The pale golden virtual panel shimmered with a faint light amidst the warm glow of the charcoal fire, like a layer of crushed gold leaf pasted onto the air.
Makoto ate his barbecue while observing the player panel before him, which had undergone a few changes compared to before.
Not far away, Samui was raising her hand to tuck a stray strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear. The red wristband she wore brushed against the side of her neck, causing the collar of her light gray top to slip down half an inch.
It revealed a hint of her delicate collarbone, glowing with a porcelain-like sheen in the warm light. Her blue-green pupils occasionally assessed Makoto.
[Naruto World Online]
[Player: Makoto] [Inventory] [Shop] [Achievements] [Titles] [Quests] [More features pending activation...]
[The Naruto World Online System will update again after the player spends a total of 350 million Ryo in the Player Shop.]
In the corner of the [Player Shop], after Makoto purchased the Two Tomoe Sharingan, a loan function had appeared.
Makoto began slowly scrolling through the Player Shop with his mind, searching for a specific Ninjutsu he had seen before.
After over half a year of studying Shinobi knowledge and his understanding of future extraterrestrial threats, Makoto, as a player, planned to become an all-rounder, aiming to max out all his capabilities.
Especially physical training.
Judging by the feats in the original work, there's Might Guy, who opened the Eighth Gate, nearly kicked Six Paths Madara to death, or the Third Raikage, who could withstand a Tailed Beast Bomb from Hachibi.
By the late stages, in the fights between the Otsutsuki Clan, the effectiveness of regular Ninjutsu diminished compared to Taijutsu.
Despite over half a year of physical training, he always felt the efficiency was too low.
Using Lightning Release to temper his body as a shortcut seemed far more cost-effective than grueling traditional training.
Moreover, Lightning Release Nintaijutsu could also enhance nerve reaction speed, making it an excellent pairing with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The thought of a powerful physique tempered by Lightning Release, combined with the potential of the Eight Gates... just imagining it made Makoto's blood race with excitement.
The Uchiha Clan didn't possess such Lightning Release Nintaijutsu, while buying it from the Player Shop wasn't cost-effective.
Primarily, he had too little money. It had to be spent on what mattered most.
Outside the barbecue shop, the wind and snow suddenly intensified, snow pellets rattling against the glass window.
Samui glanced once more at the clan emblem on Makoto's clothes, her eyelashes fluttering.
Mabui chose that moment to tap the table, the rhythm changing from 'tap tap' to 'thump thump', as if conveying some secret signal.
Makoto took it all in, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, 'Perhaps a trip to Kumogakure to 'acquire' it is in order.'
Besides, being actively taken from Konoha versus sneaking out himself… the latter was clearly more cost-effective.
Konoha wasn't easy to just slip away from. If these Kumogakure's envoys failed and didn't manage to take him out of the village, he could conveniently pin the blame on them.
According to his original plan, he intended to frame the Blame Kage, Danzo. But it seemed Danzo would be busy relentlessly disciplining the Hyuga Clan for a while.
There likely wouldn't be a good opportunity to pin it on him. So, this blame would have to be passed to the Kumogakure's envoys.
Secondly, the 'landmine' he had planted in Itachi's mind regarding Sandaime Hokage was about time to detonate.
As for safety after being abducted by Kumogakure, with his Resurrection Coin and Flying Thunder God, his survivability was almost maxed out.
The only two real concerns were Genjutsu and Sealing Technique.
In the Naruto World, compared to Genjutsu, Sealing Techniques were more like bugs, as everything could be sealed.
Thinking this, Makoto mused inwardly, 'Sealing Techniques are good. I must learn Sealing Techniques.'
Makoto had long scheduled learning Sealing Techniques. After over half a year of study, he discovered his talent for learning Ninjutsu seemed quite strong.
So he didn't plan to buy Sealing Techniques from the Player Shop. Instead, he intended to resurrect someone: the feisty one… Uzumaki Kushina.
As for whether Kushina would teach him, Makoto wasn't worried. Her weak spot was easy to target. He just needed to say: "Kushina, you wouldn't want Sasuke to keep bullying Naruto all the time, would you..."
Given Kushina's personality, this tactic would absolutely work every time.
The most pressing matter now was to first resolve the vulnerability to being sealed.
He had no desire to be imprisoned like Uchiha Hikari and Otsutsuki Kaguya.
Where there's a will, there's a way. He remembered seeing a special Ninjutsu in the Player Shop before that could perfectly solve this problem.
A moment later, after scrolling mentally for a while, Makoto finally found the special Ninjutsu in the Player Shop.
[Art is an Explosion! (Self-Destruct)]
[Effect: Requires no hand seals. Ignores all external factors. Instantly ignites and consumes everything of the user in a massive explosion.]
[Cost: User dies upon use!]
Seeing the effect and cost, Makoto raised an eyebrow, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table.
This special Ninjutsu, [Art is an Explosion!], was a one-way ticket to the Pure Land for others.
But for a player like him, carrying a Resurrection Coin, it was practically a divine skill.
'Ignores all external factors' included Sealing Techniques. He had wanted to buy it for a while, but at his current age and strength, 'earning money standing tall' in Konoha was troublesome.
Fortunately, he was about to make his move soon.
As Makoto looked towards the Kumogakure's envoys, his gaze met Samui's. Those blue-green pupils were as cold as a frozen lake.
Yet, the curves accentuated by the light gray top were startlingly eye-catching. The clash of ice and fire in the warm light created an intense sense of contrast that tightened one's chest.
This was truly a case of mutual interest.
This special Ninjutsu cost 10 million Ryo.
After purchase, no learning was required, and it could be used directly. Even better, the power of this Ninjutsu would increase with his own strength, ensuring it never became obsolete.
After a moment's thought, Makoto clicked on the loan function introduction in the Player Shop.
Clearly, the time for a loan had come.
"No one lifts my ambition to the clouds, so I'll take a loan to ascend the summit myself."
With this thought, Makoto focused his will and clicked on the 'Loan' option in the Player Shop.
[Analyzing player assets...]
A line of text flashed on the pale golden panel, followed by an explosion of fine golden light.
Makoto looked at the line… [Player possesses Two Tomoe Sharingan. Maximum credit line: 15 million Ryo...]
Seeing the interest rate part, Makoto's brow furrowed slightly, but soon smoothed out, 'As long as my strength increased rapidly afterward, this bit of interest was nothing.'
If push came to shove, he could always start a financial company with Kakuzu later, loaning money at high interest across the entire Shinobi World. The interest wouldn't be too high, just several dozen times higher than the Player Shop's rate.
Samui was rubbing her shoulder again, her fingertips unconsciously brushing against her collar, revealing a pale curve, like jade buried in snow.
'It seems the burden really isn't light,' Makoto mused inwardly, observing this.
Makoto began calculating the possible scenarios he might face after being abducted by the Kumogakure's envoys.