Konoha Year 33.
“It’s been nine years since I came to the Ninja World.
If nothing unexpected happens, the Second Great Ninja War isn’t far off.”
“I lost to Minato Namikaze again in this class’s practical exam.
I couldn’t get his blood…
At this rate, how am I supposed to survive the war?”
Gekko Ryun walked aimlessly down the street, sighing silently.
He was born into a small ninja clan called Gekko.
The only thing worth mentioning about it was that it shared a name with the existence that lent its title to the “Chronicles of the Gale.”
In this world where bloodline reigned supreme, he had no connection to the Otsutsuki family, and his talent was thoroughly unremarkable.
Even though he had already given it everything he had, his Ninja Academy grades were hardly ideal.
That blond kid who always wore a gentle smile would say, “Ryun-kun really is strong,” but during practicals he had the whole class yelping.
Thankfully, as a transmigrator, he had a cheat.
He gently stroked the kunai in his ninja tool pouch.
[Minato Namikaze’s Kunai]
[Estimated Quality: Green]
[Forging Cost: 30,000 ryo per attempt]
[Special Condition: Use this kunai to draw Minato Namikaze’s blood]
[Condition not met.
Unable to forge equipment.]
“What a pity I can’t get Minato Namikaze’s blood…”
Many bizarre abilities existed in the Ninja World, and rashly asking someone for their blood would easily arouse suspicion.
He could only go through a proper fight, but to wound Minato Namikaze, his current strength wasn’t enough—he needed the enhancement of equipment.
And to forge his first piece of equipment, he first needed the strength to wound Minato Namikaze.
“I can’t put it off any longer.
If it really comes down to it, I’ll have to throw martial ethics out the window and try a sneak attack.
I wonder if my Will of Fire can hold up…”
There were few people on the road.
As he passed a small alley, his steps paused, and his hand instinctively rested on the short blade at his waist.
In the alley.
Three boys around eleven or twelve had formed a semicircle, cornering a red-haired girl inside.
“Hey, red hair, you’re a monster, aren’t you?”
“So ugly, like tomato sauce.
Disgusting.”
“Her face is all puffy—even more like a tomato, haha.”
Hearing them openly mock her hair color, Kushina Uzumaki clenched her fists, her chest heaving violently, fury flashing in her eyes.
“What did you say, you bastards?!”
She threw a punch with all her might, sending one of the boys staggering.
That boy steadied himself and cursed, “You dare hit back?
Let’s beat her together.”
She gritted her teeth, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes.
“Need help?”
The three boys looked toward the voice.
The light at the alley entrance was mostly blocked by a figure standing against the backlight, its glow outlining a lean silhouette.
“A kid acting cool!”
“Mind your own business!
Can’t you see we’re teaching the tomato monster a lesson?”
“Get lost!”
“If you don’t get lost, we’ll beat you too!”
Kushina Uzumaki was stunned for a moment.
Looking at the black-haired, black-eyed Gekko Ryun, she suddenly shouted, “Run!”
The three boys turned to her and cursed, “Let’s beat up this tomato first.”
The next second, a brilliant flash of blade light appeared in their vision.
Konoha Style Swordsmanship!
The Gekko family’s sole secret family technique.
A bloody gleam flashed.
The three boys felt a piercing pain and looked down at their arms in a daze, then screamed at the top of their lungs.
“My hand!
Aaaah!”
The three boys wore expressions of terror, huddled together in the corner against the wall.
“Apologize!”
Gekko Ryun’s eyes were calm as he casually swung his blade to shake off the bloodstains, then sheathed it.
The three boys hurriedly said, “Sorry, sorry.”
“I said apologize to her.”
He pointed at Kushina Uzumaki.
The three boys looked troubled, as if apologizing to a tomato monster was too embarrassing.
But when they saw Gekko Ryun’s hand rest on his sword hilt again, their expressions changed, and they scrambled to say, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have called you a tomato.”
His gaze lingered on Kushina Uzumaki’s face.
That small, round, bun-like face was now full of astonishment.
She looked at the three who were trembling like quails, then at the boy holding a short blade with a smile on his face.
A moment later, a dangerous smile appeared on her face: “Just now, who called me a tomato?”
“Him!”
“Not me, not me.”
