With Danzo, the chief conspirator who had endangered Asuna, dead, Kirito's A-rank mission completion rate had risen from 60% to 80%. As expected, with the progression of the mission, came corresponding rewards from the system.
To Kirito's slight surprise, perhaps because eliminating Danzo had triggered some hidden storyline branch, this time the rewards from the Arsenal System were unusually generous.
First, he received two bonus attribute points. Instead of putting them into Strength, Kirito used them to replenish the 20% Agility bonus he had lost after discarding the [Assassin's Dagger] earlier.
The second reward was a firearm-type weapon.
Kirito had previously received a firearm: the M700 light sniper rifle. However, it had been damaged in the battle against Gaara, the Jinchūriki of the Sand. This time, the reward was a handgun:
> Type: Handgun
> Name: Desert Eagle
> Weight: 2kg
> Magazine: 7/28
> Muzzle Velocity: 402 m/s
> Effective Range: 200 meters
Kirito's reaction to the reward was neutral, neither satisfied nor disappointed. While guns could deal serious damage to ordinary people, ninjas were a different breed entirely. Their physical bodies were far stronger than that of average humans.
Case in point: the sniper rifle he had used on Gaara was unable to pierce his Absolute Defense or Sand Armor, even from long range. Even at close range, causing a lethal wound would be difficult.
If that was the case for a sniper rifle, then a handgun would surely be even less effective. However, the Desert Eagle was different, its stopping power at close range (within 50 meters) could rival that of a sniper rifle. Additionally, handguns had certain advantages: they were compact, lightweight, and easy to conceal, a major edge over the bulky sniper.
Of course, when compared to traditional ninja tools like kunai and shuriken, guns were vastly superior, in firepower, speed, and accuracy. But even so, Kirito understood this wasn't a modern battlefield. This was the world of shinobi.
Ninja bodies weren't like normal humans. Firearms here weren't as deadly as their design intended. After all, modern guns were made to kill humans. In this world, perhaps their role should be reclassified, not weapons that kill outright, but tools that inflict serious injury.
Whether a gun could actually kill a ninja would depend on the opponent. But its potential to wound, disrupt, and cripple was not in question.
As for whether the Desert Eagle could prove useful in real combat… that would have to be tested in battle.
Now, for the third system reward.
This time, it was something similar to the earlier-acquired technique: Eight Extreme Collapse.
What he received was a Magus's Journal, which contained a new skill, Reinforcement.
Reinforcement was exactly what the name suggested: a magical technique that enhanced physical properties. It could be applied to the user's own body, weapons, armor, and more.
After carefully reading the details, Kirito's eyes lit up.
Though it wasn't an offensive technique per se, as a support skill, it was an absolute game-changer.
For instance: Kirito had already almost fully mastered Eight Extreme Collapse, but his body still wasn't strong enough to unleash the move's full destructive power. With Reinforcement, however, he could strengthen his physique, enabling him to withstand and deliver the technique's true might.
Even basic taijutsu would benefit, a reinforced fist naturally delivered a more powerful strike.
And most importantly: Reinforcement could be applied to weapons.
Shirayuki was already lethal as a single-target weapon, so additional reinforcement wouldn't do much. But a firearm?
That's where this synergy shone.
Kirito immediately realized the potential: if the bullets from the Desert Eagle were enhanced using Reinforcement, they could deal massive damage, especially during a surprise attack. Even if the enemy used chakra to protect themselves afterward, the first shot would likely land hard.
With Reinforcement, the stopping power of the bullet would increase dramatically, making the Desert Eagle a potential trump card.
Looking back on the chaos he'd unleashed in Konoha, Kirito couldn't help but feel surprised that Konoha's higher-ups had sealed off all information about the incident.
Even more surprising: they never officially declared him a rogue ninja, despite his actions. Technically speaking, Kirito was never a registered Konoha shinobi to begin with…
But still, he had:
/ Severely wounded Sarutobi Asuma
/ Killed Shimura Danzo
/ Leveled the western outskirts of Konoha
/ Flattened the iconic Hokage Rock
Any one of these offenses would normally place him at the top of the ANBU kill list.
Yet nothing had happened.
In the days following the incident, Konoha's upper echelons had seemingly vanished, making no move against him whatsoever.
As for the lower ranks? The strict information lockdown meant no one even knew what Kirito had done.
Among the younger generation, only Hinata knew the full story. A few clan heirs had been discreetly warned by their elders to stay away from him, but beyond that, everything else was left to silent consensus.
Not that Kirito cared. How the village saw him was none of his concern.
And so, despite turning Konoha upside down, Kirito remained quietly within the village.
But now that the Chūnin Exams had concluded, and the Princess of the Land of Fire, Asuna, was preparing to return home, Kirito's system mission led him to leave alongside her.
Currently, Kirito and Asuna were en route back to the Daimyō's palace.
His A-rank mission to protect her was now 80% complete.
And yet… that last 20% hung over him like a storm cloud.
Who, or what, still posed enough of a threat to endanger the mission?
Ahead of them, on the path home…
Two figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds had been waiting for quite some time.
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Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Bleach: Sephiroth Template
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
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