The changes in Souji's system made him rethink his plans. He could start working on finding love now.
But Snu-snu?
Heh, his hardware wasn't even sufficient for that. He'd have to wait a few years to complete the Snu-snu mission.
It was a real shame, he was curious about the exclusive skill he would get from it.
'It doesn't matter to me. If that's the case, I just need to prepare the land, so seeds can be planted there in the future.'
[Ding.]
[Background module downloaded.]
[Please select one of the following options.]
[1. Rich Kid: The user is the child of a successful merchant and owns a luxurious house and abundant wealth. Why become a ninja when you can live a relaxed and comfortable life? (No bonus received.)]
[2. Child from a Clan: The user can choose from all the clans in Konoha. The user is an orphan within a clan. There's nothing wrong with choosing strength over family. (The user receives a bonus of two attribute points, and the system will be inactive for 15 years. During system inactivity, attribute values will not decrease, however, they cannot be increased during that time. Skills cannot be upgraded either.)
[3. Child of Ordinary Residents: The user can choose whether or not to have a family. The house and wealth will still be owned regardless of the choice.
Is family a strength or a weakness? (The user receives a bonus of 4 attribute points if they do not have a family and 2 attribute points if they have a family.)]
[4. Child Who Has Nothing: The user does not come from any clan and has no house, wealth, or family. However, the user has something important, the Seed of Love. True strength lies in love. (Bonus: 6 attribute points, and the Age Restriction Ban will be lifted. The user's hardware functions based on their actual age. Confirmed age: 22.)]
"... "
Of the four options, Souji felt as if the system was tempting him to choose number four. The bonuses and advantages he would receive were clearly visible, but Souji wouldn't fall under the system's influence.
Option 2? No, thank you. Besides, the system would be inactive for 15 years.
Moreover, he had no real experience with romance.
Without the system, he was basically a loser.
What about options number three? Normal, but there's no significant advantage.
"...'
He, Souji.
Would choose number one.
'Money isn't everything, but everything needs money.' He thought with calculation and wisdom.
Then, he pressed the number one option with his finger.
[Ding.]
[Choice has been made. Are you sure?]
[Yes/No.]
'YES!' he thought with enthusiasm and conviction.
[Ding.]
[Options has been loaded, module number 4, child who has nothing.]
"..."
[Module has been successfully loaded.]
"..."
————————————————————————
"..."
'It must be a ghost touch. It seems the system has a problem with its touchscreen.' He thought confidently.
[Reminder: The system does not work with physical touch, it only works with the user's thoughts and desires.]
"..."
'Well, what can I do?' Souji raised both hands and smiled. 'Since the system chose for me, I have to accept it sincerely.'
'Thank you, system.' he thought, bowing his head.
(System: ...)
"..."
"..."
————————————————————————
[Ding.]
[Age Restriction Ban has been lifted.]
[Ding.]
[Exclusive skill obtained: Master Key.]
"Woah..."
Souji didn't expect to receive a skill, especially an exclusive one.
However, something bothered him, Why hadn't his body changed into adulthood?
He still looked the same as before.
'Let me check my hardware first.'
Souji opened his pants and saw that his body hadn't changed.
"..."
'Scam?' Souji thought.
He then tried to check his new skill.
————————————————————————
[Master Key: A great key can open all locks. General bonus: Opens anything that is locked or sealed. Special bonus: The key is a perfect match for every lock.]
"..."
'What an amazing skill.' Souji praising his new skill.
Souji also noticed that there were no levels on his Exclusive Skill. He thought Exclusive Skills were max-level or OP.
'Could I open Kaguya's seal?'
"..."
Souji smiled and rubbed his palms together.
"..."
Putting that aside, he was still a bit confused about the meaning of his skill's special bonus.
Was it as simple as the explanation said? Or was there another meaning?
"..."
'Well, who knows?' Souji thought.
Now that he had attribute points, he was thinking about which attribute to increase.
Since his system emphasized the hearts of women, he decided to increase his Charm attribute.
[Charm: 2 (Rare)]
[Attribute Points: 5]
"... "
Perhaps because [Charm] is abstract, Souji didn't notice any significant changes in himself.
He then decided to increase his Body attribute.
[Body: 2 (Rare)]
[Attribute Points: 4]
"..."
Suddenly, he felt something warm spreading throughout his body.
He remained silent and enjoyed the sensation.
Soon, the sensation slowly faded until it was gone.
"... "
Souji checked his body to see if there was any change in appearance.
There were no visible changes, but his skin felt softer and smoother somehow.
Although there were no changes in appearance, he felt energetic and the fatigue he had felt earlier disappeared completely.
After that, he decided to increase the remaining attributes that hadn't been increased yet.
[Mind: 2 (Rare)]
[Chakra: 2 (Rare)]
[Attribute Points: 2]
Souji felt a warm sensation spread from his abdomen to his entire body once again.
'Chakra, huh?'
He didn't know how much his chakra had increased, but he could vaguely sense the chakra and its flow in his body.
Previously, he hadn't felt anything, but now he could.
To clarify, he just needed to focus a little more.
Perhaps the [Mind] attribute influenced that as well.
Now, he had two attribute points left, and he was torn between saving them and using them again.
'I'll use one more time and save the rest.'
He wanted to increase his [Charm] again, but he found out that upgrading it from Rare to Ultimate required two attribute points. His plan had been to use one point and save the rest.
So, he had to choose between saving or spending.
"..."
'Nah, I'd use.'
[Charm: 3 (Ultimate)]
[Attribute Points: 0]
"..."
