Chapter 15

"Well, I have been teaching you for three years. What you learn in the Ninja Academy will affect your whole life, but don't forget to keep studying. This world is vast, and you should never be satisfied with your own strength or current situation..."

"In the future, make sure to eat and sleep on time, don't piss off your new teacher, and study ninjutsu seriously. You all have great talent—don't waste it. Train hard and never slack off..." Gouda Takeshi kept nagging Zixu and the others like an old mother watching her children leave home for the first time.

Although Zixu didn't care much for Konoha's beliefs and had never received the inheritance he should have, not to mention the fact that his monthly stipend was constantly being docked, the truth remained—Konoha had raised him. It was also true that he had made some good friends here, ones who might even change the course of his life.

Gouda Takeshi's teaching style was rough and sometimes clumsy, but it was heartfelt. In this moment, Zixu realized that maybe he had misjudged some people. He had let preconceived notions cloud his perspective. The ones at fault weren't the ordinary people of Konoha but the ruling Sarutobi Hiruzen faction and the twisted version of the Will of Fire they pushed. The people around him—his teacher, his classmates—they weren't wrong. Many of them had shown him genuine kindness.

The initial excitement that Aburame Hatsuizumi felt about graduating started to fade as Gouda Takeshi spoke. His words were simple, but they carried weight, grounding her in reality. A trace of sadness crept in.

"Seriously? It's not like we won't see each other again," Hyuga Chinano said, turning her head away. She was sentimental and hated moments like this. Gouda Takeshi might have acted strict, but it was always out of concern.

He firmly believed in the principle: 'Strictness during training reduces losses in the field.' He would rather his students make a hundred mistakes in practice than a single fatal one on the battlefield.

"No, being a ninja brings privileges and honor, but it also comes with responsibilities. Every mission carries risks, and none of us can predict the future. War could break out at any moment. None of us can say whether we'll see tomorrow or an accident will come first. That's why every separation should be treated as a possible farewell," Gouda Takeshi explained.

He had seen too many tragedies firsthand. He didn't even have to look far—just the recent extermination of the Uchiha Clan was proof enough. Because of that, he cherished every moment with his students.

"Ugh, stop talking like that. We're not dying anytime soon. But you—make sure you don't kick the bucket before us. I don't want to be the one collecting your body," Chinano scoffed. Her words were blunt, even a little sarcastic, but that was just how she was. She wasn't great at expressing emotions, so she showed concern in her own way.

"Don't worry, teacher. We'll remember your lessons. Your figure will always live on in our hearts. We'll inherit your legacy. No—your will. We will definitely..." Zixu started, but he couldn't take the sentimental atmosphere any longer and just wanted to cut the conversation short.

"Alright, alright, I get it. You all look like you'll survive just fine. Just don't slack off in training," Gouda Takeshi waved them off, as if shooing away a bunch of annoying brats.

"Oh, right. Your superiors will assign you to different teams on Monday—that's the day after tomorrow. Don't forget to show up."

"I know, I know," Zixu replied, closing the door behind them.

Inside, Gouda Takeshi leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He had spent so long pushing them to graduate, but now that they were finally leaving, he felt an unexpected sense of reluctance.

---

"Since we've officially graduated, shouldn't we celebrate?" Aburame Hatsuizumi suggested as they walked through the village. The heavy atmosphere finally lifted, replaced by a sense of excitement.

"I just hope you don't end up broke again like last time," Hyuga Chinano smirked, her teasing tone sharp as ever.

"That... That was an accident!" Hatsuizumi defended, looking flustered. "How the hell was I supposed to know you two could eat that much? Are your stomachs storage seals or something? Even the Akimichi clan doesn't eat like that!"

She was still haunted by the last time they went out for a meal. It had completely wiped out her savings.

But this time, things were different.

Becoming a ninja wasn't just about responsibilities—it also came with perks. Their pay was solid, they had priority access to medicine and supplies, and there were even discounts at certain places.

The best part? Half-priced meals for Genin at the barbecue restaurant.

"Well, now that we're officially ninjas, there's a discount at the barbecue place," Hatsuizumi said, regaining confidence. "Eat as much as you want—I dare you. If you can out-eat me, I might actually go broke."

Her challenge hung in the air.

Zixu and Chinano exchanged glances.

A silent agreement was made.

Tonight, they would eat like kings.

After becoming a ninja, one officially steps out of the civilian class. The two are simply not on the same level.

"Then I'll eat as much as I want! Zixu, you better not hold back either. Hatsuizumi already said so—we should respect her wishes," Hyuga Chinano grinned, nudging Zixu, who had remained silent the whole time.

Aburame Hatsuizumi watched the exchange, and for some reason, her little wallet seemed to wail in protest. It trembled as if sensing an incoming disaster.

