Chapter 17: Game Console Update Complete

My name is Uchiha Gin, and ever since I got stuck with this vintage system, I haven't had a single day of peace.

Not only do I have to complete the shitty tasks it assigns, but I also have to go out and scam people every day only to get beaten up, and then come home at night to be ambushed in my own yard by skills summoned by the system.

And now, the hard-earned blood and sweat points I worked so hard to earn have been swallowed by the system.

Life is too hard!

"Ding! Game machine loading complete. Please familiarize yourself with the details, Host."

As the system prompt reappeared, the originally plain-looking game machine emitted a blinding light, forcing Uchiha Gin to close his eyes.

A moment later, as the light faded, a brand-new, factory-fresh blue slot machine appeared before him.

It was no different from the ones in the video game arcades of his previous life; there was a screen at the top to record points, and below were the classic three glass windows.

Instead of the common symbols used in his past life, several words were slowly scrolling inside the windows. Uchiha Gin leaned in to look closely and found that the scrolling words were "Ninjutsu," "Taijutsu," and "Stamina," with a combination guide prominently displayed in the middle.

Ninjutsu + Ninjutsu +? = Ninjutsu effect doubled Ninjutsu + Ninjutsu + Ninjutsu = Ninjutsu effect *10

Taijutsu + Taijutsu +? = Taijutsu effect doubled Taijutsu + Taijutsu + Taijutsu = Taijutsu effect *10

Stamina + Stamina +? = Chakra capacity doubled Stamina + Stamina + Stamina = Chakra capacity *10

? +? +? = Random effect doubled

Each spin costs Points * 10. Rewards can be chosen to be settled immediately or accumulated.

PS: Immediate settlement means the Host receives a bonus the next time they use the specified skill; accumulated rewards can be exchanged 1:1 for corresponding attribute points.

After patiently reading the instructions of the machine and looking at his empty points table, Uchiha Gin asked in confusion, "My points weren't used for gambling, were they?"

"Congratulations to the Host for incredible luck! Unlocked function reward: Luck Value +100% (Guaranteed critical combinations during spins)."

"So you're saying you gambled them away?" Uchiha Gin asked with a deadpan expression and lifeless eyes.

[System, is there any way for me to get through this current crisis?]

A projection suddenly appeared in the void, showing the scene of Uchiha Gin asking the system while he was on the move.

"System has detected the Host's request. Executing emergency risk avoidance. Since the Host only has points available, the system will automatically assist with the spin."

The system's prompt rang out. For some reason, Uchiha Gin could detect a hint of schadenfreude in that perpetually emotionless voice.

"Congratulations to the Host for spinning the Ninjutsu + Ninjutsu + Ninjutsu combination. Ninjutsu effect *10 / Host failed to select the 'Ninjutsu + 10' option within the time limit; system has randomly obtained: Ninjutsu effect *10."

The delayed notification followed immediately.

"..."

AFK? Here, take my phone and play it yourself. I'm done.

This system not only lags like a bad client but also takes the liberty of gambling for him; it was truly beyond absurd.

Now he finally understood where that exaggerated, giant Great Fireball Technique came from. Uchiha Gin felt a pang of heartache!

Attribute points +10. He had to remember that his current attribute points were all in single digits. With that thought, he summoned his status panel

Host: Uchiha Gin Ninjutsu: 7 Taijutsu: 8 Intelligence: 9 Stamina: 6 Charisma: 1 Dojutsu: 10

Skills: Basic Taijutsu, Great Fireball Technique, Uchiha Basic Swordplay, Intermediate Shuriken Technique.

Comprehensive Evaluation: A slightly clever, two-tomoe, punchable Uchiha Chunin.

If he added the 10 Ninjutsu attribute points, with his current Ninjutsu level of 17, he might be able to raise his Ninjutsu strength to the level of a Special Jonin.

While calculating his attribute points, he suddenly noticed a blind spot.

Why were the only things spinning in the slot machine Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Stamina? While those were easy to map to attribute points, why were there no Intelligence or Charisma stats?

"Because the Host's intelligence and looks are too heaven-defying for the system to change," the system explained abruptly, as if it had read his mind.

