The warm breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowers and grass through the forest, rustling the leaves as the branches swayed in rhythm.
Rustle…
Stepping softly over the lush green undergrowth, Kazehaya Hayate walked aimlessly, his thoughts echoing in his mind as he questioned the grand, solemn voice that resided there.
"Is this world virtual or real? If I die here, will I return to my old world… or will I really die?" Hayate's voice trembled slightly as he asked the two questions weighing heaviest on his mind.
After a long silence, the majestic voice finally responded:
"The world you are in exists on the same level of reality as the one you came from. If you die here, it will be a true death."
A chill ran down Hayate's spine. The world of Naruto… A place where death was as common as breathing. But fear wasn't going to solve anything—and beneath that fear, a strange excitement flickered.
Maybe this… is my chance.
"What's the reason you brought me here?" he asked again.
"Host authority too low. Cannot answer."
"Authority? Wait—so even you have levels of access?" Hayate frowned. Every novel he'd ever read had systems that obediently answered everything, but his seemed to have its own hierarchy.
"So how do I raise my authority?"
"Complete missions. Earn Almighty Points. Almighty Points are automatically converted into Divine Power. They can also be used to exchange for items."
Hayate exhaled in realization. "So basically… if I have enough Almighty Points, I'm the boss."
There was one question he still couldn't shake off. "How do I get back to my original world?"
"Complete the assigned mission, and return will be possible."
That answer eased him—somewhat. But the phrasing still bothered him. What does 'complete the assigned mission' mean? Just becoming a Genin? Or something else entirely?
He tried pressing further, but as expected, the system gave the same frustrating reply:
"Insufficient authority."
Hayate sighed and rubbed his temples.
Just then, a voice called from above.
"Hayate, you're here! Still worried about not being able to extract chakra?"
A figure dropped down from a nearby tree branch. His face had three whisker-like markings on each cheek, and his Konoha flak jacket was unmistakable.
"Oh—Iruka," Hayate greeted automatically, realizing that the system must've assigned him some kind of backstory. Iruka's friend, maybe?
Bonk!
Iruka gave him a light smack on the head. "Hayate! You're sixteen, not six. Be polite! It's Teacher Iruka to you."
"Eh? Iruka… sensei?" Hayate blinked. It took him a moment to process what that meant—and when it hit, his expression froze. Wait… sixteen years old… still a student?
The system had made him a sixteen-year-old who hadn't even graduated from the Academy?!
Iruka sighed. "Come with me. It's the graduation exam today. You might not pass, but at least give it a try."
Hayate followed, his expression blank. Graduation exam? Wait—the system's first mission was to 'become a Genin'… Are you kidding me? I just transmigrated here! I don't even know the Clone Technique yet!
"Hey, System," he muttered in his mind. "Is the Clone Technique in the exchange library?"
A bright light flared in his consciousness. A glowing sphere appeared, and on it were written the words:
Skill: Clone Technique
Hayate reached for it mentally, trying to absorb it—but it didn't merge into his body.
"Skill category: Clone Technique. Exchange cost: 1 Almighty Point."
"…You've got to be kidding me."
A quick glance at his stats revealed a big, fat zero under Almighty Points.
He could only sigh and trudge after Iruka. "Guess I'll have to earn it the hard way…"
As they left the forest, more people filled the streets. With no TVs or smartphones in this world, most villagers chatted idly outside shops.
Hayate's eyes, however, were glued to the passing girls. Well… at least there are some perks to reincarnating here.
"Look, isn't that Hayate?" someone whispered.
"Yeah. Can't believe he's still here. No chakra talent, lazy attitude—still pretending he'll become a ninja."
Iruka was greeted warmly by everyone they passed, but the moment their eyes turned to Hayate, sneers followed.
He clenched his jaw. Seriously? Did the system purposely give me a loser's reputation just to mess with me?
He walked on in silence, enduring the whispers.
Iruka suddenly stopped and smiled warmly at him. "Hayate, if you work hard and never give up, people will recognize you. Believe me."
That smile—pure and sincere—disarmed him. For the first time since crossing worlds, his fear eased.
Work hard and persevere, huh?
Following Iruka into the classroom, Hayate found Mizuki already there. The silver-haired instructor stood up and announced loudly:
"The Genin graduation exam begins now!"
The room erupted with whispers.
"The sixteen-year-old who failed last year?"
"He's taking it again?"
Hayate ignored them all. To him, they were just kids. His gaze scanned the room—and froze.
Naruto… Sasuke… Hinata…
There they were. Real, breathing, living versions of the characters he'd only seen on screen. And when he spotted Hinata sitting alone, her shy eyes downcast, he instinctively sat beside her.
"Ah—H-Hayate…" Hinata's face turned pink instantly.
Hayate smiled softly, trying to sound warm. "I'm older than you, so just call me 'big brother,' okay?"
"Ah… um… o-okay…" she whispered, ducking her head again.
Cute, he thought with a grin. Then it hit him—if Hinata graduates before him, she'll technically outrank him. That's… not ideal.
"System," he muttered, "is there any way I can pass this Genin exam?"
"Yes."
That answer surprised him. "Really? Tell me!"
"The Divine Power in your body is two dimensions higher than a ninja's chakra. To perform E-rank jutsu, you simply need to learn the hand seals."
"Hand seals…?"
"Next, Sasuke Uchiha!" Mizuki called.
Hayate watched as Sasuke executed the Clone Technique perfectly, prompting squeals from Sakura and Ino.
Hayate sighed. Damn prodigy.
His eyes drifted toward Hinata again. Embarrassing as it was, she might be his only hope.
"Hey, Hinata…" he whispered.
"Ah? W-What is it?"
"How do you do the Clone Technique seal again?"
Hinata blinked, then giggled softly. "Ah… Big Brother Hayate forgot again? You must be nervous. I'm nervous too."
"Y-Yeah, that's right," Hayate said quickly, relieved she'd misunderstood.
Hinata raised her small hands and formed the seals slowly. "Like this… Wei–Si–Yin."
"I got it. Thanks, Hinata."
As he copied her motions, he could feel his divine power stirring—circulating naturally through his body. It's working… I can do this!
"You're welcome," she said shyly.
When Hinata's turn came, she performed the Clone Technique flawlessly, earning Iruka's approval.
Then came Hayate's turn.
"Next, Kazehaya Hayate!" Mizuki announced.
Whispers erupted instantly.
"Hah, this should be good.""Sixteen years old and still can't do a clone? What a joke.""Such a waste—he's handsome, too bad he's useless."
Hayate stepped forward calmly, ignoring their voices. He looked straight ahead, his heart steady.
All right. Let's see what this so-called Divine Power can really do.