Ye Han was still lost in excitement, barely paying attention when he reached out again.
Ding! Your points are insufficient. You cannot learn this skill.
"I—what?! Seriously?!" Ye Han's face darkened. Okay, I know there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, but come on! I thought at least the newbie gift pack would give me a few low-tier bloodlines to start with!
Frustrated, he quickly opened the system's help section.
[Points: Earn points by completing system missions. Points can be used to exchange for any item in the system mall.]
Of course... it's mission-based. Well, at least it's not asking me to recharge real money. Not like I have any, anyway. Guess I better check the mission list.
Ye Han's eyes focused on the first available mission.
[Uchiha Obito Relationship Mission — Selective Branch:
Task 1: To prevent the host's death, eliminate Uchiha Obito.
Reward: 100 points.
Difficulty: SS-Rank.]
"…"
Ye Han stared at the screen in disbelief. Eliminate Uchiha Obito? Are you crazy? That's a literal suicide mission!
Even if Obito was just a kid now, Ye Han knew very well the kind of monster Obito would become. He was already a genius even before awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. And this was an SS-Rank mission? Forget it!
There's no chance. None. Even with this mall system, why would I sign up for death? I'm not some brave shonen protagonist. I'll pass! This isn't a game where you pick the hardest difficulty for fun!
Besides, if he even tried to attack Obito, the Third Hokage's Anbu would take him down before he even got within two steps. Ye Han didn't have a noteworthy status—just a fringe branch member of the Uchiha clan. As far as the main family was concerned, he was practically invisible.
Okay, definitely not doing that mission. Let's see the next one.
[Selective Branch:
Task 2: Befriend Uchiha Obito to prevent future hostility.
Reward: Varies with friendship level. Current friendship: 5/100.
Difficulty: F-Rank.]
Ye Han's face twisted in disbelief. System… you're telling me that both of these missions are about not getting killed, but one tells me to assassinate Obito, and the other tells me to be his best friend?!
Seriously? I'm not good at these "affection-raising" games! You're sure this is the best way to keep me alive? Ugh, forget it. I'll take this one. At least I won't die immediately.
Ding! You have accepted Branch Mission 2. Current friendship with Uchiha Obito: 5/100. Task Difficulty: F-Rank.
Huh, I already have 5 points? Maybe because we exchanged greetings earlier… or maybe Uchihas just naturally like each other? Well, good start either way.
Although there were still tons of things to explore in the mall, Ye Han decided to head back to class for now. The system was active—that was enough for today.
When he returned, the self-introductions were wrapping up.
Minato Namikaze smiled warmly. "I've recorded all your names. I hope each of you will work hard. The future of the village belongs to you. Graduate with flying colors and protect our home."
Ding! Main Mission Triggered! To ensure the host's safety, you must graduate from the Ninja Academy as the top student.
Reward: Points.
Failure: ???
Difficulty: A-Rank.
"…" Ye Han slumped over his desk. Come on! You seriously expect me to beat Uchiha Obito? He's one of the most talented ninjas in the entire series! Even if he wasn't, there's still the prodigies like Kakashi!
Graduating first? You're trying to kill me! I thought you were here for my safety!
Ye Han panicked. Maybe I should've just picked the assassination mission and begged Obito to let me win. Would've been less humiliating than this.
It was becoming clear—there's no free ride. The system was powerful, sure, but every shortcut came with serious risks.
This feels just like those brutal grind-heavy RPGs. The main missions are mandatory, and the side missions are the only way to power up. And I can't slack off here, not in the ninja world, and definitely not with this system breathing down my neck.
Minato's voice pulled Ye Han back to reality. "If any of you have questions or need help, you're always welcome to come see me at the Hokage's office."
"Yes, Fourth Hokage!" the entire class shouted with excitement.
Minato chuckled and waved as he left. The class officially began.
Nakamura Morino, their homeroom teacher, straightened his posture and adopted a stern expression. "Alright, listen carefully. If you can't keep up with your studies, you won't graduate. Not everyone makes it. In fact, typically only about half the students in each class successfully graduate."
"Fifty percent?!" the class gasped in unison, suddenly realizing the stakes were real.
Nakamura's serious tone continued, "That's right. If you slack off, sleep in class, or fail to submit your assignments, you'll be punished. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sensei!" the class shouted, a little more subdued this time.
Chapter 6: The First Lesson"Alright, let's begin. First—what is a ninja?"
One student eagerly raised his hand. "A ninja is super strong!"
Another chimed in, "They can use ninjutsu!"
"They're heroes who protect the village!"
Nakamura nodded, satisfied. "Good answers. But remember, ninjas often undertake dangerous missions—tasks others can't complete. That's why ninjas must have strong bodies, sharp minds, and most importantly—unshakable willpower. Ninja endure pain and hardship. That's the meaning of 'shinobi'—to endure."
A boy suddenly raised his hand. "Sensei, what's your ninja rank?"
Nakamura puffed out his chest proudly. "I'm a chunin. One of the stronger instructors here."
The class instantly deflated. "What? Only a chunin? I thought sensei would at least be a jonin."
"Yeah, I thought all academy teachers were super strong!"
"Chunin's kind of weak, isn't it?"
Nakamura's proud smile twitched. These brats!
"Don't think jonin grow on trees!" he snapped. "In the entire village, jonin are the elite—there are only so many of them! Chunin are highly capable! It takes years of effort to even reach this level."
Ye Han chuckled quietly to himself. Typical. These kids dream of becoming Hokage but don't even understand how hard it is to become a chunin, let alone a jonin. The chunin are the backbone of the village, not just foot soldiers.
Nakamura cleared his throat and continued, "Jonin are highly respected. They're the ones who can take on S-Rank missions. But you kids are just starting out—don't get ahead of yourselves. Focus on your studies."
"Yes, sensei!" the class chorused.
"Good. Morning classes will cover basic academics and ninja theory. In the afternoons, we'll move on to practical training. Today, we'll begin with the history of the Ninja Academy, founded by the First Hokage and the Second Hokage…"
As Nakamura launched into his lecture, Ye Han sat up straight. This is part of my main mission. I can't afford to slack off, especially not with monsters like Kakashi and Obito in this class. I have to survive this world—whatever it takes.
The system might be a cheat, but it wasn't going to carry him for free. The path forward would be dangerous, challenging, and possibly humiliating—but it was his only shot at living his second life to the fullest.