"Huff… huff… huff…"
Sakura's face had gone pale. Her legs gave out as she collapsed to the ground, trembling so hard she forgot all about the soreness from earlier.
"What… what is this feeling…? That chakra—it's terrifying…"
Naruto felt a chill crawl all the way up his spine as he stared at Ayato in horror.
Even the Nine-Tails deep inside Naruto's seal narrowed its eyes.
"This brat… he's even more dangerous than that man."
Sasuke, who had always been proud and composed, was now on his knees. Cold sweat trickled off his chin as he stared at his own trembling hands.
"I… I'm actually scared?"
Ayato's chakra felt even more dreadful than Itachi's.
Ayato lifted two fingers.
"When you're facing an enemy you absolutely cannot defeat, there are only two options."
He raised the first finger.
"One—tuck your tail between your legs and run."
He raised the second.
"Two—use your brain. Think. Struggle. Bite down and find a way."
His blue eyes sharpened.
"So choose. Give up being shinobi… or fight with everything you've got."
The overwhelming chakra pressure washed over them like a storm. The sky darkened, winds howled, and cracks spread across the ground.
The entire village could feel that terrifying surge.
Naruto's knees trembled—but he forced himself to stand again.
"There's no way I'm giving up! I'll become Hokage no matter what—EVEN if it kills me!"
His voice shook, but his conviction didn't.
Sasuke gritted his teeth and rose as well, using one hand against his knee for support.
"This dobe's right. Even if I have to crawl, even if it costs me everything—I'll get the strength I need."
His Sharingan spun—
one tomoe… then two.
The Sharingan evolved.
"Sasuke… Naruto…"
Sakura stared blankly. She couldn't understand it. Ayato looked like a monster right now—yet these two still dared to stand up against him.
Naruto crossed his fingers.
"I'm not losing to Sasuke today! It's my turn to show off!"
Sasuke snorted. "You? Show off? As if your idiotic plans ever work."
Naruto puffed out his chest. "Ayato-sensei said something during his self-intro, remember? 'I like all kinds of pretty women.'"
He grinned confidently.
Sasuke and Sakura both thought the same thing:
—This idiot.
But Naruto had already struck.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Tens of Naruto clones appeared.
And then—
"Tch! This is my ultimate technique!
MULTI—HAREM—TECHNIQUE!!"
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
White smoke erupted everywhere.
When it cleared…
Ten-plus beautiful women surrounded Ayato.
There were cute twin-tailed girls, refined cool beauties, mature types… all illusions created by transformation jutsu. They all leaned in flirtatiously.
"Ayato~ saaan~ play with us~"
Sakura and Sasuke froze on the spot.
Then both of them shouted internally:
—IDIOT!!!
Sakura squeezed her temples.
"I can't believe I actually expected Naruto to have a plan. I'm the idiot."
Ayato calmly reached out and flicked one of the transformed clone's foreheads like disciplining a child.
"Your transformation technique is pretty polished. The execution isn't bad. Much better than Sakura's earlier."
Sakura's eyebrow twitched.
"WHY am I getting compared?!"
Ayato let the clones cling to him for a moment… then allowed himself to lean back just half a step.
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all froze.
"Ayato-sensei… moved."
They exchanged looks.
"That means… we passed!?"
"Yes! We actually passed!"
Sakura jumped in place, all fear evaporating at once.
Naruto crossed his arms proudly.
"Heh! See that, Sasuke? I told you my plan would work!"
Sasuke turned away with a cold huff.
"…Super idiot."
The clones dispersed with puffs of smoke.
Ayato dusted off his sleeves.
"Well, since I moved, I can't exactly take it back. Congratulations. Squad Seven—passed."
Ding—
[Congratulations, host. Task completed.]
[Reward: Newbie Gift Pack. Open?]
Ayato answered inwardly. Open it.
[Gift Pack Contents:]
– All Fire Release techniques
– Chakra capacity doubled
– Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi – cast without consuming chakra
– New Master-Disciple Quest:
Teach Squad Seven tree climbing & water walking within one month.
Reward: Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder Fruit), no side effects.
Ayato stared blankly.
"…What kind of trash loot is this?"
"All Fire Releases"?
Meaningless.
Chakra doubled?
That at least wasn't bad.
But Kurohitsugi, free to cast…
That actually made his eyes light up a bit.
Still… compared to his Tenseigan?
Tsk, cheap beginner junk.
The next reward, however—
Goro Goro no Mi without side effects.
Now THAT had value.
He clicked his tongue.
"Finally, system, you're starting to be… slightly useful."
[Incorrect. The system is part of the host's own power.
Insulting the system is insulting yourself.]
"…Cute."
Ayato smiled faintly.
Even his system had an attitude.
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