The gacha pool contained nearly everything that existed in the ninja world.
From basic skills to heaven-defying bloodline abilities.
Among the UR rewards were legendary Bloodline Limits such as the Sharingan, Byakugan, the Uzumaki bloodline, Dust Release, and other absurdly powerful abilities.
The SSR tier was a step lower.
Most of the rewards consisted of Bloodline Limits like Scorch Release, Boil Release, Lava Release, and Magnet Release, along with various secret techniques such as Earth Grudge Fear, Paper Release, and the Hydrification Technique.
One thing that caught his eye was Wood Release.
Judging by its rarity, it was probably Yamato’s version rather than Hashirama’s.
As for the SR tier, the rewards were much more modest.
Throwing Technique Mastery, Swordsmanship Mastery, Taijutsu Mastery, Mastery of the Three Basic Techniques…
Still, Aoba couldn’t help wondering—
If I drew Substitution Technique Mastery…
would that count as learning a budget version of Amenotejikara?
His thoughts didn’t wander any further.
Because he had already spotted something on the draw screen.
A Free Ten-Pull Voucher.
Before he even had time to celebrate obtaining a system…
…the free ten-pull had already arrived.
Without hesitation, Aoba Hayashichose to draw.
Brilliant visual effects flashed across the interface before a beam of purple light appeared.
[Advanced Throwing Technique Mastery ×1]
[Kunai ×4]
[Shuriken ×5]
In an instant, it felt as though enlightenment had descended upon him.
An enormous amount of knowledge poured directly into his mind.
Aoba Hayashiran happily through Konoha’s streets.
Joy was written all over his face.
His destination was the target range at one of Konoha’s training grounds.
Yugao had brought him there before, so he still remembered the way.
By the time he arrived, someone was already practicing.
It was a little girl with twin buns.
Unfortunately…
Her shuriken accuracy was rather difficult to praise.
She had thrown quite a few, yet only a handful had actually struck the targets.
Most were scattered across the surrounding grass.
A true master of outlining the human body…
Looking at the shuriken littering the ground, then at the numerous scrolls of various sizes beside the girl, Aoba couldn’t help swallowing.
If he remembered correctly, sealing scrolls were expensive.
Even Hayato Hayashi only owned a few.
Yet this little girl had a whole pile of them.
Looks like she’s from a wealthy family.
Out of courtesy, Aoba didn’t interrupt her practice.
Instead, he quietly walked around to a more distant target.
He didn’t want to disturb her.
Even so, his arrival caught the girl’s attention, and she instinctively looked over.
Ignoring her gaze, Aoba stopped a fair distance from the target.
He took a slow breath.
His eyes fixed on the bullseye.
In that instant, wind speed…
Distance…
Angle…
Every variable was calculated within his mind.
The next moment, he took out several of the shuriken he had just obtained from the gacha.
Aim.
Throw.
Bullseye.
The entire motion flowed in one seamless movement, as smooth and natural as flowing water.
The girl with the twin buns stared in amazement.
“So amazing…”
She couldn’t help murmuring.
Then she looked down at the countless shuriken scattered around her feet and felt another wave of frustration.
But Aoba wasn’t finished.
This time, he drew only a single shuriken.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying.
Instead of striking the target directly in front of him, the shuriken curved through the air, bypassed it completely, and hit the target behind it dead center.
The girl couldn’t stay where she was any longer.
She hurried over, her crystal-clear eyes sparkling.
“How did you do that?”
“Huh?”
Aoba hadn’t expected her to approach so directly and was momentarily caught off guard.
“The shuriken just now!
The one that curved!
You didn’t use any ninjutsu, so how did it change direction?”
“Oh, that.”
Aoba immediately understood.
“It’s actually pretty simple.
The moment you release the shuriken, you rapidly snap your wrist, giving it horizontal acceleration.
That creates a curved flight path…”
As he spoke, he demonstrated it once more.
The girl looked completely lost, as though she were listening to an advanced lecture.
Even so, stars had already begun shining in her eyes.
“M-My name is Tenten.”
She looked at him expectantly.
“Could you teach me how to throw shuriken?”
True to her straightforward personality, she voiced exactly what she was thinking.
“I’ll even pay tuition!”
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Several shuriken flew across the range in succession.
