Inside a spacious and quiet room, Mizuki and Iruka sat side by side. On the table in front of them lay a pile of shinobi headbands, glinting faintly under the ceiling light.
(Once I receive that headband, I'll officially become a Genin. That means I can finally earn some Omnipoints.)
Just thinking about it made Ye Feng swallow a mouthful of saliva. Moments ago, he had randomly searched through the system's exchange catalog and had already seen several tempting items. The sheer variety had stirred a deep longing in his heart.
"You may begin."
Ye Feng nodded and raised both hands, swiftly forming hand seals. "Clone Technique!"
Puff. Puff. Puff.
In the blink of an eye, five afterimages identical to Ye Feng appeared around him, surrounding him with startling clarity and realism.
"He passed?" Iruka rubbed his eyes in disbelief. When he confirmed that the clones were indeed real, joy washed over his face. Standing up, he walked over to Ye Feng and gave him a firm pat on the head with a warm smile.
"Congratulations. You passed the graduation exam."
Ye Feng tied the forehead protector around his brow. In that moment, the solemn voice of the system echoed within his mind.
"Mission completed. You have earned 100 Omnipoints."
"New mission assigned: Eliminate Konoha rogue ninja, Naraku Ryousuke. Reward: 300 Omnipoints. If the mission fails, or the target is killed by someone other than the host, a penalty of 100 Omnipoints will be deducted."
(What? There's a penalty system like that? What happens if I have zero points and still get deducted?)
Ye Feng asked inwardly. The system's answer sent a chill racing down his spine.
"If the host's Omnipoint balance reaches negative 1000, the host will be erased."
Returning to the classroom, Ye Feng found the atmosphere had completely shifted. The news of his passing the graduation exam had left many students visibly stunned.
Their disbelief made the corners of Ye Feng's mouth twitch involuntarily.
(The system really gave me a pitiful backstory. Passing the Genin exam at sixteen shocks people this much? How embarrassing...)
"Ye Feng-oniisan, congratulations..." Hinata said softly, her cheeks tinged red as she offered him a shy smile.
Ye Feng responded with a gentle nod, then glanced at Naruto's seat, only to find it empty.
According to the original plot, Naruto should soon be manipulated by Mizuki and then awaken the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique by stealing the Scroll of Seals.
Not that it had anything to do with him. What really troubled Ye Feng now was how to locate this rogue ninja named Naraku Ryousuke.
And another concern... team assignments were just around the corner. If he ended up on a team without Hinata, how could he possibly be satisfied?
He cast a sideways glance at Hinata, only to find her gazing longingly at Naruto's vacant seat. A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
It seemed the plan to win Hinata's heart still had a long way to go.
Shaking his head, Ye Feng pushed aside all irrelevant thoughts and focused on the radiant sphere of light within his mind—the system's core interface.
The system was divided into seven primary categories: Weapon, Magic, Cultivation Techniques, Eye Techniques, Genetic Enhancements, Amplification, and Skills.
Aside from Eye Techniques and Genetic Enhancements, each category branched into numerous subtypes.
(Since I have something called the World Eye that enhances ocular abilities, I should start with the Eye Techniques.)
"Show me the Eye Techniques category."
Buzz.
The glowing sphere trembled lightly and split apart, revealing a detailed list in front of Ye Feng.
Eye Techniques — Basic Tier:
Sharingan — 100 Omnipoints
Eye of Flash Step — 200 Omnipoints
Eye of Instant Step — 100 Omnipoints
Eye of Illusion Break — 200 Omnipoints
Byakugan — 100 Omnipoints
Crimson Eye — 50 Omnipoints
Evil Eye — 100 Omnipoints
Laser Eye — 150 Omnipoints
Hypnosis Eye — 50 Omnipoints
...and more
(There are so many... and the Omnipoint cost isn't even that high. Sharingan is only 100 points? That's surprisingly affordable.)
"If this is the basic tier, then there must be an advanced tier, right?" Ye Feng asked into the void of his mental space.
"Correct," the voice replied.
"Show it to me."
"Host authority too low. Access denied."
"..."
After some consideration, Ye Feng finally selected the Eye of Instant Step. As soon as he confirmed the exchange, a streak of light flew out from the list and shot directly into his eyes.
Immediately, his Omnipoint balance dropped to zero.
As the name implied, the Eye of Instant Step was similar to a Flash Step or short-range teleportation. It allowed the user to instantly move to a specified location within sight.
The technique consumed only a negligible amount of Divine Energy, making it extremely cost-effective for Ye Feng, who currently only knew the Clone Technique. At the very least, it would help him avoid getting killed by an unexpected kunai or shuriken.
As for the Sharingan and Byakugan, Ye Feng had no intention of exchanging for those just yet. At this early stage, displaying such advanced bloodline abilities would likely attract attention from the Anbu. That kind of exposure would only invite disaster.
After the exchange, Ye Feng rushed to the forest outside the village. His eyes locked onto a large boulder in the distance. A gleam flickered in his pupils, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from where he stood.
The next moment, he was already standing atop the boulder.
So it activates based on my line of sight? Then, what if I only imagine the location in my mind...
Ye Feng closed his eyes slowly. Divine energy gently stirred within him, radiating from his body and expanding outward like a ripple through space.
As the surrounding environment imprinted itself into his consciousness, Ye Feng triggered the ability again. Instantly, he reappeared at a new location that had existed only in his thoughts.
"Not bad at all. Though the range is a bit too limited. Compared to those teleportation skills in cultivation novels, this falls far short."
He frowned at the range, slightly disappointed. But just as he was about to accept its limits, a surge of silvery-white energy flowed into his ocular abilities, enhancing the visual field covered by the Eye of Instant Step.
In mere moments, the range doubled.
"Incredible. So the World Eye really can expand the effective range. Now this is something I can work with."
He nodded in satisfaction. His instant movement radius now spanned five hundred meters in every direction, centered on his current position.
"Self-preservation is no longer an issue. But as for offense..."
Ye Feng furrowed his brows, reached into his pocket, and drew out a kunai. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it forward.
Clang.
The weapon hit the ground with a dull thud.
Clearly, relying entirely on the system's exchanges wasn't ideal. Reflexes, situational awareness, and mastery of basic tools were all equally essential.
It was time to start training seriously.
After a round of target practice and teleportation trials, dusk began to settle across the horizon. The sky dimmed to a deep violet, the fading light brushing the trees with golden hues.
Ye Feng estimated the time. By now, Naruto had likely already stolen the Scroll of Seals.
He debated whether to involve himself. In the end, he decided against it. If the Third Hokage, who enjoyed spying on people through that crystal ball of his, caught him meddling in such a high-stakes incident, it would spell trouble.
A few short-range teleports later, Ye Feng exited the forest. His forehead protector gleamed under the dying light.
The moment he appeared among the townspeople, their reactions shifted. The gazes that once carried mockery and doubt now held curiosity, even a trace of respect.
"So it really is true... In any world, in any place, power commands respect."