"Bullying is strictly prohibited on school grounds."
Walking side by side down the hallway, the class president, Nao Iai, adjusted her glasses and patiently reminded Souta Kiryuu.
"If Yamamoto and his gang bother you again, you have to let me know."
"Do I really look like someone who gets bullied?"
Souta responded with a touch of exasperation. While the girl beside him clearly meant well, her concern—at least to the current Souta Kiryuu—implied she saw him as weak.
What a joke!
Before transmigrating, he'd never tolerated grievances. He'd always settled his scores on the spot. Sure, he had faced bullying due to his stunted physical development, especially in elementary and middle school. He was always among the shortest in line during morning assemblies and had frequently dealt with bullies.
From mocking his clothes, to forcing him to do cleaning duties alone, to extorting "initiation fees"—he'd seen it all.
And how did he respond?
By beating up the ringleader. That usually put an end to things.
Among students, fights were about guts, strength, and some skill. Once you overcame the fear, who really held the upper hand? Pick up a brick and you could floor the toughest guy in class.
The most crucial thing in facing bullies is the courage to say "No."
It all comes down to whether you have the guts to draw your sword!
Now, as a transmigrator, Souta had no shortage of nerve. If not for the need to maintain a low profile, he'd be completely reckless. Sure, his strength wasn't overwhelming, just slightly below average, but his technique? In his past life, punching the sandbag at home was his go-to stress relief.
Beating up a few school bullies? Easy!
He didn't even need to rely on his system for that.
"But you..."
Nao trailed off. Honestly speaking, Souta's aunt and uncle had died in a car accident, which left him mentally shaken and noticeably thinner. With his good looks and academic performance, he had naturally become a target of jealousy and exclusion among the boys.
But then—she tilted her head and studied him closely.
Nao suddenly realized that while he was still the same person, something about his aura had drastically changed. His once soft features were now tinged with a harshness, his eyes radiated an aggressiveness that made it hard for her to meet his gaze. Her heart even skipped a beat.
"Have you moved on from the grief?"
"Of course," he said calmly.
He had already absorbed—or rather, fully merged—with Souta Kiryuu's memories. Like it or not, he had to live as this person now.
"It's not good to wallow in sadness. I've got more important things to do."
"Is it about Sora?"
Nao lowered her eyes. As childhood friends, she knew better than anyone what weighed on Souta's mind.
"Let's not talk about it. Time for class."
As they chatted and walked, they reached their classroom. The moment they stepped in, all the students glanced at them before quickly turning away and whispering among themselves. Souta shrugged.
"See, Class President? Hanging out with me is just asking to be isolated."
The expressions were easy for him to read—some indifferent, some gloating, others clearly envious or hostile.
As someone with a strong psyche, this didn't bother Souta in the slightest. In fact, it was kind of... adorable?
Try seeing such honest expressions in the adult world—it's a rarity.
"So what?" Nao adjusted her glasses again.
"I'm the class president. If there's bullying, it's my responsibility. Plus..."
She stole a glance at Souta and quickly turned away.
"It's still you, Souta."
For a moment, the classroom buzzed with a subtle tension. Anyone could see there was something between them. The looks from around them grew more hostile and jealous.
But the moment Souta's gaze swept the room, everyone quickly looked away.
So that's how it is, he thought, stroking his chin.
Besides, this was a third-rate public school: most students here didn't have the grades for university, nor could their families afford it. So they channeled their energy into games, romance, bullying—anything that seemed more exciting.
Souta Kiryuu's former predicament made perfect sense.
"Everyone sit down. Class is starting."
Just then, the homeroom teacher walked in with his teaching materials and tapped the blackboard.
Despite the chaos, the students weren't bold enough to openly defy a teacher.
They returned to their seats. There were three empty ones in the class, but both students and teacher ignored them—it was clearly routine.
"Open your books to page..."
As the teacher began the lesson, Souta sat near the window in the back row, chin resting on one hand, lost in thought.
Seed of the God Tree.
This was the transmigrator's golden cheat: from the world of Flame Realm, its true form was none other than the Ten-Tails Beast!
The Ten-Tails was both the seedling of the God Tree and the source of all magical power.
In Flame Realm, all ninja techniques originated from the Otsuki Clan—a race of god-like beings who traveled across the universe, planting the Ten-Tails on various planets. The beast absorbed planetary energy, grew roots, and bore fruit. The clan would then consume these fruits, evolving closer and closer to godhood.
The good news? Souta didn't need to sacrifice an Otsuki to activate his seed.
The bad news? He wasn't an Otsuki!
"I'm supposed to plant this tree?"
Now that he understood the essence of his golden finger, Souta was speechless.
"Correct, Host. Once the seed is planted, the roots will spread across the planet, absorbing energy from all life. When the planet is drained, the God Tree will bear divine fruit."
He turned the invisible seed over in his palm, unseen by others. It radiated immense energy. If unleashed, it could easily level the school. But—
That was it. Just a seed. Not even a sprout.
"Nope nope nope. I'm not Otsuki. If I plant this thing, I'll be dissected by the so-called 'Five Great Saints' the very next day."
The Otsuki had time-space powers embedded in their DNA. A random transmigrator like him trying to emulate them? He'd be lucky to survive five minutes!
Ding! Host has obtained D-rank Mana. Skill unlocked: Clone Technique. All D-rank Ninja Techniques unlocked.
Host accumulates experience by using skills in combat. With enough proficiency, you can unlock Bloodline Limits, Eliminations, and even Otsuki traits to nurture the God Tree.
"Yeah, right. I'd be cut open for research before that."
Souta shook his head. If this were seventy or eighty years ago, with D-rank techniques and chakra, he could rise through the ranks and dominate the world. But now?
"Satellites in the sky, CCTV everywhere... where am I supposed to practice ninja skills?"
Antarctica?
Even with every D-rank skill, his current mana could only fuel a few uses.
Against modern firepower? Unless he had a Tailed Beast hidden in his genes, he'd be toast. And the system insisted on using these powers in battle!
He had just made peace with this normal Tokyo life, and now he was being told to start fighting?
Wrong genre, man!
Shouldn't he have gotten a billionaire tycoon system or entertainment mogul cheat?
Wait...
A sudden idea struck him. He rubbed his chin.
"System, since I control the Seed of the God Tree, can I grant others mana?"
In Flame Realm, all chakra originally came from the God Tree.
Why should his cheat be any different?
"Yes. Host can grant mana and ninja skills to other beings at will."
"Host also has the authority to revoke them at any time. Revocation results in immediate death."
Perfect!
With this loophole, even in a high-tech modern world, Souta could still use ninja techniques openly.
One person with power is feared and hunted.
But what if many had power?
He turned to gaze out the window. The view was filled with towering buildings.
This Tokyo was far too urbanized.