When Minato gave a wide grin and a big thumbs-up, Seisui felt like he was staring at a certain green spandex-clad youth filled with the power of youth.
Of course, the Duel Arena wasn't that simple. But as long as he showed it as just a training tool, that was enough.
Just the ability to pull someone into a one-on-one battle was already wild enough, not to mention there was a gacha mechanic. Reveal a bit, keep most hidden, that's the way to survive.
Thinking this, Seisui grinned back and returned the thumbs-up. "So, Minato, how about we have a thrilling, action-packed duel?"
Minato touched the pouch at his waist, nodded, and drew a wooden kunai, gripping it in a reverse hold. He leaned forward slightly, facing Seisui.
Seisui mirrored his posture.
Since their training lacked any formal system, Seisui often taught Minato techniques he remembered from his past life, drills, stances, and sparring tricks he'd picked up from videos.
Like now, their fighting stances were coiled and ready, poised to launch forward in an instant. That explosive takeoff motion was something he'd internalized deeply.
Their kunai were wooden replicas sold at the ninja tool store, modeled after real ones at a 1:1 scale. They were much lighter, but affordable, and more than enough for kids their age.
Seisui looked at Minato and asked, "Are you ready?"
Minato gave a confident, "Yeah!"
The moment Seisui triggered the duel with a thought, a countdown timer appeared in midair between them, and an invisible force held them in place.
3... 2... 1...
The instant the countdown hit zero, Minato sprang forward like a hunting leopard, kunai in hand, slashing at Seisui's chest.
Seisui didn't move a muscle until the last second. Then, he stepped back to evade and instantly lunged forward in return, swiping his kunai at Minato's arm.
But Minato reacted swiftly, rolling to the side before launching a sweeping kick. It missed, but still, he panted lightly and said with a grin, "Not bad. We may be opponents now, but you've improved a lot."
He charged again, but then abruptly stopped.
Above Seisui's head, a "pat-head" emoji appeared.
Seisui kept a straight face, but inside, he was cracking up.
Wait, the Duel Arena supports emojis?
Amazing.
Seeing Minato pause, Seisui smirked and dashed forward.
"Konoha Secret Technique: Thousand Years of Death!"
Minato flinched at the words, he had experienced that jutsu before and still had PTSD, but then his eyes sharpened with resolve as he charged.
"Not this time, Seisui! I won't lose!"
"Lie down and accept your fate, Minato!"
They clashed in the center, wooden kunai meeting midair, each going for the other's vital points.
But Minato hesitated for a split second. Seisui seized the moment and stabbed him in the side. Minato yelped in pain.
Even though the kunai were wooden, they were made well enough to be sharp, and sharp enough to hurt.
Seisui didn't hesitate. He thrust his kunai toward Minato's neck. Minato tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Everything went black for him.
In the next moment, he found himself back in Seisui's room.
Minato instinctively touched his neck, no wound. He turned toward Seisui with a mixture of awe and betrayal.
It was his first time in the Duel Arena. Even though Seisui had explained there was no risk of death, some part of him still hesitated.
That hesitation had cost him.
Still, the duel made it clear, Seisui wasn't lying about his special ability.
Minato muttered, impressed, "That's... an amazing ability."
He could tell Seisui was stronger than before. Much stronger.
Normally, their matches were even, Minato had quicker reflexes, while Seisui had raw strength.
Their win rate was basically fifty-fifty.
But today, the gap was obvious.
So this is the power-up from a special ability...
Minato wasn't stupid. He knew the village had people with inherited powers, Kekkei Genkai, they called it.
But he never imagined his childhood friend would have one too.
Meanwhile, Seisui was quietly celebrating the new chakra circulating in his body.
He had loaded the Uzumaki Naruto (Academy Student) template, not Naruto's chakra, but his physical potential and basic jutsu.
Winning a duel increased his chakra. Unfortunately, only victories against ninja featured in the mobile game gave him chakra gains.
The good news? Most characters from the original series had been in the game at some point.
That meant as long as he defeated canonical characters, his chakra would increase and count toward his Duel Arena wins.
For example, winning against people like Namikaze Minato or Kushina Uzumaki would grant chakra. Beating anyone else would just count as a win.
This match with Minato helped him estimate the chakra boost. Since he didn't inherit Naruto's chakra from the template, just winning gave him +1% chakra.
Not much, but it was consistent, and could be stacked over time.
One day, my chakra reserves will rival a tailed beast's. Just wait.
Minato, curious, asked, "You didn't overuse your chakra, did you?"
Seisui shook his head. "Nah. The Duel Arena only uses around 1% of my total chakra."
"Damn, that's efficient." Minato looked a little envious.
A low-cost ability that also trained combat skills? That was insanely good.
He pouted for a second, then his eyes lit up again. "Next time, I'm winning for sure!"
Seisui slung an arm over his shoulder with a wide grin. "Relax, relax. When I become Hokage, you'll be my advisor."
Minato froze for a second before shouting, "Bastard! I'm becoming Hokage! You can be my advisor!"
"Sure, sure, you be Hokage," Seisui said with a smirk, then suddenly remembered a legendary scene.
If Minato really did become Hokage one day, and he stood beside him as advisor... would it happen just like that?
He straightened up, put on a dramatic expression, and growled, "Minato... hand him over to me!"
Then, imitating Minato's tone, he replied to himself:
"Impossible, Seisui."
"What are you talking about?" Minato frowned, disgusted. "That was so cringe."
"You wouldn't get it," Seisui said, shaking his head solemnly.
"That was a classic moment."
Minato didn't understand at all, but he was used to Seisui acting weird sometimes.
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250 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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