33 - The Universe's Favorites
Kei was feeling a bit excited because the purple trait [Water Release Mastery] had brought a noticeable improvement.
However, his excitement was quickly doused like a bucket of cold water when he failed to execute the Water Release: Rasengan.
But he was never the type to give up easily. Sitting cross-legged on a rock, his eyes gazed blankly at the distant horizon. While slowly recovering his chakra, he continued to ponder over the mechanics of the Water Rasengan in his mind.
He had been in the Naruto world for more than ten years. Due to the pressure of survival in the past, he had never slacked off in his training.
After the system activated, though, he hadn't been this focused on researching and training for a long time.
The idea of creating a Water Rasengan reignited his enthusiasm for training!
Time passed, moment by moment.
The sunset on the horizon cast a golden-red glow over the vast blue ocean.
Eight surviving researchers had been busy since noon and, by evening, had finally moved all the removable experimental equipment outside the research facility.
Years of research data had also been categorized and packed accordingly.
The mast sailboat that had been temporarily stationed a dozen nautical miles away was now anchored in a bay on the side of the Summoning Island.
At last, before the sun fully dipped below the horizon, Minato and Honoka reappeared outside the research facility, holding a stack of so-called "research materials" that were barely as thick as a finger.
"Three seconds?"
Kei cast a disdainful glance at Minato.
"Uh… something got delayed," Minato replied awkwardly, his toes practically digging into the ground. His entire face, from his neck to his earlobes, was flushed red like a boiled shrimp.
It wasn't like he wanted this to happen. But at the time, he really couldn't just leave.
"I get it." Kei smirked mischievously.
Seeing Honoka hiding behind Minato, too embarrassed to even show her face, he immediately understood the situation.
Even if nothing too intimate happened, their relationship had definitely progressed significantly.
"Well, it's getting late. Let me handle these pieces of equipment, and we should set off for our return journey soon."
Minato, flustered, quickly found an excuse to change the subject.
Seeing that Kei merely waved him off impatiently, he wasted no time dragging Honoka along to summon his toads to help transport the research equipment and materials back to Konoha.
"A passionate couple, huh… Tsk," Kei muttered enviously.
Just as he was about to use his Trait Duplication to take Minato's [Ultra-Fast Reactions], his gaze swept over Honoka's traits—and he was momentarily stunned.
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[Name: Uzumaki Honoka]
[Career: Researcher]
[Traits: Overflowing Energy (Purple), Kagura Mind's Eye (Blue), Sealing Mastery (Blue), Beauty (Green), Mutual Devotion (Green)]
---
Huh?
Where did this extra one come from?
Earlier, back in the research facility, he had already checked Honoka's traits when Minato was saving her.
If he remembered correctly, she originally only had: [Overflowing Energy], [Kagura Mind's Eye], [Sealing Mastery], and [Beauty].
[Overflowing Energy] was the same as Kushina's, greatly increasing her chakra reserves. Most likely, it was an innate trait of the Uzumaki clan due to their pure bloodline.
[Kagura Mind's Eye] was another natural Uzumaki ability. Her ability to project her voice directly into his and Minato's minds earlier was probably due to this trait.
As for [Sealing Mastery] and [Beauty], there was nothing unusual about them.
But this suddenly appeared [Mutual Devotion]?
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[Mutual Devotion (Green):
When experiencing a sincere romantic relationship and being deeply loved by someone, if the loved one's abilities surpass one's own, then one's own abilities will gradually increase to match the loved one.]
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The world's will already gives its golden boy cheat abilities—now it's even looking after his girlfriend?
Kei looked up at the sky in exasperation. He really couldn't understand.
If it was just because Minato saved Honoka, and the young girl, inexperienced in the ways of the world, developed feelings for him due to the suspension bridge effect, that would be understandable.
But [Mutual Devotion]? What the hell was that?
How did these two manage to become completely in sync and form a mutual love bond in less than a day of knowing each other?!
What the hell did these two do at noon?
Kei, already frustrated by his failure with Water Rasengan, took another heavy blow to his heart. Even though it was just a green trait, its meaning was profound, and its effect was ridiculously powerful!
At her current level, Honoka, aside from her naturally enviable deep chakra reserves, was actually weaker than many experienced chunin.
But Minato?
One of the top young powerhouses in the ninja world!
He might not yet be able to match someone as monstrous as the Third Raikage, but he was undoubtedly at Kage-level!
With the boost from this [Mutual Devotion], Honoka was probably going to start improving at an insane rate soon.
Kei glanced at his personal panel and the unclaimed rewards.
After a brief moment of self-consolation, he decisively shifted his attention back to Minato, who was summoning toads again to help transport the research materials and equipment to Konoha.
Copy Minato's [Ultra-Fast Reactions].
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[Obtained:
- Ultra-Fast Reactions]
[Ultra-Fast Reactions (Purple):
Grants an innate ultra-high neural response speed, making the world appear in slow motion. Significantly enhances reaction speed, hand seal speed, chakra circulation speed, and jutsu casting speed.]
---
As the system notification sounded, Kei had just activated the trait when he felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.
The world before him gradually slowed down.
Whether it was Minato repeatedly using the Summoning Jutsu or the researchers moving equipment, everything appeared as if it had been put into slow motion.
Bullet Time? Kei's eyes widened slightly.
He hadn't expected Ultra-Fast Reactions to be this overpowered.
He lifted his arm and attempted to form hand seals. His previous speed of five seals per second had now increased significantly, reaching an astonishing seven seals per second. He could even clearly feel that this wasn't his reaction speed limit—it was simply the limit of his hand and wrist's physical ability.
Glancing at Minato, who was still busy in the distance, Kei was about to return to the mast sailboat early to test other enhancements brought by Ultra-Fast Reactions.
But just then, the system's notification sounded again.
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[Compatibility detected:
- Shout and It Comes (Purple)
- Ultra-Fast Reactions (Purple)]
[Fusion? Yes/No]
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Yes.
Kei didn't hesitate for a second.
Previously, when [Somewhat Skilled] fused with [Memory Palace], the new trait [Memory Master of the Shinobi World] had turned out to be incredibly useful—even though the name was a bit ridiculous.
The ability to recall forgotten memories alone was invaluable to him.
Now, with two purple traits merging, there was no way the result would be worse than before.