"Intelligence 9, Charisma 1—what do you mean by that? Why don't we all just die and end it all!"

After cursing for a long while, Uchiha Gin took a breath and looked at his hands as if accepting his fate. The crisis outside had not yet been resolved.

It would be difficult for him to defeat Uzumaki Hanado with his current strength, unless that thing Uzumaki Mito gave him was actually useful. Hiding inside the system wasn't a permanent solution; he had to go out and try.

With that thought, Uchiha Gin exited the system. When he regained his senses, only an instant had passed in the outside world.

Uchiha Fuka was still wearing a shocked expression, while Uzumaki Hanado had flashed out from the side; the Great Fireball Technique just now had clearly stunned him.

Seeing Uchiha Gin, Hanado did not rush forward but instead maintained his distance, using sensory abilities to gauge Gin's condition.

"Strange. This guy's chakra volume is indeed quite large, but it's not that exaggerated. How on earth did he unleash such a terrifying Great Fireball?"

Using his superior sensory skills, Uzumaki Hanado scanned Uchiha Gin suspiciously. Feeling a chakra volume more vast than that of an average Uchiha, he found himself momentarily indecisive.

Not only that, he actually sensed a familiar energy within this despicable Uchiha, which left him utterly bewildered.

"Could this kid be a half-breed?" Hanado speculated.

He then looked at the boy's face. Being scanned by Hanado gave Uchiha Gin the sensation of being stripped naked and watched, and seeing the man staring intently at his face, he was inwardly alarmed.

"This kid looks quite handsome yet has a sturdy build... could he be a 'Nan-tong' [effeminate man]?"

Feeling unnerved by the gaze, Uchiha Gin's heart tightened.

"Gin, I don't know how you exploded with that kind of potential, but it won't help in this battle. You run first. Don't come back this time."

Having recovered for a moment, Uchiha Fuka stood up and walked to the sweating Uchiha Gin. Seeing Gin's awkward and tense expression, he assumed the boy was afraid and offered comfort.

"Captain, I think the enemy's target might only be me. Let me hold him off while you go support Ryoichi and the others. Once you've dealt with the Uzumaki clan, you can come back to help me."

Uchiha Gin happened to have an excuse to send his captain away. Seeing that Uzumaki Hanado was staring at him while ignoring Uchiha Fuka, he made the suggestion.

"But your strength..."

Uchiha Fuka hesitated, his meaning clear: his face practically screamed, "You're too weak."

"Don't worry, Captain. I have undergone a complete transformation. Isn't there a saying in the clan? An Uchiha can only awaken their true power in the face of absolute despair."

With a pair of crimson Sharingan appearing in his eyes, Uchiha Gin turned to look at Fuka, the two tadpole-like tomoe spinning quietly in his eyes.

"You actually activated the two-tomoe Sharingan? Is this what they call 'accumulated strength finally breaking through'?"

Having witnessed Uchiha Gin awaken the Sharingan in just a few days and reach a two-tomoe level that most clan members could never achieve, Uchiha Fuka sighed in admiration.

Although the Uchiha clan was large, only about a tenth of the combatants could actually awaken the Sharingan; some members could not awaken their eyes in their entire lives.

Uchiha Gin had awakened his eyes at the "old age" of 24, and after a single battle, had rapidly progressed from a single tomoe to two. This forced Uchiha Fuka to find the excuse of "accumulated strength."

"Then be careful. I will resolve the battle over there as quickly as possible."

Before leaving, Uchiha Fuka gave Uchiha Gin one last deep look, as if trying to etch the boy's appearance into his heart.

"Why that expression? It's not like I'm actually going to my death."

Seeing Fuka's expression, Uchiha Gin felt speechless.

In reality, the moment Uchiha Fuka turned away, he whispered in his heart

"Truly your child. I believe he will create miracles just like you."

"The nuisance is finally gone. I wasn't interested in him to begin with."

Glancing at the departing Uchiha Fuka, Uzumaki Hanado shrugged his steel-like shoulders and spoke casually.

Hearing the word "interest," Uchiha Gin's face instantly turned pale.

"Is he really a 'Nan-tong'? I might be handsome, but I'm not some little lady!"

(End of Chapter)