Konoha Hospital.
Tengen opened his eyes, staring at the bright ceiling and familiar surroundings.
'Well, I'm back in the hospital.'
He thought wryly.
"Tengen, you're awake!" A voice drew his gaze. It was a girl, Shizune, Tsunade's companion.
"How's your body feeling?" Shizune asked quickly.
"Oh, I'm fine." Tengen moved, feeling no pain. It seemed medical ninjutsu had patched him up.
"Good. I'm Shizune. But sneaking into the women's bathhouse was wrong. Don't blame Tsunade-sama, she personally treated you." Shizune said.
"Got it." Tengen replied, recalling Tsunade's brutal punishment. Best not to dwell on it. At least he'd managed to receive a fragment; he just didn't know what it contained yet.
"I'll go get Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama." Shizune said, hurrying out.
Moments later, the Pervy Sage and the formidable Tsunade appeared before him.
"Kid, why'd you have to pick up Jiraiya's bad habits?" Tsunade said the moment she saw him.
"Uh…" Tengen stayed silent. Could he explain that he was chasing a signal? They'd think he was crazy.
"Lil bro, don't worry. Your big bro's got your back!" Jiraiya declared enthusiastically.
Tengen fought the urge to roll his eyes. Since when are you my big bro?
"Look, Pervy Sage, I- "
Before Tengen could finish, Jiraiya cut in. "Tengen, you must be tired. Rest up!"
"Actually I feel great." Tengen said, testing his body.
"You still need to recover. Tsunade's strength isn't a joke. It took me ages to heal." Jiraiya said, calling her a monster.
Tsunade shot Jiraiya a wicked grin, making him flinch. He'd clearly said too much.
In truth, Tengen's injuries were superficial. If Tsunade had used her full strength, surviving would've been a miracle.
"I'm outta here, Tengen. Rest well, you're my lil bro!" Jiraiya waved and left.
"Get some rest, kid." Tsunade said, departing.
"Uh, bye, Tengen." Shizune mumbled, blushing as she recalled the bathhouse incident, and quickly left.
"They're gone?" Tengen stared at their retreating figures. "I barely got a word in!"
For a moment, he felt like punching something.
"Hm, might as well check that standard video fragment." Alone now, Tengen could finally see what he'd received.
"Naruto?" Tengen blinked at the fragment. "Fitting, I guess. Does this world give out more Naruto fragments? Hope it's useful."
No time to waste, he activated the extraction.
[Ding! Obtained Elite Genin Experience Pack. Use now?]
A mechanical voice announced.
"Elite Genin Experience Pack?" Tengen's eyes lit up. "I've heard of elite jounin, but an elite genin pack?"
Without hesitation, he used it. It was exactly what he needed.
Ordinary fragments could yield good rewards, though later experiences taught Tengen that most were duds.
A flood of ninja knowledge, training techniques, and combat experience surged through his mind, as if he'd lived it all himself.
Moments later.
Tengen assessed himself. "My chakra's spiked, and this pack lives up to its name. I could probably take on an average chunin."
The pack didn't just boost his meager chakra to a genin's peak, it deepened his understanding of chakra, hand signs, and various ninjutsu, as if he'd trained for years.
He'd even learned new techniques.
"Like this." Tengen formed hand signs and whispered, "Clone Jutsu."
"Poof!" An identical clone appeared beside him.
"And Transformation Jutsu." His hands moved swiftly, smoke swirling as he transformed into a familiar figure, Jiraiya.
"It really feels like I've trained for ages." Tengen nodded, releasing the jutsu and reverting to himself.
Elite genin referred to highly talented genin, capable of rivaling average chunin.
"Time to sleep. I'll deal with tomorrow." Tengen said, satisfied. His strength had skyrocketed compared to before.
He could outmatch most graduating academy students.
Naturally, among Konoha's genin, only those nearing chunin level could challenge him now.
Unless they were cheaters like him, of course.
Tengen smirked. He was a cheater too.
...
The next day, the sun rose high, heralding a new morning.
"Tengen! Come greet your big bro!" Jiraiya burst into Tengen's hospital room with a grin.
But all he saw was a nurse tidying the bed.
"Uh, where's the kid who was here yesterday?" Jiraiya asked, confused. He knew Tengen had no family to pick him up.
"That kid? He left early this morning, saying he was off to find his destiny." the nurse replied.
"He left?" Jiraiya blinked.
"Find his destiny? What's that supposed to mean?" Jiraiya muttered, scratching his head as he left the hospital, utterly baffled.
***
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