As Naruto stood there, smacking his forehead in frustration, he couldn't help but mutter, "I am stupid. I am stupid. I am stupid."
He had just raced through a quest that had taken barely an hour after leaving the academy. Reflecting on his earlier turmoil, he realized just how foolish he had been.
Naruto knew he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but even by his standards, this was a serious lapse into absurdity. He had agonized over choosing between mastering the Uzumaki clan techniques and continuing his academy training, not realizing that the system interface before him could easily manage both.
Thankfully, clarity had struck in time, and he snapped out of his needless dilemma, narrowly avoiding missing out on what turned out to be the quest of a lifetime.
[ Skill: Beginner Academy Taijutsu ]
[ Description: Taijutsu, or hand-to-hand combat, is essential for all shinobi. This beginner level focuses on proper stances, basic strikes, kicks, and blocks. ]
[ Active Enhancements: ]
- [ Strength (STR) Modifier: +2 for 30 seconds upon activation. ]
- [ Vitality (VIT) Modifier: +2 for 30 seconds upon activation. ]
- [ Dexterity (DEX) Modifier: +2 for 30 seconds upon activation. ]
...
[ Skill: Beginner Academy Tactics (Active) ]
[ Description: Teaches team formations, ambush strategies, counter-ambush tactics, and various battlefield maneuvers. ]
[ Active Enhancements: ]
- [ Intelligence (INT) Modifier: +3 for 30 seconds upon activation. ]
- [ Wisdom (WIS) Modifier: +3 for 30 seconds upon activation. ]
It had taken him a whole hour to get them—but the follow-up quest, he had almost missed, was the reason for his frustration.
[ System Quest Alert ]
[ Quest: Pick up the books ]
[ Objective: Pick up the books on beginner, intermediate, and advanced academy Taijutsu. ]
[ Rewards:
- The Senju Clan's Taijutsu
- +100 reputation with REDACTED, REDACTED, REDACTED ]
[ Failure: None ]
[ Action Required: Confirm acceptance or declination of quest. ]
He gazed at the system, realizing just how close he had come to missing out on a great opportunity. With a relieved sigh, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"So, I guess I need to find books for the intermediate and advanced versions," he mused. Dattebayo! If only I had a magic item that could instantly unlock the skills.
His attention then shifted to the reputation bonus in the rewards. "Reputation," he mumbled, tapping on the interface to bring up his current standings. The list was more extensive than he expected:
Konohagakure – Hated – 15/1000
Landlord – Hated – 50/1000
Iruka – Friendly – 660/1000
Sarutobi Hiruzen – Friendly – 690/1000
Konoha Merchant Guild – Hated – 5/1000
Ichiraku Ramen – Revered – 1000/1000
Konoha General Store – Hated – 1/1000
Unknown – Hated – 5/1000
Unknown – Hated – 1/1000
Uchiha Sasuke – Friendly – 600/1000
Haruno Sakura – Unfriendly – 90/1000
Nara Shikamaru – Neutral – 450/1000
Akimichi Chouji – Neutral – 320/1000
Yamanaka Ino – Neutral – 300/1000
Hyuuga Hinata – Revered – 1000/1000
Inuzuka Kiba – Neutral – 250/1000
Aburame Shino – Neutral – 300/1000
Shimura Clan – Hated – 10/1000
Sarutobi Clan – Neutral – 500/1000
Naruto sighed, his heart sinking as he saw how many people and places in Konoha hated him. "Is all of Konoha mentally ill or something?" he muttered to himself, his frustration mounting.
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"Please don't tell me all of Konoha hates me because of the Uzumaki clan or some other dumb reason that I clearly have no control over."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts before looking at the system screen once more. "Great, it's real," he grumbled.
"Let me guess, if I can somehow check my reputation, I'll find that I'm also hated by every other village in the world, huh?" Naruto asked the empty room, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The thought that his entire village, his home, practically despised him was a painful realization. He felt the weight of their unwarranted animosity bearing down on him, making it hard to see any positivity in his situation.
Yet, there were a few glimmers of hope—Iruka, Hiruzen, Hinata, and Ichiraku Ramen.
He tapped the icon, seeking more information about the reputation system. A black box with yellow writing appeared, but no arrows pointed to anything.
