Shiranui Hayate was actually quite pleased with his American blonde assistant. However, as his subordinate, he had no intention of turning a professional relationship into a romantic one.
While it was normal in American culture for passion to spark one night and for things to return to business as usual the next day, Hayate was a possessive man. If he entered a relationship, he expected to be his partner's only companion. Furthermore, turning a subordinate into a lover would complicate everything. How could he effectively manage and command her after that?
To avoid the mess of "friends-with-benefits" or awkward office romances, Hayate simply chose to keep his distance. Besides, if he were being honest, his true interests lay with the powerful female ninja characters who had yet to be manifested by his system.
Back at home, Hayate poured himself a glass of Jack Daniel's from his liquor cabinet and topped it with a splash of cola. He took a slow sip, nodding in approval. With the night's massive haul of cash, he was ready to head into the system interface for a shopping spree.
He set his glass down and opened his status window.
Character Profile: Shiranui Hayate
- Age: 21
- Class: Ninja
- VIP Level: 0
- Affinities: Fire, Lightning
- Equipment: Chunin Kunai, Chunin Forehead Protector, Chunin Vest, Chunin Manual, Chunin Necklace, Chunin Ring. (Equipment increases damage and defense).
- Artifacts: None
- Secret Scrolls: * Ninjutsu: Protection (LV2): Grants 90% damage reduction for 4 seconds. (Note: Cannot reduce lethal damage).
- Ninjutsu: Rage (LV1): Increases attack power by 6% for 10 seconds.
- Unlocked Ninjas: Uchiha Sasuke (No Sharingan), Umino Iruka, Rock Lee.
- Mastered Skills: Fire Style: Great Fireball, Lion Combo, Chidori, Teaching Tool Shuriken, Barrier Array, Roar of Love, Infinite Chaos, Leaf Whirlwind, Front Lotus.
His own chakra reserves weren't massive. He had only had the system for three years, and while he meditated daily to refine his energy, it was a slow process. In the Naruto world, kids started at four or five years old, training for six years at the Academy just to become a Genin with barely enough chakra for a few jutsus.
However, his progress was decent—roughly at the level of a standard ninja. Interestingly, while humans in the Marvel world have cell counts 2-3 times lower than those in the Shinobi world (which should make chakra production 2-3 times slower), Hayate moved at the pace of a talented civilian ninja. He suspected this was a perk of being the system's host.
As a host, every time he successfully recruited a C-rank ninja, his base chakra increased by the amount of a standard Genin. Through testing, he found that one "Genin unit" of chakra allowed him to cast an A-rank jutsu like Chidori three times. Currently, his total reserves allowed him to fire off ten Chidoris. He wondered how many "Kakashis" that translated to.
Turning to the Summoning (Kuchiyose) tab, the only active summon was the Ninken (Ninja Dogs). The interface displayed three dogs—Pakkun, Urushi, and Shiba—though in practice, all eight of Kakashi's hounds could be summoned.
His Ninken were currently Level 20. To unlock the next summon, he had to max them out at Level 50. Upgrading from Level 20 to 21 cost 300 Reputation and 30,000 Copper Coins, with costs increasing at every level.
He checked his balance: 4,200,000 Copper Coins and 20,000 Reputation. He hoped the Reputation would hold out.
The upgrade marathon began. After burning through all 20,000 Reputation and 2,000,000 Copper Coins, the Ninken finally hit Level 50.
A notification flashed: New Summon Unlocked: Blue Snake.
A summoning scroll materialized in front of him. It bore the image of a massive blue serpent, but the signature space was blank. Hayate used a kunai to nick his finger and signed his name in blood. The scroll vanished instantly.
He could now summon the Blue Snake. Recalling the game, he knew its size wouldn't be much smaller than Manda. Looking at the size of his apartment, he wisely decided not to test the summon indoors. With only 96 Reputation points left, further upgrades would have to wait.
"Let's see what a max-level Pakkun looks like," Hayate muttered. He performed the hand signs and slammed his palm down.
POOF!
In a cloud of white smoke, Pakkun appeared.
"Hayate. Is there a mission?" the pug asked, his voice gruff. "Also, thanks for restoring us to our full strength."
Sensing the aura radiating from Pakkun, Hayate realized that in a purely physical fight—without using ninjutsu—he might actually lose to this dog.
"No mission, Pakkun. I just wanted to confirm something. Now that your strength is restored, can you still get stronger?"
Pakkun gave a very human-like look of contemplation. "Hayate, we're adult hounds. Our strength is basically set; further training won't do much." He looked up with a hint of hope. "Can you help us get stronger?"
Hayate looked at the "MAX" icon on the interface. "Sorry, Pakkun. I can't do much on this end for now, but you can try training in the Summoning Realm."
Pakkun's nose twitched suddenly. He stared at Hayate. "You signed with those guys from Ryuchi Cave?"
As expected of a tracking dog, Hayate thought. He had only touched the scroll for a moment, and yet Pakkun smelled the lingering scent of the snakes.
"I haven't struck a deal with Ryuchi Cave," Hayate clarified, "just a contract with the Blue Snake."
"Blue Snake?" Pakkun looked puzzled; he knew Manda, but not this one. "Well, things are going to get lively in the Summoning Realm with a new neighbor. By the way, Hayate... if you ever get the chance, I'd like to see Kakashi again. I miss him."
"There will be a chance," Hayate replied. "I just don't know which version of Kakashi it will be."
"I'll leave that to you then, Master Hayate. If there's nothing else, I'll head back."
"See you next time, Pakkun."
With another POOF, the dog vanished.