[Naruto World Online has been activated!]
The moment the pale golden virtual panel crashed into his vision, the cold mechanical voice surged through his mind like an electric current.
Perhaps due to his Uchiha bloodline, Makoto couldn't help but want to let out a maniacal laugh, but he forcibly restrained himself.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly calmed his mind and began carefully studying his golden finger, [Naruto World Online].
[Player: Makoto]
[Backpack]
[Shop]
[Achievements]
[Titles]
[More functions to be activated...]
The pale golden virtual panel before his eyes looked extremely simple and clear, but those greyed-out icons waiting to be activated seemed to hide countless secrets, itching at Makoto's heart.
Without much hesitation, Makoto used his will to open the player backpack, wanting to see if there were any newbie benefits.
The next second, his breath hitched.
In the empty grid of the player backpack, a line of small text in the bottom corner burned brightly: [Resurrection Coin × 10]
His heart pounded wildly. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Makoto clicked open the detailed introduction about the Resurrection Coins.
[Resurrection Coin]
[Revive instantly upon death (No penalties)]
[Can choose to revive on the spot or at a random location (Effectively prevents corpse camping)]
After confirming it countless times, each character was like a red-hot brand searing his retina.
Makoto suddenly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, 'Ten lives! With these ten lives, I could play around in the Shinobi World to my heart's content.'
He slowly leaned his head back, his right hand holding his forehead, his fingertips pressing hard on his temples. The corners of his mouth slowly stretched back, finally unable to hold back, transforming into a hearty, unrestrained roar of laughter.
"Hahaha…!!!!"
The laughter exploded from the depths of his throat, mixed with a child's unique clarity, yet carried a thick Uchiha flavor.
With the Uchiha Maniacal Laugh, Makoto officially debuts.
In the living room, the two-and-a-half-year-old Sasuke, who was happily munching on sunflower seeds from a jar, was startled by the sudden burst of laughter, his hand trembling and scattering seeds all over the floor.
Puffing out his cheeks, he glared fiercely towards Makoto's room, his chubby fists clenched tightly. Just as he was about to charge over on his short legs, he was gently pulled back by Mikoto nearby.
"Don't bother him." Mikoto gently stroked Sasuke's small head, looking towards Makoto's room, a trace of helpless tenderness flashing in her eyes.
"In our Uchiha Clan, there are always some geniuses who like to laugh like this..."
In the study, Fugaku, hearing this maniacal laughter, paused his hand while reviewing the Police Force's scrolls, his thin lips curling up almost imperceptibly.
Among his three sons, the one he valued most was not the already talented Itachi, but Makoto, who had been exceptionally unusual since childhood.
…
A good while later, Makoto's wild laughter gradually subsided, his chest still heaving violently, his cheeks flushed with an abnormal redness from lack of oxygen.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and focused his intent on [Player Shop].
The moment the list popped up, Makoto's pupils constricted sharply, his breath catching…
[Chakra Fruit]
[Ten-Tails]
[Otsutsuki Bloodline]
[Rinne-Sharingan]
[Tenseigan]
[...]
Each item was like a red-hot iron, scorching him breathless.
But when he saw the astronomical prices listed after them, Makoto couldn't help but frown slightly, then relaxed again, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, pondering inwardly.
'So what if the prices are sky-high? At least I have a ladder to the top. What's more, I got a whole ten Resurrection Coins for free, my margin for error is maxed out.'
'Moreover, the player shop contained a vast array of goods. A quick glance revealed many affordable, cost-effective items that could quickly enhance my strength.'
As for the money needed to buy these items, he would work hard to get it.
In the Shinobi World, strength is the law, power is heaven. As long as he had sufficient strength, he had at least ninety-nine ways to quickly make money.
At least ninety-nine!
The ten Resurrection Coins in his player backpack were like a reassurance pill, crushing all his previous suppressed emotions into dust.
Makoto manipulated the pale golden virtual panel with his intent. The various items in the player shop ignited a blazing desire in his eyes.
With ten lives, he had no intention of suppressing his natural talent and potential (money-making ability) at all. Instead, he planned to reveal his talent as quickly as possible and rapidly increase his strength.
After obtaining more funds, he would use them to spend on in-game purchases, rapidly become stronger, stepping on his own feet to spiral upwards.
But everything is hard at the beginning.
Going from an ordinary two-and-a-half-year-old Uchiha child to a genius with recognized strength and talent required some startup capital.