"Let's do it tomorrow. I have something to take care of today..." Zixu finally spoke, breaking his silence. His words immediately dampened everyone's mood.

"Why? What else could be more important than celebrating?" Hatsuizumi asked, frowning slightly. A few years ago, she wouldn't have pushed the question. But over the past three years, she had changed—or perhaps she was simply being more herself.

Before she could press further, Chinano tugged at the corner of her sleeve and lightly tapped her waist, signaling her to stop. Hatsuizumi caught on. Maybe Zixu really had something important to do.

"Alright, fine. See you tomorrow night, then," Hatsuizumi relented, though she still didn't quite understand.

"Yeah... Sorry, I probably killed the mood," Zixu said before turning and walking toward his little house.

Hatsuizumi remained where she stood, hands on her waist, brows furrowed, lips puffed out in frustration. "What could be so important at a time like this? He's not avoiding me on purpose, is he?"

Chinano, on the other hand, remained calm. She quietly watched Zixu's departing figure, a hint of sadness and sympathy flickering in her pale eyes.

"We all have people to share our joy with—family, friends. Normally, the first thing we'd do after something like this is tell our parents. But Zixu..."

At those words, Hatsuizumi's frustration melted away. She looked toward Zixu's lonely figure, and for the first time, she felt a pang of guilt. As his friend, she should have noticed something was off. Instead, she had been caught up in her own excitement. She still had a lot to learn.

But truthfully, Zixu wasn't in a hurry to go home because of loneliness.

It was because he had just earned reward points and lottery draws from completing a mission.

And there was no way he was going to delay his lottery pulls.

---

Inside his small room, Zixu couldn't resist and used one of his four lottery chances right away. The result?

[Bucky's Stinky Socks]

He stared at the item in disappointment. "What the hell is this?"

Annoyed, he stuffed it into the bottom of a box, making a mental note never to use it. Ever.

But he wasn't done yet.

"Alright, let's do this. Three more draws—back-to-back. I don't even need anything crazy. Just give me Twelve Supreme Blade Skills or the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. I'm not picky."

He rubbed his hands together, eager to test his luck. After returning to his room, he lay on his side in a fierce tiger position—the same pose he had when he drew the Silence Fruit last time.

"Let's go!" He pressed the button. The virtual roulette wheel spun rapidly, the pointer flashing across various rewards.

Zixu didn't watch. He figured if he looked, it would ruin the surprise. Only the unknown could bring true excitement.

Finally, the results came in.

[You received BBQ x1]

[You received a crowbar x1]

[You received an expired snack x1]

Zixu blinked.

This... was not the miracle he had hoped for.

After experiencing the high of pulling a Devil Fruit from a single draw before, he couldn't help but expect something decent this time. But this? This felt like paying 500 ryō for an all-you-can-eat buffet, only to find out that the ingredients came from a sketchy roadside stall, the waiters had the attitude of an annoyed mother, and the sea cucumber fried rice contained exactly zero sea cucumber.

The disappointment was immeasurable.

"System, how many points do I need for another draw?"

[1,000 points.]

"Emmm... Forget it. I've gone bankrupt too many times gambling on these draws..."

He sighed, memories of past lottery disasters flooding his mind.

"Every time I spend money, I regret it. I swear I'll never do it again. But right before every draw, I feel unstoppable—confident, arrogant, convinced that this is the time I hit the jackpot. I don't even know who I am anymore..."

Frustrated, Zixu switched gears.

"System, can I use all my points to improve my fusion level instead?"

[Not recommended. Your body has reached the limit of what it can currently handle. You need time to adapt before further fusion.]

So that option was off the table too.

Zixu hesitated. He had enough points to either save up for a new Devil Fruit or unlock something else entirely. After some thought, he made his decision.

"Alright, screw it. Unlock the Haki System first. I already have a Devil Fruit, even if it's useless in combat."

[Activating Haki System...]

A sudden explosion of energy erupted in his mind. This awakening wasn't like the gentle sensation he had felt before. This was raw, violent, almost unbearable.

[Host, brace yourself. If you lose control, the awakening will fail.]

Zixu's heart clenched. Failure wasn't the problem—he could try again. But the 30,000 points he spent on this? Gone. That was 30 more lottery draws! He wasn't about to waste them.

A relentless wave of force crashed into him, over and over, like an endless ocean storm. He felt like a small boat, tossed around helplessly in the chaos.

Or maybe it was more like... being back in the womb. Helpless. Trapped. He knew what was happening, but he couldn't control it.

The sheer powerlessness of it all pissed him off.

That flicker of frustration spread like ink in water, darkening everything in its path. Before he even realized it, his anger had drowned out the pressure, forcing it back like an unstoppable tide.

The ocean stilled. The storm passed.

And then—

[The Haki System has been activated. You have awakened Conqueror's Haki.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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