He still didn't feel anything from his Charm, but he didn't think about it too much.
"System, show only my attribute status."
----------------------------------------------------------------
[Attributes:
Normal, Rare, Ultimate, Epic, Legend, Myth, Cosmic, Deity, and EX.
Body: 2 (Rare)
Charm: 3 (Ultimate)
Soul: 2 (Rare)
Mind: 2 (Rare)
Chakra: 2 (Rare)
Attribute Points: 0]
--------------------------------------------------
"..."
Souji nodded in satisfaction at what he saw.
'Attribute allocation complete, skill check complete...and now?'
"..."
Souji couldn't go anywhere yet because it was still raining.
He didn't want to get sick in this situation. Maybe he should sleep here tonight, and tomorrow he would try to find a place to live.
Perhaps because his body had been upgraded, he didn't feel the excessive cold like before. Sleeping in this place wouldn't be a problem.
The splashes of rainwater bothered him, though. He had to find the right position in the middle because the place he was in was dome-shaped, and depending on the perspective, it could be the front and back or the left and right sides.
As Souji was preparing a place to lie down, he saw someone sitting alone on a park bench in the midst of a heavy downpour.
He tried to observe the person carefully and, when he saw their characteristics, realized it was Naruto.
"..."
Naruto sat alone, letting the rain hit him. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. He let the rain wash away the sadness and emptiness he felt.
"..."
Souji wanted to call out to Naruto but hesitated. As far as he could remember, weren't there Anbu watching over Naruto?
What if he attracted someone he didn't want to?
"..."
Perhaps because of Souji's intense gaze, Naruto felt someone or something was watching him.
He shuddered in fear. He looked around, regretting his decision to go out at night in weather like this.
His loneliness had blinded him to his fear of ghosts, but now that fear was returning.
Then, his eyes accidentally met Souji's. He saw Souji inside a small dome.
Realizing that Naruto was looking at him, Souji called him over with a "come here" gesture.
'To hell with the Anbu.' Souji thought.
Initially, Naruto didn't believe it. In his heart, he was sure that he was the one being called, but his mind refused to believe it.
He looked around to see if anyone else knew the call wasn't meant for him.
He turned his head left and right but didn't see anyone other than himself, so he pointed at himself while looking at Souji.
Souji nodded.
Naruto looked at him in disbelief. Someone was calling him! He thought Souji might not know who he was, and that when Souji found out who he really was, Souji would stay away from him, just like the others did.
But if he didn't go to Souji, maybe Souji would be sad and think that Naruto didn't want to see him.
Naruto was in a dilemma.
In the end, Naruto mustered the courage to approach Souji. Even though Souji might eventually distance himself, Naruto didn't mind. At least he didn't want to make Souji sad.
If only Souji knew what was on Naruto's mind, he might have cosplayed as Whitebeard and said, "Naruto, be my son."
"..."
"Come in." Souji said to Naruto.
"Un." Naruto replied, nodding his head.
The two of them sat down and looked at each other.
"So, what's your name?" Souji asked, even though he already knew.
"Naruto Uzumaki. Um... how about you?" Naruto replied, feeling a bit embarrassed because it was the first time he had spoken to a stranger at his age whose eyes didn't reveal any hatred.
At the academy, there were many people at his age, but most of them wanted nothing to do with him. Souji was the first person who wanted to get to know him.
There weren't many people who didn't hate him, like Old Man Hokage, Uncle Teuchi, and Ayame-nee, who sometimes gave him an extra bowl of ramen. The taste wasn't close to Uncle Teuchi's ramen, but Naruto was grateful for it.
"Souji, just Souji. So, Naruto, why aren't you taking shelter? Aren't you afraid of getting sick?"
"Eh? Um... Etto..." Naruto was confused about how to respond. On the one hand, he was happy that Souji was worried about his health.
Seeing Naruto struggle to answer, Souji helped him.
"Are you taking a nighttime walk?"
Naruto answered, "Yes, I was taking a walk and then decided to rest."
"I see. Are your parents okay with you going out alone at night?"
Hearing the word "parents" made Naruto feel sad, but he answered Souji's question.
"I don't have parents." he said, trying not to look sad.
Souji, noticing Naruto's reaction, nodded.
"So we're the same. I don't have parents either." he said.
"Huh? You too?" Somehow, when he heard that Souji was in the same situation, his sadness lessened a little.
It wasn't that Naruto was happy because Souji didn't have parents, he was happy because Souji understood how he felt because they were in the same situation.
"Do you have a place to live, Naruto?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes, and it's not far from here."
"Oh? Can I stay at your place? I don't have a place to live right now."
"Huh? Are you serious?" Naruto asked to make sure. Then he added, "But are you okay with my place? It isn't too big, and it's just ordinary."
"Yes, that's not a problem. Do you have any food, too?" Souji asked without any shame.
Naruto rubbed his chin, thinking. "Yes, but I only have instant ramen. Is that okay?"
"Oh, really? I've never eaten ramen before." Souji added. "Is it delicious?"
"What?! You've never eaten ramen?! How is that possible?" Naruto was surprised by Souji's statement. How could someone in his life have never eaten ramen?
Ramen is a dish of the gods!
"Of course it's delicious!" Naruto replied, looking very excited.
"Is that so?" Souji raised his eyebrows.
"Well, how about we go now?" Souji invited.
"Of course." Naruto answered happily. They got up and went outside immediately, braving the heavy rain and penetrating the darkness.
In that darkness, Naruto's smile shone brightly. It illuminated their path to the place they had promised to go.
"..."
'I mean... Naruto's face is Glowing.'
"..."
"..."