Chapter 0002: A Naked Bet
As the sky gradually darkened and the last rays of the setting sun bathed the entire village of Konoha in golden light, a loud ringing sound echoed.
Ding-ling-ling.
With the clear chime of a bell, the students at the ninja academy packed their belongings and walked out of the school gates in small groups.
"Hiroto, I have something to say to you." While I was packing his bag, I suddenly heard an angry voice.
I looked up and saw a short-haired boy dressed in a blue robe. His appearance wasn't particularly striking, but his build was quite sturdy compared to others his age. At this moment, the boy's gaze was filled with a challenging look as he stared at my face.
"Sarutobi Asuma, what do you want to say?" I squinted my eyes and asked.
He didn't like this short-lived fool, me, in front of him, especially since he was trying so hard to become my brother-in-law, even though he was the son of the Third Hokage.
"I don't care what your goals are, whether you were serious or said them as a joke… Just, fight me!" Sarutobi Asuma said coldly, "The loser should stop having any improper thoughts about Kurenai."
"Are you trying to make me laugh?" I chuckled, "The one with improper thoughts about my sister has always been you. Don't think I don't know. You're just trying to get rid of me, her annoying little brother."
"I'm not!"
Asuma's face turned red as if his secret had been exposed, and he shouted, "How could I have such thoughts? I just... I just want to protect your sister from being harassed by a creep like you! Yes, that's it!"
"Hahahaha." I let out an ambiguous laugh. A kid like him, trying to play mind games? Is your brain even fully developed yet?
Asuma, unsettled by my laugh, tried to maintain his composure and said, "Enough talk. I'll ask you directly. Do you dare to accept my challenge?"
I raised an eyebrow and was about to respond when a sharp voice suddenly cut in, "Asuma! Are you bullying my brother?"
The rising voices of Asuma and mine included had attracted the attention of the nearby students who hadn't yet left. Naturally, this included Kurenai Yuhi.
"N-no, Kurenai..."
Seeing Kurenai approaching, Asuma's voice faltered, and he stammered with a flushed face, "It's just... this guy had the nerve to say those things today, so I wanted to teach him a little lesson."
What an idiot.
At that moment, I felt like facepalming. This guy, with his intelligence, thought he could woo girls? How did the original story even have Kurenai falling for him?!
Sure enough, as soon as Asuma finished speaking, Kurenai's face changed. She glared at me first, then turned to Asuma with a blank expression and said, "What gives you the right to say something like that? Even if my brother needs discipline, it's not your place to interfere."
Uh-oh.
Asuma finally realized that what he had said was a huge mistake. He had spoken without thinking and just blurted out what was on his mind. It was a total disaster.
But since the words were already out, there was no way to take them back. The only option left was...
Asuma steeled himself, turned his head toward me, and said, "Are you going to keep hiding behind your sister like a coward?"
I was momentarily confused by Asuma's sudden shift in tone. He was about to respond when Kurenai angrily shouted, "Sarutobi Asuma! What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing," Asuma deliberately raised his voice so that everyone in class could hear. "The year-end assessment match is in a few days, and I want Yūhi Hiroto to be my opponent!"
So that's what he's after.
I finally understood what Asuma was thinking. This guy wanted to force me into a corner. First, to teach me a lesson, and second, to make sure I took our earlier bet seriously.
"That's not fair!" Kurenai immediately rejected the challenge on my behalf. "Hiroto has only just started gathering chakra, there's no way he could be a match for you!"
"But, Hiroto has already accepted my challenge, right?" Asuma gritted his teeth and looked at me, as if threatening me with his eyes.
I wasn't the least bit afraid of this kid's petty threats, but then a voice suddenly echoed in my mind, causing my lips to twitch.
Ding!
[New options generated!]
[Host, choose one of the following options:]
[-> Option one: Accept the challenge and wager your sister's underwear.]
[-> Option two: Accept the challenge, and the loser must run around the Konoha training field twenty times, naked.]
[-> Option three: Take off your underpants and put them on Sarutobi Asuma's head.]
[Notice: On failure, the host will need to do all of the three options.]
Damn it!
I'm basically a slave here!
Seeing these options, I clenched my teeth and looked at Asuma, saying, "Yes, I've accepted his challenge. And we've even made a bet. The loser will have to strip and run around the Konoha training field, naked, twenty times."
What?!
As soon as those words left my mouth, everyone, including Kurenai and Asuma, was shocked.
Has Hiroto lost his mind? He actually dared to agree to such a bet? Doesn't he know that Sarutobi Asuma was last year's top performer in the year-end assessment? Is he purposely trying to embarrass himself?
Ugh, even I don't know what I'm bringing myself into… at least, I have improved chakra worth ten days training and some good taijutsu techniques…
Moreover, I'm sure the system will issue many more rewards for tons other missions before the match actually starts, so I'm betting on it.
And of course, where's my reward? - he stared at the screen for he did choose one of the options.
Ding!
[Congratulations on completing the mission.]
[Chakra training has been increased by 10 days.]
'The system is brutal…' - that's all I could say.
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