The rooftop of the Academy was quiet.
A warm breeze drifted across the village, carrying the distant sounds of merchants, training shinobi, and someone yelling about discounted dumplings.
Team Seven stood in an awkward triangle.
Naruto leaned against the railing, pretending to look cool.
Sakura stood near Sasuke.
Which was exactly where Naruto did not want her standing.
Kakashi sat lazily on the rooftop ledge, flipping through a small orange book.
Naruto squinted.
*Ping*
The notification popped up instantly.
Skill Activated: Inspect (Passive)
Target: Unknown Book
Naruto blinked.
"...Huh?"
A panel expanded automatically.
Item: Icha Icha Paradise
Type: Book
Category: Questionable Literature
Owner: Kakashi Hatake
Threat Level: Psychological
Description:
A wildly inappropriate novel series.
Warning: Not suitable for children.
Naruto's eyes widened.
He pointed dramatically.
"YOU'RE READING PERVY STUFF IN FRONT OF US?!"
Sakura turned bright red.
"WHAT?!"
Kakashi slowly lowered the book.
"...You can read the title from over there?"
Naruto froze.
"Uh."
He quickly crossed his arms.
"Ninja intuition."
Another Ping.
Skill Gain
Inspect (LVL 1) – 5/10
You successfully analyzed an object.
Naruto's grin slowly returned.
"Oh yeah."
This system thing was incredible.
Kakashi snapped his book shut.
"Alright."
He looked at the three of them.
"Introduce yourselves."
Naruto immediately raised his hand.
"What kind of stuff?"
Kakashi waved lazily.
"Likes. Dislikes. Dreams for the future."
Naruto puffed out his chest.
"I'll go first!"
Before he could speak—
*Ping*
Introduce Yourself Properly
Objective:
Give a proper ninja introduction.
Reward:
+1 Charisma
5 System Points
Failure:
Embarrassing Reputation Debuff (24 hours)
Naruto stiffened.
"...Debuff?"
He cleared his throat.
"Okay. Serious mode."
He stepped forward dramatically.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!"
He pointed at the Hokage Monument in the distance.
"I like ramen! Especially miso ramen from Ichiraku!"
"I hate waiting three minutes for instant ramen!"
Sakura stared.
"...That's your biggest problem?"
Naruto ignored her.
"And my dream—"
He pointed dramatically toward the Hokage faces carved into the mountain.
"Is to become Hokage so everyone in the village will acknowledge me!"
Silence followed.
Even Kakashi paused for a moment.
Then—
*Ping*
Mission Failed!
Debuffs Distributed:
Cringe Aura
Naruto's jaw dropped, a sense of dread spread through his body.
Kakashi and crew ignored his declaration, noting that some dreams aren't on the same level as others. Sakura went next.
She introduced herself.
Mentioned liking Sasuke.
Mentioned disliking Naruto.
Naruto crossed his arms.
"Rude."
*Ping*
New Relationship status Detected
Sakura Haruno
Relationship Status: Hostile Teammate
Naruto gasped.
"HOSTILE?!"
Sakura glared.
"What did you just say?!"
Naruto immediately looked away. His new found aura was not helping the situation.
"Nothing!"
Sasuke went last.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha."
*Ping*
Entity Recognized
Sasuke Uchiha
Sasuke continued calmly.
"There are many things I dislike."
He paused.
"But I don't particularly like anything."
Naruto whispered loudly.
"Edgy."
Sakura elbowed him.
Sasuke ignored it.
"I have a dream."
His voice lowered slightly.
"To kill a certain man."
Silence settled across the rooftop.
Even Naruto stopped brooding.
'Stupid Sasuke, not everyone can be so angsty. If anything HE should fail the introduction, not me.'
Then—
*Ping*
Hidden Quest Detected - Help rival become strong enough to defeat a certain man
Target: Unknown Individual
Related Entity: Sasuke Uchiha
Status: In progress
Hidden sub missions are contained within this quest, It's up to you to discover them user!
Naruto squinted.
"...Huh."
Kakashi clapped his hands suddenly.
"Alright."
He stood up.
"Now for tomorrow."
Naruto leaned forward.
"Oh yeah?"
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask.
"You'll be participating in a survival exercise."
Sakura raised her hand nervously.
"What kind of exercise?"
Kakashi's visible eye curved slightly.
"A test."
Naruto grinned.
"Easy."
He puffed out his chest.
"I'm totally gonna pass."
Kakashi chuckled.
"Out of the twenty-seven graduates this year…"
He paused dramatically.
"...only nine will become genin."
Team Seven froze.
Naruto blinked.
"...Wait."
Sakura's face turned pale.
Sasuke frowned.
Kakashi shrugged casually.
"The rest will be sent back to the Academy."
*Ping*
Emergency Quest Generated
Bell Test Survival
Objective:
Pass Kakashi's survival test.
Difficulty: Moderate
Potential Rewards:
Large Stat Growth
New Skill Unlock
Failure:
Return to Academy
Naruto stared at the panel.
Then slowly looked up at Kakashi.
His grin returned.
"Heh."
"Good thing I've got a system."
The Codex chimed immediately.
Warning
Overconfidence Detected
Naruto frowned.
"...Hey."