[Host has been transferred to the Naruto World. World loading 1%.]
['Hardware Purificator' synchronizing, 1%.]
"Where am I?" I asked no one in a daze when I opened my eyes. I was currently surrounded by a group of children in what looked like to be a vast lecture room?
My hands and my head were resting on a very long wooden table. The moment I spoke was when my deskmates and the group of children around stared at me.
[World loading 100%, World loading complete.]
['Hardware Purificator' synchronizing, 100%. Skill Synchronization is done.]
[Character memory and experience acquired.]
[Open the menu to proceed on the tutorial.]
"Shit! This actually worked." It took me a few seconds to adjust and recognize that I had just entered Naruto. As I looked at my classmates and got some unfamiliar memories and flashbacks, I understood what happened. The previous panic and confusion due to being sucked inside the black device were quickly forgotten.
I was elated despite having yet to spot the person I was looking for. The headband laced on the teacher's forehead was more than enough to put me in bliss. I paused the game when the teacher finally turned around from the classroom board, he was frowning when he looked at me probably because of the foolish grin on my face and the noise I just made.
I just had to interrupt the jonin the very minute I was introduced to the World of my dreams...What a lousy way to make an entrance, I grieved internally. It apparently took a short time for the menu to be operative; the loading was finished before I cursed loudly and attracted unneeded attention.
"Open menu" was what I announced the next moment. I was both fascinated and pleased to realize that people stayed frozen after I summoned and clicked "start" on the controller the voice had instructed me about.
Using my 360° vision as an interactive screen wasn't practical, especially during battle, to drive through the system, after all. I chose this option with no hesitation when the system clarified that I could use both. I honestly didn't need a touch screen when I was authorized to pause at any moment.
When the system opened the menu, I thanked him and examined with attention the different categories and submenus available:
[----------MENU---------
-STATUS
-KNACKS
-EXPERTISE
-MISC
-OPTIONS
--------------------------]
"I finally have my own golden finger!" I smirked like a maniac and rubbed my hands in appreciation.
"Living in Naruto with cheats, oh man, let's do this calmly..." I was impatient and had my head buzzing with anticipation. The World of Naruto wasn't the strongest, but compared to some others, it was relatively safe when played right. My objective was to keep the strength and skills I gained, not dying in the first minutes of the playthrough.
The bit of knowledge I had on it would also be a boon; I had long forgotten about some of the most potent anime and games I watched or played years ago.
I moved the cursor on the "OPTIONS" submenu first and began with the tutorial:
[OPTIONS: This submenu is composed of three settings:
-NEW GAME: The user creates and begins a new game with similar or different parameters.
-SAVE LOG: Progression is automatically recorded here, independently from the user. User can only push this button to switch between saves
-EXIT: Allows the user to leave the game.]
[----------OPTIONS---------
-NEW GAME
-SAVE LOG
-EXIT
--------------------------]
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
"Sounds simple enough." I acknowledged before leaving the submenu. I chose to explore the miscellaneous next:
[MISC: This submenu is composed of three settings:
-ENCYCLOPEDIA: The user gets access to the source material in current use in the form of footage, books, or wikis.
-FAQ: The user can open this option to chat with the system and ask about the outside world situation. The system doesn't answer any issue related to the digital World for the user unless he chooses to do so.
-PURIFICATION: This option is only available after the user's strength has reached the topmost level of the World he currently resides; in other words, when he's the most powerful.
The user can use this setting to enhance the proficiency of weakest abilities, perks, or acquired skills to the same level as the strongest currently in use. However, it doesn't change the user's talent and can only be used once for each playthrough.
[----------MISC---------
-ENCYCLOPEDIA
-FAQ
-PURIFICATION
--------------------------]
"Wow! That Misc menu is something else, man." I found the ENCYCLOPEDIA and FAQ option really useful. I could rewatch or read about things I had forgotten in Naruto, which was neat. I could also check the situation and news in the real world if I didn't want to immediately leave.
Those two options would be critical in both lives, although I was most interested in the Purification setting. It shared the same name as my innate skill and, "oh boy," it was something worth looking for.
It could sound broken, and it was...However, what was the point of being half-broken if I was already standing at the top?
"Let's not dwell on that for now. I have a long way to go before any of this." I opened the pocket menu next. I wanted to get done with the options that sounded boring first.
