Chapter 2: Max-Level Glint-Glint Fruit
[Congratulations, Master! You have received a Max-Level Glint-Glint Fruit! All attributes ×2]
"?!"
Max-level Glint-Glint Fruit?
[That's right, Master!]
[Once you eat this Devil Fruit, you will instantly reach the Awakened stage. No training required!]
"Humanity, I like it."
"Where's my Devil Fruit?" Naruto asked, looking at his empty hands.
[It's in Little Ai's backpack, Master!]
[Apart from attribute points, which are granted directly, all other rewards are temporarily stored in the backpack.]
[Just silently say "Open Backpack" to retrieve the Glint-Glint Fruit.]
Naruto had already felt his physical condition improve earlier, so he knew the system's rewards were real. This wasn't an illusion.
[It's Little Ai's reward~♫]
[Please call me Little Ai!]
"..."
Naruto ignored the system's playful tone and focused on the backpack.
[It's Little Ai's backpack~♫]
[Please call me Little Ai!]
"..."
"Fine. Little Ai, open your backpack and show me."
[Okay, Master! o(￣▽￣)ブ]
[Backpack: Max-Level Glint-Glint Fruit ×1 Empty Empty Empty...]
"Little Ai, why are there so many empty slots?" Naruto asked, puzzled.
[Of course it's to pad the word count, Master. Otherwise, would it be reminding you that you're broke?]
"..."
"Thanks a lot."
...
There were too many people in the classroom. Naruto decided not to take out the Devil Fruit here. He didn't want to explain how he could make things appear out of thin air. Saying it was a magic trick? Who would believe that?
He waited until everyone had finished the exam.
The result was clear: Uzumaki Naruto was the only one who failed.
Many classmates gave him looks that mixed pity with mockery. Naruto ignored them completely, his face expressionless as he waited to leave.
Right now, he just wanted to find a quiet place to eat the Glint-Glint Fruit.
Exam results wouldn't decide his future — or theirs.
"The exam is over. You may all go home. Remember to come back the day after tomorrow for class assignments!"
"Alright~"
The students who had passed were clearly excited, answering Iruka with cheerful voices.
Naruto, of course, stayed silent. He hadn't graduated, so there was no need to reply.
He gathered his things — or rather, realized the original Naruto hadn't left anything behind. With empty hands, he walked out of the classroom.
He left the academy with both hands in his pockets, face blank.
Outside the gate, many parents were waiting for their children, beaming with pride and showering them with praise. The warm conversations washed over Naruto without stirring any emotion.
To others, his expression looked like pure dejection — the sadness of failing the exam.
"Hey, isn't that the kid?"
"Yeah, I heard from my child that he was the only one who failed the entire class."
"Hmph, serves him right!"
"Exactly. It would be terrible if someone like him became a ninja. After all, that child is..."
"Wait, we shouldn't say the rest."
As Naruto passed two women, he overheard their gossip. He turned his head and stared at them with an ice-cold, emotionless gaze — the kind of look one gives to the dead.
"W-wait, he's looking at us!"
"What's with those eyes? I feel a bit scared..."
"What are you afraid of? He's just a kid."
"Don't forget, he's still that..."
By the time they reached that point, both women's legs were trembling. They were terrified he might suddenly turn into the Nine-Tails and devour them alive.
Fortunately, Naruto only stared for a moment before walking away.
The two women let out a sigh of relief.
"What the hell? Even one look from him is terrifying. He really is that monster!"
"Enough. I don't want anything to do with him. Let's get out of here!"
...
Naruto didn't care much about the villagers' whispers. Compared to two forgettable Konoha residents, he was far more interested in finding his home.
Not inheriting memories was really inconvenient.
"Little Ai, do you know how to get home?"
[Ding!]
[I don't know~ Master~♫]
"You have so many functions. Don't you have navigation?"
[I do, Master. But Little Ai can only navigate routes you have already walked. If you haven't been there before, I don't know the way either~]
"..."
Then what's the point of navigation?
"Never mind. Let's find a quiet spot and eat the Glint-Glint Fruit first."
He glanced around. No one seemed to be watching him directly, but as the jinchuriki, it would be strange if no one was monitoring him at all.
Thinking that, Naruto slipped into a nearby thicket of bushes. When he emerged, a golden-patterned Devil Fruit rested in his hand.
Without hesitation, he took a big bite.
"Hm? It's actually sweet?"
[Ding!]
[Products from Little Ai are always premium~♫]
"Not bad. Humanity approved."
Naruto gave the system a mental thumbs-up and continued eating the entire fruit. Although only the first bite was necessary for the power to take effect, since it tasted sweet, he might as well finish it. Consider it a meal.
After swallowing the last piece, Naruto clearly felt a new power awaken inside his body. The light around him suddenly felt controllable.
"What level does a fully awakened Glint-Glint Fruit correspond to in the ninja world?"
"If it's like Borsalino (Kizaru), it should be Kage-level? Super Kage? Or even Six Paths?"
"It's hard to say. Many ninjas' strength can't be defined by simple ranks. With a bizarre enough ability, even a genin could kill a Kage."
"Purely in terms of power and speed, Borsalino wouldn't lose to any Kage. But against Six Paths level..."
Without experiencing it firsthand, it was difficult to accurately gauge Kizaru's level in this world.
But one thing was certain — he himself was nowhere near Six Paths level yet. He didn't have Haki, and his overall attributes were definitely inferior to the real Kizaru. In a prolonged fight or raw power, he would fall short.
"Little Ai, besides the beginner's package, are there other ways to help me grow stronger?"
[Ding! Yes, Master!]
[As long as you complete the tasks Little Ai issues, you can receive new rewards!]
"Tasks?"
"Where are they?"
[Little Ai hasn't released any yet~♫]
Naruto had thought the tasks had already been quietly issued and he simply hadn't noticed them.
"That's not the case?"
"Then when will you release them?"
[If Master wants, I can issue tasks right now~♫]
"..."
"Then do it."
Naruto was starting to wonder who exactly was the master here.
Normally, shouldn't the one issuing tasks be the master?