“It was him.”
The three of them blamed each other, none willing to admit it.
Kushina Uzumaki pretended to rub her head in distress: “Since that’s the case, then I’ll just beat all of you up!”
“Huh?”
Gekko Ryun watched with interest as the girl swung her fists, a few strands of red hair drifting gently down.
‘As expected of Kushina Uzumaki, the little pepper from the original work…’
When the three boys were already black and blue, Kushina was in a great mood: “Next time you see me, will you still dare to call me a tomato?”
“No, no.” One of the boys glanced fearfully at Gekko Ryun.
“Get lost.”
The three boys felt as if they had been granted amnesty, and they scrambled out of the alley.
Watching the three fleeing figures, Gekko Ryun suddenly felt a sense of witnessing a famous scene.
‘As expected of Konoha’s unruly citizens, the fish that slipped through the net of the Will of Fire, those with bullying KPIs, patients of a large mental hospital…’
‘They never bully the weak and fear the strong—they only gnaw on hard bones.’
‘No matter if you’re the son of the Fourth Hokage, the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family, the last survivor of the Uchiha, the princess of the Uzumaki clan and candidate for Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Konoha’s White Fang…’
‘Even if you’re a human-shaped walking nuclear bomb, in the eyes of Konoha’s unruly citizens everyone is still equal—everyone gets bullied!’
‘The Will of Fire?
What is that?
It should be the Will of Bullying.’
Gekko Ryun suppressed his thoughts and walked up to Kushina Uzumaki.
“Are you okay?”
Kushina Uzumaki no longer had her fiery demeanor from before.
She said softly, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.
My name is Gekko Ryun.
What about you?”
“My name is Kushina Uzumaki.”
Gekko Ryun gave a warm smile and extended his hand to her.
Looking at the calloused palm before her, Kushina Uzumaki tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear.
The touch of their palms was brief.
[New equipment material detected]
[Kushina Uzumaki’s red hair]
[Estimated quality: Green]
[Refining cost: 30,000 ryo per attempt]
[Special condition: Gifted personally by Kushina Uzumaki]
[Condition not met.
Unable to refine equipment.]
“?”
Gekko Ryun froze in place, eyes wide, his entire being instantly filled with surprise.
Finally, he had finally encountered a second “equipment material” recognized by the system.
After obtaining this system called [Equipment Slot], he had tried refining many things into equipment, but this erratic system refused to acknowledge any of them.
It wasn’t until he came into contact with the first kunai that Minato Namikaze had purchased that the system finally sent a notification.
“Are you a student at the Ninja Academy?”
Kushina Uzumaki’s crisp voice rang out, bringing him back to his senses.
“Yes.”
“So amazing!” She was a little envious.
“By the way, you…” Gekko Ryun was just about to say something when his gaze drifted upward, looking toward the roof.
A masked figure wearing a Jonin vest landed silently on top, his gaze resting on him for a moment.
“Kushina Uzumaki, Lady Mito is looking for you.”
Kushina Uzumaki let out an “ah” and gave an apologetic smile.
“I’m very sorry, I have to go back.”
“Alright, see you next time.” He paused for two seconds.
“By the way, your hair is beautiful.
Could you give me a strand?”
“What?”
Kushina’s brain short-circuited for a moment.
When she came to her senses, her small face instantly turned bright red, and she didn’t know where to put her hands.
She stammered, “R-really?
A lot of people say my red hair is ugly…”
“Of course.
I never lie.”
“Um…
if…
if you want it…”
She somewhat roughly pulled out a few strands of red hair, then carefully handed them over.
A faint smile appeared on Gekko Ryun’s face.
….
The sky was just right.
Back on the street, Gekko Ryun squinted, watching the figure that disappeared from view after a few leaps across the rooftops.
‘Kushina is about to enter the Ninja Academy…’
The gears of fate had already begun to turn.
Kushina would be kidnapped by Kumogakure, the blond hero would save the beauty, and then came the Second Ninja World War.
He clutched the strands of hair tightly in his hand, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
[Kushina Uzumaki’s Red Hair]
[Estimated Quality: Green]
[Refining Cost: 30,000 ryo per attempt]
[Special Condition: Personally gifted by Kushina Uzumaki]
[Condition met.
Begin refining?]