[ Reputation: The Reputation tracks a character's standing with various individuals, organizations, and groups. It reflects how the character is perceived and treated within different factions or communities. ]
[ Reputation Ranges and Statuses: ]
- [ 0: Despised - The lowest possible standing, often resulting in hostility or complete exclusion. ]
- [ 1-50: Hated - A negative standing where the character faces distrust and aversion. ]
- [ 51-200: Unfriendly - Character is known but not well-regarded, leading to minimal cooperation. ]
- [ 201-500: Neutral - A neutral stance where the character is neither favored nor disliked. Basic interactions are possible. ]
- [ 501-800: Friendly - A positive standing where the character is welcomed and assisted. ]
- [ 801-950: Honored - High regard and respect from the faction, leading to significant support and benefits. ]
- [ 951-1000: Revered - The highest level of esteem, offering the best possible support, resources, and opportunities from the faction. ]
[ Benefits at Each Level: ]
- [ Despised: Character faces active hostility and is barred from most interactions or transactions. ]
- [ Hated: Limited interaction, with most services or assistance denied. ]
- [ Unfriendly: Basic interactions allowed, but with limited access to resources or information. ]
- [ Neutral: Standard level of interaction with no special privileges or restrictions. ]
- [ Friendly: Improved cooperation, access to better resources, and favorable treatment. ]
- [ Honored: Access to exclusive resources, high-level assistance, and strong support. ]
- [ Revered: Best possible support, including access to top-tier resources, special missions, and unique opportunities. ]
[ Note: ]
- [ Reputation can be improved or worsened through actions, decisions, and interactions within the world. ]
- [ Some factions or individuals may offer unique rewards or opportunities at different reputation levels. ]
"Well, that's some bullshit."
His gaze lingered on the 'Honored' status next to Hinata's name, puzzling over why she regarded him so highly. He paused for a moment, lost in thought, before a small smile crept onto his face. At least I know Hinata is a true friend.
His attention then shifted to the 'Friendly' status next to Sarutobi Hiruzen's name, which contrasted starkly with the 'Neutral' status of the Sarutobi Clan. "I thought the Sarutobi clan liked me," Naruto mused, his lips pursing in confusion. Guess it's just some people in the clan, not the whole clan.
He let out a sigh, realizing the complexity of his relationships within the village. It wasn't as straightforward as he had initially thought.
Naruto's eyes widened in awe as the new orange window materialized before him, filled with thumbnail-sized images representing his current attire and gear. Cool!
[ Orange Overstock Jacket ]
[ - Material: Thin, Lightweight. ]
[ - Protection Level: Minimal. ]
[ - Stat Modifiers: AC +5, DEX +1 (Movement Speed). ]
[ - Status Effects: -15% Stealth Efficiency, -5% Reputation Gains. ]
[ - Durability: 2/30. ]
[ - Description: Basic outerwear offering limited protection and reduced stealth capabilities. Suitable for basic environmental exposure. ]
[ - Warning: Due to the material being so old, effects can't be applied. ]
"What?" Naruto exclaimed, his excitement quickly turning to frustration. "This game is freaking broken, goddamn it."
[ Orange Overstocked Running Pants ]
[ - Material: Thin, Lightweight. ]
[ - Protection Level: Slightly Enhanced. ]
[ - Stat Modifiers: AC +2, DEX +1. ]
[ - Status Effects: -15% Stealth Efficiency, -5% Reputation Gains. ]
[ - Durability: 3/30. ]
[ - Description: Lightweight pants providing minimal protection. Offers slight agility improvement at the cost of stealth and reputation. ]
[ - Warning: Due to the material being so old, effects can't be applied. ]
Naruto inspected his shoes:
[ Blue Academy Issue Shinobi Sandals ]
[ - Material: Flexible, Light. ]
[ - Protection Level: Basic. ]
[ - Stat Modifiers: AC +3, DEX +2. ]
[ - Status Effects: +5% Stealth Efficiency. ]
[ - Durability: 10/30. ]
[ - Description: Optimized for novice shinobi. Enhances mobility without impeding chakra flow. Offers minimal defense. ]
[ - Warning: Due to the material being so old, effects can't be applied. ]
Finally, he tapped on his goggles:
[ Green Goggles ]
- [ Material: High-Quality, Durable. ]
- [ Protection Level: Advanced. ]
- [ Stat Modifiers: AC +5. ]
- [ Status Effects: +10% Observation Efficiency. ]
- [ Durability: 40/50. ]
- [ Description: Superior eye protection designed for field use, particularly suitable for doujutsu users. ]
Naruto's jaw dropped as he realized something shocking. How long have I been fighting gearless?
On the verge of exploding with frustration, he grabbed the nearest object—a beautiful white book adorned with a red camellia flower design—and slammed his hand into it repeatedly, venting his annoyance.
"Why me?!" he lamented, his voice rising in exasperation. First sabotage, then hatred, and now this crap—gear with no stat effects.
After a minute of taking out his frustration on the unfortunate book, Naruto looked up and smirked. "Okay, let's add that to the reasons why the emo loser won. Because I was nerfed, both with my gear and my abilities, and he got a power-up."
Sitting in his apartment, Naruto pondered his next move. He needed better gear, but the glaring problems were his lack of money and the fact the villager won't give him good gear.
"Wait a minute!" he shouted, quickly rummaging through his inventory. He pulled out two items he had almost forgotten about:
[ Items ]
- [ Rat Gold Tooth ]
[ Description: A rare tooth, possibly valuable to certain collectors or useful in specific crafting. ]
[ Durability: Redacted ]
...
- [ Refined Ore ]
[ Description: High-quality ore, essential for crafting superior weapons or armor. ]
[ Durability: Redacted ]
A grin spread across Naruto's face as he realized the potential of these items.
I can sell these, right? he thought. This could be my ticket to some decent gear... and maybe even a nice gift for Hinata!