[POCKET: This submenu is composed of only one setting:
-INVENTORY: The user stores anything that doesn't have life inside. There isn't a space limit, but there is a limit to the type of objects that can be used for battle. This limit is non-negotiable, solely determined by the system, at his own discretion.
[----------POCKET---------
-INVENTORY
--------------------------]
"I won't discuss that one. Gotta make it fair, I guess." I closed the menu, imagining a mountain falling on a group of shinobi. That would render this power unbalanced, totally messed up even.
Next was the KNACKS menu:
[KNACKS: This submenu is composed of only one setting:
-TALENTS: Innate learning speed and gifts of the user in different domains. Subject to change, even if near impossible, according to somatic mutations, circumstances, events, experiences, or personality changes. Trying to alter one's talent is generally not time-efficient or impossible when the biological or spiritual requirements are not met.
[----------KNACKS---------
-TALENTS
--------------------------]
This one was obvious, so I impatiently switched to the next part of the tutorial:
[EXPERTISE: This submenu is composed of two settings:
-SKILLS: Abilities learned by the user are recorded in 'expertise,' never to be forgotten once mastered. The skill level is measured depending on the World of residence.
The assessment in this reality goes as such:
ACADEMY, GENIN, ELITE GENIN, CHUNIN, ELITE CHUNIN, SPECIAL JONIN, JONIN, ELITE JONIN, KAGE, LEGEND, SAVIOUR, DEITY.
Each of these respective classifications divided between F- and SS+.
-PERKS: The passive abilities developed by the user when gaining power, practicing, combining skills, acquiring experience, status, or fame.
[----------EXPERTISE---------
-SKILLS
-PERKS
--------------------------]
"I simply love this!"
I saved this one for last because I was a sucker for numerical values. Well, in this case, the benefits weren't really binary, but I still got a kick out from it. Geeking had always been enjoyable for me:
[STATUS: This submenu is composed of nine stats:
-VITALITY:
The total energy and stamina in the body.
-RECOVERY:
The rate at which the body and mind heal from injury.
-STRENGTH:
The maximum damage one can inflict and the lifting capacity.
-DEFENSE:
Body, vitals hardness, and damage reduction.
-SMARTS:
The total of mental and spiritual functions, such as intelligence and perception.
-CREATIVITY:
The ability to maximize mental capabilities.
-CHAKRA:
Maximum magic output. Recovery influences how fast it replenishes.
-CHAKRA CONTROL:
The mastery with which the chakra is used. High chakra control reduces the power needed to perform demanding moves and techniques.
-BODY CONTROL:
The mastery one has over their bodies. High body control enhances speed, strength, and precision.
[----------STATUS---------
-VITALITY: Chunin/F+
-RECOVERY: Chunin/F+
-STRENGTH: Genin/SS+
-DEFENSE: Academy/SS+
-SMARTS: Academy/D
-CREATIVITY: Academy/C-
-CHAKRA: Chunin/F+
-CHAKRA CONTROL: Academy/C
-BODY CONTROL: Genin/B-
--------------------------]
I was dejected with my smarts, but seeing how my energy levels were off the charts at age 8, I wasn't completely disheartened. Low Chakra capacity and slow recovery were what I wanted to avoid most, considering how I was planning on training.
Because I never possessed good stamina and that death wasn't the end, I was planning a training regime that even someone like Guy or Lee would be proud of.
I was immersed in my ideas for some time before the system recalled that it would be leaving me to do my own stuff from this point on.
"Thanks, System. Is that okay to keep calling you like this, by the way?" This guy was a conscious skill when all was said and done. Maybe he had feelings…
[A name?
I do not care much for those things you humanoids like, but it would be most efficient for you to use something you feel comfortable with.]
The system's reply was unexpected and made me feel refreshed. I thought for a bit before deciding on a name. Yes, that one would fit considering the origin of the ability:
"I'll call you Lightning starting today if you don't mind."
[Simple and straight. I approve. I will go on standby now, use the FAQ if you need me in the future.]
"Laters, Lightning!" I waved to nobody and closed the menus. I kept grinning like a retard before I used the controller and clicked on start once more. However, the moment I was back in the "real" world, my ears were screaming:
"Genjo!"
"Yes, teacher!" I stood up a bit too zealously. Almost as if I was responding to a command from a superior in the army. Nonetheless, the man's gaze, even if turned a bit gentler and murmur from the students, reassured me that I made the right decision.
I didn't know who this instructor was; I had never seen him in the anime, but I had the ominous feeling that he could whip me into shape. Fast...