"The Reincarnation Game actually prompted me that my game time is up and I need to spend reward points to continue?"
A logistics Chūnin had a strange expression as his body gradually became transparent, glowing white as he was about to leave the game world.
Asuma was increasingly intrigued by the mystery of this game.
At first, it was just a special experiment, mysterious individuals had forced them to participate. However, he hadn't expected there to be a set game time limit.
And yet, they hadn't gathered enough intelligence and wanted to stay in the game longer.
[Purchasing game time: The higher the level, the more reward points required. A Level 1 player can buy 1 hour per reward point.]
It was just another money-making tactic.
A "Leopard-Head Zero-Spender" strategy? Impossible. This beginner village alone had cost Fang Yi a full hundred thousand reward points. The venue fee had to be paid, if they wanted to keep playing, they had to pay up.
Asuma thought for a moment and said, "You two head back first and report directly to the Hokage Building. We'll leave later."
These two logistics Chūnin, without chakra, were even slower at hunting ghosts than Uzumaki Naruto.
Staying any longer wasn't useful, so it was better to send them back to report.
The two nodded and chose to log out of the game.
Asuma mused, Yakushi Kabuto should be a Chūnin skilled in combat, his attacks are swift and decisive. Hyūga Neji truly lives up to the genius reputation Might Guy spoke of, his speed in hunting ghosts is almost on par with mine. But the most surprising one is Uzumaki Naruto…
When he first encountered the ghosts, Naruto had been so scared that his legs gave out. But soon after, he adjusted and was able to engage in battle with them on equal footing.
Moreover, Asuma, who was experienced in combat, noticed something, after every fight, Naruto grew slightly stronger.
Not in terms of physical attributes, but in battle awareness when facing crises, an essential trait for becoming a strong warrior.
As expected of Minato's son.
[Ding! Experience points maxed out. Would you like to level up?]
After Hyūga Neji slew two more ghosts, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
Only then did he notice the faint green experience bar at the bottom of his player panel.
Each ghost granted 5 experience points.
Having slain ten ghosts, he had exactly the 50 points required to level up.
[Level up successful. Reward: 2 free attribute points.]
After a brief study, Neji understood how attribute points worked and hesitated only slightly before allocating them to Strength and Constitution.
[The Bound Bird]
Level: 2 (1/100 EXP)
Attributes: Strength 2, Agility 1, Constitution 2, Spirit 1
Equipment: Beginner's Shortsword
In an instant, Neji clearly felt his body grow stronger, like the gradual improvements gained after days of training.
In the shinobi world, even chakra required long periods of cultivation. The noble Hyūga clan possessed secret medicinal baths that slowly nourished the body, strengthening muscles and bones over time.
This kind of instant power surge, perhaps only the Uchiha's Sharingan could compare.
It was intoxicating.
But Neji quickly snapped back to reality. This was the Reincarnation Game, not real life, getting stronger here didn't hold much significance.
After some time,
Asuma and Yakushi Kabuto also leveled up, and finally, Uzumaki Naruto as well. Finding nothing else unusual, Asuma said,
"The system notification states that we can re-enter the Reincarnation Game at any time after logging out, so there's no need to worry about being locked out. Let's return to the real world."
"All personnel, report directly to the Hokage Building upon return! That's an order!"
"Yes, sir!"
With flashes of white light, Asuma's team logged out of the game.
One after another, shinobi from various nations either leveled up or gathered enough reward points to buy an item from the in-game store before logging out.
"Omoe, you useless brat! You actually got killed twice by a Gargoyle. If this were the real world, you'd have already been turned into mincemeat by enemy shinobi."
"I was ambushed! Who would've thought a stone statue could move?!"
"Let's log out first. We must report everything about the Reincarnation Game to Lord Raikage."
Mabui sensed the extraordinary nature of the Reincarnation Game. She spent all her reward points to purchase an item from the game store
A bottle of red potion that could heal wounds.
Samui, a skilled fighter, had already reached Level 2.
Instead of hunting Gargoyles, Mabui had stayed in the beginner village, recording most of the game store's items.
"The secret physical training techniques of past Raikages… The legendary Seven Swords of Kirigakure… The Sharingan and Byakugan, both rare kekkei genkai…"
"Healing potions… The mystical Devil Fruits…"
The more she looked, the more astonished she became.
As long as one had enough reward points, even the legendary Rinnegan, the Eyes of God, could be exchanged!
If these items could be brought into reality, the shinobi world would be thrown into chaos.
~Hyūga Clan Compound~
In a secluded courtyard, Hyūga Neji sat dazed in the center of the training grounds before suddenly collapsing to the ground.
It felt like a dream, half real, half unreal.
"I'm back?"
As a branch family member of the Hyūga, his first instinct was not to follow Asuma's order to report to the Hokage Building.
Instead, he thought of informing the clan head.
But soon, Neji hesitated.
His steps slowed as he returned to his room, staring into the bathroom mirror at his own white eyes. He tore off his forehead protector, revealing the caged bird seal.
His fist clenched involuntarily.
The moment he entered the Reincarnation Game, while others were panicked, he had felt something else entirely.
Freedom.
The caged bird seal on his forehead was gone.
Even if he had lost the Byakugan, it didn't matter, his in-game body had been truly free.
One wouldn't miss what they had never tasted.
But now, having experienced it…
"This is unbearable…"
Neji stared at the dark green markings on his forehead.
They twisted and writhed like sickening worms, filling his entire body with phantom pain.
He gasped for air, then smashed his fist into the mirror.
Blood dripped from the shattered shards.
"My fist… is stronger?"
Neji's eyes widened in shock.
Veins bulged at the corners of his eyes as he stared at his bloodied hand.
It wasn't an illusion, his strength had indeed increased.
He quickly focused and mentally called upon the Reincarnation Game.
A player panel popped up.
[Hyūga Neji (Shinobi World)]
Level: 2 (1/100 EXP)
Attributes: Strength 9 (+0.2), Agility 9, Constitution 11 (+0.2), Spirit 8
Equipment: None
Notice: Game character attributes will be linked to real-world attributes at a 10:1 ratio.
Notice: To bring game items into the real world, certification points must be submitted.
Neji opened his inventory. After submitting certification points, he pulled out a lump of grayish-black, viscous material.
[Ghost Essence]
Type: Material
Note: A low-quality soul crystal dropped by ghosts. Can be used to craft items.
Neji's eyes shone with excitement.
He growled in a low voice, "The items from the Reincarnation Game can be brought into reality!"
While others had focused on the powerful weapons and abilities in the game store…
Neji had noticed a very special item.
[Hyūga Tennin's Ninjutsu Scroll (Fragment)]Containing the mark and method to remove the Caged Bird Seal. Cost: 1000 reward points.
"Killing one ghost grants two reward points."
"That means… if I kill 500 ghosts, I can obtain the technique to remove the Caged Bird Seal!"
For the first time, Neji felt that fate had granted him an opportunity.
Freedom had never been so close.