Chapter 42: System Upgrade, New Horizons
The battle was over. The fog created by the Fire and Water Style techniques obscured the fight's final moments from Naruto and the others. When Kakashi and Tetsuya emerged from the mist, both wore calm expressions.
"Kakashi-sensei, who won?" Naruto, still tied to the stake, asked eagerly, his eyes darting between the two.
Sasuke and Sakura were equally curious, though they didn't voice their questions. Sasuke, in particular, clenched his fists, feeling the gap between his abilities and Tetsuya's.
"It was almost a draw," Tetsuya said, sparing Kakashi's pride. Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief. Losing to a Genin on the first day would have been embarrassing, but at least his student had some decency.
"That's amazing!" Naruto exclaimed, eyes shining with admiration for Tetsuya. A tie with their Jōnin instructor was impressive.
Kakashi, skipping the usual test of teamwork, decided to pass everyone with a few words. Thus, the seventh class, destined to be famous in the ninja world, was officially formed.
At the same moment, Tetsuya heard a beep in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host graduated from a vocational technical school and obtained a low-level professional title. The system began to upgrade, which is expected to take six hours.]
Tetsuya was surprised. His system had remained unchanged for years, but now it was finally upgrading.
Without knowing the specifics of the update, he waited patiently, focusing on the present. Naruto continued to bicker with Sasuke, and seeing Kakashi trying to slip away, Tetsuya quickly stopped him.
"Kakashi-sensei, we finally passed the exam. Shouldn't we celebrate?"
Kakashi's eye twitched under his mask. "Fine, let's..."
"Let's go! Barbecue Q it is!" Tetsuya declared, cutting him off.
Two hours later, Kakashi stared at the mountain of plates, his wallet significantly lighter.
"Who is Chōji?" Kakashi asked, puzzled by Tetsuya's comment about missing someone.
"Akimichi Chōji, from the Akimichi clan," Sakura explained.
Kakashi's scalp tingled at the thought of having to feed Chōji as well. At least Asuma had that responsibility.
When they parted, Kakashi reminded everyone to meet at the Hokage building the next day. Tetsuya, however, had a different instruction.
"Lord Hokage has other arrangements for you," Kakashi told him. "You won't be acting with us for a while."
Tetsuya nodded, not surprised. He knew his training would differ.
Back home, Tetsuya was relieved to see that his dog, Akira, hadn't dismantled the house.
As he waited for the system upgrade, he turned to his ninjutsu studies. The shuriken Shadow Clone Technique needed refining, and he planned to focus on the Flying Thunder God Technique next.
Finally, night fell, and the system upgrade completed.
[Ding! System upgrade successful!]
[Updated contents of Doctor Benevolence 2.0 version: 1. Task system added. Host can accept tasks from the task bar, earning points and rewards. No penalties for failure. 2. Enhanced healing techniques: limb regeneration, mental and soul injury treatment, minor vitality restoration. 3. Title system added. Current title: Genin, increasing points by 20%.]
[A graduation gift package is included. Please check.]
Tetsuya reviewed the changes, feeling pleased. The new task system and improved healing capabilities were valuable additions. The title system was a surprise, and he regretted not pushing for an earlier graduation to maximize his points.
Finally, he turned to the graduation gift package.
"Open the gift package."
[Please choose the type of gift package: ninjutsu, attribute, bloodline, or weapon.]
After considering his options, Tetsuya decided. "Choose a weapon pack."
[Ding! Weapon Graduation Pack selected. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Bodu Yuhun!]
A surge of energy and knowledge filled Tetsuya. He visualized his new weapon: a sleek, formidable blade known as Bodu Yuhun, forged with unique properties that resonated with his chakra.
Excitement coursed through him. The journey ahead was filled with promise and challenges, but with his new weapon and system upgrades, Tetsuya felt more prepared than ever.