Iruka sagged, barely maintaining consciousness.
"Not only your parents. Iruka's parents died because of him too" Mizuki's smile turned cruel. "Haven't you wondered, Naruto, why the villagers look at you with such hatred? Why they avoid you like a plague? Why children are forbidden from playing with you?"
The third kunai came free. Blood soaked through my clothes where I supported Iruka's weight.
"It's because you're the demon. The monster that took everything from them, from Iruka and your friend Ken"
I pulled the final kunai free and helped Iruka to his feet. Then I stepped forward, the bloody blade still gripped in my hand.
"Cut the bullshit, you traitor"
Both Iruka and Naruto stared at me in disbelief.
I looked up at Mizuki, meeting his gaze without flinching "Demon fox spirit or not, Naruto is part of our village"
I raised the kunai with blood dripped from the blade onto the grass below.
"And my friend as well"
. . .
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