Chapter 1: The Gamer's Awakening
Jiraiya woke up with a groan, his head pounding like he'd been caught sneaking into Tsunade's room again—except this time, he wasn't sure what had happened. The dim light from the orphanage's small window crept across his messy white hair, but it didn't ease the disorientation fogging his mind.
"Man, what a weird dream…" he muttered, sitting up on his lumpy mattress. He rubbed his eyes, but the disorientation didn't fade. No, it only got worse when a glowing blue screen popped up in front of his face.
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Welcome, Jiraiya, to The Gamer System!
Your life is now a game. Grow stronger, complete quests, and become the best ninja in the world!
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"What the hell?" Jiraiya whispered, his heart racing. He waved his hand through the air, but the screen stayed in place, unmoving. "Is this some kind of prank? Orochimaru, you slimy bastard, if this is your doing—"
A loud ping interrupted him.
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Quest Alert!
First Steps: Check your stats and familiarize yourself with The Gamer System.
Objective: Say the word "Status."
Reward: +10 XP.
Failure: …Really? It's just one word.
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Jiraiya blinked at the text. "Status?" he asked tentatively.
Another screen appeared instantly, causing him to yelp and fall backward onto the mattress.
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Status
Name: Jiraiya
Level: 1
HP: 100
CP: 80
SP: 70
Strength: 4
Agility: 6
Vitality: 5
Intelligence: 3
Charisma: 7
Luck: 10
Points to distribute: 0
Title: None
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"This... this has to be some kind of joke, right?" He stared at the numbers, his mouth agape. "Luck 10? Well, of course! I've got that irresistible charm!" He grinned, momentarily forgetting the strangeness of it all.
Before he could process further, another ping sounded.
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Quest Complete!
Reward: +10 XP.
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The moment the screen faded, Jiraiya felt a strange surge of energy coursing through his body. It wasn't much, just a subtle tingling in his fingertips, but it was enough to convince him that this wasn't a prank. Something had changed.
He shot out of bed and paced the tiny room, muttering to himself. "Okay, okay. This is insane. What does this even mean? My life's a game now? Does that mean I can…" His thoughts trailed off as he focused on the screen still hovering in the corner of his vision.
"Inventory!" he blurted out, feeling silly for even trying.
Another screen popped up, revealing a grid with a single item inside: a small, glowing box labeled Beginner's Gift Box.
"Gift box? Don't mind if I do!" Jiraiya grinned, tapping on it.
The box vanished with a flash of light, and three new items appeared in his inventory:
Basic Chakra Pill: Restores 50 CP.
Body Tempering Pill: Permanently increases Vitality by 2.
Skill Book: Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu?!" Jiraiya nearly shouted, his eyes wide. "This system is amazing!" He tapped on the book immediately, and a wave of information flooded his mind. The hand seals, the chakra flow—everything clicked into place like he'd been practicing for years.
Without thinking, he leaped up and formed the seals. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke filled the room, and when it cleared, Jiraiya found himself staring at… himself.
"Whoa…" he muttered. The clone smirked back at him, mimicking his movements. "This is insane!"
Before he could celebrate, the door to his room slammed open. Orochimaru stood in the doorway, arms crossed and a scowl on his pale face.
"What are you yelling about, idiot? Sensei's waiting for us."
"Uh…" Jiraiya looked back at his clone, who promptly dispelled in another puff of smoke. "Nothing! Just, uh, getting ready."
Orochimaru rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless," he muttered before walking away.
Jiraiya sat back down, his heart pounding. Whatever this system was, it had given him more than a strange screen or a few pills—it had given him something he'd never felt before. Potential.
As he stood and prepared to follow Orochimaru, a new quest appeared in the corner of his vision.
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Quest Alert!
Prove Your Worth: Impress Hiruzen Sarutobi with your skills during today's training.
Objective: Successfully perform a jutsu in front of your sensei.
Reward: +50 XP, +5 Reputation with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Failure: Public embarrassment and Orochimaru mocking you for the rest of the day.
Jiraiya grinned, his white hair bouncing as he walked toward the training grounds. "Alright, game on!"
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