As the son of the Uchiha Clan's Clan Head, his living conditions were top-notch in every aspect, but due to his young age, he had almost no pocket money.
Because in their perception, a two-and-a-half-year-old child hardly needed much money.
But as long as he used his brain, there were always more solutions than difficulties.
'I must quickly find an angel investor.' Makoto quickly calculated in his heart.
Itachi was an excellent candidate, but unfortunately, he had just been tricked into going to find Shisui and wouldn't be back for a while. That left only the biggest 'mobile ATM' at home, Fugaku, to squeeze some money from.
In the past, Makoto often opposed Fugaku, not to pick a fight deliberately, but influenced by the fragmented memories of his previous life.
Any adult, suddenly gaining a father, would feel somewhat uncomfortable.
For over two years, he had never called him 'father' once. When they met, they hardly spoke, because whenever they did, Fugaku would be infuriated by Makoto.
Makoto put away the pale golden virtual panel with his intent, then directly crossed the corridor to find Fugaku, who was often in the study.
Going to Fugaku for money now, Makoto didn't hold much hope. Anyway, he had nothing better to do, so he thought he might as well give it a shot, hoping to get something out of it.
After all, at his age, even if he begged Fugaku, he probably couldn't get much money. The real angel investor still had to be Itachi, but unfortunately, he wasn't home right now.
The study door wasn't closed tightly, leaving a crack. Makoto pushed the door open and entered, plopping down with a 'thud' on the low stool opposite Fugaku.
His small face was serious, his eyes still bearing the red veins from staying up all night, carefully examining the man across the table.
Fugaku was reviewing Police Force's scrolls with his head down, his shoulder-length black hair hanging over his forehead, the lines of his square face cold and hard as if carved by a knife, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. Even the action of turning pages carried the authority of a superior.
After a long moment, he slowly looked up.
His deep black eyes swept over, carrying immense pressure that could make those with weak willpower lower their heads instantly. When they landed on Makoto's face, Makoto didn't move a muscle, meeting Fugaku's gaze without even blinking. The two stared at each other for several seconds.
Fugaku's fingers holding the pen paused almost imperceptibly, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards slightly, but he quickly suppressed it, feeling increasingly appreciative of Makoto.
His youngest son, Sasuke, didn't even dare to meet his gaze. His eldest son, Itachi, was steady but lacked a bit of 'wildness'.
Only Makoto dared to look at him so fearlessly, with a spark in his eyes that even reminded him of some Uchiha ancestors.
"Something the matter?"
Fugaku spoke first, his voice deep like wheels crushing gravel.
Makoto didn't beat around the bush either, getting straight to the point, his crisp child's voice devoid of any softness.
"Lend me some money."
Fugaku's hand holding the pen paused slightly, ink blotting a small black stain on the rice paper, a trace of barely perceptible curiosity in his tone: "What do you need money for?"
Hearing this, Makoto couldn't be bothered to make up an excuse, as any excuse would be flimsy at his age. He simply leaned forward and said seriously.
"Just lend it to me. When I become the strongest in the Shinobi World, I'll support you to become Hokage."
Fugaku's eyebrows shot up sharply. He tapped his knuckles lightly on the desk, making a dull sound, his tone becoming a bit more serious.
"Don't say things that are detrimental to Konoha's unity."
He paused, then continued: "Moreover, Makoto, you are not even willing to call me Father!"
"Address by title during work hours, call me Young Clan Head!" Makoto corrected him with a straight face, his small face full of unquestionable seriousness.
Fugaku looked at Makoto, who, same as always, showed him no respect, and said with a stern face: "You are not the Young Clan Head yet!"
"You'll regret this!" Makoto blurted out.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Fugaku's pupils constricted sharply. Makoto's tone was exactly like the daily routine of Sandaime and Danzo that he often witnessed. He subconsciously retorted.
"I am the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan!"
Fugaku's voice exploded like thunder.
Hearing this, Makoto didn't respond. He simply jumped down from the low stool and turned to leave.
Slam!
He violently swung the door shut, making the doorframe vibrate.
Fugaku watched Makoto's angrily departing back, his fingers creasing the scroll slightly, a faint trace of a smile flashing in his eyes.
"This kid..." Although he didn't know what Makoto wanted the money for, he planned to increase his allowance a bit.
Makoto rushed back to his room before belatedly scratching his head.
'Tch, that vibe just now... was I influenced by the inherently evil Shimura Danzo?'
Just as he was considering whether to try his luck with Mikoto, light footsteps sounded outside, approaching from afar.