This time, every single one struck the target.
Although none landed perfectly in the center, her accuracy had improved dramatically.
Seeing the results, Tenten still sighed.
Clap!
Clap!
Clap!
“Come on, don’t look so discouraged.”
Aoba applauded at just the right moment, offering enthusiastic encouragement.
“You’ve already improved a lot.”
Tenten’s eyes lit up with delight, though she still pouted.
“But I’m still nowhere near as good as you, Aoba.”
“Everyone’s different, Tenten.
Don’t compare yourself to me.”
“You should compare yourself to who you were yesterday.
That’s the only way you’ll see how much you’ve improved.”
He spoke earnestly.
After all…
He was using cheats.
There was no fair comparison.
From the moment he had drawn Advanced Throwing Technique Mastery, his throwing skills had already reached the pinnacle of the ninja world.
When it came to throwing weapons, he confidently considered himself unmatched.
Even from eight hundred meters away, as long as he could generate enough force, he was confident he could kill someone with a single throw.
“Really?
Then since I’ve improved so much…”
Tenten suddenly leaned close, her eyes full of anticipation.
“…do I get a reward?”
“Uh…”
Aoba hesitated.
“What kind of reward do you want?”
Seeing her hopeful expression, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
Though he also hadn’t prepared anything.
Looks like I should start bringing candy whenever we practice.
Tenten rested a finger against her chin, pretending to think.
“Big Sister Yugao and the others have a mission today, right?”
“Yeah.
They probably won’t be back until tomorrow.”
“In that case…”
Her eyes curved into crescents.
“How about you come to my house for dinner tonight?”
She blinked those watery eyes at him.
There was no way Aoba could say no.
“If that’s the reward you want…
then sure.”
“It’s settled!”
Without giving him another chance to speak, Tenten happily pulled out more shuriken and resumed practicing.
As evening approached, Aoba Hayashiand Tenten walked home side by side.
Just as they passed a neighborhood park, a burst of noisy arguing caught their attention.
Both instinctively turned toward the commotion.
Several boys had surrounded two girls.
One was a pink-haired girl crouching on the ground, crying with her head buried in her arms.
The other, a blonde girl, stood protectively in front of her while arguing fiercely with the boys.
Judging from the pink hair, the blonde hair, and the repeated taunts about a “big forehead,” Aoba quickly realized who they were.
Young Sakura.
And young Ino.
“Aoba, should we help them?”
Tenten tugged gently on his sleeve.
If the two of them stepped in, these kids wouldn’t stand a chance.
Aoba hesitated.
If this was simply the bullying incident that had led to Sakura and Ino becoming friends…
Then he remembered Ino resolving it herself.
But…
The situation unfolding before them clearly wasn’t something two little girls could handle alone.
Just then—
A shrill scream rang out.
One of the older boys shoved Ino aside, grabbed the red ribbon from Sakura’s hair, and burst into loud laughter.
Aoba didn’t hesitate any longer.
He charged forward.
Even Tenten beside him failed to react in time.
If I don’t beat up these little idiots today…
I won’t be able to sleep tonight.
Having already refined chakra, Aoba Hayashimade short work of the group.
A few punches.
A few kicks.
The entire gang of bratty boys was beaten soundly.
Especially the one who had snatched the ribbon.
He was now pinned beneath Aoba’s foot, his face swollen and bruised so badly that it would probably take quite some time to recover.
Aoba took the red ribbon back from his hand.
If he remembered correctly…
This was the ribbon Ino had given Sakura as proof of their friendship.
It was something precious.
After retrieving it, Aoba lifted his foot.
The instant he was released, the boy scrambled away as fast as he could, rolling and crawling while crying for his father and mother to save him.
When Aoba looked toward Ino and Sakura…
They were both staring at him.
Their expressions were completely blank.
He assumed they had been frightened by how violently he had dealt with the boys.
Feeling slightly awkward, he handed the ribbon back to Sakura.
Without saying another word, he took Tenten by the hand and left.
Neither side exchanged a single sentence during the entire heroic rescue.
Only after they had walked some distance away did the two girls finally speak.
“S-Sakura…”
Ino glanced at the ribbon.
“It’s dirty now…
How about…
I get you a new one?”
Sakura gently shook her head.
“N-No…
this one is fine…”