Chapter 3: Intertwining Paths
The next morning, the Academy was buzzing with activity. Students were excitedly discussing something in the corridors, passing rumors among themselves. It was said that someone had passed the 'tower trial,' an old training exercise that even graduates avoided.
Naruto entered the classroom with a smug grin. He felt it: today he wasn't just a prankster. Today he was a hero. Or at least a slightly less useless prankster. A new status adorned the system panel:
Level: 2
Skill Points: 1
Active Skill: «Quick Decision»
Passives: «Stubborn Resolve», «Prankster's Instinct», «Newbie Clumsiness»
Naruto walked to his seat and noticed a gaze. Hyūga Hinata was looking at him — the quiet, pale girl who always averted her eyes. But now... she was looking right at him. And she blushed when he caught her gaze.
— Um... hi, Hinata, — he said, scratching the back of his head. — Do you also feel like everything's different today?
She nodded silently. The system flashed a message:
Another System user detected.
Identification: Hyūga Hinata
System: "Path of Unseen Strength"
Level: 1
Potential: High
Hint: Look closer. There's more to her than meets the eye.
Naruto wanted to say something, but just then, Iruka entered the classroom. He was serious, his expression like someone had stolen his lunch and set his paperwork on fire.
— Today we have combined training. Teams of three. Random selection. And no 'I don't want to be with this idiot' — clear, Sasuke?
— Pfft, doesn't matter who, — muttered Uchiha, not looking away from the window.
Naruto silently prayed to be put in a group with someone normal. Just not Sasuke. Just not...
— Team 3: Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata... Uzumaki Naruto.
What did I do to deserve this? — groaned Naruto, while Sasuke smirked as if everything had gone according to plan.
Hinata blushed to the tips of her ears.
On the training ground, Iruka explained the rules. Capture the flag. Simple task: a flag stands in the center of the field. The first to touch it wins. The rest lose.
The system immediately flashed for each of them:
Local Event: Trial of Equals
Conditions: Fight or cooperate.
Reward: +100 XP to the winner, +1 random item
Side Quest: Win without using power directly — +Reputation with sensei
— Let's... uhh... work together? — suggested Naruto, but Sasuke ignored him and immediately jumped forward.
— Of course, — sighed Naruto. — On his own.
Hinata stayed beside him.
— We... can get ahead of him, — she whispered. — I know a detour...
The system activated a side quest:
Cunning Road.
Follow Hinata. Trust in an ally increases group effectiveness.
Bonus: +10% movement speed, +20% awareness.
Naruto nodded. They ran along the shady edge of the field, bypassing the center. Sasuke, meanwhile, was already approaching the flag, moving like lightning. But at the last moment, a net shot out from under the ground — one of the traps set by Iruka.
Sasuke managed to jump back, but lost momentum. Naruto and Hinata emerged from the shadows almost simultaneously with him. The flag was ten steps away.
— I won't lose to you, — Sasuke snapped, activating his first active skill: «Trajectory Analysis». His eyes shone.
Naruto stopped abruptly. A new window popped up before his eyes:
Event: Climax Approaching.
You can:
— Yield and study the opponent's actions
— Attack directly
— Distract Sasuke, giving Hinata a chance
He chose the third option.
— Hey, Uchiha! Are you afraid of losing to me and Hinata?
Sasuke flinched for a split second. Hinata, not wasting the moment, used a speed movement technique. A second later, her palm touched the flag.
The system flashed for all three:
Victory: Hyūga Hinata
Reward: +100 XP, Item: "Band of Speed"
Naruto: +50 XP for strategic interaction
Sasuke: +25 XP, lesson learned — «Don't underestimate allies»
Sasuke walked over, looking at Naruto with slight irritation.
— Don't think this is a victory. You just distracted.
— A win is a win, — Naruto shrugged. — You should try working with someone for once, instead of showing off.
Naruto's system beeped softly:
Psychological Progress: +1 Social Influence
Reputation among classmates: increased
In the shadows, on a tree where no one noticed, sat a man with crimson eyes. He observed the students and especially — Naruto.
— He is awakening. Interesting... — whispered Itachi Uchiha and disappeared in a swirl of crows.